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Health and wellbeing

Your student experience should enable you to excel in your studies and thrive in all areas of your life Browse FAQs
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We have been acknowledged by 'The Teaching Excellence Framework 2023' (TEF) for our high quality support regarding student wellbeing and mental health. Your physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing are all connected and equally important and we are here to support you in looking after them. You can read our Student Wellbeing Strategy for more information about our whole-university-approach to your wellbeing.

Mental health and wellbeing

University life is exciting, stimulating and hard work. It’s normal not to always feel your best and we know that sometimes, stuff happens that makes it hard to get the most out of your studies.

We know that everyone’s experience is different, which is why there’s a range of resources and services available to you throughout your time at LSBU. Whether you want to speak to a professional, a peer, or engage with resources independently, there’s something for everyone at LSBU.

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Team

Our team of mental health professionals provide a confidential space to talk about whatever’s going on, advise you on what might help, and collaborate with you to develop a holistic support plan.

Who do we support?

All current LSBU students, including those who are currently taking an interruption of studies.

Come and speak to us if you are experiencing any of the following, particularly if they are impacting your studies:

  • Stress
  • Worry or panic
  • Relationship difficulties (including with friends, family, partner or children)
  • Unhappiness or low mood
  • Loneliness
  • Bereavement (grief)
  • Life stressors (for example housing or financial issues, or if you’ve been victim of a crime)
  • Loss of interest or pleasure in activities
  • Low motivation
  • Seeing or hearing things that other people don’t seem to be
  • Extreme and/or swiftly fluctuating emotions
  • Suicidal thoughts and/or intentional self-injury (get immediate support here)

We’d particularly encourage you to speak with us if you have an existing mental health diagnosis (such as anxiety, depression, personality disorder, eating disorder, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia). You will be entitled to adjustments on your course – register with the Disability and Dyslexia Support Team to get these put in place.

What support is available?

Because each student is different, the support you’ll receive from us will be tailored to your individual needs.

Support might include:

  • Confidential and collaborative discussion with a Mental Health & Wellbeing Advisor
  • Developing a support plan with next steps
  • Self-help resources
  • Referral to our partner counselling service
  • Liaison with other university staff and referrals to other teams
  • Liaison with external support, such as GP or NHS mental health team
  • Signposting to relevant external agencies

Check out these FAQs;

What happens in a Mental Health and Wellbeing appointment? - LSBU MyAccount

Will it be confidential if I talk to Mental Health and Wellbeing? - LSBU MyAccount

If you've applied to study at LSBU

We want to make sure you're feeling as prepared as you can to study at LSBU. This includes making sure you understand the support available to you here, and making sure we know how best to support you. 

Our Mental Health and Wellbeing Case Coordinator offers pre-entry appointments to any applicants who:

  • have a complex, diagnosed mental health experience like Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Psychosis, Personality Disorder, Eating Disorder or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • are currently or have recently been supported by formal mental health services, including Childrens and Adolescents’ Mental Health Services (CAMHS), a Community Mental Health Team (CMHT), or a private mental health service
  • have spent time in hospital in relation to their mental health
  • have previous or current experiences of self-harm or suicidal behaviour
  • have previously left higher education due to mental health challenges
  • are currently accessing support from Social Services or another Local Authority Service
  • have significant health concerns/ learning differences that impact their mental wellbeing

If any of the above applies to you, please email us at studentwellbeing@lsbu.ac.uk or call the Student Life Centre on 02078156454 to request a pre-entry appointment.

If you're not sure if you would benefit from a pre-entry appointment, please still get in touch and share a bit of information with us about what's going on for you - we can help you understand the best next step for you.

Once you have accepted an offer to study at LSBU, you can use your LSBU MyAccount to get in touch with us and access support. Check out these FAQs:

How to use MyAccount as an Offer Holder.

What happens in a Mental Health and Wellbeing appointment?

Will it be confidential if I talk to Mental Health and Wellbeing?

Current Students: How to get support

Worried about an LSBU student?

From time to time, we all find things difficult. You may have come across this page looking for information about the support LSBU provides to it's students, perhaps after noticing a change in someone you care about who studies at LSBU.

