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Self harm and teaching...
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
I've applied to do a post graduate teacher training course at the end of this year. To be accepted for the course I have to go for an interview and a medical.
Does anybody know what the medical involves? Is it just a weight, height, hearing test etc. medical?
Also is there any rules/regulations about self-harmers not being able to train or work as teachers?
It sounds like a really stupid question but it's been bothering me and I don't really know where I can find out about it.
If the medical's just a quick checkup thing I can lie my way through no problem, if not...is it going to ruin my chances of getting accepted?
Does anybody know?
Sorry if this sounds like a really stupid post. Thanks.
Does anybody know what the medical involves? Is it just a weight, height, hearing test etc. medical?
Also is there any rules/regulations about self-harmers not being able to train or work as teachers?
It sounds like a really stupid question but it's been bothering me and I don't really know where I can find out about it.
If the medical's just a quick checkup thing I can lie my way through no problem, if not...is it going to ruin my chances of getting accepted?
Does anybody know?
Sorry if this sounds like a really stupid post. Thanks.
Post edited by JustV on
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Comments
Just wondering are you getting any help for this?
Before the actual medical I think there was a section on the medical form in which you were supposed to disclose any history of "emotional problems". Obviously if you've been to your GP about problems in the past and the course requires a medical disclosure from your GP (with your consent, of course) then it may be made known to them that way. I don't advocate lying when it's an important situation, but if there's no record of your self-harm then no one would know if you lied about it. That's the kind of situation, however, that can really come back and bite you on the bum. Weigh your options carefully, for sure.
I'm not sure about whether there are any regulations surrounding self-harm and routes into Teaching, to be honest I wouldn't have thought there was any set legislation about it...and if they did know about it then I'd presume they assess all cases individually. Someone who has applied for/has been on a Teaching course will probably be able to give you more specific information about what information you have to disclose and what would hinder your acceptance etc.
Good luck with it all, sorry I can't be more help.
As briggi said, in the form there is a section for emotional health.
Another point to note is that if you get on the course and there is a problem with your medical, you have until the end of the course to sort it out. I had a problem with my initial medical and was told that it doesn't matter as long as it was sorted by the end of my course.
If you can show that you are getting help and support for depression etc then you should be fine
Just bear in mind that the PGCE is a really demanding course and make sure you are emotionally ready for quite a busy, hectic and extremely stressful year.
I'll see what happens between now and then. I've never been to anyone about it so it's not on my records. If I can just lie on the form then it should be fine and if I can't handle the year then I'll work that out when the time comes, I supose.
Thanks much for the help guys
You could be dealing with students who self-harm and then what would you say if they confided in you? How would you deal with it? If you can't control your own self-harm then how will you ever know the skills to help young people in your position?
I know it sounds harsh... If you have depression and aren't in the best of mental health... Well being a teacher, you need a strong mind, you need to be feeling well because then you will be able to help young people better.
I agree and disagree.
People who cut themselves have a better knowledge of how likewise people feel...they can empathise...so in that respect i'd say were more than qualified to deal with people cutting themseves.
Depression could make teaching very difficult though. We made some of our female teachers cry, one of them actually was off for a while because of problems she was having. Teaching is dodgy generally if you're lacking confidence and a light-hearted view of life.
That's pretty much nonsense. It would only even be partly true if everyone cut themselves for the same reason. Even on another level it would only be a superficial level of "help" that someone could give, in the same vein as someone who has a cold is able to "help" someone else with a cold.
I'd agree with that bit.
Anyway, to answer the original question, you won't be able to lie your way through your medical, you'll need to understand your condition and be able to explain it. I think that you will need to have a sound mental state to be accepted, or be willing to undergo a period of consultation to be conditionally accepted.
I have a history of depression and self harm in my early 20s and am currently doing my PGCE.
The difference with me and your sister is that we have overcome our depression and self harm and were mentally stable to undertake such a hectic course.
I would never ever EVER tell anyone to consider doing this course whilst ill with depression. It is far too taxing to take lightly and if you think you are not up to it then you shouldn't even bother applying until you are because you are taking away a place from someone who is mentally stable to do it.
I am mentally stable now and there are times that I have thought "shit, I can't cope" so to be unwell whilst doing the course doesn't even bare thinking about. Fuck knows where I would be.
