Mental Health and Counselling
- Mental Health and Counselling
Our wellbeing team is made up of mental health workers, counsellors, and wellbeing mentors who work together to support students’ mental health and emotional wellbeing.
Mental Health Support
Our mental health workers offer confidential, one-to-one mental health support to students who are struggling with their mental health and wellbeing. Mental health support is usually practical, supportive, and focused on helping you cope with what is happening in your life right now.
Mental health support can help you develop tools and coping strategies to manage difficulties such as anxiety, low mood, stress, or feeling overwhelmed. Sessions may also include emotional support and help with managing day-to-day challenges that are affecting your wellbeing.
Counselling
Our counsellors offer a safe, confidential, and non-judgmental space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings more deeply. Counselling gives you time and space to talk about what is going on for you, at your own pace.
Counselling focuses on understanding yourself better and making sense of difficult thoughts, emotions, relationships, or past experiences. This can be especially helpful if you are feeling stuck, confused, or want to explore deeper or ongoing issues.
Some examples of what the mental health and counselling team can help with:
anxiety, panic, low mood, or depression
stress, low self-esteem, or low confidence
self-harm, suicidal thoughts, or overwhelming emotions
difficulties adjusting to college, loneliness, or isolation
neurodiversity-related challenges (such as ADHD or autism)
difficult or distressing thoughts, feelings, or past experiences
identity or self-esteem struggles, and
relationship or family difficulties.
How to refer to the wellbeing services
You can ask a staff member to refer you to the wellbeing services, or you can do this yourself by self-refer by completing this form.
Please note the Wellbeing Services are not a crisis service. In an emergency call 999. You can also contact our safeguarding team by email or call 07825 175729 during working hours.
Mental health self-help
Central Access Point
The NHS Mental Health Central Access Point offers free, confidential support for anyone who needs urgent mental health help, for themselves or for someone else. By calling NHS 111 and selecting the mental health option, you will be connected to a professional who can offer advice, emotional support, and signposting to local NHS or voluntary services. If needed, you may be transferred to a mental health practitioner or receive a call back within 24 hours.
The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with no referral criteria. You can also text 07480 635199 for a response within four hours, or use the NHS 111 British Sign Language service if you are deaf.
Papyrus
If you have suicidal thoughts or are worried about someone
Telephone HOPELINE247 0800 068 41 41
Text ‘HOPE’ to: 88247
Webchat: papyrus-uk.org
Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org
Telephone 116 123
In an immediate emergency or if there is a risk to life, always call 999, visit a local NHS walk-in centre or go to your nearest A&E.
Other services