University Challenge: Part Six

Suggestion To My University/Universities In General/The Government: Money, please?

 

I have a part-time job, which I was extremely lucky to get. I work in a lovely shop, with good people. It has a fairly relaxed atmosphere and I don’t feel under pressure. In fact, I actually look forward to being there most of the time. I was worried about getting a job while being at uni because I knew that there would be time, and most definitely energy, conflicts. With all my uni work to do, I wasn’t sure whether I’d be able to handle it. I can’t say it’s easy, but generally having this job is a really positive thing and helps with my mood. The thing is, like most students with part-time jobs I’m on minimum wage and am actually told by my uni not to work more than 15 hours a week. I earn roughly £56 a week… and I pay £37 of that to my therapist.

           

As most people who have tried to obtain therapy through the NHS know, it’s basically impossible. All through my teenage years I was kept on waiting lists, offered counselling instead (which I didn’t find helpful at all) and given anti depressants which generally made my mood drop even further. I started seeing private therapists a few years ago, and eventually I found someone I felt could really help me. And she has. In the year I’ve been seeing my current therapist, I’ve seen such significant changes to my mood that I actually feel like I won’t always be depressed. I’ve felt positive about my life. This is a huge thing.

           

When I look back over my bank statements for the past year I cannot believe I’ve survived up until now without getting (even more) massively into debt. I pay for rent, bills, a monthly bus ticket (which I need to get to my therapist’s office), food, books and my weekly appointment out of my student loan and my savings (which are rapidly diminishing). I’ve bought basically nothing for myself in the way of treats (clothes, CDs etc) because I just can’t afford it.

 

 

I applied for Access to Learning (a grant you can apply for if you are struggling financially). This took forever. I had to obtain bank statements from the last three months, my housing contract and a letter from my therapist’s office, photocopy the whole lot, fill in a ten page form and return the whole lot to the welfare office. This is great when you’ve got little to no time/energy/willpower to do anything… */sarcasm* They took weeks to process it and then sent me a letter telling me I hadn’t included a copy of my Disability Assessment Report which they had right there in the welfare office. I finally had to go to the Welfare office to talk to someone who informed me that I needed to provide them with another piece of evidence before they could begin to assess the application. I was exhausted and feeling terrible. At this point, I hadn’t been eating properly because I basically couldn’t afford food. I broke down in tears in front of the man I was talking to. He didn’t really know what to say. I finally obtained the last bit of evidence and after more time had passed received a letter stating I would receive a lump sum of £691.

 

This sounds like a good result (and don’t get me wrong I’m grateful!) but all it meant was that I didn’t go overdrawn. Within two months I was right back where I started. The money had disappeared: rent, bills and weekly therapy took it all.

           

About a month ago I made the decision that I would try and cut my therapist’s appointments from once a week to once a fortnight. I was not happy about this decision at all, but my situation being what it was, I didn’t feel I had a choice. I had survived a couple of breaks like this when my therapist took time off last summer so I thought that maybe it would be all right…

           

In short, it hasn’t been. Turns out there’s a big difference between weekly and fortnightly therapy sessions. In no time at all I’ve felt hopeless, suicidal and like I’m sliding back into my old ways, how I felt before I started therapy… It has made me realise that I need to keep seeing my therapist every week. There’s no other option.

           

But can I afford it? I’m currently trying to apply for my loans for next year, screaming with frustration because it looks like my parents earn just over the amount required for me to get extra financial help… My financial situation doesn’t seem to count for much. Even though I’ll be 21 this year and I have moved out of their house, I am still apparently dependent on my parents. They help out as much as they can, but to be honest I feel awkward asking them. My father is currently in therapy himself and is having to halve his working hours because of his own depression and my mother is retired. I don’t honestly feel like I can just ask for money as and when I need it.

           

My Disability Allowance doesn’t seem to cover things like therapy. It covered my laptop (definite plus) and my fortnightly (or thereabouts) sessions with my mentor but not much else of use. I guess it’s assumed that if you turn your nose up at the NHS, then you have to fork out for private therapy out of your own pocket. Never mind that the NHS have either ignored me or treated me with disbelief regarding my depression for years… My point is, if my Disability Allowance is willing to provide me with things like ‘textbooks specifically to help with my disability’ (which is what? Self-help books?) and ‘taxi journeys’ (presumably when I don’t feel I can get the bus, but to be honest phoning for a taxi is even more difficult, let alone having to ask for a receipt to photocopy and send off for reimbursement), then why isn’t it possible to gain help with my therapy costs?

           

The reason for the title of this entry is that I’m sure this is a government issue rather than one personal to my uni, but it is infuriating nonetheless. Why should I have to put a price on my own sanity? I’m not saying it is my university’s responsibility to pay for my therapy, but if they’re willing to give money towards other issues regarding disabilities, they’d do better not to make it so complicated for me to gain financial help when I need it.