Today is World Mental Health Day – a good reminder that looking after your mental health matters just as much as your studies while you’re at university.
Here’s a quick guide to the services and resources available to you throughout your time at Manchester:
Important links
- Student Support – all of the advice and support we offer, on one webpage.
- Tailored Support – specific help designed around your circumstances.
- School Support – find out what’s available in your School.
- Emergency info – what to do if you or someone else needs urgent help.
Support you might not know about
Mental Health Support Team
Our Mental Health Support Team offers confidential counselling and one-to-one support for students experiencing mental health challenges. They can help you manage stress, anxiety, low mood or other concerns and connect you with the right services to get the support you need.
Workshops
The Mental Health Support Team also run a variety of workshops including mindfulness meditation, managing anxiety and challenging unhelpful thinking. Workshops are available both in-person and online, with some pre-recorded sessions for flexible access.
Qwell
As a Manchester student, you have access to free online counselling anytime from Qwell, as well as chat and wellbeing tools.
Spectrum.Life
Spectrum.Life offer anonymous support via phone or app from trained counsellors and advisors, ready to listen whenever you need – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Headspace
Sign up to Headspace using your university email address and you’ll receive free access to mindfulness and meditation tools.
Six Ways to Wellbeing
Our Wellbeing team spotlight simple steps you can take to feel good and live well – from connecting with others to being active.
Social Prescribers
Social Prescribers help you get involved in activities, hobbies and groups at Manchester to improve your wellbeing and meet new people. You can have up to six one-to-one sessions to set goals and get support for taking part in activities that suit you.
Disability Advisory and Support Service (DASS)
DASS offer named advisers to support students who have a disability to access support during their studies. From alternative arrangements in exams, to software to help you study, the DASS is here to help you access the support you need.
Multi-faith Chaplaincy
The Multi-Faith Chaplaincy offers spiritual and pastoral support to students of all faiths and none. The team provides a welcoming space for reflection, guidance and community, helping you navigate personal, spiritual, or faith-related concerns during your time at uni.
Students’ Union Advice Service
The Advice Service offers free, confidential support and guidance for students on wellbeing, academic, housing, or financial issues, and can connect you with other services.
We know there’s a lot of information to take in, but the most important thing to remember is that there’s so much support available – and we encourage you to make the most of it.
If you’re unsure what you need right now, check out our Support Wheel webpage to find the right service for you.
A message from your Wellbeing and Liberation Officer
“Hey everyone!
This is Sharon Mary Dominic Raj, your newly elected Wellbeing and Liberation Officer, and I’d like to begin by wishing you a very happy World Mental Health Day!
Mental health is very personal to me. I’ve always been captivated by the human mind and our emotional world; I studied psychology for my bachelor’s degree and fell in love with it. Later, I pursued a master’s degree in international human resource management, which seemed like an odd turn of events at the time, but I was motivated by my desire to improve employee well-being. My dissertation, titled “EDI Backlash in the USA,” looked into why the backlash happened and the factors surrounding it.
Now, in my role as your Wellbeing and Liberation Officer, my goal is simple: to bridge the gap between the support that already exists and the awareness that’s sometimes missing. There is a lot of support available, but misinformation or ambiguity often prevents people from seeking it. I want to change that.
Today, on World Mental Health Day, let us take a moment to care for ourselves and each other. Remember that mental health well-being is a right, not a luxury.If you’d like to connect, share your thoughts, or just say hi, you can reach me anytime:
Email: wlofficer.su@manchester.ac.ukInstagram: @wlo_umsu
Follow @uomwellbeing for the latest wellbeing events and campaigns across campus – you can even become a Wellbeing Champion and help support others.