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Student life and mental health
Explains how you can look after your mental health as a student, giving practical suggestions for what you can do and where you can go for support.
Useful contacts
Carers UK
0808 808 7777
[email protected]
carersuk.org
Advice and support for anyone who provides care.
Papyrus HOPELINEUK
0800 068 41 41
88247 (text)
[email protected]
papyrus-uk.org
Confidential support for under-35s at risk of suicide and others who are concerned about them. Open 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Samaritans
116 123 (freephone)
[email protected] (Email responses may take several days. This service will close from 26 April 2026.)
samaritans.org
Samaritans are open 24/7 for anyone who needs to talk. You can visit some Samaritans branches in person. Samaritans also have a Welsh Language Line on 0808 164 0123 (7pm to 11pm every day).
Student Minds
0808 808 4994
studentminds.org.uk
Mental health charity that supports students. Runs Student Space, offering online information and helpline support delivered in partnership with The Mix.
Students Against Depression
studentsagainstdepression.org
Information and support for students experiencing suicidal feelings, including a helpful safety plan template.
University Mental Health Advisors Network (UMHAN)
umhan.com
Network for mental health advisors working in education. Website also has information for students.
YoungMinds
0808 802 5544 (Parents Helpline)
85258 (text the word 'shout')
youngminds.org.uk
Advice and support for young people for their mental health. Also supports parents and carers through a helpline and chat service.
MoneyHelper
0800 138 7777 (English)
0800 138 0555 (Welsh)
18001 0800 915 4622 (text relay)
moneyhelper.org.uk
Provides free and impartial money advice.
NHS Services Finder
nhs.uk/service-search (England)
111.wales.nhs.uk/localservices (Wales)
Searchable database of NHS services.
Careers Wales
0800 028 4844
careerswales.gov.wales
Information, advice and guidance about learning, training and work for people who live in Wales.
Citizens Advice
0800 144 8848 (England Adviceline)
0800 702 2020 (Wales Adviceline)
18001 0800 144 8884 (textphone)
citizensadvice.org.uk
Free, confidential information and advice on your rights. Including money, housing, discrimination and other problems. Provides helplines and a chat service on weekdays.
National Careers Service
nationalcareers.service.gov.uk
Information, advice and guidance about learning, training and work.
Not Going To Uni
notgoingtouni.co.uk
Information about alternatives to university. Includes a search tool for current opportunities.
Office for Students
officeforstudents.org.uk
Information and guidance for students from the independent regulator of higher education in England.
Open University
Offers flexible, part-time or full-time study and distance learning, including some free online courses.
The Student Room
thestudentroom.co.uk
Information for students and the UK's largest online student community.
UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA)
ukcisa.org.uk
Advice and guidance for international students and the institutions, students' unions and organisations who work closely with them.
FRANK
0300 123 6600
talktofrank.com
Confidential advice and information about drugs, their effects and the law.
We Are With You
wearewithyou.org.uk
Supports people with drug, alcohol or mental health problems, and their friends and family.
Mencap
mencap.org.uk
[email protected]
Information and advice for people with a learning disability, their families and carers. Services include an online community and email helpline.
National Autistic Society
autism.org.uk
Support and guidance for autistic people and their families. Campaigns for improved rights, services and opportunities. This includes an:
- Autism services directory – listing local and national support options
- Online autism community – helping autistic people and their families to connect with each other and share experiences
- Autism Inpatient Mental Health Service (England) – providing advice to autistic people in England who are detained or about to be detained in a mental health hospital
- Guide to asking for reasonable adjustments – providing advice on how to ask talking therapies services to make themselves more accessible
Support for LGBTQIA+ students
In addition to the list below, it's also worth finding out what your university or student union offers. They may have an LGBTQIA+ society, network or peer support group you can join.
We have more information about LGBTQIA+ mental health. This includes a list of useful contacts.
Gendered Intelligence
genderedintelligence.co.uk
Charity supporting young trans people aged under 25, and information for their parents and carers.
Mermaids
0808 801 0400
mermaidsuk.org.uk
Supports gender-diverse young people aged 19 and under, and their families and carers. Offers a helpline and and webchat.
Suryan Collective
thesuryancollective.org
A place for LGBTQIA+ people with South Asian heritage to connect.
Bayo
bayo.uk
Bayo is a space to find collectives, organisations and services from across the UK that offer mental health and wellbeing support to the Black community.
Muslim Youth Helpline
0808 808 2008
myh.org.uk
Provides faith and culturally sensitive support to young Muslims by phone, live chat, WhatsApp and email.
Spark and Co.
sparkandco.co.uk
Directory of support services for people of colour, including mental health services.
Taraki
taraki.co.uk
Creates spaces for mental health education and awareness for Punjabi communities.
This information was published in March 2023. We will revise it in 2026.
References and bibliography available on request.
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