Mental health services in your Vita Student city
Mental health and wellbeing are topics close to every student’s heart.
With World Mental Health Day coming up on the 10th of October, we want to make accessing support as easy as possible for everyone at Vita Student.
Whether pre-exam stress is causing anxiety, the changes in season are making you feel a little blue, or you’re struggling to adapt to your new term routine, you’re not alone.
Here’s a helpful guide to finding mental health services in your Vita Student city. Scroll down to find your university and see what support they can offer you.
Queen’s University Belfast
Does the university offer free counselling?
Yes.
Is support available throughout the academic year?
Yes.
How can I access support services?
Queen’s University Belfast offers free daily drop-ins at The Student Centre on Monday to Friday, 11am to 3pm. The highly trained team of Disability and Wellbeing Advisers offer support to students at any stage of their journey. You’ll find them on Level 1, 1 Elmwood Student Centre.
Who can I contact for support?
The Student Wellbeing team is available at any time throughout the academic year from Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm. You can also fill in this form to access support.
Are there external services available?
Inspire and TalkCampus work closely with the university to provide 24/7 solution-focused therapy to students.
University of Birmingham
Does the university offer free counselling?
Yes, they offer up to five sessions.
Is support available throughout the academic year?
Yes.
How can I access support services?
Pause is the university’s face-to-face support service for students under the age of 25 who are looking to talk to someone about their mental health. Better Than Well is also available – a community of recovering students offering group social activities.
Who can I contact for support?
University of Birmingham has Wellbeing Officers available in each school who you can go to for support. You can access more services here.
Are there external services available?
Yes. UBHeard is a 24/7 student support service delivering advice and information on mental health. You can contact them on 0800 917 9379. UBHeard services can also be accessed via the Wisdom app.
University of Bristol
Does the university offer free counselling?
Yes, on a short-term basis.
Is support available throughout the academic year?
Yes.
How can I access support services?
Students looking for individual counselling and therapy groups must be referred by the Mental Health Advisory Service. Your GP or a Wellbeing adviser can provide you with a referral.
Who can I contact for support?
Vita Minds is a free and confidential Talking Therapy service in which students can self-refer online, or you can visit for an in-person drop-in session. Alternatively, you can contact your GP to get a referral for University of Bristol’s Student Counselling Service.
Are there external services available?
Nilaari is a community-based counselling charity offering up to six free sessions. You can contact them on +44 (0)117 952 5742. The Sanctuary Bristol also offers a safe space for anyone over the age of 16 looking for face-to-face support. You can call them on 07709 295 661.
Cardiff University
Does the university offer free counselling?
Yes, on a short-term basis.
Is support available throughout the academic year?
Yes.
How can I access support services?
Self-help resources and further information about the Mental Health University Liaison Service is available through Cardiff University’s Intranet. There’s also a team of mental health practitioners working across Cardiff’s four universities. Find out more information here.
Who can I contact for support?
You can contact the uni’s Counselling and Wellbeing team at 029 2251 8888 or at studentconnect@cardiff.ac.uk. If you’re looking to refer yourself for counselling, they will be able to provide you with a self-referral form.
Are there external services available?
The university also works closely with TalkCampus and Student Minds to offer virtual support. Cardiff Mind also provides counselling and community support to help students navigate through any personal problems with the support of a trained counsellor.
Coventry University
Does the university offer free counselling?
Yes, through external agencies.
Is support available throughout the academic year?
Yes, but through external agencies.
How can I access support services?
You can learn more about the university’s mental health support services here. Coventry University also works closely with Spectrum.Life – a confidential 24/7 listening and support service for students.
Who can I contact for support?
Visit The Hub to speak to the Student Wellbeing team, who will put you in touch with the university’s Mental Health Advisers. You can book either a face-to-face, online or telephone appointment with them here.
Are there external services available?
Wellbeing for Warwickshire is a 24/7 telephone service providing advice, connection and signposting. You can call them on 0800 616171. Samaritans also offers a safe place for you to talk about how you’re feeling. You can call 116 123 for free, at any time.
