Medications

Clients don’t always understand about the medications they are taking.

The mental health workers suggest asking questions about medication, and have even suggested ways to ask questions that are not offensive. Honesty and clarity from the start is the way to go.

Mental health workers wanted teachers to be aware that there might be a response delay. Clients might not show many emotions externally.

The clients said:

• My medication makes me sleepy so it is hard for me to wake up. Once I am awake I don’t have a problem with learning.
• Medication affects learning. It slows you down. It shuts your brain off. It makes you tired. It feels like a hangover. You can’t study for long periods. You need to take lots of breaks. It takes longer to learn.
• I am useless after 7 p.m. after I have taken my medication.

Dealing with Issues

The clients said:

• Sometimes we don’t notice that things are going badly for us. We may not see the signs that are obvious to others. It is helpful if the teacher says something and we talk about the issue.
• We need to do breathing or yoga. We may need to go to a safe place until we are calmer. Sometimes a cup of tea helps.
• If I am having a panic attack it helps to journalize. I can tear it up or show it to the teacher so the teacher understands how I was feeling.

Memory

Most clients identified having problems remembering what they read. Mental health and literacy staff reported that it is common for clients to say, “On a bad day I can’t remember what I have just read.”

Concentration

Participants said that some students may be happier with the door open and they suggested having a few work stations that face away from the class, but not too many.

Medication might produce blurry vision and concentration might be affected. Participants recommended providing a range of activities and change activities frequently. The medication often means that they are tired all the time and that they have trouble focusing. Clients asked literacy staff to provide plenty of breaks. Often they get flustered when they have to work quickly.