Mental Health and Academia: Experiences of Students at the University of Zadar

Ovaj rad nudi uvid u iskustva studenata/ica koji se nose s problemima u mentalnom zdravlju. Teorijski okvir rada, kritičan prema neoliberalizmu, kapitalizmu i posebice neoliberalizaciji obrazovanja, također potkrjepljuje vid problema u mentalnom zdravlju kroz sustavne uvjete koji utječu na pogoršanje mentalnog zdravlja i stvaraju prepreke neurodivergentnim pojedincima, odnosno pojedincima koji se nose s mentalnim bolestima u zaposlenju i obrazovanju. Istraživačica je intervjuirala studente/ice koji su bivši/e ili sadašnji/e studenti/ce Sveučilišta u Zadru i nose se s problemima u mentalnom zdravlju. Studenti/ce su razgovarali/e o pojedinostima svojih problema u mentalnom zdravlju, sustavima podrške, iskustvima sa studentskim savjetovalištem, kao i određenim problemima na koje su naišli: manjku razumijevanja koje su dobili od obitelji i financijskim poteškoćama u pristupu psihološkoj ili psihijatrijskoj pomoći. Također, studenti/ce opisuju svoju perspektivu potencijalne marginalizacije studenata/ica koji/e se nose s problemima u mentalnom zdravlju. Govore o oklijevanju u iznošenju svojih problema u mentalnom zdravlju, pozitivnim i negativnim iskustvima s profesorima i osobljem Sveučilišta u Zadru te kritiziraju manjak prilagodbi ponuđen neurodivergentnim studentima/cama, odnosno studentima/cama s problemima u mentalnom zdravlju. Studenti/ce naglašavaju problem odsustva razgovora o mentalnom zdravlju te nude svoj pogled na stvaranje obrazovnog sustava koji je dostupniji studentima/cama koji/e se nose s problemima u mentalnom zdravlju.This thesis offers an insight into the ways students dealing with mental illness navigate academic education. Using theoretical work that criticizes neoliberalism, capitalism, and particularly neoliberalization of education, mental illness is viewed through the lens of systemic conditions that aid in intensifying mental health issues, as well as create constraints for neurodivergent individuals or individuals dealing with mental illness in spaces of education and labor. The researcher interviewed students who are current or former students at the University of Zadar and struggle with mental health issues. The students speak about the particularities of their mental health issues, their support systems, describe their experiences with student counselling, name certain issues they have faced including lack of understanding provided by their families, as well as financial difficulties in accessing psychological or psychiatric care. Moreover, the students offer their perspective on the possible marginalization of students with mental illnesses, describing their reluctance in disclosing mental health issues, both positive and negative experiences with professors and staff at the University of Zadar, as well as criticize the lack of accommodations given to neurodivergent students / students with mental illnesses. The students also emphasize the issue of the absence of dialogue surrounding mental health issues and attempt to offer their own vision of an educational system that is more accessible to students struggling with mental health