FAQs

There are a range of places to go to talk, many available 24/7 so you don’t ever have to feel alone. It helps to talk.

• Trusted individual - talking to someone can really help.
• Togetherall can help whether you're struggling to sleep, concerned about friendships, anxiety, low mood, or depression. Free to AU students, Togetherall offers an anonymised, 24/7, clinically managed, peer supported community where a range of help and advice is available.
• Samaritans free helpline available 24/7 - Tel: 116 123, Welsh Language Line 0300 123 3011 Email jo@samaritans.org.
• MIND 
• Student Minds 
• Student Wellbeing Service

• Student Minds: support for parents
• MIND: Supporting someone with a mental health problem
• Student Wellbeing Service: Concerns About a Student
• Student Wellbeing Services: fitness to attend guide

It may be that you have an existing mental health condition or emerging issues you would like support with.

We advise all students to ensure they come to university with enough prescribed medication and to make sure they have discussed support in the Aberystwyth area with any existing services back home. You can also contact the Wellbeing Service practitioners if you would like more help.

• Seeing a Doctor - Registering with a local GP will help you to be able to access health advice and treatment. It may be that a referral to Mental Health Services is required.
• MIND – Mind are working with GPs to deliver an Active Monitoring Service.
• Local Mental Health Support Service (IAWN) - For mild to moderate MH issues e.g. stress, low mood/depression, anxiety. Currently accessed by GP Referral, although a range of self-referral courses and self-help literature are often available.
• Community Mental Health Centre (CMHC) – Open daily for assessment of any mental health issue including urgent and emergency issues: Llanbadarn Road, Aberystwyth, Dyfed, SY23 1HB, phone 01970 615448.

• Togetherall: can help whether you're struggling to sleep, concerned about friendships, anxiety, low mood, or depression. Free to AU students, Togetherall offers an anonymised, 24/7, clinically managed, peer supported community where a range of help and advice is available.
• Samaritans: free helpline available 24/7 - Tel: 116 123, Welsh Language Line 0300 123 3011 Email jo@samaritans.org.
• Dr Jim White Stress Control: a four-session course. It is for people who want to learn better ways to get on top of their problems such as depression, anxiety, panic, poor sleep and low self-confidence. Stress Control is now available online and provides a range of tools such as relaxation techniques and mindfulness to help manage stress, along with course modules.
• Student minds: Empower students and members of the university community to look after their own mental health, support others and create change. Their aim is to transform the state of student mental health so that all in higher education can thrive.
• Get self help: Mental health and wellbeing videos and download tools 
• A-Z of wellbeing: The Student Wellbeing Service A-Z offers webpage links, apps, YouTube clips, and course links for all your wellbeing issues.

Any student with a long standing Mental Health Condition can access advice from the Accessibility Service, within the Student Support and Careers Services department. They can advise on the range of support options available to help meet individual needs, so that you can reach your full potential. Please see the Accessibility Services webpages for more information on adapted accommodation, access to learning areas, equipment, software and examination arrangements.

The Student Wellbeing Service team have Specialist Mental Health Mentors who work with those students with a diagnosed or emerging long term mental health condition to help keep them on track with their studies. Mental Health Mentoring is funded through Disability Students Allowance and eligibility for this can be discussed with the Accessibility team whilst more information is available on their webpages:

Accessibility webpages

Email: accessibility@aber.ac.uk

Phone: 01970 621761 or 622087

Once you have completed the online registration form, a Wellbeing Practitioner will email you with some suggested support pathways andmay invite you to book Resource Appointment.

A resource appointment is with a qualified practitioner and lasts between 30 and 45 minutes. This time is for you to talk about your current difficulties and the practitioner will assess any particular need, whilst together you formulate an action plan of possible solutions. The agreed action plan will be emailed to you following the appointment.

One of the agreed actions may be for you to attend another ‘follow up’ appointment with a practitioner, to see how you are managing after engaging with the agreed actions.

Or, it may be that there is a counselling or mental health support need and we can get you to the right person within the service for this.

Or, a specialist need that can be met by more specialist services outside of the university may be more suitable and the practitioner will talk to you about how to contact any specialist service.

Students are welcome to contact us at any time following an appointment to seek further help and advice. However if some time has passed since your initial registration, then it could be helpful for you to complete another online form, so the practitioner is aware of any different needs that may present.