Wellbeing Support
Who are we and how can we help you?
Our friendly Wellbeing team are on hand to support your mental health and wellbeing needs and to help you reach your potential here at UCSD. Support is offered both in-person and remotely.
The team offers regular support to help you adjust to and manage student life, stay positive and motivated, encourage you to continue your studies, and manage the unexpected.
In summary, the team are on hand to support you with the following:
- Emotional/Pastoral Support
- Wellbeing needs
- Signposting you to external agencies
- Helping you through a HE Study and Wellbeing Review
- Counselling
- Therapeutic wellbeing sessions
Request support or get in touch for a conversation about how we can best support you.
Get in touch
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 01803 540547
When the University Centre is closed contact Student Space
Find out more about Student Space
Student Space is a student wellbeing platform
Explore a range of trusted information, services and tools to help you with the challenges of student life: studentspace.org.uk.
Free, confidential support with a trained advisor is available via phone, email, text and webchat:
- Phone 0808 1895 260 between 3pm and 12am everyday
- Email [email protected]
- Text ‘STUDENT’ to 85258 (available 24/7)
- Start a webchat at studentspace.org.uk from 4pm to 11pm everyday
MEET THE TEAM
Sandy Akerman
Student Wellbeing Senior Co-ordinator
Paula Vass
Student Wellbeing Senior Co-ordinator
OUR SERVICES
If you would like some support from the Wellbeing Team, you can either self-refer or ask your tutor to refer you. Likewise, your tutor may contact us if they have a concern about your welfare.
Once a referral is made, our Student Wellbeing Senior Co-ordinator or another member of the team will arrange an initial chat between you and them. This will help determine the best type of support that will benefit your well-being and studies, e.g., discussion with your GP, coaching, counselling, disability support, HE Study Support etc.
Our Student Wellbeing Senior Co-ordinator is also responsible for conducting HE Study and Wellbeing Review, Pregnancy Risk Assessments and supporting tutors with Wellbeing Review meetings.
Counselling Service
Counselling may be offered if you are experiencing or struggling with issues that impact your ability to focus on your studies. Referrals to our dedicated Higher Education Counsellor are made via the Student Wellbeing Senior Co-ordinator.
The counsellor will meet and talk with you and, if you both agree that it will be helpful for you to engage in some sessions, they will meet with you to work on techniques and strategies which may help you to be able to focus on your academic and university life. The counsellor uses an integrative approach, ensuring that you work together to find out what works best for you.
If your needs are more complex and require a specialist or long-term approach, the Wellbeing team or Higher Education Counsellor can direct you towards more appropriate services in the community, including the NHS.
Therapeutic Wellbeing Sessions
Battling with problems with your wellbeing can affect your studies and we want to be able to support you to achieve your full potential.
Therapeutic wellbeing sessions can be cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) based, arts-based sessions, or Drawing and Talking sessions.
The drawing and arts-based sessions are a way of working through issues in a gentle, non-invasive, symbolic, and therapeutic way. This can be especially helpful for those who find it difficult to talk about their emotions or are unsure of how or why they feel as they do. Sessions are suitable for those suffering from difficulties such as stress, mental health problems, and low self-esteem.
NO ARTISTIC SKILLS ARE REQUIRED!!
CBT can be helpful for people with anxiety, panic or low mood. CBT works by either working on changing the way you think or the way you behave to help you to feel better. CBT requires that you practice tasks at home between sessions.
Higher Education Therapy Garden
Our Higher Education Therapy Garden opened in 2019, and is a place where you can escape to for some peace and relaxation.
Facilities available across campus
Breastfeeding Room
New for 2023, we are delighted to announce that we now have a dedicated breastfeeding room, for any students or staff to use, complete with a seating area, a cleaning/washing areas and a fridge. This room is based next to the Level 1 Reception, in room 1.029 of the main building, Vantage Point. If you would like to access the room, please contact the HE Wellbeing Team, to be given ID card swipe-access to the room.
Multi-Faith Prayer/Reflection Room
The multi-faith room is based on Level 3 of the main building, Vantage Point, in room 3.021. This is a private space which you are welcome to use, if you would like to use this space, please contact the HE Wellbeing Team, to be given ID card-swipe access to the room.
Wellbeing Café
Run by Young Devon, who offer support to 16 to 25 year olds. A weekly Wellbeing Café that provides a friendly space to talk and to meet other people, held every Wednesday morning from 0930 until 1030 in the Student Common Room on Level 2 in the main building, Vantage Point, next to the Theatre. You are welcome to drop-in!
YOUR WELLBEING MATTERS
A guide to support your wellbeing during your time at UCSD and beyond.
Self-Help
There are a number of external organisations that provide dedicated information, support and self-help resources for mental health and wellbeing.
You will find an A-Z of self-help resources on our Wellbeing self-help page.
Speak Up
Find out more about the steps you can take to bring incidents of misconduct that have taken place in the College community to our attention.
South Devon College and University Centre South Devon are proud to be a safe, welcoming and inclusive community – our staff, students and anyone interacting with us should feel comfortable being who they are.
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Get in touch
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 01803 540547