Mental Health

With all the highs that come with University life, the occasional low is to be expected. With the combination of a high workload, living away from home for the first time and the added pressure of making new friends it can all get too much. Often it helps to talk things through with friends or family, but for many this is difficult which is why there are a number of people and services at Imperial to help you. Admitting you need help is one of the hardest things to do but you need to realise that there are hundreds of other students at Imperial who will be in the same situation.

The Student Counselling Service is a College-run team of qualified counsellors who offer short term counselling for concerns that you might find embarrassing or difficult to talk about with your friends and family. They cover a wide range of topics including homesickness, work and study anxiety, bereavement, sexual issues, abuse, depression and suicidal feelings. Sessions run by the Counselling Service last around 45 minutes and they are free to students. The Imperial College Health Centre also offers counselling sessions with qualified psychotherapists but you will first need to be referred by a doctor or nurse at the Health Centre.

There are also a number of external websites available that you may find useful. Students Against Depression is an organisation set up in conjunction with students to share stories and discussions related to the topic of depression. It gives information about the symptoms and in depth resources on ways to tackle it. The Central London Samaritans offer time and space for people to express their feelings, helping them to talk through their options and find a way to face the future and Nightline provides a number to call to discuss anything at all.

Around exam time, students feel particularly stressed and find it hard to cope. Thoughts of failure, difficulty sleeping and finding it hard to concentrate are common feelings and can be particularly detrimental to your studies. The Health Centre run a number of Exam Stress Workshops. They are very popular and tend to book up quickly so check their website for more details.

In any circumstances it is important to ask for help early on - the longer you ignore your feelings the worse it can get. If you're finding it difficult to decide who to talk to, contact the Deputy President (Welfare) or the Advice Centre and they'll be happy to help.

Nigel Cooke
(020) 7594 8067
IC Extension 48067