When Student Services are unavailable, this page provides information and links to further support.
If you, or the person you are concerned about, is in immediate danger, call: 999.
If you need help urgently, the following services are available:
If you are struggling to cope and feel yourself approaching a crisis point, you can attend The Retreat in Hahnemann Road, Bournemouth.
The Retreat aims to provide you with a safe and welcoming environment where you can discuss your problems and work towards solutions. Staffed by both mental health professionals and peer specialists (people who have their own lived experience of mental health issues), The Retreat offers out-of-hours support and advice on self-management.
You can attend if you want to try to avoid a crisis, or if you feel you have already reached a crisis point. It is up to you how you define this - you don’t need to be referred by a doctor or other health professional. You don’t need to phone ahead, just turn up and ring the front doorbell.
The Retreat, Hahnemann House, Hahnemann Road, Bournemouth, BH2 5JW.
Opening Times: Monday - Sunday: 4.30pm-11.30pm.
The Samaritans
Call: 116 123 (free from mobiles and landlines)
The Samaritans provide confidential emotional support, 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide. You don’t have to be suicidal to call them, they are there to listen if you’re worried about something, feel upset or confused, or you just want to talk to someone.
If you find it impossible to talk about your problems, you can email jo@samaritans.org
Papyrus
Resources for teenagers and young adults and their parents and friends, and a 'HOPELine' (call: 0800 068 4141) for anybody who is feeling suicidal or worried about somebody else. Papyrus is the UK national charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide and the promotion of positive mental health and emotional wellbeing in young people.
International Suicide Hotlines
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)
A special focus on helping young men who feel depressed and suicidal. A free and confidential helpline and webchat – 7 hours a day, 7 days a week for anyone who needs to talk about life’s problems.
Student Minds
Student Minds is a leading UK mental health charity focusing on the mental health needs of students. They empower students and members of the university community to look after their own mental health, support others and create change. Together they aim to transform the state of student mental health so that all in higher education can thrive.
Connection
Connection is a Dorset-based 24/7 telephone helpline (0300 1235440), which can provide direct help or signpost users to a range of other services.
Healthtalkonline
Allows you to share in other people’s experiences of mental health conditions.
Mental Health Foundation
Researches and campaigns on all issues relating to mental health and has an comprehensive resource page. Also an “app” to help young people talk to their GP.
MIND
See their leaflet on depression and also look at the web site to find MIND in your area. Local groups provide different types of advice and information.
MindEd
e-learning to support healthy minds. A free e-resource designed to help adults identify and understand children and young people with mental health issues.
The Mix
Provides support to under 25s on a wide range of issues and has a wide-ranging mental health section.
NHS Choices
The official website of the National Health Service in England. It has extensive mental health pages.
NICE
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provides national guidance and advice to improve health and social care.
Rethink Mental Illness
Works to help everyone affected by severe mental illness recover a better quality of life. Their website includes information about the symptoms, causes and treatments for depression.
Royal College of Psychiatrists
Royal College of Psychiatrists have a number of factsheets, including on depression in young people, and information for parents and teachers.
SANE
Campaigns to raise awareness of mental illness and offers practical help. See their factsheet on depression and manic depression. Offers “SANEmail”, an email information and support service.
SHOUT
Text SHOUT to 85258 for 24/7 crisis support.
Students Against Depression
Charlie Waller Memorial Trust's award winning website, developed for students and by students, offering information and practical resources to help young people find a way forward from depression, and a place to share stories.
Young Minds
Focuses the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and empowering their parents and carers. See their 'parent’s pages', including a Parent’s Helpline (0808 8025544) which offers information for anybody concerned about a young person’s behaviour or emotions.
The Sexual Trauma and Recovery Service (STARS)
The Shores
The Shores is available 24/7, 365 days a year to offer information and guidance if someone discloses to you that they have been raped or sexually assaulted, regardless of when it happened.
For information and advice contact your GP and these links may be helpful: