Pedagogical and psychological support for students with mental illness at public universities in the Czech Republic

This thesis examines educational and psychological support for students with mental health conditions at public higher education institutions in the Czech Republic. Its aim is to describe and evaluate whether and how individual institutions provide this support, the extent to which it is implemented, and which specific services and measures are available to students. Particular attention is paid to students with mental health conditions who are registered as students with specific needs, while forms of support offered to students with mental health conditions outside this system are also considered. The empirical part is based on a questionnaire survey conducted in support centres for students with specific needs, completed by 14 out of 26 public higher education institutions in the Czech Republic, and on an analysis of internal documents and publicly available information. The findings indicate that support for students with mental health conditions is understood as part of broader provision for students with specific needs, that a centralised or combined organisational model predominates, and that most institutions draw on a subsidy from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports to cover the increased costs associated with the studies of students with specific needs. Nevertheless, the centres...