Mental health and wellbeing support
University can be an amazing experience but there may be times you need extra help. This could be with your health, housing, personal life or studies. We care about your mental health and wellbeing and will support you.
What mental health and wellbeing support is available?
- Daily drop-in, no appointment needed (weekdays)
- Free counselling service
- Access to Mental Health and Wellbeing Advisors
- Wellbeing workshops
- Signposting and referrals to specialist external services
- Student Wellbeing Toolkit
- Oasis Faith and Spirituality Centre
Already studying with us?
Our Student Hub has more information about the support you can get based on your personal needs and circumstances.
3rd in the UK for mental health support
We know that life isn't always easy. You may experience difficulties with your health, housing, personal life or studies. You're in good hands - we ranked third in the UK for mental health support in the first ever University Mental Health League Table (2022). According to the survey results, we came top for the percentage of students who are the most satisfied with the mental health support available to them.
Counselling
Our team of counsellors provide solution-focused, time-limited therapeutic counselling. It's of the highest quality to help you with your studies and student life. They cover a wide range of issues and difficulties. This includes anxiety, panic attacks, family problems, cultural issues, homesickness, insomnia, loneliness, relationships, suicidal thoughts and more.
Whatever your difficulty, you are welcome and you will be treated with respect. Our counsellors are registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
Mental health
Our Mental Health Advisors can work with you if you are struggling with your mental health. Support is available for a huge range of difficulties. This includes anxiety, depression, eating disorders, suicidal thoughts and self-harm. We offer initial appointments, advice and referrals. We can also signpost to various specialist internal and external services.
All our Mental Health Advisors are professionally trained and experienced practitioners. They have previously worked in the NHS and are members of the University Mental Health Advisers Network.
Wellbeing
Our Wellbeing Advisors provide information, advice, and support for your wellbeing. This means anything that is negatively affecting you. We provide assessments, follow-up appointments and signposting. We can also liaise with both internal and external services including academic departments. This will help support you in your studies.
Wellbeing Advisors can provide advice in many areas. This includes alcohol and drug use, safety concerns, stalking and harassment, forced marriage, victims of crime and domestic and sexual violence.
Report + Support
Bullying, harassment, sexual assault and harassment, domestic abuse, hate crime and discrimination are never okay. We believe that help to tackle issues and help to break through barriers makes all the difference.
Our Report + Support system ensures that students, apprentices, staff and even visitors can report any concerns. You have the choice to access support from a Wellbeing Advisor or to report anonymously.
Hear from our students
If you find yourself needing extra support at university, don’t be afraid to speak up. Whatever your issue, there is always somebody to advise and guide you.
I’ve always found support easy to access whenever I have needed it. The new Student Centre makes it even easier, as it acts like a central hub where all the services are under one roof.
You can access a Mental Health Advisor for free. They can show you the best service to meet your needs. You can also self-refer for counselling, mental health or wellbeing support.
Every week I enjoy taking a walk to either Avenham Park or Moor Park. Moor Park is closer to campus but is mostly grassy fields whereas Avenham Park is further into town but has lots of flowers and trees.
Relax and unwind
We have dedicated Student Wellbeing Ambassadors who are currently studying at UCLan. They receive specialist training to provide one-to-one support across campus.
They can assist with specific practical support, including getting around campus and using assistive technology. They are also available to help with note-taking and support in practical sessions.
Practical support
Student Wellbeing Ambassadors (SWA) assist with tasks such as carrying belongings, opening doors, and providing support to wheelchair users.
Campus orientation
SWAs can help you to find your way around and become familiar with key routes on campus.
Sighted guide
They work with students who have a visual impairment to navigate campus and access university facilities.
Library support
SWAs can help with the retrieval of books, accessing the library catalogue, printing, and photocopying.
Workshop and lab support
They can provide agreed support during practical workshops and lab sessions.
Assistive technology demonstrations
The team offer one-to-one training and refresher sessions on assistive software that is available on the network. For example, Read and Write.
Course trips and placements
SWAs can assist on agreed course placements and/or course trips.
Notetaking and scribing
After agreement with Inclusive Support, SWAs can take notes in lectures or assist with typing up assignments.
We fully understand and prioritise the importance of good mental health and wellbeing of all our community, students, apprentices and staff alike. That's why we are proud to be part of the Mental Health Charter programme.
