Mental Health
University can be a stressful time, but it's important to take care of your mental, as well as your physical health. On this page, you'll find information about the wellbeing support available to you, as well as advice to help you succeed in your studies and in your life.
If you are concerned about the immediate wellbeing and welfare of either yourself or someone else, find relevant support on our webpage.
We can all struggle with our mental health at times, and significant life changes like moving to university or starting a new job can have a big impact on your wellbeing. On this page, we've shared advice to help you manage your mental health, as well as the internal and external teams who can support you if and when you need it.
If you can't find the information you need on this page, get in touch with our Wellbeing and Counselling team. They're here to help you make the most of student life by sharing tips for taking care of yourself, teaching you ways of managing your wellbeing and providing information on how to look out for your peers too.
Support for your mental health
If you need support with your mental health while studying or working at Salford, browse the information below. You'll find our Wellbeing and Counselling team's contact details, support available for colleagues, plus advice and services provided by external organisations.
Urgent support
If you are concerned about the immediate wellbeing and welfare of either yourself or someone else, find relevant support on our webpage. Here, there is guidance on topics including suicide or self harm, violence, concerns about your peers' welfare and more.
Wellbeing and Counselling (support for students)
Our team of trained advisers and counsellors are here to help you succeed in your studies and in your life by sharing tips for taking care of yourself, teaching you ways of managing your wellbeing and providing information on how to look out for your peers too.
Get in touch with the team:
- Book an appointment. We will contact you by phone to discuss your support needs and appointment options
- If you are unable to complete the form, contact wellbeing@salford.ac.uk or call +44 (0)161 295 0023
Self Compassion app
Think of it like free therapy sessions in your pocket. The Self Compassion app, developed by lecturer in Counselling and Psychotherapy, Dr Elaine Beaumont, can help you work through tricky thoughts, tackle doubt and shame, and boost your self-esteem. The app has over 50 interactive practices and daily tools. We have a limited number of one year subscriptions completely free for Salford students and staff members - just follow the link below to claim yours.
Safezone app
You can now access wellbeing support through the Safezone app. SafeZone is a free app that enables you to access emergency or urgent assistance on campus should you need it, first aid and report an emergency incident or concern, day or night.
The new Wellbeing feature currently allows you to access support options including the ability to call Samaritans. Future updates will allow you to call internal support services for students and colleagues directly from within the app.
Peer support: Rafiki
Rafiki is the Students' Union's peer support listening service, led by students, for students. If you're experiencing any problems while you're at University, you can talk to student staff members who offer peer support. They can also signpost you to support services on campus or externally which can help.
Support for colleagues
If you're a member of staff at the University of Salford, we have a range of support options available to help you with your emotional, mental, and physical health to financial health and everything in between. We are committed to supporting colleagues and promoting open conversations about wellbeing to enable everyone to be at their best. Together, we will continue to build our community, develop our support, and create spaces for conversations around issues affecting our wellbeing.
External support
The following charities offer support services and resources to people struggling with their mental health in Salford and Manchester:
Find more mental health charities offering support and resources on Manchester City Council's website.
Advice and resources
Loneliness Awareness Week
Our Students' Union found through their research that loneliness and isolation from the student community was the largest barrier to learning at the University of Salford and the number one predictor of student psychological distress (predominantly depression or anxiety). For this reason, the team put in place their Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) for the organisation: to eradicate loneliness on campus. Find out more about this goal and how the SU are tackling it on their website.
Each year, Loneliness Awareness Week (10-16 June) aims to raise awareness of loneliness and encourages everyone to create supportive communities through open, honest conversations. Most of us will experience loneliness at some point in our lives, regardless of age, circumstance and background. It isn't a mental health problem, but a normal human response to the absence of something we need: strong social connections. Causes of loneliness can vary from person to person, but key factors like starting university, moving away from home, experiencing mental health problems or a relationship breakup can increase the chance of feeling lonely.
Although loneliness is a normal and natural feeling, if left unchecked it can affect our mental health. You could find yourself avoiding social activities or worrying about the interactions you have with others. Try to accept that these responses are an effect of how you are feeling - but don’t let them control what you do. Our Wellbeing and Counselling team have shared their tips for tackling loneliness:
Work out what you need
If you're feeling lonely or isolated, start by thinking about what might help tackle these feelings. Would you like to meet new people? Or improve your existing relationships? It could help to take some time to consider what gives you meaning and purpose. A good place to start might be rediscovering old hobbies and experimenting with new ones.
Highlight the positives
When you're feeling lonely, it's easy to fall into negative thought patterns. When you find yourself doing this, actively think about the positives - they're there if you look for them! What’s working for you? What’s going well? How can you do more of this?
Make a plan
Now you've identified what you need, it's time to work out how you can get it by setting yourself some manageable actions.
Questions to ask yourself:
- Where can I start?
- Who and what do I need to make this happen?
- Where can I find support if I need it?
- What skills do I already have that I can use to move myself forwards?
Hold yourself accountable
Once you have a plan, it's important to hold yourself to it by asking yourself key questions:
- When will you do it?
- How will I make sure I stick to my plan?
To help you hold yourself accountable, you could set yourself smaller goals, make a schedule or reward yourself for each milestone.
Reach out for support
Our Wellbeing and Counselling team is here to help you if you need some extra support, whether you're looking for self-help resources to help you gain clarity, or to speak to one of our advisers who can listen and help you to find the best solution for you. Find resources or book an appointment on our website.
Or you can receive support from Rafiki, the SU's peer support listening service that is led by students, for students. If you're experiencing any problems while you're at university including experiencing loneliness, you can talk to our student staff who offer peer support or signpost you to relevant support services which can help.
Volunteer
Volunteering can be a powerful step in tackling feelings of loneliness. As well as giving you the opportunity to meet new people, helping others can have a profound effect on our mental health. Check out the Student Union's Volunteer Hub or Manchester Community Central's website to find local volunteering opportunities.