Wellbeing and Mental Health
Our dedicated team sits within Student Services and consists of Wellbeing Advisers and Mental Health Advisers who are here to support you on your university journey. Appointments can take place over telephone, MS Teams, or in person at some sites.
Student Wellbeing Advisers have a broad knowledge of university processes and the support options available. Appointments can last up to 45 minutes, advice will vary depending on your situation, but will always be guided by you and tailored to your needs.
During this appointment you can talk about anything that may be affecting your wellbeing or studies; the adviser will listen, give advice, and support options, and will create a personalised action plan to support you in your next steps.
Mental Health Advisers support students who may be experiencing emotional or psychological distress that is impacting upon their University experience. Appointments can last up to an hour, advice will vary depending on your situation, but will always be guided by you and tailored to your needs.
During this appointment, Advisers can facilitate self-help, educate around managing mental health and develop safety plans. As well as link in with local mental health services.
Our Student Assistance Programme offers additional support alongside our on-campus services. It provides you with immediate advice and practical guidance 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Sometimes, simply talking through your issues with someone, in the moment, can be a great relief. Call the 24/7 helpline for free: 0800 028 3766 to talk through any problem. Support includes counselling, exploring mental health concerns and also the option to obtain guidance on personal, financial and legal matters.
If English isn’t your first language, SAP also provides a language line which connects you to an interpreter so you can chat in your preferred language.
In addition to our 1:1 support, we also host a number of Student Peer Support Networks. Our networks are safe spaces for students who may have a shared background or going through similar experiences to connect, support, and share tips and information with each other. We currently have the following networks:
- Student Parent Support Network
- Student Menopause Network
- Student LGBTQ+ Network
- Men’s Network
We also offer group-based sessions, on a range of supportive topics, throughout the academic year.
Duty support
In more urgent circumstances, we offer same-day appointments with an Adviser from the Wellbeing and Mental Health team. This service is used for students facing a pressing situation, for example a student who is experiencing thoughts of suicide, at risk of homelessness or is a survivor of domestic abuse or sexual violence.
If you are reading this and feel you need support right now, please review our Out of Hours Support information, or refer to ‘Help in an Emergency’ on the UoC app
Dedicated support:
We recognise that some groups of students may face unique challenges whilst studying at university. We offer dedicated support to the following student groups:
- Care experienced students
- Estranged students
- Students with caring responsibilities
- International students
- Students from the GRTSB community
Contact us
To find out more, or ask about booking an appointment, please email our helpdesk at studentservices@chester.ac.uk or call 01244 511550. Opening hours are Monday to Thursday 9am to 5pm, Friday 9am to 4pm.
We also work closely with our Student Services colleagues, ensuring a holistic approach to student wellbeing. This includes:
- Proctor’s Office for student safety
- Your Money team, for students experiencing financial challenges
- Disability and Inclusion team, to ensure students are able to achieve their full potential
The University of Chester is committed to providing a supportive and inclusive environment. We value equality and diversity and promote respect. If you, or someone you know, has experienced or witnessed unacceptable behaviour such as harassment, discrimination, sexual violence, abuse, bulling or hate crime you can report it using our simple reporting tool: Report a Concern.
All of this support is available free of charge to all students at the University. Our Data Processing and Privacy Notice describes how and why we collect and use personal information about you: Privacy Statement.