1. ASS. PROFESSOR MARIA HOLLER HUNE COUNSELLOR 22. OCTOBER 2009 THE DANISH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AARHUS UNIVERSITY * › The importance of counseling and support of students with mental illness in a learning perspective › by › Ass. Prof. Maria Holler Hune › Conference DareProjekt 2009 › Disability Awareness - New Challenges for Education › Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland 1

2. ASS. PROFESSOR MARIA HOLLER HUNE COUNSELLOR 22. OCTOBER 2009 THE DANISH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AARHUS UNIVERSITY * The main purpose: › To examine and discuss: › The importance of counselling and support in a learning perspective › when working towards including and integrating students with mental › illness in the educational system on the basis of equal opportunity. 2

3. ASS. PROFESSOR MARIA HOLLER HUNE COUNSELLOR 22. OCTOBER 2009 THE DANISH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AARHUS UNIVERSITY * Why is it important to focus on a learning perspective ? We are dealing with a (new?) group of young people › Early intervention › New and better medical treatment › An increasing focus on identity issues among students with mental illness › How do they see them self – how are they looked upon by others › They belong to a changing youth generation Important to focus not only on the specific academic support › compensating for their specific learning difficulties Equally important to facilitate there process of identity formation 3

4. ASS. PROFESSOR MARIA HOLLER HUNE COUNSELLOR 22. OCTOBER 2009 THE DANISH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AARHUS UNIVERSITY * The main focus point of the presentation › How can we understand and define the notion of learning? Which consequences does the diagnose mentally ill have on young students process of identity formation? › Counseling- and Support in a learning perspective › How do we work with students with mentally illness at the counseling and support Centre? › Why is a learning perspective of the essence when offering counseling and support to students with mentally illness? 4

5. ASS. PROFESSOR MARIA HOLLER HUNE COUNSELLOR 22. OCTOBER 2009 THE DANISH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AARHUS UNIVERSITY * How can we understand and define the notion of learning? › 1. learning refers to the mental processes that take place in the individual › In focus is the learning process, › › 2. learning refers to the results of the learning processes that take place in the individual. › In focus what is taught, or the change that has occurred 3. learning and learning processes refers to the interaction processes between the individual and its surroundings (social and material) 4. The word learning is often used more or less coincide with the word education, › 5

6. ASS. PROFESSOR MARIA HOLLER HUNE COUNSELLOR 22. OCTOBER 2009 THE DANISH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AARHUS UNIVERSITY * How can we understand and define the notion of learning? › Important to work with a broad and open understanding of the concept of learning – a holistic understanding: › Because: › socialization, qualification, competence and therapy etc - falls within: › They are specific angle from which the concept of learning is perceived. › Impossible to maintain boundaries between what is learning and what is socialization or therapy etc., › 6

7. ASS. PROFESSOR MARIA HOLLER HUNE COUNSELLOR 22. OCTOBER 2009 THE DANISH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AARHUS UNIVERSITY * A lifelong learning process An acquisition process where the individual converters and evolve. › Creates an identity, › part of lifelong learning, both academically, personally and socially But the individuals learning process, hence identity formation process, can not seen as a private inner core. › It is not an isolated psychological 'essence', as individuals themselves and nobody else has dominion over. It is influenced by and dependent upon the interaction with other 7

8. ASS. PROFESSOR MARIA HOLLER HUNE COUNSELLOR 22. OCTOBER 2009 THE DANISH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AARHUS UNIVERSITY * Which consequences does the diagnose mentally ill have on young students process of identity formation? 8

9. ASS. PROFESSOR MARIA HOLLER HUNE COUNSELLOR 22. OCTOBER 2009 THE DANISH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AARHUS UNIVERSITY * The majority of students with mental illness experiences an identity crisis › They live as they put it: ’in No mans land’ › They are neither / nor: › Hence they neither have an identity as ’mentally ill’, nor do they have an identity as ’normal’ They are in their own eyes ’something different, something else’. Many asks: › Who am I? › Who do I want to be? › 9

10. ASS. PROFESSOR MARIA HOLLER HUNE COUNSELLOR 22. OCTOBER 2009 THE DANISH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AARHUS UNIVERSITY * › Why do they have this experiences? › And equally important › Why is it important for them to know who they really are? 10