University of Edinburgh
Does the university offer free counselling?
Yes, on a short-term basis.
Is support available throughout the academic year?
Yes.
How can I access support services?
The university offers a Skills for Life and Learning Workshop – a wellbeing course designed to help students find better ways of managing their mental health. University of Edinburgh also offers same-day appointments and one-to-one counselling sessions led by their Student Counselling team, available online or in-person at the Health and Wellbeing Centre.
Who can I contact for support?
All schools at University of Edinburgh have a team of Wellbeing Advisers. You can find more information here.
Are there external services available?
Togetherall, SilverCloud and Sorted App are free to students at the university and offer mental health support and treatment programmes. Health in Mind Edinburgh also provides free counselling and wellbeing support.
University of Exeter
Does the university offer free counselling?
Yes, on a short-term basis.
Is support available throughout the academic year?
Yes, however waiting times may differ between Devon and Cornwall locations.
How can I access support services?
The Devon campus offers 20-minute free sessions with a Wellbeing Practitioner. Appointments are offered in-person or online and can be booked here. The Penryn and Truro campuses also has teams of wellbeing specialists.
Who can I contact for support?
For the Devon campus, you can access support from the Mental Health team on 01392 724381 or at wellbeing@exeter.ac.uk. You can also call Exeter Nightline, a confidential listening and information service run by the SU, by finding their number on the back of your student card. If you’re a Cornwall student, you can book an appointment with the Wellbeing Team and access the university’s support services here. You can also visit the Student Helpdesk in the library, or call 01326 370 460 to learn more about the support available to you.
Are there external services available?
For Devon-based students, the Devon Mental Health Alliance offers mental health services across the county. For Cornwall-based students, Pentreath is an award-winning charity that offers outreach, one-to-one coaching and support.
University of Glasgow
Does the university offer free counselling?
Yes, you can get up to eight free sessions.
Is support available throughout the academic year?
Yes, however students will need to be registered to access the university’s services.
How can I access support services?
You’ll need to have an initial consultation with the University of Glasgow Counselling and Wellbeing team to access therapy sessions. Student Listeners is also a wellbeing support service that offers an empathetic, non-judgmental space for you to talk about how you’re feeling, either online or in-person.
Who can I contact for support?
You can contact the university’s 24/7 Counselling and Advice line on 0800 028 3766. You can also use the Wisdom app to speak with a dedicated Wellbeing Counsellor.
Are there external services available?
The Nook is Scotland’s first ever walk-in mental health support hub that requires no NHS referrals or waiting lists. GAMH also provides self-directed support, service centres and group opportunities.
University of Greenwich
Does the university offer free counselling?
Yes, on a short-term basis.
Is support available throughout the academic year?
Yes.
How can I access support services?
You will need to book an initial appointment with one of the university’s Mental Health Coordinators. This will help your counsellor get a clear understanding of how you’re feeling and what the best next steps are. You can self -refer here via the Digital Student Centre. University of Greenwich also offers 15-minute drop-in sessions with the Psychological Wellbeing team via MS Team.
Who can I contact for support?
If you don’t have access to the Digital Student Centre, you can contact the university’s mental health team on 020 8331 7875 or email wellbeing@gre.ac.uk.
Are there external services available?
The Greenwich Mental Health Hub offers support to students and young people who are struggling with their mental health. Similarly, Time to Talk Greenwich offers free psychological treatment for self-referrals, including CBT and counselling.
University of Leeds
Does the university offer free counselling?
Yes, you can get up to four sessions. Long term counselling may be possible if you’re diagnosed with a serious mental health condition.
Is support available throughout the academic year?
Yes, however students will need to be registered to access the university’s services.
How can I access support services?
You can reach out to your Student Support Officer. University of Leeds also offers drop-in appointments which can only be booked on the same day, available in-person or online. The university also offers a range of workshops, including the Meditation Group and Feel Better Faster Group.
Who can I contact for support?
For further information on the university’s welfare resources, you can call 0800 915 0402 or email studentinfo@leeds.ac.uk.