This might be a change in their motivation, engagement with their studies, or mood. Maybe they're making decisions that you believe are not in their best interests. Maybe they just don't seem their usual self. Whatever's going on, check out our guidance below.

Supporting Some Else’s Mental Health: A Step-by-Step Approach

1. Choose the Right Time and Place
Timing and environment are crucial when initiating a conversation about mental health. Choose a private, quiet, and comfortable setting where the person feels safe and free from distractions.

2. Express Concern Without Judgement
Begin the conversation by expressing your concern in a non-judgmental and compassionate manner. Use "I" statements to avoid sounding accusatory. For example, "I've noticed you've seemed really down lately, and I'm worried about you" is more supportive than "You never seem happy anymore."

3. Listen Actively
Listening is one of the most powerful ways to support someone. Allow them to share their thoughts and feelings without interrupting or offering advice. Show that you are paying attention through nodding, maintaining eye contact, and using verbal affirmations like "I see" or "That sounds tough."

4. Validate Their Feelings
Acknowledge their feelings and experiences without minimizing or dismissing them. Phrases like "That must be really hard for you" or "I can see why you feel that way" validate their emotions and show that you understand their perspective.

5. Avoid Giving Unsolicited Advice
While it's natural to want to fix the problem, unsolicited advice can sometimes feel dismissive. Instead, ask how you can help. Phrases like "What can I do to support you?" or "Is there anything you need from me?" empower the person to guide the support they need.

6. Encourage Them to Access Support
Encourage them to seek support if they haven't already.

Mental Health Support at LSBU - Where can I find resources to help me manage my wellbeing?
You can read more about how the Mental Health and Wellbeing Team support students here: What does the LSBU Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Team do?

External Mental Health Support
* GP support - GPs can provide initial advice and treatment and refer you on to specialist services.
* Talking Therapy – you can self-refer for free Talking Therapy in your local area using this link: Find an NHS talking therapies services - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

7. Take Care of Yourself
Supporting someone with mental health issues can affect your own sense of wellbeing. Ensure you are also taking care of your own mental health by seeking support from friends, family, or external services if you feel this may be helpful.

Contacting LSBU’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Team
If you're worried about the mental health and wellbeing of an LSBU student, you can let us know by emailing studentwellbeing@lsbu.ac.uk

We will always take your concerns seriously and respond appropriately. We will not usually share any information with you about an LSBU student without the student's specific consent. In some situations, we may get in contact with a student's Emergency or Trusted Contact - you can find out more about this here: Emergency and Tursted Contact Guidance.

In an emergency where there are immediate safety concerns, please contact emergency services by calling 999.

Urgent Mental Health Support

If there is an emergency and you or someone else is at risk of immediate harm, do not hesitate to call 999.

If you are on an LSBU campus, you can also contact the security team on 020 7815 6666 or via the Safezone app. The security staff are all Mental Health First Aid Trained.

If it is not an emergency but you need to speak to someone immediately, please use one of the recommended support lines below.

Support in halls

If you live in LSBU Halls of Residence, you have additional access to Thrive. Thrive is a student support service for LSBU accommodation residents, providing a listening service which can help you to overcome general life stressors. They can also help you to connect with other services if required.
Get in contact via email: thrive@lsbu.ac.uk

Online resources

If you’d rather connect with peers, we’ve got you covered. Togetherall is a safe, anonymous peer support platform where you can express how you’re feeling, take self-assessments, complete short courses and, if you need to, speak to a professional. All LSBU students have access to Togetherall and can sign up for free with their LSBU email address here.

If you’d rather develop skills independently, you can also check out our Mental health and wellbeing FAQs and the courses on our Virtual Learning Environment Moodle. These courses were developed by experts and students to help you thrive whilst studying. These include Being Well Living Well and Mindset Matters.

