‘If they Can’t Stand the Heat ...’: Supporting the Academic Development of Higher Education Students with Anxiety and Depression Disorders

Increasing numbers of university students live with psychiatric or mental disabilities. Two of the most common categories of mental disorder are anxiety and depression. It is commonly assumed that the support for these students is provided by mental health practitioners such as counselors. However these disorders have an impact on the students’ learning and there is a role for those engaged in teaching at university (lecturers, tutors, and academic language and learning advisers) in supporting these students. This entails having some understanding of the effects of anxiety and depression on students’ learning and of the effects of the still pervasive prejudice against those with mental disorders. A number of strategies are suggested that teachers can use in responding to the learning needs of students with anxiety and depression. These strategies have been used successfully for some years in a large Australian university.