Studying at university can be challenging, therefore, it is so important that you look after your mental health and make this a priority throughout the duration of your time at Bishop Grosseteste University.
If you have a pre-existing mental health condition, or you begin to experience difficulties whilst studying at university, it is important that you access the necessary support. We have outlined some of the support available at the university within this leaflet.
If you have any further questions about the support available, please speak to a member of the Student Advice & Wellbeing team.
Before coming to university
As part of your application process, you are given the opportunity to disclose any pre-existing mental health conditions within your UCAS application form. Once you have made a disclosure, our Student Advice & Wellbeing team will be notified and we will get in touch with you to discuss your condition, and any additional support needs you may have. We will then work closely with you to create a personalised Support Agreement that outlines reasonable adjustments which seek to address any issues that may arise as result of your mental health condition. This Support Agreement can be updated at any point throughout your time at BGU.
If you do have a pre-existing mental health diagnosis, you may also be eligible for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA). DSA provides extra assistance for students who have an accessibility need and this is usually non-means tested. Our Student Advisers can support you with completing a DSA application.
It is important that you can access mental health support once you have moved to Lincoln. If this is something that you already have in place in your current local area, or you think this could be something that you may need to access in the future, we would encourage you to explore the services available in Lincoln ahead of your arrival. You may want to discuss this with your current GP, or you can ask a member of the Student Advice & Wellbeing team for information about mental health services based in Lincolnshire.
Support throughout your studies
If you have not arranged support before starting your course at BGU, or if mental health concerns arise during your studies, don’t worry, support can be implemented at any point throughout your time at the university.
If you are experiencing any challenges with your mental health during your time at university, you may find it helpful to speak to our Mental Health Adviser. Whether you just need a one-off chat, or you require ongoing support, our Mental Health Adviser is here to listen, offer confidential advice, and help to coordinate the necessary support for you- this may include referral to external services.
Our Mental Health Adviser can be contacted via the Student Advice & Wellbeing team.
Counselling
An independent and confidential counselling service is available via Student Advice & Wellbeing at the university. The counselling service is free and available to all students, both full-time and part-time.
For more information about counselling and other mental health support options available at the university, please speak to a member of the Student Advice & Wellbeing Team.
Support when you’re in crisis
What is a mental health crisis?
A mental health crisis is when you feel like you are at a breaking point, and you are in need of urgent help. A mental health crisis can look different for different people, but it may include:
- Being a risk of harm to self or others.
- Having increased anxiety, panic attacks or flash backs.
- Experiencing suicidal thoughts.
- Self-harm.
- Psychosis (hallucinations and/or delusions).
- Hypomania or mania (feeling very high).
Why are you feeling like this?
A mental health crisis can arise because of many different things. You may have recently suffered a bereavement, be dealing with money or exam stress, had a relationship breakdown, or you may be coming to terms with a recent diagnosis.
You may not know why you are feeling this way, and that’s ok.
Whether or not you know the cause, don’t ignore how you’re feeling. Talk to someone you trust and seek support.
Crisis support contacts:
NHS Single Point of Access (SPA) – contact your local mental health care team on 0303 123 4000.
Lincolnshire’s Mental Health Helpline – If you are feeling low, anxious or stressed and you think that talking to another person may help you cope, you can call 0800 001 4331.
Samaritans – Talk to someone about how you are feeling. You can call freephone on 116 123.
Shout – Get 24/7 help from a team of crisis volunteers by texting 85258.
NHS- Call 111 (option 2 if related to Mental Health) for non-urgent medical concerns, or 999 for a medical emergency.
Police- Call 101 for non-urgent matters, or 999 in the case of an emergency.
A&E- You can attend Lincoln County Hospital (or your closest A&E).
GP – Request an urgent appointment.
Campus Security- If you are on the BGU Campus, you can all the university security team on 0785 001 5713.
Speaking to Student Advice & Wellbeing
If you think you are experiencing a mental health crisis during Student Advice & Wellbeing opening hours, one of our Advisers will be more than happy to assist you with getting the necessary crisis support in place.
Call: 01522 583600 or come and see us face-to-face: The Cornerstone Building
After you have accessed the necessary help from a crisis support service, get in touch with Student Advice & Wellbeing. We are likely to encourage you to arrange an appointment with our Mental Health Adviser.
We offer a confidential and non-judgemental safe space to talk about the things that you are experiencing. If we are aware of your situation, we too, will be able to support you and ensure that any necessary ongoing support or reasonable adjustments are put in place for you.
Scan the QR code to access our appointment booking system.
Coping Strategies
Coping strategies can be used to manage and de-escalate intense emotions and/or any unpleasant symptoms that you may be experiencing. If you know what strategies help you, try to use these now.
Not sure what strategies work for you? The mental health charity ‘Mind’ can guide you through some simple coping strategies. Can the QR code below.
Concerned about another student?
Changes in behaviour, presentation and engagement can all be signs that someone is struggling.
Have you noticed any of these changes in a fellow student? If so, this person may need some additional support.
