***Our Advice Service will be closed from 16:00 on Wednesday 8 April until 10:00 on Wednesday 15 April 2020***
We've put together a list of services and telephone numbers that are available over the closure period, all generally free to use. We hope these are helpful if you need any support or advice during this time.
Appointments with the Advice Service
We may have had to suspend our face-to-face service and drop-in sessions, but we have been working hard over the past few weeks to ensure students still have access to full support from our team. We are currently offering advice by email, telephone and video/voice chat on Microsoft Teams. Appointments can still be booked with our advisors Monday-Friday between 10:00 and 16:00, and our team are constantly responding to our shared email inbox. Just because you can’t come to our office, doesn’t mean we aren’t here help and support you during these troubling times.
To contact our advisors, please use our contact form or email us on [email protected]. If your matter is urgent or you have an upcoming deadline, please let us know and we’ll do our best to prioritise responding to you.
You may also find it helpful to look at our COVID-19: Mental Health and Wellbeing support page. We’ve done the research and reading for you and have found some great websites, apps and tips on how to stay up to date and keep your mind and body healthy. We’ve also compiled a list of financial support options for students who may have money worries in the current situation.
UCL Support Services
Student Support and Wellbeing Drop-In
Drop-in sessions have been suspended for the time being, but appointments are still available through Microsoft Teams and via the phone. Online appointments will be closed from Wednesday 8 April, 17:00, resuming back again on Wednesday 15 April, 09:00.
More information about drop-in-sessions can be found on the Student Support and Wellbeing website.
Student Psychological and Counselling Services
This service is intended to provide short-term counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy, psychiatric support and psycho-educational groups to help you deal with a range of personal, emotional and psychological concerns. They do not provide support for long-term conditions or in the event of an emergency.
Staff will continue to monitor askUCL during this time, but are only able to respond to urgent student welfare cases.
Please read on through UCL's guidance on the support available to you throughout the current coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Useful Telephone Numbers
Care First
A free telephone and online support and counselling service for UCL students. This is now a 24-hour service. Qualified Care First counsellors provide guidance on a range of issues, from things happening at home to university life.
Phone: 0800 197 4510
Care First also offer support through a one-to-one online messaging service, in which you will speak to a counsellor in real time. To access this support, visit Care First Lifestyle. You will need to log in using these details:
Username: uclstudent
Password: bentham
Nightline
London Nightline offers listening, support and information to higher education students by way of a confidential helpline.
Phone: 0207 631 0101
Nightline Website
Samaritans
24 hour confidential emotional support service.
Phone: 116 123
Samaritans Website
Email: [email protected]
Emergency Medical NHS A&E
University College Hospital
Phone: 020 3456 7890
Address: University College Hospital, 235 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BU
NHS A&E Website
Citizen Advice Camden
Legal Advice
Phone: Camden Adviceline 0300 330 115 (Call lines are open Monday – Friday, 10:00 – 16:00)
Citizens Advice Website
Crisis
A charity supporting the homeless
Phone: 0300 636 1967
Crisis Website
Shelter
Urgent housing advice
Phone: 0808 800 4444
Shelter Website
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The Students' Union Advice Service and UCL Student Support and Wellbeing are not able to offer emergency or crisis support.
If you're in immediate danger of hurting yourself or others:
- Go directly to the Accident & Emergency (A&E) department of your local hospital to get help
- UCLH is the nearest A&E department to UCL’s main campus
- Call 999 to request an ambulance if you are unable to reach the hospital yourself
If you're feeling distressed and need urgent support:
- Contact your GP surgery to request an emergency appointment
- If your GP surgery isn't open, call the free NHS out-of-hours medical line on 111 for help accessing the right services
- You can call the Samaritans on 116 123 to talk to someone at any time, day or night
- Nightline are a listening service for students, by students - they're available overnight on 020 7631 0101