When a student has a mental health or emotional difficulty

What should you be aware of?

The University has a duty of care to provide support for students experiencing mental health difficulties and legal responsibilities to make adjustments for those with long-term conditions. Students may experience a range of issues that arise from their time at university or from outside of university life that have the potential to negatively impact on their education (for example settling in, relationship issues, bereavement, anxiety, depression and lack of confidence).

What should you do?

During University core opening hours:

A confidential service is available by self-referral. The student can contact the following service:

The Counselling & Mental Health Service
Sunny Hill House, Hendon Campus.
Email: cmh@mdx.ac.uk or telephone 020 8411 4118
(Please see campus map on p75)

Drop-in appointments are available at 2pm daily (Monday – Friday). No appointment needed – students can just turn up. Appointments are available during core hours and two evenings per week until 8pm.

Students can view further information on appointments, confidentiality, frequently asked questions and helpsheets here: http://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/support/counselling-and-mental-health

Please see Cause for Concern on Page 6.

Outside of University core opening hours:

Students can contact a range of helplines including:

NHS 111-http://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/urgent-and-emergency-care/nhs-111
The Samaritans – 116 123, www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help-you/contact-us
SANE Helpline - 0300 304 7000, www.sane.org.uk/what_we_do/support/helpline
London Nightline - 020 7631 0101, www.nightline.org.uk

If at any time you feel a student may be at risk of harming themselves or others, please contact Security on 16200.
Please look at the Cause for Concern Procedure on page 6.

What happens next?

Practical help is also available from other services when mental health or emotional difficulties impact a student’s progression.

These services are as follows:

— UniHelp

— Deferrals and extenuating circumstances (Assessment)

— Attendance Monitoring (Student Attendance Monitoring)

— Student Welfare Advice Team

— Student Union

— Disability and Dyslexia Service

— Learning Enhancement Team

The Counselling and Mental Health team offers a wide range of ways to assist students from self-help, guided self-help and workshops to 1:1 sessions with a counsellor or mental health practitioner.

Policy Information: http://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/support/counselling-and-mental-health/services-standards

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