Mental health & deadlines

It’s no question that students suffering with physical illnesses should be allowed to get extensions on deadlines. If someone is suffering to the point it is having a detrimental impact on their work it is a way universities can help to relieve stress.

Within the University it is possible for people who are suffering from mental health issues to get extensions of their work. However, due to teaching, a stigma still surrounds mental health which means they are not always accessible to students.

The stigma is preventing some students from seeking help and asking for deadline extensions when they are in need.

It is a way universities can help to relieve stress

When suffering from mental health issues it can be all consuming, even getting out of bed can become a mammoth task, never mind writing an essay! The lack of understanding surrounding mental health issues and the impact that it can have is leaving many students feeling like they are unable to seek support from members of staff.

The support and understanding of mental health issues within the University is inconsistent, varying from department to department, and this is reflected of the accessibility of academic support due to such problems.

Leaving many students feeling like they are unable to seek support from members of staff

By merely offering extensions and removing academic pressure, the university seems to think it is doing enough. Struggling with mental health is not just being stressed about your work and moving deadlines is ultimately not going to solve all of a persons problems.

It can of course be helpful but each person suffering from mental health issues faces a different battle and more needs to be done to understand this. When you don’t feel able to speak to your personal tutor to request an extension due to such issues, where do you go?

Each person suffering from mental health issues faces a different battle

Without a support base beyond a student’s academic life, it can become extremely isolating.

We should be wary in believing that a deadline extension is all it takes to cure mental health issues and this is something the university needs to remember.

We should be wary in believing that a deadline extension is all it takes

They can be useful and should be an option for students without them feeling uncomfortable about it, but they ultimately do not deal with the problems for everyone.

When a student requests a deadline extension for mental health issues, merely granting it is not enough and more accessible support needs to be provide to that student without a potentially 3 week waiting list.

They can be useful and should be an option for students

For those who do require extra support, asking for an extension is not shameful and does not make you a failure. It is vital we remember that everyone needs a little extra help sometimes and the University needs to remember that just because something is available, that does not make it accessible.