Here are some ideas of the kinds of supports and arrangements which you can ask for that may make it easier for you to feel at ease and succeed in the classroom:

Pick your own seat.
Think about where in the classroom you would feel the most comfortable and the least distracted by other students, and things going on in the classroom.

Buddy/Accompanier
Ask someone (another student, or a counseling staff member) to accompany you to class and stay with you if you need it. A buddy can also help you take notes and give you support when you need it.

Bring a drink to class, or chewing gum
This helps alleviate dry mouth or tiredness that can be caused by medications.

Arrange to take breaks during class
Arrange breaks with your teacher before class. Knowing when a break is coming can really help you cope with feeling anxious, stressed out, and restless.

Copying another student’s notes / Tape Recording
Sometimes the anxiety of attending class can make it hard to take good notes. Having a friend or another student in the class take notes that you can copy afterwards, or tape recording the class so that you can take notes later can help you relax and pay attention to what’s going on in the class without having to worry about writing everything down.

back to top

Assignments and homework

Substitute assignments
Lots of people get stressed out at the thought of giving an oral presentation. If you are dealing with mental health problems, having to get up in front of the class can seem completely impossible. Ask if you can substitute written exercises or some other kind of assignment instead.

Advance notice of assignments
Knowing about what’s expected of you ahead of time can help you get ready and plan your time, energy, and workload. It can also help you to arrange for any extra help you might need to get things done.

Extra time to finish assignments
Having extra time can be very helpful, and may make the difference between passing and failing a course. Make sure to negotiate the extra time in advance of the due date, and put a specific date on it.

Help when you’re in the hospital
Staying in touch with your teachers and your guidance counsellor while you’re in the hospital can help you stay connected with your school work. It may even mean that you can finish some of your courses, instead of having to do them again when you get out.

Ask if there are alternative ways you can show what you’re learning
There may be ways that you can show teachers that you’re learning and doing the work. If doing lots of writing is hard for you, ask your teacher(s) if you can submit a recording instead of a written assignment. If dealing with your illness has kept you from doing as well as you wanted, ask if you can write an extra paper to make up for the lousy marks you got when you were having a hard time coping.

Peer support/ homework clubs
Some schools have a peer tutoring system, or homework classes which can both help you with your work. Find out if these are available at your school

back to top

Tests and exams

Change the format
If multiple choice tests and exams stress you out, ask to have essay questions instead. Sometimes On the other hand, if writing lots is hard, see if you can get a multiple-choice test instead of essays.

Technical assistance
Writing may be difficult because of the side effects of medication that can create muscular or visual problems. Some computer software programs or other technological assistance might be able to help.

Extended time
A specific amount of extra time, (negotiated before the exam) can help you to focus on the exam content instead of the clock, and lessens the chance that anxiety or other symptoms will interfere with your performance.

Breaking up exams
Dividing an exam into parts that can be taken in two or three sessions over 1-2 days can help you maintain focus and prevent you from getting too worn out.

Taking exams in an alternate location
A non-distracting, quiet setting helps reduce interference from anxiety or other symptoms or medication side effects. Ask if you can write exams in a separate room, with someone overseeing you instead of in a crowded classroom.

Increasing frequency of tests or examinations
Having a greater number of opportunities to demonstrate your knowledge can create less pressure than having only a midterm or a final exam.

Alternative formats for exams (e.g. read orally, dictated, or typed)
If it’s hard for you to do a lot of reading or writing, there are accommodations you can ask for that might make it easier for you to demonstrate your knowledge, like oral exams, having someone else do the actual writing for you, or typing your answers.