Psychiatric Impairments

Psychiatric or mental health impairments are broad and range from mild depression to chronic disorders such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Negative stereotypes and the fact that these disabilities are typically "invisible" further complicate making accommodations for students with these disorders.

Students with mental health or psychiatric impairments can be affected in several ways. They may be more susceptible to the common stressors of college life involving academic demands as well as interpersonal relationships and living alone or away from home for the first time. Students may have particular problems receiving, processing and recalling information during times of stress.

Side effects from medication may also impact attention, memory, alertness, and activity level. The episodic and unpredictable onset and recurrence of illness can also interrupt the educational process as well as performance in student employment.

Individuals with psychiatric impairments may be treated with a combination of medication, counseling, and behavioral therapy. Often, there are a variety of mental health support services available on campus. A student with a psychiatric impairment may need to build time into his schedule for therapy and/or supportive services.

Accommodations

Accommodations for students who have mental health impairments include:

  • note takers
  • early notification of deadlines for projects, exams, and assignments
  • flexible attendance requirements
  • encouraging and validating academic and work environments
  • availability of a quiet work or testing area
  • materials available in electronic format
  • web page or email distribution of course materials and lecture notes

Check Your Understanding

Suppose you have a disruptive student in your campus service office who has a history of mental health problems. What should you do? Choose a response.

  1. Discuss the problem with the student in the service area.
  2. Lower your behavioral standards because the individual has a disability.
  3. Discuss the behavior standards privately.
  4. Inform the student of behavioral expectations.
  5. Obtain advice from the disabled student services office.

Responses:

  1. Discuss the problem with the student in the service area.
    Keep the conversation confidential. Discuss the issue and behaviors with the student in private.
  2. Lower your behavioral standards because the individual has a disability.
    No. Do not lower your behavioral standards.
  3. Discuss the behavior standards privately.
    Yes. Schedule a private meeting.
  4. Inform the student of behavioral expectations.
    Yes. Clearly identify parameters of your office behavioral expectations.
  5. Obtain advice from the disabled student services office.
    Yes. Gaining advice, guidance, and support is helpful. Staff in this office have experience with students who have various types of disabilities and will be able to suggest appropriate strategies for dealing with this situation.

Related Links

More Information

Explore DO-IT Publications, Knowledge Base articles, and websites on this topic at Accommodation Resources: Psychiatric Impairments. To learn about specific accommodations for an academic activity, select from the list below.