Mental health

This guidance has been produced for students who are struggling with their mental health. It provides information for taking the first steps, making empowered decisions and getting the right support for you.

When should I seek help?

Seeking help is often the first step towards getting and staying well, but it can be hard to know how to start or where to turn to. It’s common to feel unsure, and to wonder whether you should try to handle things on your own. But it’s always okay to ask for help – even if you’re not sure you are experiencing a specific mental health problem.

A mental health emergency is when you feel your mental health is at breaking point. For example, you may be experiencing:

• anxiety or panic attacks.
• self-harming behaviour or suicidal feelings.
• behaviour which you feel is out of control and may endanger yourself or others.
• psychotic episodes (examples such as hallucinations, paranoia, or hearing voices).

You might want to seek help if you’re:

• worrying more than usual
• finding it hard to enjoy your life
• having thoughts and feelings that are difficult to cope with, which have an impact on your day-to-day life

Services available to you

24/7 Mental Health Crisis Response Line

Operated by trained mental health professionals who will offer help, advice, mental health assessments, referrals and access to the Trust’s wider mental health services, including home treatment.

Liverpool Light Service

If you are near the Liverpool area, you can get in touch with the Liverpool Light Service. This is a preventative out-of-hours mental health crisis service, open from 6pm – 12am, 7 days a week. It has been set up to provide a safe place for people who are experiencing or at risk of a mental health crisis. Please note that this service is not in place of the 999 emergency service, if an ambulance is required you should call 999 immediately. For more information, visit the Liverpool Light Service website.

NHS 111

If you don’t feel you to need to access A&E but you need immediate medical help and advice you can call NHS 111 or you can ring your GP for an emergency appointment.

The Wellbeing Team

If you are not at immediate risk and just need to talk to someone, you can contact the Student Services Wellbeing Team during office hours.

For more information on how the team can help, visit the Wellbeing webpages.

Campus Support

Remember, Campus Support are always available out of hours if you need help while on campus.

The Samaritans

The Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 (free from any phone) or you can email [email protected].

They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Emergency GP appointments

Even if you don’t feel you’re facing a mental health emergency it is always a good idea to talk to your GP if you feel you are struggling with your mental health. They will be able to assist you with support and treatment before it becomes a more serious problem.

Services with a webchat/email

• Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM). You can call the CALM on 0800 58 58 58 (5pm–midnight every day) if you are struggling and need to talk. Or if you prefer not to speak on the phone, you could try the CALM webchat service.

• The Mix. If you’re under 25, you can call The Mix on 0808 808 4994 (3pm–midnight every day), request support by email using this form on The Mix website or use their crisis text messenger service.

• Papyrus HOPELINEUK. If you’re under 35 and struggling with suicidal feelings, or concerned about a young person who might be struggling, you can call Papyrus HOPELINEUK on 0800 068 4141 (weekdays 10am-10pm, weekends 2pm-10pm and bank holidays 2pm–10pm), email [email protected] or text 07786 209 697.

• Message Campus Support via WhatsApp – 07785 928 911

Concerns about someone else

If you are concerned about another student at Edge Hill, please visit our let us know webpages for more information on what you can do.