11. ASS. PROFESSOR MARIA HOLLER HUNE COUNSELLOR 22. OCTOBER 2009 THE DANISH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AARHUS UNIVERSITY * The notion of identity › Identity is changeable, multidimensional and context dependent › It captures a diversity of experiences of self, others, culture, history and personality › The notion of identity are connected to our experiences of who we are and who others are › The notion of identity is relationally: › It includes both a personal and a social side 11

12. ASS. PROFESSOR MARIA HOLLER HUNE COUNSELLOR 22. OCTOBER 2009 THE DANISH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AARHUS UNIVERSITY * Which processes have an influence on how an individual identity is created? 12

13. ASS. PROFESSOR MARIA HOLLER HUNE COUNSELLOR 22. OCTOBER 2009 THE DANISH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AARHUS UNIVERSITY * The individuel approach: › The main question is: › Which processes have an influence on how an individual identity is shaped and created? › ‘A given persons identity are affected of and contingent on social interaction with other people’ (Jenkins 2009). 13

14. ASS. PROFESSOR MARIA HOLLER HUNE COUNSELLOR 22. OCTOBER 2009 THE DANISH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AARHUS UNIVERSITY * The youth approach › The main question is: › What characterizes youth? › There day-to-day life as a whole is ambiguous, multidimensional and depending on the specific context. › Making young people more vulnerable than previous 14

15. ASS. PROFESSOR MARIA HOLLER HUNE COUNSELLOR 22. OCTOBER 2009 THE DANISH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AARHUS UNIVERSITY * The psychiatric approach › Central and important questions: › What happens when young students with psychological difficulties encounter the psychiatric system? › What do they experience through the process of diagnosing? 15

16. ASS. PROFESSOR MARIA HOLLER HUNE COUNSELLOR 22. OCTOBER 2009 THE DANISH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AARHUS UNIVERSITY * Why is it an identity crisis? › It is a daily life in ‘No Mans land’ › It is a life with conflicting realities › Young and studying › Mentally illness › It is a life as neither nor 16

17. ASS. PROFESSOR MARIA HOLLER HUNE COUNSELLOR 22. OCTOBER 2009 THE DANISH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AARHUS UNIVERSITY * Why is it a life in ’No Mans Land’? › Students with mental disorders belong to a youth generation: › To find your way in life you have to chose always and all the time › Choices are a personal matter › Problems and difficulties is a mark of inability › There is a ‘right way’ and a ‘wrong way’ to be young › There is a ‘right way’ and a ‘wrong way’ of being a student 17

18. ASS. PROFESSOR MARIA HOLLER HUNE COUNSELLOR 22. OCTOBER 2009 THE DANISH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AARHUS UNIVERSITY * Why is it a life in ’No Mans Land’? › The polarisation between the ‘right way’ and the ‘wrong way’ intensifies because their mental disorder brings them in contact with an other reality: › The psychiatric field where the focus is on illness and psychological difficulties › They experiences a clientisation 18

19. ASS. PROFESSOR MARIA HOLLER HUNE COUNSELLOR 22. OCTOBER 2009 THE DANISH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AARHUS UNIVERSITY * It is a life in ’No Mans Land’ because: › They experiences that they are no longer the same person as they thought they were › › They are left with the feeling of a ‘broken image’ › Becoming mentally ill completely changes: The way in which they look upon themselves › The way they are looked upon by others 19

20. ASS. PROFESSOR MARIA HOLLER HUNE COUNSELLOR 22. OCTOBER 2009 THE DANISH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AARHUS UNIVERSITY * The importance of an increased focus on social identity in a learning perspective › Identities are not entirely shaped by others’ definitions. › Individuals can be active agents in the achievement of their own identities › they have a responsibility. › Individuals are able to choose their one identities › They are able to engage in shaping their identities › On the other hand they have a lot of experiences from interaction with other social agents › their process of identity formation is highly influenced by this experiences 20

21. ASS. PROFESSOR MARIA HOLLER HUNE COUNSELLOR 22. OCTOBER 2009 THE DANISH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AARHUS UNIVERSITY * The importance of an increased focus on social identity in a learning perspective › Counseling and support targeting students with mental illness not only has to focus on: › The specific academic counseling and support in order to compensate for their specific difficulties › it also has to focus on: › Facilitating there process of identity formation. 21

