During your time at university, you may have to deal with many challenging life circumstances. It is important that you access support that is available and don’t try to struggle through on your own.
Mental Health Support
Togetherall
Free 24/7/365 online welfare and wellbeing support, with support from trained professionals:
www.Togetherall.com/joinnow/ArdenUniversity
Able-futures
Offers free access to people who are in employment and dealing with a mental health condition or difficulty. If you are going through a difficult time, get in contact with them to arrange access to support from a qualified professional. Able-futures also specialise in supporting Apprentice Learners so contact them through the link above if mental health difficulties are affecting your studies:
Student Minds
A mental health charity working with students to develop your knowledge, confidence and skills to look after your own mental health:
http://www.studentminds.org.uk/
Sane
A leading UK mental health charity, trying to improve the quality of life for anyone affected by mental illness:
0300 304 7000
http://www.sane.org.uk/what_we_do/support/helpline/
The Mix
Offers free information and support for under 25's in the UK. You can get advice about your mental health.
0808 808 4994
https://www.themix.org.uk/get-support/speak-to-our-team/email-us
Text THEMIX to 85258
Anxiety UK
A user-led organisation who work to relieve and support those living with anxiety by providing information, support and understanding:
03444 0775 774
Text 07537 416 905
OCD UK
A charity run by people with OCD, for people with OCD. Includes facts, news and treatments.
Website: www.ocduk.org
Rethink
Helping people with mental illness' by providing expert, accredited advice and information:
https://www.rethink.org/resources/p
The Samaritans
On hand to provide you with a safe place to talk and someone who will listen if you are struggling with your mental health:
0161 236 8000 (Free helpline)
Papyrus
Papyrus for under 35-year-olds experiencing thoughts of suicide, or if you are concerned about someone who is (Monday to Friday 9am to 10pm & Saturday and Sunday 2pm – 10pm):
call 0800 068 4141 or text 07786 209697.
Papyrus UK Suicide Prevention | Prevention of Young Suicide (papyrus-uk.org)
Pandas
Perinatal support and advice. If you are pregnant or have a child under 1 and feel you are struggling, please see options of support via the link below.
Home page - PANDAS Foundation UK
call: 0808 1961 776
Family Line
mental health support for parents/carers
FamilyLine - Family Action (family-action.org.uk)
call: 0808 802 6666
Mind
National mental health service that offers information, support, local groups
Find your local Mind: Local Minds - Mind
Apps
These are all focused on supporting your mental health, offering guidance and forms of self help. They are all available to download on the Apple/Android app store.
- Moodfit
- MoodMission
- TalkSpace
- Sanvello
- Calm
Financial support
Turn2us
A website with an array on information on financial entitlement, it has a benefits checker as well as a grant finder. They also have a helpline.
L: https://www.turn2us.org.uk/
Financial wellbeing support: NHS
Money Helper:
find out what you are entitled to, how to claim and what to do if things go wrong. https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/benefits
StepChange:
Get free debt advice
Link: https://www.stepchange.org/
call: 0800 138 1111
Christians against poverty:
Christians Against Poverty (CAP) provides free debt help and local community groups across the UK. Our free services, run with local churches, provide practical and emotional support and show people that there is always hope.
Link: https://capuk.org/
Housing support
Shelter
support around homelessness or rights as a tenant. They also have a postcode generator that will signpost you to your local council’s number, to contact if you are homeless
Link: https://england.shelter.org.uk/get_help/helpline
0808 800 4444 (non emergency)
0808 1644 660 (emergency)
Crisis
Crisis is a UK national charity for homeless people. They offer year-round education, employment, housing and well being services:
Centrepoint
Centrepoint is a charity that provides accommodation and support to homeless people aged 16-25:
0808 800 0661
https://centrepoint.org.uk/youth-homelessness/get-help-now/
Isolation
Stand Alone
Support people who are estranged from their family or children. Our primary objective is to break down the stigma around estrangement and support estranged people in their daily lives
Link: https://www.standalone.org.uk/contact/
They offer support groups, a range of therapeutic workshops and a programme to connect people for ongoing emotional support. Our direct support services are currently focussed in London, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Brighton, Bristol and Manchester.
Lifestyle
Gingerbread
Provides information to help single parents support themselves and their family.
https://www.gingerbread.org.uk/
Healthwatch UK
Healthwatch is your health and social care champion. If you use GPs and hospitals, dentists, pharmacies, care homes or other support services, they want to hear about your experiences. As an independent statutory body, they have the power to make sure NHS leaders and other decision makers listen to your feedback and improve standards of care. Last year they helped nearly a million people to have their say and get the information and advice they needed.
https://www.healthwatch.co.uk/
Domestic Violence
Refuge Domestic helpline
Do you feel that you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence?
Home | Refuge National Domestic Abuse Helpline (nationaldahelpline.org.uk)
call: 0800 2000 247
Bright Sky
A mobile app and website for anyone experiencing domestic abuse, or who is worried about someone else.
The app can be downloaded for free from the app stores. Only download the app if it is safe for you to do so and if you are sure that your phone isn’t being monitored.
https://www.bright-sky.org.uk/
Women’s Aid have a directory of domestic
Women's Aid Directory - Womens Aid
Safe Space
Safe Spaces are also available in Boots, Morrisons, Superdrug and Well pharmacies, TSB banks and independent pharmacies across the UK. Once you are inside, specialist domestic abuse support information will be available for you to access. Many Safe Spaces are also prepared to respond to the ‘Ask for ANI’ codeword, to provide victims with a discreet way to access help calling the police on 999 or specialist support services.
