# 3.1 Communication

The preferred communication method by the majority of students was email. They felt that this gave them the time and space to consider what to say. However, some students found email to be easy to misconstrue and stressful to deal with. The majority of students found phone calls ineffective and too daunting a prospect. Face-to-face communication was not considered by students as their tuition is online. Also receiving responses to emails in a timely manner and a clear communication of their tutor’s working hours was appreciated and reduced over-thinking and the build-up of anxiety.

Keeping communication channels open, especially given that there will be periods when students, on account of their mental health conditions, will be unable to engage, was considered to be very important. Students reported that closing the communication channels could lead to them becoming paranoid.

OpenLearn - Supporting university students with a mental health condition
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