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How do I find help for Mental Health while at uni?

Moved from Montserrat W.I | Written by Isis Harvey. Currently studying MSc Mental Health: Psychological Therapies

Mental Health
School will have you crying in a field at 1am lmao. I have been there. Make sure to ask what mental health support is available on your campus. Whether you need support for stress, or more serious mental health difficulties, your university should have a service available for you.

These are some of the access options I was aware of during undergrad:
The nursing service – If you’re having an immediate crisis and your university has a nursing service you can go directly to them to be seen. They can provide immediate support and then guide you to your university’s well-being service.

The well-being service – You can go directly to this service. In some universities this service will allow you to access a well-being support worker who can discuss any academic support you may need due to your mental state, such as an Individual Learning Plan which can recommend extensions on assignments. Depending on the severity of your situation, they may recommend you contact your GP.

Your university GP – If things are not going well, you can do a mental health assessment with your GP. This is usually simple, and they tend to ask a few questions assessing your mood. In some cases, they may recommend medication or self-referral to a psychological therapies service. Therapy like cognitive behavioural therapy is free on the NHS and can be useful for individuals struggling with depression and anxiety, so if you think you need it and that it might work for yourself-refer!

DSA – If you have a learning disability, or if during the year you realise your mental health is seriously affecting your academic performance and your GP has confirmed that you have a long-term mental health condition, you will be eligible for Disabled Students Allowance. DSA can provide funding for any specialist equipment you may need, such as a new laptop, editing software or a mentor. I know many of us come from cultural backgrounds where there is a lot of stigma surrounding mental illness or discussions about mental health, so if you’re not comfortable with these options that’s fine. Anonymous services such as your local nightline, Samaritans and Shout are available if you need someone to talk to without revealing your identity.

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