Non-Crisis Support

You might be worried about coronavirus (also known as COVID-19) and how it could affect your life.

This may include being asked to stay at home or avoid other people, which might feel difficult or stressful. But there are lots of things you can try that could help you to manage your mental health and wellbeing if you need to.

Pause

Pause - the collaboration between University mental health services, Forward Thinking Birmingham, and The Children's Society, are running a telephone support service during restricted campus opening.  Find out more about the Pause service during restricted campus opening.

Kooth

As a service, fully commissioned by Birmingham Children’s Partnership Trust, Kooth.com is a free, safe, anonymous way for young people to receive counselling, advice and support online. Staffed by fully trained and qualified counsellors and available until 10pm each night, 365 days per year, it provides a much needed out of hours’ service for advice and support. As well as counselling, peer to peer support can also be accessed through our moderated message forums and online magazine. Find out more about Kooth Mental Health services on Kooth.com.

Mental Health Advice and Tips

If you are self-isolating, staying at home, or generally worried about the current situation, Mind have produced information and advice on Coronavirus and your wellbeing, whilst Young Minds have produced a resource on what to do if you're feeling anxious about coronavirus.

The University's Mental Health and Wellbeing Service have created a Canvas course which includes resources to help you with anxieties and worries caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic.  You may have found your usual sources of support are not available at the moment, but there is lots of information and advice, as well as tools, strategies and techniques which can support you during this difficult and challenging time.  

Self-Help Guides

Self-help guides can be an excellent option for those concerned about their mental health. Our self-help guides have been written by clinical psychologists, and provide suggestions for simple ways in which you can begin to make positive changes, tailored to a wide variety of issues.

The guides are accessible, easy to use and relatively short (20-30 pages). Each guide is also available as an audio file – you may find listening an easier way to access the materials, especially if you are finding it hard to concentrate on written materials.

Chaplains

Whilst the Multi-Faith Chaplaincy at St Francis Hall is currently closed due to restricted campus operations, the Chaplaincy community continues to provide support. Anyone wishing to speak to a Chaplain is recommended to contact the Chaplain they wish to speak to and provide a phone number so that they can call you back.

If you are unsure who to contact, or want to find out more about the Multi-Faith Chaplaincy, please contact the Chaplaincy Administrator.

Support from the Guild 

Although the Guild of Students is currently closed, the Guild Advice team and Student Mentors are still available by email to offer advice and support, you can contact the Guild Advice team at guildadvice@guild.bham.ac.uk and the Student Mentors team at mentorwelfare@guild.bham.ac.uk.

Other Support

The current Coronavirus lockdown and general coverage can be scary, may cause anxiety or have an impact on existing circumstances or conditions you've been living with, or trigger new symptoms. You might find your usual face to face services are disrupted, and your change in circumstances overwhelming. If you've been getting support, you could talk to your therapist or other medical professionals by phone or email. There is a lot of support still available including a range of  organisations who offer practical tips on how to look after your wellbeing during this period of self-isolation, as well as support and guidance for managing your condition more generally:

  • The Mental Health Foundation has lots of tips on looking after your mental health including tips on staying at home, useful advice if you have finance, housing or unemployment worries and information about staying and abusive relationships.  
  • There are some useful resources from Beat Eating Disorders for those with living with an eating disorder or supporting someone who is.  They also host ‘The Sanctuary’ – a chat room and safe space for people with an eating disorder.
  • Papyrus, who work to prevent young suicide, have a helpline and range of supporting resources you may find useful.
  • For anyone affected by Bipolar disorder, Bipolar UK offer a range of online support and information, and a moderated eCommunity to help connect you with others.
  • The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) offer a helpline for everyone but especially men, and tips on coping with social isolation
  • Mind offer practical advice and information to support your wellbeing for people staying at home due to Coronavirus.
  • Anxiety UK have self-help resources for those suffering from anxiety including a helpline.
  • The Samaritans are regularly updating their webpages with resources to help your wellbeing during this challenging time, they have also launched a self-help app which offers practical ways to cope and stay safe for people going through a difficult time. 
  • Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice have launched a new bereavement telephone service, providing free one-to-one support to those who are struggling with the loss of a loved one.

If you are a victim of domestic or sexual violence and abuse, or a victim of or witness to a crime, you may find some support services are disrupted.  However there is a range of help available.

Please refer to our student booklets for other support. You can also contact your Wellbeing Officer in your School via email for information.

Colleges

Professional Services