DSO - Disability Resources Handbook Assisting Students with Psychological Disabilities Students with psychological disabilities experience significant emotional difficulty that may require treatment in a hospital. With appropriate treatment, often combining medications, psychotherapy and support, the majority of psychological disorders are cured or controlled. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that one in five people in the United States has some form of psychological disability. However, only one in five persons with a diagnosable psychological disorder ever seeks treatment due to the strong stigmatization involved.
Psychological disabilities affect people of any age, gender, income group, and intellectual level.
Most people with psychological disabilities do not exhibit disruptive behavior. Eighty to ninety percent of people with depression experience relief from symptoms through medication, therapy, or a combination of the two. Depression is a variable condition that may fluctuate during a person's lifetime. More people are now seeking treatment outside the walls of state mental health institutions. Common accommodations for students with psychological disabilities are exam modifications, alternative ways of completing assignments, time extensions, taped lectures, early syllabi, and study skill and strategies training.