Need some wellbeing advice? You can gain advice from the Student Wellbeing Services team by contacting:
studentsupport@canterbury.ac.uk
or attending a drop in service
Hub of Hope Mental Health support near you
Emergency Phone Numbers
If you feel that you are in a crisis, or if you are concerned about the welfare of someone you know, contact:
- The emergency services on 999 if you feel your life is threatened and you need urgent support from the police or ambulance service
- NHS Direct 24/7: 111 for medical concerns where you can’t get to see a GP or if you are concerned about someone else’s health or welfare
- CCCU Security on 2111 for all other emergencies on campus
- Spectrum.Life - a new in-the-moment and out-of-hours mental health support for students offering immediate online, text and telephone support by qualified professionals. The free service is available 24/7, 365 days per year via: Telephone: 0800 0318227. WhatsApp: Text “Hi” to 0741836 0780. Mobile App or web platform
- The Samaritans: 116 123 for confidential, emotional support 24/7 and if you are feeling suicidal. (You can also visit the Canterbury branch. Usual hours 8am-8pm Monday to Saturday) or email: jo@samaritans.org
- 24/7 Mental Health Matters Helpline: 0800 107 0160. Confidential emotional support and guidance. They also have details of local and national support services.
- Your GP within surgery hours – it’s a good idea to make a note of their phone number – for general health concerns
- 24/7 National Domestic Violence helpline: 0808 2000 247. Support, help and information for women experiencing domestic violence and abuse.
- Men's Advice Line: 0808 801 0327. Advice and support for men experiencing domestic violence and abuse. (Opening hours 9am-5pm Monday to Friday).
- Kent and Medway Safe Havens offer out-of-hours mental health support to anyone aged 16+ in the Kent area.
Address: Kent and Medway Safe Haven @ Canterbury, Age UK, The Centre, Castle Row, Canterbury, CT1 2QY
Open: 6pm-11pm every day (including weekends and bank holidays).
Call: 07876 476 703 or 07483 163 953
Email: Canterbury.mhm@nhs.net
For non-emergency concerns you can contact:
- Student Support Advisers – a team of professionally trained advisers who provide support and advice and guidance on a wide range of personal, financial and academic matters. Telephone: 01227 922675; Email: studentsupport@canterbury.ac.uk
- University Counselling Service - offers free, confidential support for a wide range of personal and emotional concerns that may be affecting your capacity to study and having an impact on your university experience. Telephone 01227 923056; Email: mentalwellbeing@canterbury.ac.uk
- The Chaplaincy - provides a confidential listening service and offers a safe space where any student can bring and discuss their problems in a non-judgmental environment. Telephone: 01227 922538; Email:chaplaincy@canterbury.ac.uk
- Mind and Body Kent supports young adults who are self-harming, at risk of self-harming or struggling with their mental wellbeing.
- With You is a charity offering free talking therapies like counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) you don’t need a referral from your GP
- Insight - another Kent counselling and talking therapy service covering east Kent, Dartford, Gravesham, Swanley, and Swale. This service is free and available to anyone aged 17+ and registered with a GP in East Kent, Dartford, Gravesham, Swanley, or Swale.
- East Kent Mind - an independent, charity providing quality outcome-based services to make a positive difference to the Mental Health of the people of East Kent which includes the Canterbury District and Thanet. Crisis cafe is open from 6 pm to 9.30 pm on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday, in Ramsgate.
- Revival Cafe and Mental Health hub - Look out for updates on a new premisis opening in Whitstable in 2022.
- The Wellbeing Thesis - an online resource for postgraduate research students for support with wellbeing, learning and research.
- 6 Ways to Wellbeing - Body. Mind. Spirit. People. Place. Planet.
- You can also take a look at this advice from Student Minds
- Mental Health Foundation - includes advice and resources on cost of living
Do you want to take action to be happier and kinder? Do you want to learn new & simple ways of looking after your wellbeing and receive daily positive prompts?
Then visit Action for Happiness , a movement of people taking action to create a happier and kinder world, together. Check out the monthly calendars they release, for daily actions to help you focus on what really matters, they are fab! The charity helps you learn evidence-based skills for happier living, feel a sense of belonging and commit to personal action to create more happiness, for ourselves and others.
Take a small step towards a goal that really matters to you...
Here are some other useful links:
Local GPs / Clinics
Find your local GP Service or Sexual Health Clinic
Sex, Drugs and Alcohol
Find charities offering advice on sex, drug and alcohol
Canterbury based service providing a full range of alcohol and substance misuse interventions for adults living in Canterbury
Homesickness
Being away from home for the first time, or starting a degree course as a mature student can sometimes make you feel isolated or alone don’t just bottle it up make sure you talk to some, the University Chaplaincy are on hand for a chat anytime.
Relationships
Being at University can cause a strain on your existing relationships or throw you head first into brand new relationships that may or may not work out below are some avenues for support:
Uni/Home Life
Balancing life at University whilst maintaining a complicated personal / home life can be difficult, make sure that you are accessing all the support that is available to you:
Local Charities and Support
Support available from the University:
Student Wellbeing Services
Medication Clinic (resolving disputes)
Finally, here's some useful simple tips and prompts to help brighten your day.....
“As a Students’ Union Advice Centre we offer advice in good faith, based on knowledge, experience and the best information available to us. Students who seek our help must take responsibility for their own decisions based on the advice we give.”