Whether you're feeling stressed, suffering from anxiety or you need help with a diagnosed mental health condition, we have a range of support available to help you.
At Christ Church we’re proud of our compassionate, empowering and inclusive community where every member is valued and where those who experience mental health problems encounter no prejudice or discrimination.
Mental health support
We’re committed to offering excellent mental health support in partnership with other service providers. You can contact the Mental Wellbeing team at any point of your student journey - asking for help whenever you need it.
You can contact them via:
- An online registration form
- Email mentalwellbeing@canterbury.ac.uk.
- Virtual drop-ins, from Monday-Friday, between 12 noon and 1pm, via Blackboard
- Face-to-face drop-ins:
- Wednesday, 2-4pm, AHg59 (Augustine House)
- Thursday, 1-2pm, CCg03 (Cathedral Court, Medway)
- Thursday, 3-5pm, Lg43 (Laud)
You can also join the team at Chooseday Chill for an informal chat over tea and toast, every Tuesday, at Augustine House from 5-7pm.
Spectrum.Life
Working in partnership with the Mental Wellbeing team, Spectrum.Life offer students immediate online, text and telephone support from qualified professionals.
The free service is available 24/7, 365 days per year via:
- Telephone: 0800 0318227
- WhatsApp: Text “Hi” to 0741836 0780
- Mobile App or web platform
Support at the university and beyond
The Mental Wellbeing team includes trained mental health professionals and counsellors who are here to help you look after your mental health.
They offer a confidential service by email, phone, video conferencing and face-to-face to help you with accessing:
- Specialist mentoring to support you throughout your studies (through the Disabled Students’ Allowance)
- Mental health advice - time-limited one-to-one support when needed.
- Short-term counselling – up to 5/6 sessions.
- Relevant NHS services and signposting to useful local support services.
- A range of face-to-face and online workshops, events and support groups.
We advise all students to register with a GP locally, as they’re an important gateway for accessing formal support and treatment for mental health issues.
The Mental Wellbeing team can’t provide medical treatment and diagnosis, but they work alongside local NHS teams, when needed, to support you with your studies.
You can contact them via:
- An online registration form
- Email mentalwellbeing@canterbury.ac.uk.
- Virtual drop-ins, from Monday-Friday, between 12 noon and 1pm, via Blackboard
- Face-to-face drop-ins:
- Wednesday, 2-4pm, AHg59 (Augustine House)
- Thursday, 1-2pm, CCg03 (Cathedral Court, Medway)
- Thursday, 3-5pm, Lg43 (Laud)
- Saturday, 2-4pm, AHg59 (Augustine House)
- Disability Student Allowance and Learning Support Plan drop-ins, Tuesdays 11am - 4pm, AHg56 or online.
In partnership with the Mental Wellbeing Team, Spectrum.Life will offer students immediate online, text and telephone support from qualified professionals. You can talk to them about anything, including stress, anxiety, low mood, financial worries, loss and grief, relationship difficulties, substance abuse issues and much more. They will work with you in getting initial help and liaise with the Mental Wellbeing Team for ongoing support.
The free service is available 24/7, 365 days per year via:
- Telephone: 0800 0318227
- WhatsApp: Text “Hi” to 0741836 0780
- Mobile App or web platform
Spectrum Life Mobile App and web platform
Spectrum.Life App and platform will give you access to fitness plans, recipes, and eLearning content related to stress, anxiety, sleep and mental health among other topics. In addition, you will have access to numerous health and wellbeing related rewards such as discounted Fitbit Fitness Trackers! The platform also gives you direct easy access to the 24/7 Student Support as outlined above.
Register now to the Spectrum.Life platform and mobile app using your Canterbury Christ Church email address. Once registered you can bookmark the following link for logging in https://cccu.spectrum.life/login. You can download the app by searching for "Spectrum.Life" in your Google Play or Apple Store.
The University Chaplaincy offers a confidential listening service in a safe space where you can talk through any problems in a non-judgmental environment.
You can contact them by email: chaplaincy@canterbury.ac.uk
Nightline is a student-run listening and information service offering a safe, non-judgemental environment for CCCU students to talk about their feelings and gain emotional-support and information.
At Nightline, you can talk to the trained student volunteers about anything, no matter how big or small, and know that it will be held in confidence. They are available in term times via
- Phone: 01227 824848
- Email: listening@canterbury.nightline.ac.uk
For availability please check their website.
