Paul Slevin

After receiving support to help manage anxiety and panic attacks, Paul Slevin applied to study with The Open University (OU) so he could help others experiencing mental health challenges. 

Leaving school after completing his Standard Grades and now working as a taxi driver, Paul from Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire made the bold decision in his early 30s to apply for university after being inspired by the support he received to cope with anxiety and panic attacks.

Now aged 34, Paul has achieved a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Psychology with Counselling from the OU in Scotland and has begun training as a volunteer with a mental health charity. He has also recently secured a job as a Support Worker with a residential and home care services provider, Love Care.

Paul explains: “I’ve struggled throughout most of my adult life with anxiety and panic attacks.

“Around a year and a half before starting my journey at the OU, I was really struggling with the panic attacks and attended a men’s charity called Chris’s House. I received a block of therapy sessions courtesy of the charity and it changed my life, and I still to date haven’t had another panic attack.

“After this I thought about the future and getting back to studying and decided I wanted to learn more about the mind, and hopefully in the future repay the favour by being at the other side of the table for someone in need of help.”

The accessibility, flexibility and affordability of studying with the OU made it possible for him to study for a career in helping people suffering with mental health issues.

Paul says that the Part-Time Fee Grant was “very important” and it is unlikely he would have been able to afford to study without access to the grant.

Learning while working

Throughout his studies, he continued to balance working towards his degree with earning an income from his job as a taxi driver.

Paul invested in a MacBook at the start of his degree to study at home and later bought an iPad that he could use while at work. He explains: “Working in the taxi, especially during the week, can see quiet times. Normally, I would listen to audiobooks or waste time on my phone.

“I started by bringing out the module textbooks and a notepad but decided to get an iPad. With this I could download module content, textbooks and eventually I linked it to my phone’s hotspot so I could work on essays to utilise my time. By doing this, I was able to learn and work on essays while I was working so I didn’t have to lose out on working to study.”

During his second year of studying, Paul’s taxi was unfortunately damaged during an incident in the run up to Christmas and it took close to two months to be repaired, which meant he had no earnings during this period.

The OU in Scotland made him aware he could access Discretionary Funding, now known as the Study Related Costs Funding, to get financial help and he received two payments, which he says, “massively saved me in that tough time.”

‘Sense of purpose’

It's a great university, especially for people like myself who are a bit older and think they are finished with studying. It's never too late for a change!”

Discussing his experience of studying with the OU, he says: “I loved it. It had been more than a decade since I had been in an educational setting and it gave me a sense of purpose. I was excited to learn more.

“The module content was always engaging, and I enjoyed attending the tutorials live – the lecturers were always interesting and it was great to learn from them.”

“It's a great university, especially for people like myself who are a bit older and think they are finished with studying. It's never too late for a change!”

Since completing his degree, Paul has applied to volunteer with the charity Shout, which is the UK's first and only 24/7 text service, offering free and confidential advice to anyone struggling with their mental health. He is also considering studying for a postgraduate qualification in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

“Studying with the OU definitely helped me to volunteer with Shout, as people who text struggle with varied issues, most of which we covered during the module content. It helped me understand more in detail what these people are going through and equipped me with the tools to tackle these issues.”

Ahead of graduating, Paul comments: “I’m proud of myself. I said I was going to see it through and I have.”