Recommended self-help links and resources

NHS Good Thinking

NHS Good Thinking – information and resources, plus free access to wellbeing apps for London residents, aimed at helping you to improve your wellbeing in particular around anxiety, stress, sleep and low mood

The Black Students Mental Health Project

The Black Students Mental Health Project | - information and resources developed by and for the Black community at LSBU. Find blogs, articles and podcasts about maintaining positive wellbeing and addressing challenges you may encounter whilst studying.

Free, Anonymous, 24/7 Peer Support'

Togetherall is a safe place where you can connect with others about what’s going on in your life - big or small.

Togetherall is:
* Completely free to use
* Anonymous, with no judgment or stigma
* Online for easy access with no waiting lists
* Monitored by mental health professionals 24/7

On Togetherall you can:
* Share your experiences with others in the community
* Read others’ stories and find comfort in knowing you’re not alone
* Join a group based on a topic that’s important to you
* Respond to others’ posts with a kind word, phrase or advice
* Create art to express yourself because sometimes words aren’t enough
* Read helpful articles, take wellbeing courses and self-assessments to feel better on your terms, in your own time

JOIN FOR FREE WITH YOUR LSBU EMAIL ADDRESS

Students Against Depression

Students Against Depression - information and resources for students about, including downloadable self-help worksheets on Depression, Anxiety and Sleep.

Anxiety UK

Reading Well - self help books

Reading Well - self help books – recommended self-help books, which can be recommended on prescription by a health professional or can be taken out of most libraries in England who are part of the Reading Well scheme.

Student Minds

Kooth

Kooth – free, anonymous online counselling and emotional support for 11-25 year olds.

Recommended Support lines

CALM - Campaign Against Living Miserably

NHS 111

NHS 111 - Call 111 for health advice, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

Papyrus - Prevention of Young Suicide

The Samaritans

The Samaritans - Confidential support if you are in a crisis, despairing or feeling suicidal. Call free on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

General Health and Wellbeing Information

Registering with a doctor and dentist

We strongly advise students to register with a doctor as soon as you enrol so that you can obtain immediate medical advice and assistance if you fall ill or have an accident.

Information on registering with a local GP is available on the NHS website and provided during Welcome Week. The closest GP surgery to the Southwark Campus is Princess Street Surgery.

If you’re unsure, here’s some advice about talking to your GP.

For dental care you’ll need to register with a local dentist. Search the NHS website for local NHS dentists.

For further advice, please contact us via LSBU MyAccount or Contact Us | London South Bank University (lsbu.ac.uk)

Recommended vaccinations

We recommend that all students are vaccinated against meningitis and measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) before starting your studies.

Measles is highly infectious and is spreading in London. It can cause severe illness including pneumonia and brain damage. People who attend university may be at greater risk of catching measles due to having higher number of social contacts.

The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps, and rubella, and is normally offered during early childhood. Check with your parents/carers or your GP if you have had 2 doses of the MMR vaccine. If you haven’t had 2 doses, you can book a free appointment with your GP to get the vaccine.

Meningitis is a rare but serious disease which can easily spread among students living in close proximity.

All new university students up to the age of 25 are being offered a free Men ACWY vaccine in order to prevent illness caused by the four different strains of the meningococcal bacteria that cause meningitis and blood poisoning (septicaemia).

For more information about meningitis, including a symptoms checker and a mobile app, visit Meningitis now.

International students

International students are advised to get immunised in their home country before the start of university. Please ask your doctor/nurse for the Men ACWY vaccine.

What happens if you’re not immunised before the start of university?

  • If you are entitled to free medical treatment on the NHS you may be eligible to receive the vaccinations. These are available from your local UK doctor – you should register with your local doctor as soon as possible.
  • If you are not entitled to free NHS treatment, you can get vaccinations from a local travel clinic which you may need to pay for.

Sexual Health 

Many adults choose to have sexual relationships, and it's important to do this in a healthy way that's fun and safe for everyone involved.

Our Consent Matters module on Moodle is all about communication in relationships, which is the foundation of good sex. Remember, consent is everything when it comes to sex, and unless it's an enthusiastic yes, it's a no.

If you are having sex, we’d recommended checking out SHL.UK. It’s a discreet sexual health service for Londoners where you can get home STI testing plus regular and emergency contraception.

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