“I lived with a very close old school friend during my 2nd year. During this time he was dying of a brain tumour. During the Autumn this meant frequently being up late at night calling ambulances in response to his frequent, violent seizures. By mid-Spring things had gotten much worse. He started to lose mobility, became increasingly aggressive, and eventually had to move back in with his parents. I spent much of that summer term trying to balance visiting my friend 2 hours away, which grew increasingly distressing with each visit, with my deadlines and exam revision. At this point I went to see a Student Advisor for the first time. He supported my successful mitigating evidence application. I was able to stay on track with my grades as a result. My friend ceased to be able to speak or even sit up in bed by early on in the summer holidays. He died in July.
These events had a massive psychological impact on me. When I returned in the Autumn I began to feel like I was losing control. I started to have panic attacks. I couldn’t sleep. I started seeing a counsellor at PCS. I was diagnosed with “severe” depression by my GP. The panic attacks grew worse and worse. I went for days without eating. I stopped going to classes. By the time I went to see a Student Advisor, I couldn’t walk into the buildings on campus. I was terrified. It sounds stupid now, but after several missed meetings, my new student advisor had to meet me at the bottom of the stairs in Arts C and walk up them with me. My student advisor notified both my tutors, explained all the options available to me, and enabled me to carry on studying in a rather haphazard manner with my tutors’ understanding. In the end that was to no avail but at the time feeling like I was still keeping up with degree in some way was all that held me together.
By the Christmas holidays however it had become apparent that the best thing I could do to achieve to my full potential at Sussex was to intermit and recommence my third year in 2009-10. Intermitting students face all manner of problems once they’ve made the liberating decision to take time out. You can’t claim any benefits as a registered student, yet are not eligible for student loan as you aren’t studying. In a scarce jobs market as currently, this poses serious problems. Once again my student advisor, along with USSU advice services which are also threatened, was able to see me for as much time as I needed in order to successfully fight on my behalf for an additional instalment of student loan to cover my job-seeking. This was done by mobilising the coordinated support of tutors, doctors, advisors, counsellors, and administrative figures at Sussex. My student advisor seemed to know everyone to contact on and off campus to help me.
Contrary to the facts, all of this feels a long time ago now. I left Brighton for 8 months after intermitting. I hated it here. However, whilst I was scared returning to Sussex this year, I also felt welcome. Honestly, the support of my student advisor was far and above the main reason for this change. I wouldn’t be back here now if such a personal, expert service had not looked out for me. The first thing I did when I got back was arrange to see my student advisor. I’m sorry that this post is so long. I wanted to show the range of problems that – and I hazard that my case is neither isolated nor extreme – I encountered throughout the course of 18 months. I wanted to show that I was having counselling at PCS. On balance, I’d say it was very useful. I hope I’ve shown, however, that counselling wasn’t suited to many, most, of the problems I encountered in the year. Likewise, an academic would hardly have been well placed to deal with a student who couldn’t walk into a building. But this was a student still planning a dissertation. There needed to be someone to help me maintain the professional, respectful sort of relationships I at least want with faculty. I am disgusted with the management of this university for proposing to replace a service that saved my Sussex experience with a patronising cost-saving measure. I hope they will reconsider.”
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