22. ASS. PROFESSOR MARIA HOLLER HUNE COUNSELLOR 22. OCTOBER 2009 THE DANISH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AARHUS UNIVERSITY * 22 Counseling and support for students with mentally illness in a learning perspective

23. ASS. PROFESSOR MARIA HOLLER HUNE COUNSELLOR 22. OCTOBER 2009 THE DANISH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AARHUS UNIVERSITY * What is The Counseling and Support Center? › An offer to students at the Danish school of Education, University of Aarhus, with special needs for advice, guidance and support › Including students with mental illnesses

24. ASS. PROFESSOR MARIA HOLLER HUNE COUNSELLOR 22. OCTOBER 2009 THE DANISH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AARHUS UNIVERSITY * Vision: › Equal opportunities for study because students with specific difficulties should be able to realize their abilities to implement a higher education › but must meet the general and specific quality requirements in the study. 24

25. ASS. PROFESSOR MARIA HOLLER HUNE COUNSELLOR 22. OCTOBER 2009 THE DANISH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AARHUS UNIVERSITY * Purpose: › Through special educational counseling, guidance and support to ensure students with a mental illness › the opportunity, on equal footing with other students › to maintain and implement an higher education › through which the individual have the possibility of › becoming an included and integral part of Danish society. 25

26. ASS. PROFESSOR MARIA HOLLER HUNE COUNSELLOR 22. OCTOBER 2009 THE DANISH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AARHUS UNIVERSITY * Target group: students with specific study related difficulties Learning difficulties: - concentration difficulties › - tendency to postpone, change of program, etc. › - Lack of overview, difficulties in organizing and planning › - difficulties with interaction with other students - isolation, loneliness › - lack of motivation and energy › - low vulnerability and stress level

27. ASS. PROFESSOR MARIA HOLLER HUNE COUNSELLOR 22. OCTOBER 2009 THE DANISH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AARHUS UNIVERSITY * A special educational practice › Compensation for the learning difficulties not a therapeutic practice in order to make them 'healthy'. A special pedagogical practices – aim: › to provide a special educational assistance › to meet their special needs › to make their learning more effective › To ensure the quality of their education. The optimal result of the counseling and support is that the students gradually learn to regulate their own learning processes 27

28. ASS. PROFESSOR MARIA HOLLER HUNE COUNSELLOR 22. OCTOBER 2009 THE DANISH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AARHUS UNIVERSITY * CASE: › Lise (schizophrenic): › Support from a student – focus on learning how to learn › Support – bridging the gab between the psychiatric system, the social welfare and here day-to-day life as a student. › Counseling 28

29. ASS. PROFESSOR MARIA HOLLER HUNE COUNSELLOR 22. OCTOBER 2009 THE DANISH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AARHUS UNIVERSITY * › PRACTICE SHOW THAT › COUNSELING AND SUPPORT › IN A LEARNING PERSPECTIVE WORKS › WHY? 29

30. ASS. PROFESSOR MARIA HOLLER HUNE COUNSELLOR 22. OCTOBER 2009 THE DANISH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AARHUS UNIVERSITY * It integrates and includes students with mental illness in the educational system on the basis of equal opportunity › A holistic approach - coordinated with teaching subjects › Based on their specific study-related problems (not their illness) - Facilitates the individual learning process › Maintained in their identity as a student They become an active player in the Danish society

31. ASS. PROFESSOR MARIA HOLLER HUNE COUNSELLOR 22. OCTOBER 2009 THE DANISH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AARHUS UNIVERSITY * It integrates and includes students with mental illness in the educational system on the basis of equal opportunity › Prevention of social exclusion mechanisms. › The ability to develop to their full potential - the dream of the good life › Supports the individuals rehabilitation process – life long learning process

32. ASS. PROFESSOR MARIA HOLLER HUNE COUNSELLOR 22. OCTOBER 2009 THE DANISH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AARHUS UNIVERSITY * It is through the individual development – identity formation and learning process that individuals are directed towards being a integrated and included part of today's society › The learning / acquisition of knowledge plays an important role: hence through education and through active participation in society It is a part of each individual's socialization and professional, personal and social development and mobility. This also applies to young people with a mental disorder. 32

33. 22. October 2009 THE DANISH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AARHUS UNIVERSITY Thank you for your attention +45 2778 2880 mhh@dpu.dk 33