Keeping up your mental wellbeing whilst at university is difficult; feelings of stress and anxiety can become overwhelming. If you’re feeling a little more down than usual, the NHS's Talking Therapies service could be a great way to help you.
Keeping up your mental wellbeing whilst at university is difficult; feelings of stress and anxiety can become overwhelming. If you’re feeling a little more down than usual, the NHS's service Talking Therapies could be a great way to help you.
What are talking therapies?
Talking therapies is an umbrella term for different forms of therapy that can help with common mental health problems such as stress, anxiety and depression. The type of talking therapy you are offered will depend on your symptoms, and what you feel may work best for you.
A few examples of talking therapies are:
Guided self-help
You work through a self-help course in your own time, but with the help of a therapist to coach you through the process. This could be in the form of a workbook or online course.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
This is based on the idea that what we think relates to how we feel physically, and involves reworking your thinking patterns to help you notice and challenge habitual patterns, leading you to feel better.
Counselling
This involves speaking to a therapist about any issues you are having. Counselling can be catered to specific mental health problems, for example, depression.
What can talking therapies help with?
As soon as you feel you are struggling with your mental health, you can refer yourself to the NHS Talking Therapies service. Whether you have been diagnosed or not, you can refer yourself to the service.
If you’re feeling anxious or low, finding it hard to cope with day-to-day life, having trouble sleeping, having obsessive thoughts or behaviours, or are having any kind of issue with your mental health, Talking Therapies can help you.
How to refer yourself
You don’t have to go through your GP. Anyone who is registered with an NHS GP can access Talking Therapies for free on the NHS and help can be offered in person, by video, over the phone or via an online course. You can refer yourself on the NHS website.
Once you refer yourself, someone from the service will get in touch with you and ask about the problems you’re having. They will assess if the service will help you, and recommend the best therapy for you. The service will also let you know how long the waiting time for your first session will be.
Whilst you wait for your first session, you can access help and advice on your wellbeing on the NHS Every Mind Matters website. If you’re really struggling, and believe you are in a mental health crisis, please reach out to a local NHS mental health 24/7 helpline. You can also call Samaritans on 116 123 if you want to talk to someone immediately.
Further support
Our Advice Centre is a free, independent, and confidential service for all students here at Royal Holloway. Our friendly, experienced, and professional staff will provide a listening ear and offer general and specialist advice. We’re here to support you with a whole range of issues, big and small, and if we’re not the best people to help you with a particular issue, we’ll point you in the right direction.
Our advisors hold drop-ins on Zoom every Tuesday and Thursday during term time. You can find more information on our events calendar on how to join the drop-ins.
Email us at advice@su.rhul.ac.uk with any questions or to ask for a different meeting time.