Supporting Students with Mental Health Difficulties
Students with diagnosed Mental Health Difficulties are encouraged to register with UCD Access Centre
Disability Support. If you are a student of the University who is facing barriers that affect your ability to
study – due to mental health difficulties – then we may be able to help. If you are a member of staff or
colleague supporting a student experiencing mental health difficulties, we are also here to offer you
advice. The emphasis of the support we provide is on working with students experiencing mental health
difficulties to provide practical supports and develop strategies to enable students to deal with the
challenges they may experience in their academic progression. This document outlines the supports
available to students with diagnosed Mental Health Difficulties in UCD.
It is important that prospective students requiring particular support (e.g. mental health support or
exam support) contact the Access Centre well in advance of their application to discuss their support
requirements. This will put the student in a better position to make an informed decision as to whether
UCD can provide the support they require.
Facing the Challenge of University
The supports provided to students are designed to assist them in dealing with a number of issues that
may arise as a result of mental health difficulties. These include, but are not limited to:
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Difficulties in organising and managing study time
Difficulties with effective group work for projects or other assignments
Anxiety about attending class or completing assignments
Lack of confidence in academic work
Procrastination
Students may have been experiencing these difficulties for a while, or the first time. UCD Access Centre
Disability Support work in partnership with the student, adopting a problem-solving approach to specific
difficulties to help empower the student in their studies. Supports provided by UCD Access Centre
Disability Support include Exam Supports, Academic Supports, Assistive Technology, Academic Skills
Training Academic Skills Drop-in Sessions, Unilink Occupational Therapy Support Service, Check-in
Service, and regular meetings with the UCD Access Centre Disability Support team. The details of these
services are outlined in this document.
Orientation
Students who apply through DARE are invited to a tailored three day orientation designed to assist
students with the transition from second to third level. This orientation usually takes place in the last
week in August – a week before the main UCD orientation. This allows students to come to campus
when it is quieter so they feel more comfortable and at ease. The orientation includes a number of
sessions including a campus tour, tips for time management and organisation, study skills, UCD IT
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training, Assistive Technology training, information on the UCD Horizons system, motivation for study
and information about other supports available in UCD including the Maths Support Centre and Writing
Clinics. A number of Access Leaders work with Access Centre staff during this orientation. These leaders
are students from various programme areas, many of whom are registered with the Access Centre.
These leaders bring students on tailored campus tours spending more time in areas relevant to the
students’ area of study. These leaders are also available to answer questions and give advice about
campus life in UCD.
Needs Assessment
You can register with the service at any time but it is best to register as soon as possible so that any
supports you require can be put in place without delay. Those who attend orientation will be given a
Needs Assessment appointment on the last day of orientation.
Follow these two steps to register:
1. Make an appointment by calling 01 716 7565 or e-mail disability@ucd.ie or call into the Access
Centre Reception Office on Level 1 of the James Joyce Library Building. The Reception Office is
open from 10am to 12pm and from 2pm to 4pm Monday to Friday. Those who attend
orientation will be given a Needs Assessment appointment on the last day of orientation.
2. Provide supporting documentation. For students with a Mental Health Condition this
documentation should be a diagnosis of a significant mental health condition by a Psychiatrist.
Students who do not have appropriate evidence of their disability should forward the ‘Evidence
of Disability Form’ to their Medical Consultant/Specialist to be completed.1 The report must be
no older than five years. Please note that evidence from a GP/Family doctor or support
organisation is not accepted as verification of disability.
All students who wish to register with disability support will need to agree to and sign the UCD Code of
Practice for Students with a Disability.2
Exam Supports
At your needs assessment you will discuss with a member of UCD Access Centre staff which exam
supports would best suit your needs. Reasonable accommodations are defined as those actions that
enable students to demonstrate their true knowledge and ability in examinations without changing the
demands of the examination. The intention behind the provision of such accommodations is to alleviate
a substantial disadvantage without affecting the integrity of the assessment. The granting of reasonable
accommodations is not intended to put the integrity or status of the examination or in-class assessment
at risk, and is designed to ensure fairness to all students (full- and part-time).
Examples of exam supports used by students with Mental Health Difficulties in UCD are:
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The ‘Evidence of Disability form’ is available here:
http://www.ucd.ie/openingworlds/ucdaccesscentre/supportsforstudentswithadisability/informationforstudents/
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The UCD Code of Practice for Students with a Disability is available here:
http://www.ucd.ie/t4cms/UCD%20Code%20of%20Practice%20for%20Students%20with%20a%20Disability.pdf
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Alternative Exam Location
o Students receiving reasonable accommodations normally sit their examinations in a
different venue to their peer group. These venues are normally shared with other
students. These venues are classrooms so the students sit with a small group which can
reduce anxiety in exam situations. Only in exceptional circumstances will a student with
a disability sit an examination in a room on their own.
Extra Time
o Students whose examination performance is significantly impacted by a Mental Health
Difficulty may require extra time in examinations. Extra time may also be used by
students who require a rest break or a break for medication during examinations. Extra
time is set at 10 minutes per hour.
Academic Supports
Academic Supports refer to any supports that students with disabilities might require in the classroom
or lecture environment. At your Needs Assessment a member of staff from the Access Centre will
discuss the supports available and help you decide which might work best for you.
Examples of academic supports used by students with Mental Health Difficulties in UCD are:
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Permission to use a recording device in lectures
Mental Health Awareness
Assistive Technology
There is a range of Assistive Technology (AT) resources available for students in UCD. These consist of
software and devices that enable students to learn independently and perform at their highest
academic level. Some ATs are available to all students in UCD (such as Texthelp), whereas others are
available to specific students registered with the Access Centre.