Are there external services available?
MindWell Leeds offers practice advice and information for those looking to refer themselves for wellbeing support or seek advice on how to provide help for somebody else.
Liverpool John Moores University
Does the university offer free counselling?
Yes.
Is support available throughout the academic year?
Yes.
How can I access support services?
You will need to be referred by a Wellbeing Adviser to access the university’s counselling support. You can also click here to book an appointment with a member of the Student Advice and Wellbeing team.
Who can I contact for support?
Visit the Student Life Building on Copperas Hill and James Parsons Building on Byrom Street to speak with a Wellbeing Adviser in one of the Student Zones. To get a referral for counselling, you can contact the counselling team at 0151 231 3664 or at studentwellbeing@ljmu.ac.uk.
Are there external services available?
Talking Therapies offer support to students experiencing anxiety, depression and stress. You can contact them on 0151 228 2300. Similarly, The Liverpool Light is an out-of-hours mental health crisis service where you can make self-referrals and access support.
University of Liverpool
Does the university offer free counselling?
Yes.
Is support available throughout the academic year?
Yes.
How can I access support services?
The Mental Health Advisory Service is open to all students, offering everything from risk management and care planning, to pathway navigation and liaison. You can also find out more about your school’s Peer Mentors here. The university has also recently launched a new service, U-COPE – designed to help students who have/are struggling with self-harm. U-COPE offers up to six one-to-one sessions with a trained mental health professional after initial assessment.
Who can I contact for support?
Click here to complete your wellbeing triage form which will go straight to one of the uni’s wellbeing practitioners for their review. The triage form is open Monday to Friday, 9am – 4pm.
Are there external services available?
Talking Therapies offer support to students experiencing anxiety, depression and stress. You can contact them on 0151 228 2300. Similarly, The Liverpool Light is an out-of-hours mental health crisis service where you can make self-referrals and access support. Alternatively, you can access 24/7 mental health support from Health Assured by calling 0800 028 3766.
University of the Arts London
Does the university offer free counselling?
Yes.
Is support available throughout the academic year?
Yes.
How can I access support services?
To access the university’s Counselling and Health Advice Service, fill in the form here. Counselling appointments are available on college sites in person, online and on the phone. UAL also offers 20 minute wellbeing sessions which you can book here. The university’s website also includes self help resources, including workshop sign-ups, bereavement support groups and chaplaincy.
Who can I contact for support?
For general information or enquiries about appointments, call +44 (0)20 5414 6251 or email counselling@arts.ac.uk.
Are there external services available?
Centre 70 Counselling Service offers low-cost therapy services in the heart of the Lambeth community. Similarly, The Good Mental Health Co, The Nest Southwark and Waterloo Community Counselling also offer confidential wellbeing advice and support for young people.
Imperial College London
Does the university offer free counselling?
Yes, you can get up to five individual sessions or six group sessions.
Is support available throughout the academic year?
Yes, however wait times for counselling are around 2-3 weeks due to high demand. You also need to be registered to the university.
How can I access support services?
The university has a team of Mental Health Intervention Officers and Study Mentors provide support and guidance to students at all levels. Imperial College London also run a series of life workshops and webinars to provide support with stress reduction, mood boosts and sleep improvement.
Who can I contact for support?
To learn more about how you can refer yourself for counselling service, call +44 (0)20 7594 9637 or email counselling@imperial.ac.uk.
Are there external services available?
All registered students at Imperial College London have access to SilverCloud – the leading digital mental health platform for students and young people. Similarly, Hub of Hope is the UK’s largest mental health support directory which provides support for students, adults and young people.
King’s College London
Does the university offer free counselling?
Yes, you can get up to six sessions.
Is support available throughout the academic year?
Yes, but wait times vary depending on the level of risk.
How can I access support services?
To access counselling through King’s College London, you can fill in a self-referral form here. The university’s Wellbeing Hub also offers activities, events and resources to help boost wellbeing, including ‘Take Time Out’ on Tuesdays and Thursdays during term times. Talk Therapy, the Counselling & Mental Health Support Service’s new podcast, is also a helpful resource – discussing important topics from men’s mental health to self-care during Ramadan.
