Mental health treatment & accommodations

[scubascuba]

I have recently been struggling in school due to mental health issues (this is new to me and trying to seek help now). I talked with the school and they recommended I do a student access plan that would declare that I have depression and anxiety and to allow for accommodations for occasionally missing classes and extra time on exams if needed.

I am hesitant because some of my classmates said that it goes permanently on your schools record so your professors will see it and you may have to disclose it when getting licensing.

Should I go through with the access plan since it may help my grades? Or should I just seek treatment on my own and try to keep up with school?

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[Goro]

I have recently been struggling in school due to mental health issues (this is new to me and trying to seek help now). I talked with the school and they recommended I do a student access plan that would declare that I have depression and anxiety and to allow for accommodations for occasionally missing classes and extra time on exams if needed.

I am hesitant because some of my classmates said that it goes permanently on your schools record so your professors will see it and you may have to disclose it when getting licensing.

Should I go through with the access plan since it may help my grades? Or should I just seek treatment on my own and try to keep up with school?

At my school, we are NOT told what accommodations are for, only that you are entitled to them and we have to, well, accommodate you.

 

[kraskadva]

At my school, we are NOT told what accommodations are for, only that you are entitled to them and we have to, well, accommodate you.

This ^ is true at all schools. FERPA policy.

 

[scubascuba]

OP are you at a US school?

Yes

 

[7331poas]

You should check to make sure your reasons are kept confidential.

 

[ciestar]

Okay, well I have not heard the term "student access plan" used at a US school so I'm not sure what exactly that is. But every US school should have an office called "services for students with disabilities" or something similar. You can request disability accommodations through this office, which usually just requires a letter from your treating physician explaining what condition you have and what accommodations you require. Your professors, course directors, etc. are then given a letter stating "Scuba has a medical condition requiring accommodations X, Y, and Z." The actual condition you have will not be disclosed unless you choose to do so. This is how the law works for educational institutions in the US so may be different at international schools.

Residency programs will not know that you have accommodations unless you tell them, or for some reason one of your LOR writers or MSPE team decides to include it in your letter. It should not be on your transcript (although I believe there may be a mark if you take your boards with accommodations? not sure) With regards to licensing, most states now ask a question along the lines of "do you have/have you ever had a condition that would impair your ability to do your job as a physician." Some states are stricter/more invasive than others. Here is a list of the types of questions asked in different states.

So ridiculous. Yet theyre supposed to be promoting “wellness”. You can be in counseling for a myriad of reasons.

I have apps out to programs in FL and DE, doesn’t even seem worth it if I have to defend myself in that sense.

 

[hallowmann]

So ridiculous. Yet theyre supposed to be promoting “wellness”. You can be in counseling for a myriad of reasons.

I have apps out to programs in FL and DE, doesn’t even seem worth it if I have to defend myself in that sense.

Do those questions come up on the training license application as well or just the permanent license. If its just the permanent license, then you should be fine applying for residency, just don't stay there...

 

[hallowmann]

I def had those types of questions on my training license application as well, but that's just one state obviously.

That's unfortunate. It truly is ridiculous, but this is only one of many ways doctors are treated differently than their patients. If anything is an indication that wellness for medical boards is lip service it's this.