Find your nearest Safe Space: Safe Spaces Locations - UK SAYS NO MORE
Get a court order to protect you or your child
If you’re a victim of domestic abuse you can apply for a court order or injunction to protect yourself or your child from:
- your current or previous partner
- a family member
- someone you currently or previously lived with
- This is called a non-molestation or occupation order.
You can apply online, by email or by post.
Get a court order if you’ve been the victim of domestic abuse https://www.gov.uk/injunction-domestic-violence
The Men’s Advice Line
Run by Respect is a confidential helpline specifically for male victims.
0808 801 0327
National Stalking Helpline
National Stalking Helpline advice and information for anyone currently or previously affected by stalking or harassment (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9:30am to 4pm; Wednesday 1pm to 4pm)
0808 8020 133.
Addiction
NA Helpline
NA helpline for people concerned about their substance use (daily, 10am to midnight):
0300 999 1212.
Welcome | UKNA Helpline | Narcotics Anonymous in the United Kingdom
National Gambling Helpine
National Gambling Helpline support for concerns around gambling (daily, 8am to midnight): 0808 8020 133.
SMART recovery
When trapped in an addictive behaviour it is possible to become isolated and you may be thinking that no one else understands what you are going through. At a SMART meeting you will find people who will understand and have experience and success in dealing with these difficulties.
Link: https://smartrecovery.org.uk/about-smart-recovery-meetings/
Al-Anon
Al-Anon is a free self-help “12 step” group for anyone whose life is or has been affected by someone else’s drinking.
Telephone: 0800 0086 811 (daily, 10am to 10pm)
Website: www.al-anonuk.org.uk
Bereavement
Survivors of bereavement by suicide (SOBs)
Helpline: 0300 111 5065
At a Loss
The UK's signposting website for the bereaved. They can help you find bereavement services and counselling. They also have resources on coronavirus pandemic bereavement.
Miscarriage or pregnancy loss
https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/how-we-help/helpline/
Bereaved through Alcohol and Drugs (BEAD)
Information and support for anyone bereaved through drug or alcohol use.
https://www.beadproject.org.uk/
Miscarriage or pregnancy loss
https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/how-we-help/helpline/
The Compassionate Friends
Provides support to bereaved families after the death of a child.
0345 123 2304
The Compassionate Friends (tcf.org.uk)
Sands
Information and support for anyone affected by the death of a baby.
0808 164 3332
Sands | Stillbirth and neonatal death charity
Saying Goodbye/Mariposa
Utilises multiple channels and platforms to provide a wide range of information, advice, encouragement and much more on the loss of a child. They use social media such as Twitter and Facebook to provide real time support and assistance to individuals as well as wider support and help to anyone in need:
https://www.sayinggoodbye.org/
Widowed and Young (WAY)
WAY Widowed & Young - Bereavement support UK (widowedandyoung.org.uk)
Offers a peer-to-peer support network to anyone who was aged 50 or under when their partner died.
Blue Cross
Blue Cross | 125 years of changing pets' lives
Animal charity that helps sick, injured and homeless pets.
ADHD support
ADHD UK
The UK ADHD partnership
https://www.ukadhd.com/support-groups.htm
NHS support
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/
ADHD Foundation
https://www.adhdfoundation.org.uk/
The ADHD information and Support service
Armed (or ex) forces support
SSAFA
Armed Forces charity, formerly known as Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association, is a UK charity that provides lifelong support to serving men and women and veterans from the British Armed Forces and their families or dependents. Anyone who is currently serving or has ever served in the Royal Navy, British Army or Royal Air Force and their families, both regulars and reserves, is eligible for their help
Link: https://www.ssafa.org.uk/
call: 0800 260 6767
Veterans gateway
https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-support/who-we-help/veterans-gateway
call: 0808 802 1212
Eating disorder support
Beat
Beat provides support with and information about eating disorders (Monday to Friday 12pm to 8pm & Weekends 4pm to 8pm): 0808 801 0677 (or 0808 801 0811 for students or 0808 801 0711
https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/
Overeaters Anonymous Great Britain
Local support groups for people with eating problems.
Overeaters Anonymous Great Britain | For anyone with eating issues (oagb.org.uk)
LGBTQ+ support
Switchboard
A safe space for anyone to discuss anything, including sexuality, gender identity, sexual health and emotional well-being.
FFLAG
supports friends and family members of LGBT people.
Equality Advisory Support Service (EASS)
Equality Advisory and Support Service (equalityadvisoryservice.com)
Advises and assists individuals on issues relating to equality and human rights across England, Scotland and Wales. Phone number 0808 800 0082.
Mermaids
Mermaids supports transgender, nonbinary and gender-diverse children and young people until their 20th birthday, as well as their families and professionals involved in their care. We also currently offer web chat support to students up to the age of 25.
family and individual support for gender diverse and transgender children and young people. Mermaids is passionate about supporting children, young people, and their families to achieve a happier life in the face of great adversity.
Galop
Our team has decades of experience in supporting LGBT+ people who are victims of domestic abuse, sexual violence, hate crime, so-called conversion therapies, honour-based abuse, forced marriage, and other forms of abuse