The Access Centre has an AT Officer who can provide and train students who are registered for disability
support with a range of AT tools. At the needs assessment the student will be referred to the AT Officer
if necessary.
For more information contact the AT Officer, Pauric Holleran, at pauric.holleran@ucd.ie or 01 716 7671.
Academic Skills Training
Workshops
Transition from second to third level can be quite daunting for many students. The movement from
passive to active learning and the new responsibility of independent study may present challenges to
first year students. In Semester One of each academic year the Access Centre offers academic skills
workshops to assist first year students with the transition into third level education. We offer five key
workshops covering the areas that many students find challenging in the first semester at university:
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Note Taking & Time Management
Study
Academic Writing
Research Skills
Exam Preparation
Each one-hour workshop is offered several times throughout the semester in order to help students to
fit attendance at the workshops around their existing class schedules. In the second semester we re-run
these workshops and offer some more specific workshops to address areas suggested by students
registered with us. These workshops include such topics as:
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Presentations
Group Work
Advanced Study Skills
Avoiding Plagiarism
Our aim is to help students to master these essential skills in their first year so that they can become
effective learners and writers for the rest of their degrees and careers.
The slides and other materials from these workshops are made available on the Learning Support
Blackboard module. Items such as easy-to-personalise weekly timetables, learning style questionnaires,
proofreading checklists and reading strategy handbooks will be useful for all students who wish to
improve their performance at university.
If you are interested in attending these workshops, or you would like to suggest a topic for an upcoming
workshop, then please contact the UCD Access Centre Academic Skills Coordinator Dr Lisa Padden: Email: lisa.padden@ucd.ie, Phone: 01 716 7072
One-to-One Learning Support
Learning support in UCD is delivered primarily through the workshops outlined above. If you would like
to discuss provision of one-to-one sessions on a topic not covered by the workshops please contact Lisa
Padden: E-mail: lisa.padden@ucd.ie
Academic Skills Drop-in Sessions
UCD Access Centre provides weekly drop-in sessions which students can attend to meet with a Learning
Support Tutor.3 Learning Support Tutors can offer advice on:
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correct referencing styles
structure of written work
research skills
use of AT to proof-read/self-edit work
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Details of the dates and times of these sessions are advertised to students via email and placed on our website at
the start of each semester:
http://www.ucd.ie/openingworlds/ucdaccesscentre/supportsforstudentswithadisability/learningsupport/
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exam techniques
study techniques
time management
note-taking strategies
mind-mapping
reading strategies
writing styles
creating timetables and schedules
Check-in Service
Each semester the Access Centre will invite you to make an appointment to check in with a member of
Access Centre staff. At this appointment you will be given the opportunity to discuss your academic
progression and review your supports. You are not obliged to attend for this check-in appointment.
College Supports
UCD offers a range of support services which are free and available to all students. To avail of the
supports below students are not required to be registered with the Access Centre.
Maths Support Centre
The Maths Support Centre (MSC) offers free support in mathematics to students from all programmes in
UCD. Here you will find a welcoming environment in a comfortable room with plenty of maths resources
including textbooks, notes and practice sheets and most importantly, a team of friendly and experienced
tutors. Support is given through one-on-one and small group tuition on a drop in basis during semesters.
There is no need to make an appointment in advance.4
Writing Support Centre
The Writing Support Centre is a free, drop-in, one-to-one tuition service for all students in academic
writing skills. The Centre operates as a resource for all undergraduate and postgraduate students
interested in developing their academic writing skills. Most assessments at third-level are submitted in
written format (essay, journal, report, exam) so writing skills are central to your learning and the Writing
Support Centre are here to help you make sure that you communicate your knowledge in the most
effective way you can. The Writing Support Centre will talk to you about your writing processes and
address any recurring issues you might have with your writing that are holding you back or not allowing
you to communicate as effectively as you would like.5
UCD Student Counselling Service
UCD Student Counselling Service is a free and confidential service staffed by professionally qualified
psychologists and counsellors. Students may request an appointment or further information by making
direct contact with the service by calling 01-7163133
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For more information see: http://mathsci.ucd.ie/mathsupportcentre/ucdwebpage/
For more information see: http://www.ucd.ie/library/supporting_you/support_learning/librarylink/writing/
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PLEASE NOTE: At times of very high demand for the service, unfortunately there may be a lengthy
waiting time for an appointment.
UCD Access Centre Disability Support recognises that students’ mental health issues or difficulties
fluctuate during their studies where medications can effect concentration and interaction, and where
mental health difficulties can result in absence from university. UCD Access Centre Disability Support
team can assist you if you engage with the Support Services offered above, while also:
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Discussing your individual circumstances and any concerns you might have about studying in
UCD.
Meeting and discussing issues with you, including the wide range of resources available to assist
you to study effectively.
Providing a point-of-contact within the Team during your studies.
Considering any reasonable adjustments that may need to be made.
University College Dublin is committed to ensuring, as far as possible and within the framework of
current legislative requirements, that students with disabilities have equality of access to and
participation in all UCD courses where information is kept confidential and students will not face
discrimination. Throughout the academic year UCD staff members are offered numerous workshops
where they are given the opportunity to learn how best to support students registered with the Access
Centre for Disability Support.
Students who are unable to continue their studies, or who need to interrupt them on mental health
grounds must follow the relevant procedure. Procedures include a leave of absence from the
programme or an application for extenuating circumstances to be taken into account. Students should
seek advice from the Disability Adviser or Programme Student Adviser about these procedures and must
provide up-to-date medical evidence to support their application.
If you wish to access any of the Access Centre supports outlined above, please let us know as soon as
possible (disability@ucd.ie or 01-7167565) so we can arrange exam accommodations or academic
supports that may assist you in your studies at UCD.
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