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The impact on study
Mental health conditions can impact on:
- thinking
- behaviour
- judgement and insight.
How does learning disability affect students' ability to learn in a university environment?
Thinking
- decrease in attendance and inability to complete assignments (on time)
- difficulties with concentration and poor memory
- difficulties in processing and producing information
- problems relating to others, leading to anxiety in group settings, feeling unsafe or uncomfortable; difficulties working in groups
- fear of failure
- difficulties with problem solving, critical thinking and arguing a point of view
- poor organisational skills.
Behaviour
- effects of medication leading to slower speech, slower response to questions; lack of perception, impaired ability to interpret social cues.
- restlessness, drowsiness and fatigue, physical symptoms, memory lapses and blurred vision.
- hyperactivity, impulsiveness, motivation, fluctuating energy levels, inappropriate responses in class or with peers, feelings of isolation.
- panic attacks, anxiety, phobias, frustration, anger depression, paranoia, shame and mania.
Judgment and insight
- psycho-social and self reflective skills deficits which hinder ability to seek assistance or make optimal decisions.
- perception of reality affected which can lead to behaviour such as hearing voices, de-personalising.
Counsellors 
may be able to assist students who have come to university with an undiagnosed mental illness, which may result in poor academic progress and preclusion from a course. Once the illness is diagnosed and under control the counsellor may negotiate possibilities for continuing study.
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