[monkeybruv]

It's very complicated, so I'll only go into details as and when I have to. Basically, I was on a full-time double-honours undergrad degree, and snapped around last christmas and decided to finally give up and switch to a less literary-analysis-heavy course. After struggling for 7 years with routine breakdowns due to essay subjects in school due to the clash between that style of thinking, my personality and my depression...and worsened by the fact I actually cared about them...it was a lot for me to give in like that. But I was assured that it would be no problem, I could graduate when planned. So I opted out of handing in my coursework and doing the exam in january for last term's creative writing module (at this point in all fairness I would have actually rather killed myself than done them, you know how it is...) to focus on sorting out my course structure and finally prioritising my health over my studies.
Since then I've been in hell. Since 7 months ago, when I was at breaking point already, I've met absolutely nobody who knows what they're doing. I have made very important decisions based on advise that, when it's too late for me to revoke them, turns out to be half-arsed and often completely false. With a severe mental illness, I've had to email and meet a hundred people off my own back to try and pick up the peices and always get sent right back to where I've started. Every time I think it's finally over, I find out there's some other massive glitch they forgot to mention to me. Even with a part time course, I've been more stressed than ever. I've barely left the house or had a moment to enjoy, and now I'm meant to be on holiday and it's still going on and I still don't know where i'll be in september - just that I may be graduating 2 years late now.
The mental health mentor that I see through the uni is the only person who's been helpful to me (just in hearing me out) - but unfortunately she knows nothing of university procedures so can't actually help. I've had people be condescending, or ignoring me once they realise their mistake. The worst is being treated like you're wsting someone's time when all you've done for the last 7 months is try to figure out this one thing and if someone just did their job properly the first time all this would not still be happening.
I'm now following advice to process a formal complaint...but the thought of it is so stressful. There's so much correspondence related, some was by word of mouth...I know I have to finish this but I feel like just giving up. The last straw was, after thinking that all this wasn't so bad as I had half a year's worth of 1st class honours at least...they made a mistake with one of my extensions and capped a mark...then told me this year doesn't count as I should have had part-time funding in order not to fail the year by only doing half of the modules. So all of this was for nothing. I may as well have been in hospital/ working / on holiday / in a different university starting all over...which is sounding more and more tempting tbh.

What would you do? I've lost so much because of this, and I've missed out on a whole year of what's meant to be the best (and most expensive) time of your life...my mentor says I am very strong to have kept on in spite of all of this, but sometimes I wish I hadn't coped (as I nearly didn't) and people would realise what a mess they've made...sometimes I wish they had my death on their conscience.

[Rohag]

I, too, would be inclined to file a formal complaint. With respect to diminished capacities and emotional fragility, I would seek assistance - even paid/professional assistance - in filing the complaint.

Questions:

Will the delay in graduating mean anything to your future employers?

Is your course of study leading to a vocation suited to you as a long-term depression sufferer?

[monkeybruv]

Thanks for your reply. Maybe I will think of asking for them to pay for help...the prob;em is, I don't know where it'll be coming from as I don't know what I'm doing next year thanks to them
The delay in graduating...probably, as they'll want to know what I used those years for. And there's the fact I'll have another 2 years of paying for education and not having time for a job. I haven't got a particular career in mind yet, so I can be adaptable, though. I think a job will be a lot better for me than studying has been as I won't have the long-term creative projects that make me like a rabbit in headlights....