Initial session and ongoing support

Mental health advice and support

Your initial session

Your initial session will be with one of our Wellbeing Consultants and will last between 1- 1½ hours.

 The session will:

  • Provide a confidential, supportive place to discuss what is happening for you and how your mental health difficulties are  impacting on your course, academic progression and university life.
  • Provide immediate problem solving in relation to your situation.  This may include liaising with your university school, establishing reasonable adjustments under Disability Discrimination Act [DDA] and discussing specific therapeutic interventions.
  • Consider the relevance and benefits of applying for Disabled Students’ Allowance and obtaining medical evidence.
  • Consider the most appropriate ongoing support options for you. This may include mental health mentoring and/or signposting to other services e.g. G.P., Student Counselling Service, international student support and community mental health services.

Ongoing support

Following the initial session ongoing support from the mental health team may have been agreed as a helpful option for you at this time.

Mental health mentoring and ongoing support includes:

  • Supporting you to manage your mental health and well being.
  • Supporting you to develop coping strategies and skills to maximize your potential and your experience at university.
  • Exploring and developing a healthy balance in daily life.
  • Establishing an individual learning plan (ILP) and negotiating/advising schools on reasonable adjustments, including exam arrangements.
  • Providing support and practical help in enabling you to access and apply for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA).
  • Ongoing co-ordination and liaison with your University School(s) and outside agencies. This may include formulating joint plans, advocacy, mediation (any liaison would be done with your consent – see confidentiality).
  • Regular and ongoing monitoring and review of your mental health and well being and its impact on their academic progress.

Wellbeing Consultants draw on a variety of mental health approaches and interventions for their work. These include: occupational therapy; education, problem solving and skills training; life and recovery coaching; solution focused brief therapy; transactional analysis; cognitive behaviour therapy; mindfulness based cognitive therapy; motivational interviewing and neuro-lingusitc programming.