A number of third-level institutions are looking at introducing support services for students with disabilities and mental health difficulties based on the success of the Unilink initiative at Trinity College Dublin.
Unilink, which was officially launched last week, helps students with certain health problems to manage their academic and social lives and is the first service of its kind in Ireland. It is staffed by five lecturers and two part-time staff members from the occupational therapy discipline and is run in conjunction with the Student Disability Service.
About 48 TCD students with chronic health issues or mental health difficulties benefit from the service.
A further 16 students receive help from Unilink, which was introduced on a pilot basis last January to support students with sensory disabilities.
"College be can be very daunting for some students. You find yourself in a lecture theatre with 200 other students and you might feel agoraphobic or threatened," said Clodagh Nolan, occupation therapy lecturer and Unilink founder. "For students who have mental health difficulties it can be hard to think and college is all about thinking."
Students are referred to Unilink by the student disability service, a class tutor or by the college's health or counselling services. They can then access Unilink in person or by phone, e-mail or text message.
The service targets all aspects of student life including deadlines, studying and socialising. According to Unilink, service users say they have grown in confidence and feel less isolated.
For more information on Unilink: www.tcd.ie/disability