I would also never ever EVER condone anyone lying about their personal circumstances to get on this course. The second you are found out you will be chucked off. Simple as. And I don't know how far it would go with the GTCS about whether it would go on your record with them.
If teaching is what you want to do then seriously consider what you are going to do. If lies go on your record with the GTCS then you may not be able to apply/register with them again. They can be that strict.
and i'm just guessing, but if stress is the reason for self harming - then i think you'd be better off re-considering applying for teacher training... which is by its very nature, a very stressful career choice.
okay its not on any records or anything so your report from your GP should be okay from the point of view of the application, but, if you lie and its not on any records or anything and then you get found out you'll get kicked off your course most likely. and getting help for self harming can take a very long time to get to a place where you are emotionally strong enough.
i think if someone self harms and they turn to sombody for help - they tend to turn to somebody who they do think is emotionally strong. nobody goes to a weak person for help. any knowledge that a self-harmer has aswell on self harm would be very personal to them... and i think if somebody is in an emotionally bad place themselves and are hurting themselves - i don't think true empathy can be possible, because your mind is constantly on your own problems, and it leaves little space for anything else. - i do think however if you've been over self harm for a number of years, and are emotionally stable and have been for years, then there is no real problem. - but that is not what this thread indicates.
just to change the subject slightly as well: the police force is like that. any emotional problems... you need to have been over your problems for 4 years before applying, i seem to remember. and having such problems and appying leads to instant rejection of the application. - these sort of rules DO exist for a reason; and its is to protect the applicant just as much as it is to protect the people they will be involved with.
think about it carefully!
I would say though that I really think you would do well if you seeked some support to talk through what makes you self-harm, because as I'm sure you know teaching can be very stressful and it would be awful if something you love doing (teachng) could end up causing you so much pain. Your GP will put you in touch with good organisations that will support your needs rather than have a go at you. If you can't face that there are some great people on these boards that will be there to support you, just don't wit there worrying all on your own.
My best friend self-harms and she refuses to talk it through with anyone so I realise how hard it is.
Good luck with teaching! You're going to love it!! :thumb:
I've been self-harming for 5 years and have thought about getting help several times. The problem is, I keep convincing myself there's nothing wrong.
Also, my mum's a nurse and has a "miraculous" way of finding out everything that goes on my medical records. Doctor-patient confidentiality doesn't exist in my family...
However, I am considering going to the councillor at my uni and seeing what they suggest. God, I don't want to but I need to do something. True, I've been considering it since I started uni 3 years ago.
I don't know what else to do. I'm not going to my GP. For me that just doesn't seem like an option.
Meh. Wish me luck.
Not at all, if you're still cutting then you still have issues yourself. I'm sorry to say...
That's like saying if you're currently using drugs, you're fit to work in rehab. Somebody who's been clean for years would be fit to work with drug users because they'd know how to quit, they'd understand the pain others are going through and can offer techniques.
Empathy is one thing but offers no solutions.
I live away from home and have changed GP's once already.
I hate the doctors. I have to take someone with me to make sure I get through the door without having a panic attack. If I can avoid it I don't go at all.
Oh right. So people cut themselves for reasons other than depression and/or attention? The root cause may differ, but that isn't the actual depressive experience.
A cold isn't a psychological problem, so that's another silly analogy.
I'm not even going to bother explaining how wrong you are, because it's massively irrelevant. If you're cutting, and not even seeking help, you shouldn't be teaching.
Wrong about what, exactly? There are other reasons for cutting than depression/attention?
Wrong about your entire concept that someone who is depressed is the best person to help out another depressed person. Basically, just wrong.
Really.
So someone's who's depressed can't provide the same advice and support as someone who's happy as larry? How's that?
Oh my god. :banghead:
You know what, if you're so clever, you figure it out yourself. I'm buggered if I'm going to waste my time.
On the road to recovery you learn skills to help yourself get better... If you cut then you do not have these skills.
do as i say, not as i do. a fine basis for learning.
how would you offer personal advice to someone struggling to get out of their hole if you are still in the hole yourself? if i was the person being helped, you know i would be thinking, 'so if it's so easy and good and 'worth it', how come you haven't done it?