Managing anxiety
Published: 6 April 2023
Here, we focus on a student who told us about his panic attacks connected with flying and eating in the hotel restaurant.
Here, we focus on a student who told us about his panic attacks connected with flying and eating in the hotel restaurant.
Initially, our main task was to get more insight into the student’s mental health challenge, listen with empathy and agree on a plan for managing fears and anxieties regarding the field class. Our main aim was to make sure he could attend the field course.
We made sure to respond to emails promptly, reassuring the student and suggesting that joint planning could facilitate the attendance of the field class, despite what seemed impossible to the student at the time.
In the discussion meeting, the field class convenor gently discussed the problem, 'mapped across’ the field class timetable/tasks to see where trigger points/problems might occur, and invited a discussion around a joint management plan. The student shared intricate feelings and fears. This allowed us to jointly agree on a series of preparatory and preventative measures and on-island measures (including stepping out of a situation, staff support, peer support, breaks and being able to phone home).
This worked well for this student, and he had a successful and enjoyable trip and none of the 'worst case scenarios' took place. Staff felt they had worked hard to be inclusive to facilitate a full degree experience for a student facing significant mental health issues at that time.
First published: 6 April 2023