As a compassionate friend, course, or flatmate you can point them in the right direction, but remember, their behaviour is not your responsibility, and you cannot ‘fix’ their problems for them.
In this leaflet we have included some signposting advice; if you feel comfortable doing so, you can share this with your fellow student.
Speaking to Student Advice & Wellbeing
The Student Advice & Wellbeing team are here to listen to, support and offer advice to all students.
If you know someone who is having a difficult time, encourage them to contact the Student Advice & Wellbeing team:
Call: 01522 583600 | Email: studentadvice@bishopg.ac.uk
Or come across to the Cornerstone Building to speak to one of our Advisers face-to-face.
Students can also book appointments using our online booking system. Scan the QR code to get booked in >
Appointments with our Mental Health Adviser
If a student it is experiencing mental health difficulties, they can speak to the university’s Mental Health Adviser. Our Mental Health Adviser can offer a listening ear and can also help students to explore different coping strategies and other professional support.
Get in touch with Student Advice & Wellbeing to book an appointment with our Mental Health Adviser.
Report & Support
Anyone who feels they have experienced or witnessed bullying, harassment or sexual misconduct can make an informal disclosure or formally report the incident to the university.
Reports can be made using the university’s Report & Support Tool: reportandsupport.bishopg.ac.uk
Scan the QR code to access the Report & Support tool
Togetherall
Togetherall is a safe, online community where people support each other anonymously to improve mental health and wellbeing.
BGU students can create a free account with Togetherall using their university email address.
Crisis or Emergency Situations
If you or another student is in crisis, it is important that the necessary support is accessed as soon as possible. There are lots of crisis support services out there, some of which we have listed below:
NHS Single Point of Access (SPA) – contact your local mental health care team on 0303 123 4000.
Lincolnshire’s Mental Health Helpline – If you are feeling low, anxious or stressed and you think that talking to another person may help you cope, you can call 0800 001 4331.
Samaritans – Talk to someone about how you are feeling. You can call freephone on 116 123.
Shout – Get 24/7 help from a team of crisis volunteers by texting 85258.
NHS- Call 111 (option 2 if related to Mental Health) for non-urgent medical concerns, or 999 for a medical emergency.
Police- Call 101 for non-urgent matters, or 999 in the case of an emergency.
A&E- You can attend Lincoln County Hospital (or your closest A&E).
GP – Request an urgent appointment.
Campus Security- If you are on the BGU Campus, you can all the university security team on 0785 001 5713.
We are here to support you too.
If you have been impacted by your friend’s circumstances, we are here to support you too.
You can access all the support listed in this leaflet, and if you need to speak to someone about how you are feeling, book an appointment with a member of the Student Advice & Wellbeing team.
Confidentiality
Student Advice & Wellbeing’s services are delivered to students on a confidential basis,
in line with our Confidentiality Policy. This means information will not usually be shared with other departments or students at the university. However, whenever there is evidence that a student is at risk to themselves or others, Student Advice & Wellbeing will contact relevant parties in other departments (usually the Governance and Policy Office in the first instance) to keep them informed of the situation. Public authorities may also need to be contacted.
Counselling
An independent, free and confidential counselling service is available via Student Advice & Wellbeing at BGU.
What is counselling?
All of us experience difficulties in our lives from time to time; we sometimes resolve these on our own or with the help of friends and family. However, there are times when counselling can be helpful. Counsellors generally do not give advice, their role is to help you focus on and understand more clearly, the issues that trouble you. This process involves offering support, understanding, listening and responding in a non-critical, non-judgmental way. Counselling can help you to make decisions and changes that are right for you.
Accessing the counselling service
Students can access up to 7 counselling sessions per year (inclusive of an initial assessment session). We refer students to an off-campus, independent Counselling Practice in order to ensure a satisfactory level of discretion and confidentiality for students using the service. If you would like to be referred to the counselling service please come and speak to a member of the Student Advice & Wellbeing Team. With your permission we will pass on your preferred contact details to the counsellors who will then contact you to arrange a convenient appointment.
Confidentiality
Any information you disclose to Student Advice & Wellbeing before a referral takes place will be handled sensitively and professionally in line with Student Advice & Wellbeing’s confidentiality policy. You do not need to disclose the nature of your problems to Student Advice & Wellbeing if you would prefer not to – a referral can still be made. Everything you discuss with a counsellor is confidential and will not be revealed to anyone outside the service without your express consent, though in very rare circumstances confidentiality may be broken if it is believed that there are serious risks to your own or others safety.
Moving on from university provided counselling
You can access up to 7 counselling sessions per academic year through the university, after this, if you feel that you would benefit from more counselling support, we will be happy to help you explore further options. You may consider accessing counselling through Lincolnshire Talking Therapies. Lincolnshire Talking Therapies is a free NHS service that provides a range of evidence based talking therapies for problems such as depression, anxiety, post-trauma reaction, panic, phobia and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). You can be referred to Lincolnshire Talking Therapies by your GP, or you can complete a self-referral online. After submitting a referral, you will be added to a waiting list and for this reason, we encourage you to discuss this next step with your Counsellor or a Student Adviser prior to completing your university funded sessions.