The Charter encourages universities to further develop a ‘whole university approach’ to mental health and wellbeing. It promotes the idea that support should not just be provided through the more traditional support services routes but can be provided across all areas.
The Charter framework will enable us to understand areas of strength and those for development. It will help us with ongoing improvements. It will allow us to fully embed principles of good and excellent practice associated with promoting and supporting mental health and wellbeing into every area of university life.
"We are delighted to be joining the Mental Health Charter programme and look forward to working with Student Minds and Universities across the Sector. We have heavily invested in support services in recent years and are proud of the impact this has had on the UCLan community. We are focussed on continuous improvement and are committed to strengthening our whole University approach to mental health and wellbeing. We believe the Charter provides an excellent framework to evaluate our existing practices, celebrate our achievements and facilitate further cultural change in this area."
Graham Baldwin, Vice-Chancellor
For further information, please visit the University Mental Health Charter website.
Frequently asked questions about wellbeing support
Our Student Support Services are based in the Student Centre and are open Monday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm and Fridays from 9am to 4pm, excluding bank holidays. Outside of our opening times, please contact Security on +44 (0) 1772 892068. Deaf users please text 07891 679 537.
Our friendly team are ready to support you and can refer you to our specialist teams. This includes our Counsellors, Mental Health Advisors and specialist Wellbeing Team. Visit us on the upper ground floor of the Preston Campus Student Centre. You don’t need an appointment, just drop-in any time between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.
If you're based at our Burnley or Westlakes Campus, we can arrange appointments through Microsoft Teams. Call or email us to make an appointment.
Our team of counsellors provide therapeutic counselling of the highest quality. They can cover a wide range of issues and difficulties. This includes anxiety, panic attacks, family problems, cultural issues, homesickness, insomnia, loneliness, relationships, suicidal thoughts and more. Whatever your difficulties you face, you are welcome, and you will be treated with respect.
Our Mental Health Advisors work with students and apprentices who are struggling with their mental health. They work with a huge range of difficulties. This can include anxiety, depression, eating disorders, suicidal thoughts and self-harm. They offer assessment appointments, advice and signposting to various services. All of our mental health advisers are professionally trained and experienced practitioners who have previously worked in the NHS and are members of The University Mental Health Advisers Network.
Our Wellbeing Advisors provide information, advice, and support for your wellbeing - which means anything that is negatively affecting you. We provide assessments, follow-up appointments and signposting, and can liaise with both internal and external services to help support you in your studies, including with academic departments. Wellbeing advisers can provide advice in many areas, such as alcohol and drug use, safety concerns, stalking and harassment, forced marriage, victims of crime and domestic and sexual violence.
Drop-in to the Student Centre
Once you are a student or apprentice at UCLan, you can visit us on the upper ground floor of the Preston Campus Student Centre. You don’t need an appointment, just drop in any time between 10.00am and 4.00pm, Monday to Friday.
Our friendly team are ready to support you at the drop-in sessions and can refer you to our specialist teams. This includes counsellors, Mental Health Advisors and our Wellbeing Team.
If you're based at our Burnley or Westlakes Campus, we can arrange appointments through Microsoft Teams. Call or email us to make an appointment.
Call or email
Contact us by emailing the Wellbeing Team.
Alternatively, you can telephone us on +44 (0) 1772 893020. Both our email and voicemail are monitored during our office opening hours only.
- Monday to Thursday, 9.00am to 5.00pm,
- Friday 9.00am - 4.00pm.
If we are unable to answer your call, please leave a voicemail and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Complete an online support request
If you are a current student or apprentice, you can submit an online support request through the Student Support Portal.
Our student hub has more information about support you can receive based on your personal needs and circumstances.
Find out more about mental health and wellbeing support on the Student Hub.
We understand that it can be distressing to know that someone you care about is having a difficult time. As we are a confidential service, we cannot reveal information about students or apprentices using our service. However, we will always follow up on any concerns raised.
Please encourage the student or apprentice to refer themselves to us or attend one of the wellbeing drop-in sessions. If you would like further advice, you can ring us on +44 (0) 1772 893020. If you have serious concerns about someone in an emergency situation, please call 999.
Please visit our student support frequently asked questions webpage.