Mental Health and Wellbeing Service

Here to offer support

Our Mental Health and Wellbeing service is committed to helping you access the most appropriate support and information.

As such, all first appointments relating to mental health and wellbeing take the form of an initial assessment with a member of the team.

The purpose of this appointment is to provide you with an opportunity to discuss your main concerns and explore your needs in a confidential and supportive environment.

Following the assessment, you will have the opportunity to discuss what service and/or support is appropriate.

How do I access the service?

To book an appointment for mental health and/or wellbeing support, please complete our online registration form. This can be accessed via the Student Portal.

Once the Health and Wellbeing team have received your application, you will be contacted via email with a date and time for your assessment (based on the availability you stated on your application form).

Counselling

Counselling is a talking therapy which provides the opportunity and space for you to talk about anything that is affecting you, whether it is linked to your studies or a personal issue.

Counselling is about you being accepted, valued, and listened to, rather than being judged or criticised. It is not about being given advice or being told what to do. Counsellors are trained to help you gain a better understanding of your thoughts and feelings, enabling you to make changes.

Speak to our adviser

Our Mental Health and Wellbeing adviser supports students who are experiencing emotional or psychological distress or personal difficulties.

They can support you by helping you to identify your specific needs, providing interventions, offering advice and guidance, and signposting or referring to relevant therapeutic, wellbeing or medical services. If you have a mental health condition, they can co-ordinate your support and act as your point of contact throughout your time at University College Birmingham.

If you are a prospective student thinking of coming to University College Birmingham, you may wish to disclose a mental health condition and look at any disability support you may be entitled to.

If you need information or advice regarding the services available to you please contact Blair Sweeney, Mental Health and Wellbeing adviser, via email wellbeing@ucb.ac.uk or by calling 0121 604 1000 ext. 2564.

Do I need support?

We are here to support you with a wide range of difficulties, which may include:

Feeling low or depressed
Feeling anxious or worried
Experiencing stress
Finding it hard to make friends
Unsure about identity
Struggling with relationship difficulties

Difficulties with eating
Home-sickness
Sleep problems
Experiencing a mental illness
Low self-esteem
Grief and loss

Please note that we cannot guarantee therapy and/or support will be offered directly through University College Birmingham's Health and Wellbeing service. It may be that the team assist you in accessing support externally.

Not sure how you feel?

Try the Mood Self-Assessment and get advice from the NHS on what might help. If you’re still unsure whether you may benefit from the service, we would encourage you to see a member of the team – no problem is too small. We can provide you with relevant information, advice and guidance to assist you in making a decision.

Our commitment to you

We are proudly a member of Student Minds' University Mental Health Charter, showing our commitment to supporting the mental health of our community and proactively creating an environment that promotes wellbeing. Universities who sign up have a shared goal: to ensure that no student is held back by their mental health.

"I spent 5 years at University College Birmingham and the mental health and wellbeing support and understanding I received were excellent. I am so grateful for the support I received, it really helped me to flourish and focus on my studies. All staff are very friendly, kind, and helpful."

Gemma Chandler Culinary Arts Management BA Hons

In an emergency

The Mental Health and Wellbeing service at University College Birmingham is not an emergency service. The service is designed to complement, not replace those supplied by the NHS. If you cannot wait for your allocated appointment and are worried about your safety or the safety of others, contact one of the services below straight away:

Listening services

Listening services (telephone support) can help if you need to talk to someone as soon as possible about how you're feeling.

Papyrus helpline (HOPELineUK) : 0800 068 41 41
Samaritans helpline: 116 123
Visit your nearest Samaritans Branch

Urgent GP appointment

Your registered General Practitioner (GP) can help if you need urgent support for your mental health, but there’s no immediate danger to your safety or the safety of others.

If you need advice on how to register with a local GP, please speak with the Nurse at UCB or visit NHS Choices.

Emergency support

To be used if you need immediate medical help – especially if you think you might act on suicidal thoughts, or you've harmed yourself and need urgent medical attention.

NHS non-emergency service: 111 (when you need medical help fast but it’s not a 999 emergency)
Accident and Emergency (A&E) at your local hospital
Emergency Services: 999

Drugs

It is possible that at some point during your time in Birmingham you will come across illegal drugs. All drugs produce some kind of change in the way a person’s body works and the availability of most drugs be they aspirins, alcohol or amphetamines is controlled by law.

Class A drugs are heroin, ecstasy, LSD, cocaine, crack, hash oil, and injectable class Bs. Illegal possession of a class A drug could lead to seven years in prison, and the maximum penalty for trafficking (dealing or manufacture) is life.
Class B drugs are amphetamines, barbiturates, cannabis and mephedrone. Illegal possession of these drugs could lead to five years in prison and the maximum penalty for trafficking them is 14 years.
Class C drugs are steroids, tranquillisers and benzodiazepines. Illegal possession of these drugs could mean two years in prison and the maximum penalty for trafficking is five years.

Someone prosecuted for illegal drug use will not necessarily be sent to prison, but could end up with a criminal record, which can make getting a job very difficult.

If a police officer has reasonable grounds to suspect that you are in possession of a controlled drug, the officer can search you, your home and your vehicle and seize anything which seems to be evidence of an offence.

University College Birmingham will adhere to the law and take action if you are found to be in possession (or involved in the use or supply) of illegal drugs.

Please remember: the use of illegal drugs may cost you your place at University College Birmingham.

The University College Birmingham Mental Health and Wellbeing Service offers confidential advice on drug problems and has details of local organisations that can help.

Information is also available on FRANK, the National Drugs Helpline tel: 0800 776 600.

Is the service confidential?

The Mental Health and Wellbeing team operate within the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) guidelines.

These guidelines state that confidentiality is essential. Given the environment that the service operates in, there are times where total confidentiality cannot be offered. In certain circumstances, it may be necessary for the team to pass on the information to University College Birmingham's Single Point of Contact for Safeguarding, who may refer any concerns to external agencies in line with our Safeguarding Policy/Procedures.

Safeguarding procedure

Please ask a member of the team if you require further information regarding confidentiality.

Discover more

Student Engagement Team

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Support resources

Our health and wellbeing team have put together a list of wellbeing resources that you can use independently, including helplines, websites and leaflets.

Specialised Accommodation

The Accommodation Service at University College Birmingham are available to offer support for anyone that requires an adapted room

Student support

Whether you need support with your learning, finances, health and wellbeing or other areas, our range of dedicated support services are here for you.

Financial support

While studying, it is important to manage your finances and access any help to which you are entitled. Our staff are here to give you the support and advice you need.