Durham University offers a range of services to promote well being and also to provide support to students who may be  experiencing mental illness.

University life can be exciting and rewarding – an opportunity to focus your studies on a topic that you are passionate about and experience a more independent lifestyle. There can be times however when you may find yourself in need of guidance or support to maintain mental health and well being. Coming to university can be anxiety provoking for many students living away from home for the first time. Some students may come to university with a longstanding difficulty or illness. There is a range of tailored support options available within the Counselling Service at Durham.

Psychological Wellbeing

Advice, guidance and self-help resources will provide the skills to help you manage your wellbeing. We offer:

• Drop-in and individual sessions
• Themed workshops
• SilverCloud – online themed psycho-educational programmes available on your phone, tablet and laptop.A Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner will help you identify the resources most appropriate to your need, and will keep in touch to monitor your progress and wellbeing.For more information see: https://www.dur.ac.uk/counselling.service/psychwellbeing/

Counselling

The University Counselling Service offers time-limited counselling to all students, at no charge. For further information see: https://www.dur.ac.uk/counselling.service/students/.

If you feel that a longer-term counselling intervention would be best suited to your needs, we can advise you on how to secure an accredited private counsellor or therapist or how to access local NHS services.

Mental Health Advisors

Mental Health Advisers are based in the Counselling Service. They offer advice and support for students with longstanding and/or diagnosed mental illness.

They can help with transfers or referrals into local NHS services and link you with University support.

They also help students with mental health difficulties preparing for field trips or for going on a year abroad.

For further information see: https://www.dur.ac.uk/counselling.service/mhadvice/

” I would advise new students to get support in place as soon as you arrive. I first visited the Service soon after beginning my studies, but because my mental health was good, I decided to not pursue putting into place support strategies at that time. However, with hindsight I would act differently. If you have a pre-existing condition, don’t wait for difficult times to seek support. The old adage says to fix your roof when it’s sunny. If you get support networks, resources and strategies in place you may pre-empt some difficulties from arising or being exacerbated. Finally, it’s always challenging to ask for help, but at no point did I feel anything other than listened to and supported. I’m so glad that I reached out and would have no hesitation in recommending that other students do so.”   A PHD student at Durham University

Support at Durham University to promote mental well being

Managing stress and anxiety

Information provided by Laura Percival, Mental Health Advisor, Durham University