Who can I contact for support?
Wellbeing Ambassadors and Campus Conversation Volunteers can be found across the campus. There’s also Health Advisors for Madarin-Speaking Students (HAMSS) who can provide free and confidential health-related support. You can contact them here.
Are there external services available?
All students at King’s College have access to Spectrum.Life – a free, confidential mental health support service offering wellbeing resources, mindfulness sessions, weekly exercise classes and audio courses. CNWL Mental Health Services also offers Talking Therapies for those struggling with anxiety, depression and stress.
UCL (University College London)
Does the university offer free counselling?
Yes, you can get up to six sessions.
Is support available throughout the academic year?
Yes, but there is an expected wait time of 2-3 weeks for initial appointments.
How can I access support services?
Meetings with the Mental Health and Wellbeing teams are booked in advance by appointment only. Please note, you must be registered with a GP to book. You can arrange advisory appointments in-person or virtually, and there are same-day appointments available. UCL also offers a range of events throughout the year including Therapy Dogs and Exam Season Toolkits.
Who can I contact for support?
You can call the UCL 24/7 Student Support Line on +44 (0) 808 238 0077. Otherwise, please get in touch with your Personal Academic Tutor for first-point, in-person support.
Are there external services available?
CUBE Clinic is a free, confidential service open to all students. They provide short-term support including initial assessments, psychiatric reviews and therapy sessions, either face-to-face or virtually.
Manchester Metropolitan University
Does the university offer free counselling?
Yes, on a short-term basis.
Is support available throughout the academic year?
Yes, but wait times vary.
How can I access support services?
You can access MMU’s mental health support services by filling in the wellbeing support questionnaire. The university also offers a range of wellbeing workshops, courses and chaplaincy including the Anxiety Clinic, Emotional Regulation Clinic and ‘Only Human’ course.
Who can I contact for support?
To access counselling, contact 0161 247 3493 or email counselling@mmu.ac.uk to set up an initial assessment.
Are there external services available?
Spectrum.Life offers 24/7 support to all MMU students. SilverCloud also provides online cognitive behaviour programmes that students can access, anytime. Similarly, Mind Manchester offers practical advice, self-care resources, and support sessions.
University of Manchester
Does the university offer free counselling?
Yes, on a short-term basis. There’s no maximum number of sessions.
Is support available throughout the academic year?
Yes, and there’s no waiting list. If you require a longer one-to-one appointment, this should be available between 1 to 10 working days.
How can I access support services?
The university offers a range of weekly workshops to all students, including Mindfulness Meditation, Managing Anxiety sessions, Breathwork and CBT courses. You can also access self-help resources here. University of Manchester also runs ‘Moving on Groups (MOGS)’ – peer-led courses designed to help students continue their journey of recovery.
Who can I contact for support?
First Step appointments for the next working day are released at 4pm daily. If you can’t book online, call 0161 275 2864 or email counselling.service@manchester.ac.uk.
Are there external services available?
Mind Manchester offers practical advice, self-care resources, and support sessions. Qwell also provides free, safe and anonymous online mental health support with no wait times or referrals needed.
Newcastle University
Does the university offer free counselling?
Yes, on a short-term basis. Counselling is only available after you have an initial appointment.
Is support available throughout the academic year?
Yes. However, counselling sessions are only available via audio call.
How can I access support services?
Newcastle University runs the Listening Ear scheme, offering one-off or regular conversations with the pastoral care team, as well as wellbeing workshops throughout the academic year. There’s also Nightline – a confidential listening and information service run by students. You can find the number on the back of your student card. Alternatively, you can request wellbeing support by clicking the link here.
Who can I contact for support?
Your school has a Student Wellbeing Adviser that you can go to for advice, support and further information. Alternatively, you can call the Student Wellbeing team on +44 (0) 191 208 3333 or fill in an enquiry form here.
Are there external services available?
