Mental Illness
Mental Illness (MI)
Mental illness (MI) refers to health conditions involving changes in emotion, cognition, or behaviour that cause significant distress or impairment in daily functioning. In a university setting, MI can impact students' academic performance, social interactions, and overall well-being. The causes, treatments, symptoms, and medication side effects vary, affecting students' daily functioning in social, academic, and family activities. Early intervention and a supportive environment are crucial for effective management and recovery.
Students in needs are welcome to meet with our counsellors to discuss their personal concerns. At HKBU, the Counselling and Development Centre provides confidential counselling to eligible students for free.
Emotional
- Frequent feelings of sadness, anxiety, or mood swings
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness or hopelessness
Cognitive
- Struggles with irrational thinking, negative thoughts or even suicidal thoughts
- Challenges in focusing, making decisions, or remembering information
Behavioural
- Loss of interest in activities that used to bring enjoyment
- Neglect of personal cleanliness and hygiene
- Alterations in sleep patterns, eating habits, or social interactions
- Difficulty completing assignments, attending classes, or participating in group work
- Challenges in maintaining friendships and engaging in social activities
- Experiencing fatigue, headaches, or other physical issues related to stress
- Engaging in self-harm or substance use as a way to cope with emotional distress
- Listen attentively and acknowledge the feelings and difficulties of the students without immediately offering solutions. Remain Calm.
- Use open-ended questions to encourage students to express themselves
- Maintain a non-judgmental and empathetic approach
- Encourage the students to seek professional help or refer to our counsellors at HKBU if needed
- Be alert to drastic changes in academic performance, such as frequent absences, missed assignments, or unannounced absences from tests and exams
- Provide learning materials prior to class to enable early preparation
- Allow audio/video recordings of lectures for revision
- Provide information about academic and professional support services to encourage students to seek help
- Offer allowances for class attendance if needed
- Discuss special learning and exam arrangements privately with students
- Encourage students to express their needs and preferences regarding accommodations
- Consider flexibility in time and format for assignments and tests.
- Allow alternatives / extended time for exams (recommended by professionals).
- Arrange a separate room for exams/tests to minimise distractions if possible
- Provide clear instructions for both individual and group assignments. Help with grouping if necessary.
- Divide assignments into smaller tasks to help students manage workloads effectively
