Mental health and wellbeing

The Mental Wellbeing Team includes trained mental health professionals and counsellors who are here to help you look after your mental health.

They offer a confidential service by email, phone, video conferencing, and face-to-face to help you with accessing:

• Specialist mentoring to support you throughout your studies (through the Disabled Students’ Allowance).
• Mental health advice - time-limited one-to-one support when needed.
• Short-term counselling – up to 5/6 sessions.
• Relevant NHS services and signposting to useful local support services.
• A range of face-to-face and online workshops, events, and support groups.

We advise all students to register with a GP locally, as they’re an important gateway for accessing formal support and treatment for mental health issues.

The Mental Wellbeing Team can’t provide medical treatment and diagnosis, but they work alongside local NHS teams, when needed, to support you with your studies.

You can contact them via:

• An online registration form
• Email mentalwellbeing@canterbury.ac.uk.
• Virtual drop-ins, from Monday - Friday, 12 - 1pm, via Blackboard
• Face-to-face drop-ins:
  
  • Augustine House, AHg59 , Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, 2 - 4pm, 
  • North Holmes Road, Lg43, Thursday, 2 - 4pm,

In partnership with the Mental Wellbeing Team, Spectrum.Life will offer all students immediate online, text, and telephone support from qualified professionals. You can talk to them about anything, including stress, anxiety, low mood, financial worries, loss and grief, relationship difficulties, substance abuse issues, and much more. They will work with you in getting initial help and liaise with the Mental Wellbeing Team for ongoing support.

The free service is available 24/7, 365 days per year via:

• Telephone: 0800 0318227
• WhatsApp: Text “Hi” to 0741836 0780
• Mobile App or web platform

Free Resources available to everyone through Spectrum Life Mobile App and web platform

The Spectrum.Life app and platform will give you access to fitness plans, recipes, and eLearning content related to stress, anxiety, sleep, and mental health, among other topics. In addition, you will have access to numerous health and wellbeing related rewards, such as discounted Fitbit Fitness Trackers. The platform also gives you direct easy access to 24/7 student support as outlined above.

Register now on the Spectrum.Life platform and mobile app using your university email address. Once registered, you can bookmark the following link for logging in - https://cccu.spectrum.life/login. You can download the app by searching for "Spectrum.Life" in your Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

The  University Chaplaincy offers a confidential listening service in a safe space where you can talk through any problems in a non-judgmental environment.

You can contact them by email:  chaplaincy@canterbury.ac.uk.

Student Space is here to help students find the support they need through:

• Access to dedicated support services. This covers the one-to-one support available, including a 24-hour text message service, as well as daily webchat, phone, and email support. They also provide additional, tailored services to support specific student groups, such as LGBTQ+, Muslim and Transgender students. 
• Information and advice to help you through the challenges of university life.

The support provided by Student Space is safe, confidential and free. It has been developed collaboratively with services, higher education professionals, researchers and students, to complement the existing services available to students.

If you are registered to a GP you can directly access NHS psychological therapies (IAPT) services including:

• Talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), counselling, other therapies, and guided self-help.
• Help for common mental health problems, like anxiety and depression.

Find a local NHS psychological therapies service (IAPT)

Some local IAPT providers include:

• University Medical Centre (covering Canterbury and Coastal and Ashford)

• We are with you (covering Canterbury and Coastal, Maidstone, and West Kent)

• Everyturn Healthcare (covering East Kent, Shepway and Swale, Dartford, Gravesham, and Swanley)

• Medway Talking Therapies (covering the Medway towns)

Spectrum.Life

In partnership with the Mental Wellbeing Team, Spectrum.Life offers in the moment and out of hours support, in different ways to suit our students' needs.

Spectrum.Life will offer students immediate online, text, and telephone support from qualified professionals. You can talk to them about anything, including stress, anxiety, low mood, financial worries, loss and grief, relationship difficulties, substance abuse issues, and much more. They will work with you in getting initial help and liaise with the Mental Wellbeing Team for ongoing support.

The free service is available 24/7, 365 days per year via:

• Telephone: 0800 0318227
• WhatsApp: Text “Hi” to 0741836 0780
• Download the Mobile App or web platform

Other support:

• If you want to talk to someone out of hours, you can contact Student Space via text, webchat, phone or email. 
• The Samaritans - call 116 123 for confidential, emotional support 24/7, or email jo@samaritans.org.
• 24/7 Mental Health Matters Helpline - call 0800 107 0160 for confidential, emotional support and guidance. They also have details of local and national support services.
• Shout is a free, confidential, 24/7 text-messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope. Please text SHOUT to 85258 or visit their website for information.

Kent Safe Havens

Kent Safe Havens offer free mental health support in a safe, comfortable, and supportive environment, every night from 6 - 11pm.

They have locations in Canterbury, Maidstone, Medway, and Thanet. There’s no need to be referred, they’re open every night for face-to-face, telephone, or virtual support.

• Canterbury: 07876 476703 (6 - 11pm), 22-23 North Lane, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7EE.
• Medway: 07850 901151 (open 24/7), Medway Maritime Hospital, Windmill Road, Gillingham, ME7 5NY.
• Maidstone: 07484 061684 (6 - 11pm), Kestrel House, Knightrider Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6L.
• Thanet: 07850 655877 (open 24/7), Thanet Mental Health Unit, 164 Ramsgate Road, Margate, CT9 4B.

If you feel you’re a risk to yourself or another person:

• Call the emergency services on  999 if you feel you need support from the police or ambulance service.
• Also contact University Security on 01227 922 111.