Student Space is here to help students find the support they need through:
- Access to dedicated support services. This covers the one-to-one support available including 24-hour text message service as well as daily webchat, phone and email support. They also provide additional, tailored services to support specific student groups such as LGBTQ+, Muslim and Trans students.
- Information and advice to help you through the challenges of university life.
The support provided by Student Space is safe, confidential and free. It has been developed collaboratively with services, higher education professionals, researchers and students to complement the existing services available to students.
Working with the NHS, we offer online self-help guides covering different topics including bereavement, stress, depression and sleeping problems
If you are registered to a GP you can access NHS psychological therapies (IAPT) services direct including:
- talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), counselling, other therapies, and guided self-help.
- help for common mental health problems, like anxiety and depression.
Find a local NHS psychological therapies service (IAPT)
Some local IAPT providers include:
-
University Medical Centre (covering Canterbury and Coastal and Ashford)
-
We are with you (covering Canterbury and Coastal, Maidstone and West Kent)
-
Insight Healthcare (covering East Kent, Shepway and Swale, Dartford, Gravesham, Swanley)
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Medway Talking Therapies (covering the Medway towns)
Out of Hours and Emergency Support
Spectrum.Life
In partnership with the Mental Wellbeing Team, Spectrum.Life offers in the moment and out of hours support, in different ways to suit our students' needs.
Spectrum.Life will offer students immediate online, text and telephone support from qualified professionals. You can talk to them about anything, including stress, anxiety, low mood, financial worries, loss and grief, relationship difficulties, substance abuse issues and much more. They will work with you in getting initial help and liaise with the Mental Wellbeing Team for ongoing support.
- The free service is available 24/7, 365 days per year via:
- Telephone: 0800 0318227
- WhatsApp: Text “Hi” to 0741836 0780
- Download the Mobile App or web platform
Other support
- If you want to talk to someone out of hours, you can contact Student Space via text, webchat, phone or email.
- The Samaritans: call 116 123 for confidential, emotional support 24/7 or email jo@samaritans.org
- 24/7 Mental Health Matters Helpline: call 0800 107 0160 for confidential, emotional support and guidance. They also have details of local and national support services.
- Shout is a free, confidential, 24/7 text-messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope. Please text SHOUT to 85258 or visit https://giveusashout.org/ for information.
Kent Safe Havens
Kent Safe Havens offer free mental health support in a safe, comfortable and supportive environment every night from 6pm-11pm.
They have locations in Canterbury, Maidstone, Medway and Thanet. There’s no need to be referred, they’re open every night for face-to-face, telephone or virtual support.
- Canterbury: 07876 476703 (6pm-11pm), Age UK, The Centre, Castle Row, CT1 2QY
- Medway: 07850 901151 (6pm-11pm), Age UK, Mackenney Centre, Woodlands Road, Gillingham, ME7 2BX
- Maidstone: 07484 061684 (6pm-11pm), Mid Kent Mind, 23 College Road, ME15 6YH
- Thanet: 07850 655877 (6pm-11pm), Holy Trinity Church, St Marys Avenue, Dane Valley, Margate, CT9 3TN
If you feel you’re a risk to yourself or another person:
- Contact the emergency services on 999 if you feel you need support from the police or ambulance service.
- Also contact University Security on 01227 922 111.
Check out our Learning Skills Hub online modules for Disability and Wellbeing
Each module provides you with top tips and advice on how to look after your own wellbeing.
- Managing anxiety around exams
Understanding anxiety and recognising your own feelings and what prompts them, will help you consider ways in which to approach and organise your studies - Using a journal to improve your wellbeing
As a form of self-care, writing a journal can be very beneficial. Giving yourself an opportunity to attend to your thoughts and feelings in your journal can help you to regulate your emotions and improve your understanding of yourself. I
Expect Respect
Canterbury Christ Church University and the Students’ Union believe all students, staff and visitors have the right to live, study and work in a safe and supportive environment, free from discrimination, bullying or harassment of any form. Find out how we are here to support you if you have witnessed, been impacted by or experienced harassment.
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Mental Wellbeing Team
Spectrum.Life
In the moment and out of hours support,
Related links
The Mental Wellbeing Team has worked with the Library to identify a range of books to help you manage your health and wellbeing through helpful reading.