Urgent support within the University of Portsmouth:
8:30am - 5:00pm: 023 9284 3466
Out of hours: Campus Security (who can contact the on-call Chaplaincy Team, Wellbeing Team, or Residence Life Team): 023 9284 3333.
Out of hours 24-hour listening service: 02392691313 (Samaritans).
Samaritans also now offer a self-help app: https://selfhelp.samaritans.org.
See here for more information: https://myport.port.ac.uk/guidance-and-support/health-and-wellbeing/support-in-a-crisis
University of Portsmouth services:
Please refer to this link for information about the support services and options available to students: https://www.port.ac.uk/student-life/guidance-and-support/health-and-wellbeing-support.
The Student Wellbeing Service (https://myport.port.ac.uk/guidance-and-support/health-and-wellbeing/student-wellbeing-service) offers support via video, email or phone. Email wellbeing-admin@port.ac.uk to make arrangements, or you can register online for support here: https://docs.google.com/a/port.ac.uk/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd8DDY3JihJ00FzA6rSFboCBIbBrHNxhLZtbx-ypjC2_0cGRg/viewform.
Student Wellbeing are offering a range of virtual workshops and events to promote mental health. See https://myport.port.ac.uk/guidance-and-support/health-and-wellbeing/student-wellbeing-service/workshops-and-events.
Chaplaincy support (Email: chaplains@port.ac.uk; Tel: 02392843030).
The Student Union has this page, which might be useful for students seeking advice in a range of different areas: https://upsu.net/advice/academic-advice/advice-service. Specifically for mental health and wellbeing they have the ‘Its OK’ advice service: https://upsu.net/advice/campaigns-and-info/its-ok.
The Student Wellbeing Service are still doing initiatives, such as the Learning Well Moodle module (https://myport.port.ac.uk/guidance-and-support/health-and-wellbeing/student-wellbeing-service/learning-well), for students to complete (you will find a link to this on the Course Moodle pages).
There is also a Student Support Information section on the UG Course Moodle page. These are specific to the university and cover all support (not just mental health and wellbeing).
Online resources through the University of Portsmouth:
The WhatsUp App provides daily tools to promote positive mental health and connections. This app offers a quick and anonymous way to chat via text with practitioners at the Student Wellbeing Service. Download the app here: https://myport.port.ac.uk/guidance-and-support/health-and-wellbeing/self-help-resources/whatsup-app.
Togetherall (https://togetherall.com/en-gb/) is an online platform that offers free mental health and wellbeing support. It is an online community where people support each other anonymously to improve mental health and wellbeing.
Silvercloud (https://ports.silvercloudhealth.com/signup/portsmouthac/) is a digital platform that uses cognitive behaviour therapy for common mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. It also covers other mental health issues associated with stress, perinatal wellbeing, bipolar disorder, covid-19, body image, and OCD.
FIKA (https://www.fika.community/): A mental health and fitness app that is available for free to all students and staff.
Self-help resources: https://myport.port.ac.uk/guidance-and-support/health-and-wellbeing/self-help-resources. These resources outline a range of different mental health disorders and experiences and give ideas for how you can manage ongoing difficulties (e.g., drugs, depression, anxiety, trauma, bereavement, homesickness, etc.).
General support services and resources available outside the University of Portsmouth:
Shout (https://giveusashout.org/) is a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope or anyone who is in crisis. This is a great service for those who do not want to speak on the phone or see someone in person. Text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258.
Student Minds (a mental health charity specifically for students): https://www.studentminds.org.uk/.
iTalk: https://www.italk.org.uk/, Tel: 02380383920.
Talking Change: https://www.talkingchange.nhs.uk/, Tel:03001234125.
ReThink Mental Illness: https://www.rethink.org, Tel: 03005000927.
MIND: (https://www.mind.org.uk/, Tel: 03001233393.
Avenue Therapies: https://www.avenuetherapies.com/, Tel: 02071128834
The MIX (essential support for anyone under 25 years of age – includes helpline, crisis messenger, and webchat): https://www.themix.org.uk/, Tel: 08088084994.
Tonic Music for Mental Health: https://www.tonicmusic.co.uk/
Off the Record: https://www.otr-south.org.uk/, Tel: 02392474724.
NHS self-help guides: https://web.ntw.nhs.uk/selfhelp/. These guides cover everything from abuse to different types of mental health disorders to bereavement.
Specific support services (outside the University of Portsmouth) that might be useful:
Bereavement centre: https://www.bereavementsupportgroups.co.uk/, Tel: 08081691922.
Eating Disorders service: https://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/our-services/a-z-list-of-services/eating-disorders-service, Tel: 02392627762.
See also: https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/hlth-ph-eating-disorder.pdf.
Mind – Bereavement by suicide: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/bereavement/bereavement-by-suicide/. On this website you will find lots of resources including support services and counselling specifically for bereavement by suicide.
OCD Action: https://www.ocdaction.org.uk/, Tel: 08453906232.
Papyrus - Prevention of young suicide (those 35 years and under): https://www.papyrus-uk.org/, Tel: 08000684141, Text: 07860039967, Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org.
PARCS (Abuse and Rape Crisis centre): http://www.parcs.org.uk/, Tel: 02392669513.
Relate: https://www.relate.org.uk/hampshire-and-isle-wight, Tel: 02392827026.
Solent Recovery College: https://www.solentmind.org.uk/our-services/portsmouth-support-and-recovery-service/, Tel: 02382027810. Solent Recovery College delivers a range of educational courses and short sessions designed to help individuals manage their mental health.
Most services now have online or telephone self-referral processes (hence no GP is necessary!) - And many services are now adjusting to the new generation of students and the current ‘virtual’ climate that we live in.