Blog: Time to Talk? There's plenty of mental health and wellbeing support at UoB
Written by Anvi
I was someone who was used to dealing with things on my own, finding it a bit hard to be open about things I might have needed help with beyond my closest friends. It has felt daunting before, but I realised that if I didn’t speak up about it, then perhaps my stress would worsen and potentially impact my lifestyle at university. This happened to me last year and that’s when I came across the Time to Talk campaign and approached the Wellbeing Officers.
Time to Talk is the University’s wellbeing campaign, reminding students that you don’t have to struggle in silence and there are different services available to help you, depending on the support you need.
Here’s a few of the key wellbeing and mental support options available to all students at UoB:
UBHeard is the University’s 24/7 confidential listening and support service, available on all days of the yearfor undergraduate and postgraduate students at UoB. You you can get in contact via the helpline, online portal or the Wisdom App.
You can use UBHeard at any time quite literally – whether it is in the middle of the day, late at night or even on a random weekend in the holidays. They can offer a safe space to talk and listen about any challenges you are facing.
This is a good option if you are looking to speak to someone quickly and you can do so by contacting 0800 917 9379 Freephone UK.
Another option to consider on campus is Talking Space. Located in the Wellbeing Lodge on campus (near North Gate), you can visit one of their regular drop-in sessions to talk about anything that may be worrying you.
Open to all undergraduate and postgraduate students, Talking Space offers a friendly and supportive environment where you can speak to trained and experienced workers. You can have a one-to-one conversation about anything that’s on your mind or if you’d prefer to unwind among other students, you can attend a relaxed group session like craftinng.
In case you didn’t already know, every College at the University has its own team of Wellbeing Officers. They are great at providing practical and emotional support if you are experiencing personal problems while at university.
This includes support with anything that might be affecting your studies such as mental health concerns, family issues, illness, bereavement, or other difficult circumstances.
They are also the team to approach if you need an extenuating circumstances extension for assignments or having a support system in place for exams. They may also be able to guide you through university processes or help you understand what support is available within your School or College.
4. Support in accommodation
If you live in student accommodation, you can also access support through the Residence Life Team, which is a partnership between the Guild and the University.
The Residence Life Team includes students who can offer peer-to-peer support based on their own experiences. They can help you with issues regarding shared living and housing but also with wellbeing and general student life.
As students, they have been in your shoes before, so understand what it’s like living in accommodation and the transition into university life. You can call them or drop by their office in Shackleton at The Vale. They also host regular accommodation events including Wellbeing Cafes, where you can meet them to discuss anything that’s worrying you.
If you are looking for support for academic and financial related problems, the Guild Advice service has Education and Welfare Advisors who specialise in these areas. However, they can also signpost and provide general guidance in other concerns as well, including wellbeing and international support.
They are a free, impartial and confidential advice service at the Guild of Students for all UoB students. You can submit a webform or visit the team during a drop-in session.
The University’s Mental Health and Wellbeing team provides students with access to experienced therapeutic practitioners and counsellors. They offer a safe and confidential space for students to explore the difficulties they are facing and develop ways of managing them.
You don’t need a diagnosed mental health condition in order to use the service. All students are offered up to 5 free sessions every academic year to focus on emotional issues that are preventing them from engaging with university life in the way they would like to. This includes things impacting your studies, relationships, confidence, or day-to-day life. More information is available through the Mental Health and Wellbeing Service FAQ.
If you are struggling and need urgent support, there is always someone who can help. Please do not wait to reach out in these scenarios.
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis and feel that you cannot keep yourself safe, you should attend your local A&E or call 999 for immediate support. The nearest A&E to the University is at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. If you’re near to campus during Talking Space’s open hours, you can also go to the Wellbeing Lodge for urgent support.
Another alternative is calling your local NHS Urgent Mental Health Helpline, which can offer 24-hour advice and support.
For urgent but non-emergency concerns, you can also contact your GP and ask for an emergency appointment. If you are calling when the GP surgery is closed, they should have an alternative out-of-hours number you can call. If you have not registered with a GP yet, you can find guidance on the Registering with a Doctor page.
Alternatively, you can also visit a local walk-in clinic. The nearest one to the University is Katie Road, Selly Oak.
There are also external organisations that are available. Samaritans offer to listen 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and Mind is available Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm for mental health information and support.
University is exciting but sometimes the changes in routines, increased independence, academic stress, and social university pressures can feel overwhelming and lead to habits or behaviours that become difficult to manage.
This could be alcohol or drug use, gambling, online shopping, gaming, screen time, or porn addiction. If you feel that any of these behaviours is negatively impacting your life, there is support available.
Better Than Well is a student-led addiction recovery programme at the University, offering support for students who are in recovery from any form of addiction while studying.
Changing an unhealthy habit can be difficult, but you don’t have to navigate that journey alone. Support and guidance are available for when feel ready.
9. Support for postgraduate researchers
Postgraduate researchers can experience a range of unique pressures, from managing long-term projects to navigating supervisory relationships and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. The University understands how this can differ from an undergraduate experience and therefore offers support tailored specifically to PGR students.
The PGR Conciliation is a voluntary, informal, and confidential service designed to help PGRs and supervisors resolve issues in their working relationship. A trained PGR Conciliator supports the process, facilitates the conversations and provides a safe space for both parties to work towards a mutually agreed resolution.
The PGR Wellbeing Support also offer guidance and resources to help research students manage academic pressures, look after their mental wellbeing, and maintain a healthy balance during their research journey.
Lastly, PGRs can also access the PGR Wellbeing Resource List. This brings together self-help guides, online tools, and support services.
Conclusion:
University may have its ups and down so it’s really important that you look after yourself. It is completely normal to need support at different points in your student experience.
You can access any of these services for free as a registered University of Birmingham student, to help navigate your journey. You do not have to face these challenges alone.