Mental Health Disabilities

Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety Disorder

How this may affect student participation:

• Most students under appropriate treatment may exhibit no outward signs of disorder, and may be quite effective as students.
• Some students may be taking medication that adversely affects concentration and performance.
• In some cases, students may develop physical or behavioral symptoms as a result of prescribed medication.

Helpful strategies for instructing students with Mental Health Disabilities:

• Exercise patience and empathy.
• Help students to follow lectures with three steps: >preview>lecture>review.
• Provide lecture outlines and other handouts.
• Use a multi-sensory approach when providing information to students. Increased learning can occur when material is presented simultaneously in a variety of ways, e.g. visual images with auditory descriptions.
• Gain students attention when highlighting significant points by using eye contact, voice inflection, and body gesturing.
• Provide concrete examples and practical applications of material whenever possible.
• Review important points several times during the lecture; give assignments both orally and in written format.
• Identify, in private and with sensitivity, inappropriate behaviors, if necessary.
• Develop a positive student-teacher relationship.

*Understand that these disorders are often exasperated by stress, allowing for flexibility for the student to meet course objectives and learning outcomes may be necessary.

From a student with a Mood Disorder (Bipolar)

“The most helpful thing a faculty member did for me was help me study for a test and gave me a clear understanding of the notes.”