TalkCampus is an app that offers support in 26 languages to students, including a 24/7 emotional distress helpline. Similarly, Safe Havens is an out-of-hours mental health crisis support service where you can drop in, with no appointment needed.
University of Nottingham
Does the university offer free counselling?
Yes, you can get up to four sessions maximum.
Is support available throughout the academic year?
Yes.
How can I access support services?
University of Nottingham has a Wellbeing Support Team of around 70 professionals working across all schools. You can find your school’s Support and Wellbeing officer here. The university also runs a referral-only counselling and mental health support service that offers a range of workshops, one-on-one sessions and brief intervention counselling.
Who can I contact for support?
The Residential Experience Team (ResX) is available seven days a week for hall students only. Nottingham Nightline also offers 24/7 non-judgemental support by University of Nottingham students.
Are there external services available?
Togetherall provides a safe space for students to access 24/7 support and connect with a wider network. NottAlone also offers 24/7 mental health support for young people.
University of Sheffield
Does the university offer free counselling?
Yes, as long as you’re registered with the university.
Is support available throughout the academic year?
Yes.
How can I access support services?
The Belief, No Belief and Religious Life Centre (BNBR) provides a listening ear and pastoral support to all students. The Student Wellbeing Service also provides preventative support to help you manage your wellbeing.
Who can I contact for support?
You can register with Student Mental Health, Counselling and Therapies Services here. If your service or UHS is closed, you can contact Single Point of Access on 0808 196 8281.
Are there external services available?
NHS Sheffield Talking Therapies offer free NHS counselling and student specific programmes, known as NHS Talking Therapies Student Sessions. Sheffield Mind also offers out-of-hours support including anger management, counselling and ‘Revive’ private therapy.
University of Southampton
Does the university offer free counselling?
Yes, you can get up to six sessions maximum.
Is support available throughout the academic year?
Yes. However, students must be registered with a GP to access counselling services.
How can I access support services?
The Student Hub offers a range of workshops and groups including PGR Conversation Groups, Wellbeing Cafes, Pets Therapy and Transmission Groups. The university also has a team of wellbeing practitioners available at each school to deliver on-the-ground support.
Who can I contact for support?
Contact the Student Hub at studenthub@soton.ac.uk or call +44 (0)23 80599 599. You can also speak to someone in person by visiting Building 37 on Highfield Campus.
Are there external services available?
The university works closely with Spectrum.Life to offer flexible, robust and cost-effective mental health support. Solent Mind also provides high-quality mental health services including the Southampton Peer Support group.
University of Warwick
Does the university offer free counselling?
Yes, up to five sessions maximum.
Is support available throughout the academic year?
Yes.
How can I access support services?
Counselling can be booked online, via email or in-person at the Wellbeing and Student Support Centre on campus. You can set up a brief consultation here. The university also has a team of mental health nurses who provide confidential assessments, short-term help and guidance if needed.
Who can I contact for support?
If you need support during hours, call 024 7659 5570. For support outside of office hours, get in touch with Every Mind Matters.
Are there external services available?
Wellbeing for Warwickshire offers mental health support either face-to-face or on the phone. Similarly, YoungMinds is a wellbeing service offering support to young people struggling to cope.
University of York
Does the university offer free counselling?
Yes, up to six sessions maximum.
Is support available throughout the academic year?
Yes, but it can take up to 2 weeks to get an appointment after initial contact.
How can I access support services?
The Open Door team is available in every department – a team of Mental Health Practitioners and Student Wellbeing Officers providing free support. To be contacted by a Mental Health Practitioner, you’ll need to complete a form.
Who can I contact for support?
You can find your Student Wellbeing Officer by contacting biol-student-services@york.ac.uk. Alternatively, you can contact the Open Door team via opendoor@york.ac.uk, or call them at +44 (0) 1904 322140.
Are there external services available?
University of York works closely with TalkCampus to provide instant, free support for student mental health. Similarly, York Safe Haven is a local charity offering a warm and welcoming space to relieve emotional distress on a no-appointment basis.
