Where to go to get help at King’s

University is great. Mostly. You’re here, you’re making loads of new friends, going out, enjoying your lectures and trying to do as much as possible.

However, we at The Tab know that it can be overwhelming at times. It’s not always easy to hold your hands up and say that you’re not doing ok, but it's important that you feel that you can.

As today is World Mental Health Day, we thought we’d pool all of the great resources KCL has to offer and let you know exactly what help is out there!

If you ever need help, there are loads of options within King’s to help you. The full university guide can be found here.

KING’S COUNSELLING SERVICE

The counselling service provides a number of options for students seeking support. There are group or individual sessions available depending on what you’re looking for. There are long term groups which provide a range of support for situations such as bereavement, exploring reltaionships/sexuality and there are also general groups for older and younger students as well as postgraduates.

It is also possible to go and see a counsellor in a one-to-one setting. You can then have an assessment and they can then help you decide the best way forward from there.

Find more information about it here.

KING’S WELLBEING

A slightly less formal version of the Counselling service, King’s wellbeing provides a range of options for students. Throughout the year they have various campaigns aiming to improve the life of King’s students, starting with Time To Change’s campaign ‘In Your Corner’, which is all about encouraging students to reach out to one another and to make it easier to provide support.

They put on a wide range of workshops throughout the year, allowing students to explore various topics and consider how best to approach challenges that they might face throughout the course of their degree. These confidential group sessions cover a range of topics from productivity to relationships to mindfulness. For more information, look at the King's wellness page!

It is also possible to have coaching sessions, where a coach will see you in a one-on-one, confidential, setting and through asking you open questions help you identify your options and make decisions.

It is less formal than councelling and looks to provide you with skills to solve future issues that might arise. More details can be found here.

PEER SUPPORTERS

Peer to peer support provides student lead support for people who might not feel wholly comfortable in the more formal setting of a counsellor’s office. The KCL peer supporters have received training from the counselling service and are there to offer a listening ear and friendly face to students who are looking for someone to help them think through issues.

KCLSU ADVICE

The university provides a student advice service that is free, confidential and impartial. They can help you through any difficulties that you may be having and provide help navigating the various regulations and procedures during your time at King's. They can also tell you who might be able to help if they aren't quite the right people for the job.

You should also feel able to reach out to your personal tutor; they are there to help you and make sure that you can make the most of your university career. If you want things clarifying, flexibilty with deadlines or help with essays, office hours are there for exactly that. The Chaplain, Hall Managers, Student Services staff, Student Union Welfare Officers and Departmental Advisors will all be willing to support you in times of difficulty or distress.

There are also options for immediate crisis support such as an RA or duty manager in halls, or you can call services such as Nightline (020 7631 0101) or Samaritans if you are concerned for yourself or for others.