Self Management Tool for Students with Mental Health Difficulties Launched by TCD’s Unilink Service
Posted on: 02 March 2011
A Self Management Tool developed by the Unilink service to assist students with mental health difficulties was launched (Tuesday, March 1st) by Trinity College’s Senior Tutor, Dr Claire Laudet in the Trinity Long Room Hub. The new Self Management Tool promotes a better balance between students’ academic and social activities by helping them draw from previous experiences and learn new coping strategies.
The Self Management Tool consists of a wallet-sized booklet that students use as a reference point and guide to help manage their mental health difficulties as they go about their daily lives. The tool aims to help students monitor their own mental health by identifying behaviours, triggers and warning signs that indicate one is becoming unwell. With support from their occupational therapist, students using the Self Management Tool can focus on routines that promote better mental health and learn how to engage with them.
The Unilink service providers have found that many students recognise how to manage their mental health but often do not engage in tasks that help them. Speaking about this trend Unilink Occupational Therapist, Kieran Lewis said: “Our approach helps each student identify therapeutic activities and then we develop practical strategies for the student to engage in them.” With the support of their occupational therapist students are encouraged to:
- Identify essential daily routines that promote better mental health;
- Establish the triggers that make one unwell;
- Identify the early warnings signs that one is becoming unwell;
- Establish what can be done to make one feel better.
At the Unilink launch were Claire Gleeson, Unilink Occupational Therapist; Declan Treanor, Disability Service Director; Clodagh Nolan, Unilink Service Director; Dr Tony Bates, Founder Director of Headstrong; Kieran Lewis, Unilink Occupational Therapist and Dr Claire Laudet, Senior Tutor.
The transition from school to college can be difficult for many students, especially if they are experiencing physical or mental health difficulties. Through the Unlink service, students are helped to develop a number of skills such as management and organisational skills through goal setting and timetabling; role-playing and social interaction; non-verbal communication skills; study techniques; breaking tasks down through activity analysis as well as applying coping strategies to their daily lives.
The Unilink service is a practical support service for students who may be experiencing mental health difficulties such as Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Schizophrenia, Asperger’s Syndrome or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Established in 2003 in response to a growing number of students accessing university with mental health difficulties, it is currently the only service of its kind in Ireland. In its first year, 22 students were supported through the service. Now in its sixth year, the Unilink service supports over 180 TCD students experiencing mental health difficulties.