General information

Students with mental health issues are often not immediately recognizable, but they represent the largest group among students with disabilities. Due to the diversity of underlying disorders, the challenges faced by those affected vary greatly.

Mental health issues can range from mild limitations in emotional well-being to serious mental illnesses. The causes can be varied and include mental illnesses, behavioral disorders, and impairments in psychological development. Diagnosis and treatment often involve several specialist disciplines.

Here are some examples that may be relevant to students:

  • Anxiety and panic disorders (e.g., exam anxiety, neuroses, agoraphobia, blackouts, panic attacks, stress)
  • Depression
  • Schizophrenia and other psychoses
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorders
  • Burnout
  • Consequences of trauma (post-traumatic stress disorder)
  • Addictions and addictive disorders
  • Personality disorders (e.g., borderline)
  • Eating disorders
  • Tourette syndrome

What are the challenges of studying?

Mental health issues can make everyday student life extremely difficult. This can manifest itself in various ways:

  • Exam anxiety and uncertainty in performance situations (e.g., during exams, presentations, or active participation)
  • Fear of large crowds (e.g., in lecture halls)
  • Difficulties with attendance (e.g., due to episodic illness or anxiety that makes it impossible to attend classes or perform academic tasks for days, weeks, or even months)
  • Concentration problems that are either part of the illness or a side effect of medication
  • Challenges in understanding social interactions
  • Problems with time management
  • Difficulties in organizing one's studies independently
  • Stress when working in groups or giving presentations

How can the university provide support?

  • Provide learning and teaching materials digitally in advance.
  • Create opportunities to make up for missed exams, field trips, or partial assignments.
  • Allow for extended deadlines when necessary.
  • Offer alternatives for absences, such as written assignments (however, completely waiving attendance is not feasible).
  • Provide opportunities to compensate for missed participation
  • Offer options for replacing group work, discussions, or presentations
  • Organize exams in small, private rooms without an audience, for example, during office hours