Information on resources for Disability, Health and Wellbeing
Mental Health and Wellbeing:
Information for all regarding where to find advice, support and counselling, in person or online, for issues relating to mental health:
There are several resources linked here which can help students who need support for any issues relating to disability, health and wellbeing while at UCL:
For how to access student psychological and counselling services:
Meet the team: The Student Support and Wellbeing team can be contacted should you need any support during your time studying at UCL:
Health and Wellbeing Policy Resources for students:
Student Mental Health Policy:
Disability:
Disability Equality at UCL: for information on Disabilities and accessibility:
Reasonable Adjustments - This link highlights UCL’s academic manual guidance on reasonable adjustments that it must make for students with disabilities, long-term physical or mental health conditions:
Extenuating Circumstances - If a sudden, unexpected difficulty arises which may affect your ability to carry out an assessment, alternative arrangements may be put in place to help you. UCL’s policy is explained here:
Staff guidance on the Access to Work programme:
Guidance on IT support:
Guidance on access to UCL buildings:
Guidance for Disabled Students:
Neurodiversity and Specific Learning Disabilities (SPLD):
- Specific Learning Difficulties: Dyslexia/Dyspraxia
- UCL Neurodivergent Staff Network
- Dyslexia and other Specific Learning Differences
Guidance for Managers:
- Disability Equality Guidance Materials for Staff and Managers (includes Mental Health guidance)
- UCL Mental Health Guidance for managers
- UCL Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy
- UCL Wellbeing Strategy
GMC Guidance:
Disability Resources:
- Gov UK: Disabled Students’ Allowances
- House of Commons Briefing papers “Support for disabled students in higher education in England”
- Defining disability
- Communicating with Adults with Communication and/or Hearing Impairments 22/23
- IDA: Improving experience and outcomes for deaf people in healthcare
Mental Health Resources:
- Mind (National Association for Mental Health)
- Mind Student Mental Health
- Student Minds – the UK’s student mental health charity
- Rethink Mental Illness
- Mental Health Foundation
- British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy – includes a directory which you can search to find a counsellor or therapist
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
Mental health and Wellbeing for Students
- ‘Tea and Empathy’ – A Facebook group which can be great for supportive advice from medics/other students. This is a national, informal, peer-to-peer support network with >14,000 members aiming to foster a compassionate and supportive atmosphere throughout the NHS.
- London Nightline - Confidential and anonymous listening and practical information service run by students for students in London - term-time, open until 2am for live chat.
- The Mix - Support service for young people (<25's).
Helplines
Neurodiversity: Resources that give some definitions of neurodiversity and ways of seeing it differently
An article which questions the idea that there is one ‘normal’ type of brain and one ‘normal’ way to be in the world.
A book chapter which provides some case studies which might show how a better understanding of your own neurodiversity might help you. This has been included because of its emphasis on enablement and practical orientation to supporting those experiencing challenges with neurodiversity (rather than to promote formal assessment for people experiencing challenges).
Here is an excerpt of the first paragraph as a taster:
““A diagnostic assessment has the potential to be both empowering and enabling. By empowering, I am referring to both an increase in understanding as to why some aspects of behaviour and experience differ from many others, and to an increase in self - esteem. By enabling, I am referring to the adoption of strategies and techniques that result in an increase in performance which more closely reflects an inherent ability. These twin features of empowerment and enablement are captured in Carol ’s email some months after her diagnostic assessment: ‘ Seeing you made me realise that lots of things I thought were my own idiocies were because of dyspraxia, and feel much more confident before finals. On your recommendation I was given extra time in finals which made an incredible difference – for the first time ever exams seemed manageable. Somehow I got a first and was the highest performing woman in my year.’”