Where to get support

Crisis and Emergencies: Call Security (24/7)

The security team on campus are here to ensure everyone is safe at Surrey. You can contact the University Security Services on +44 1483 682002 or +44 1483 683333 or 3333 from any fixed campus phone. They will be able to direct any emergency services to you. 

There is an emergency phone outside the old student services, opposite Hive, where you are automatically in contact with Security.

If you are off campus you should call 999

Mental Health Crisis (8.30am – 5.30pm)

Call the Centre for Wellbeing on +44 1483 689498 or 9498 from any fixed campus phone.

They have an on-call mental health nurse available to deal with any mental health crisis situations in hours. 

Out of hours, you should call security or call the mental health crisis line on 0300 456 8342

Nightline (7pm – 7am, Monday – Friday)

Nightline is a confidential and anonymous service run by students for students from 7pm to 7am every weekday during term time. For more information about Nightline and the phone number, instant messaging service and email address, please click here

Samaritans (24/7)

The Samaritans is a free and confidential listening service which is open to everyone. You can call them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to speak about whatever is on your mind. 

Coffee, Cake and Chat: The Samaritans cafe (Coffee, Cake and Chat) will be back on campus on Thursdays between 11am – 1pm in the Hive, starting from week 5 of the 20/21 academic year

The Samaritans are also on campus every Sunday in the Hive throughout Exams.

Their national telephone number is 116 123 (this number is free to call). You can email them on jo@samaritans.org. Visit the Guildford branch at: 69 Woodbridge Road, Guildford, GU1 4RD. Usual hours open to receive callers at the door: 9:30am–9:30pm, 7 days a week

Centre for Wellbeing

If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope at any point, you can make an appointment to see a wellbeing adviser or counsellor at the Centre for Wellbeing, located on the east side of the Stag Hill campus, next to the Duke of Kent building.

The Centre is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, excluding bank holidays and University closure days. Contact the Centre on +44 1483 689498 or drop in during opening hours.

To book an appointment, please fill in this form and send it to centreforwellbeing@surrey.ac.uk

Surrey Student Minds: Positive Minds

Student Minds is a student-led mental health charity which runs Positive Minds, a peer-support group for students experiencing low mood, loneliness or depression whilst at University. The group is led entirely by trained student volunteers and offers a non-judgemental, safe and confidential space for peers to discuss their thoughts and feelings with each other. Positive Minds aims to help students build strategies to keep low mood at bay and facilitate positive interactions between students in similar situations.

The programme is 6-weeks long and will cover various wellbeing topics each week such as building a support network, active stress management, morning and sleep routines, food choices, exercise, relaxation, and positive socialising. For this semester we are also focusing on anxiety, stress and how to cope starting University and settling into a new year.

Students can attend all six sessions or, drop into any that they like.

You can find more about the service here

You can sign up for our in-person sessions here – Dates are every Monday evening from 6.30 – 8pm, 31 Oct – 5 Dec: Positive Minds (office365.com)

Follow us @studentmindssurrey on Instagram

Safe Haven

Safe Havens provide out of hours help and support to people and their carers who are experiencing a mental health crisis or emotional distress. The Safe Haven Branch in Guildford is located on 101 Walnut Tree Close, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 4UQ, open 7 days a week from 6pm to 11pm. To find out more, please click here. 

Safe Haven in Guildford, together with Catalyst, have opened their new Safe Haven for young people aged 16 – 24 years old.

Oakleaf Enterprise

Oakleaf is the only mental health charity in Surrey working as a social enterprise to provide subsidised counselling for students, practical support for those with mental health difficulties, and vocational training for those suffering from mental health issues. You can visit their website or email them on info@oakleaf-enterprise.org  

Nightline

Nightline is a listening service for students, run by trained student volunteers. You can call us to talk about any problem, ask a few questions, or get something off your chest. Nightline is confidential and anonymous, so you don’t have to tell us anything about yourself, not even your name. The content of the call never leaves Nightline.

Nightline is open term time, Monday-Friday, 7pm – 7am. To access the Nightline phone number, emails and IM service, please click here

You can talk to us about any problem, big or small, in complete confidence. We aren’t here to judge or advise you, just to listen and support you through whatever it is you’re going through.

You can find our phone number or instant messaging service here. Just make sure you’re logged in with your University email!

Samaritans

The Samaritans is a free and confidential listening service which is open to everyone. You can call them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to speak about whatever is on your mind. Their national telephone number is 116 123 (this number is free to call). You can email them on jo@samaritans.org (UK). 

Samaritans are also on campus Every Thursday 11am – 1pm in the Hive for Coffee, Cake and a Chat!

Find out more here

Togetherall

Togetherall offers an online support platform and forum to promote self-help and a supportive community. You can also find self-help courses and resources for mental health support. 

You can sign up for free with your University email: https://togetherall.com/en-gb/

Centre for Wellbeing

The Centre for Wellbeing has a specialist counsellor for students with eating difficulties. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope at any point, or if you are unsure if you have an eating difficulty and would like to talk it through with someone, you can make an appointment to see a wellbeing adviser or counsellor at the Centre for Wellbeing, located on the east side of the Stag Hill campus, next to the Duke of Kent building.

The Centre is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, excluding bank holidays and University closure days. Contact the Centre on +44 1483 689498 or drop in during opening hours.

To book an appointment, please fill in this form and send it to centreforwellbeing@surrey.ac.uk

Beat Eating Disorders

Beat is the UKs leading eating disorder charity with the mission to end the pain and suffering caused by eating disorders. You can find out more information on their website about how they can help you: www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk

NEW! Student Minds: Eating Difficulties Support Group

Newly introduced to Surrey, our Eating Difficulties Support Group sessions provide support to students experiencing difficulties around food and eating. The groups are confidential, maintain a pro-recovery focus and keep conversations supportive by following a set of ground rules. The groups have an informal atmosphere and are a great opportunity to meet people with similar experiences.

This 6-week course has been designed to support students to think about making changes in their lives. However, this course will not talk about eating habits or your relationship with food explicitly. Eating difficulties are often a coping strategy to manage difficult psychological challenges, so you will find this course focusing on these. 

Students can attend all six sessions or, drop into any that they like.

You can find more about the service here

You can sign up for our in person sessions here – Dates are every Tuesday evening from 6.30 – 8pm, 1 Nov – 6 Dec : Positive Minds (office365.com)

Follow us @studentmindssurrey on Instagram

Want to volunteer with us? Email studentminds@surrey.ac.uk and a member of the team will get back to you!

Centre for Wellbeing

The Centre for Wellbeing has a specialist counsellor for students with those who have been bereaved. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope at any point, or if you would like to talk through your loss with someone, you can make an appointment to see a wellbeing adviser or counsellor at the Centre for Wellbeing, located on the east side of the Stag Hill campus, next to the Duke of Kent building.

The Centre is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, excluding bank holidays and University closure days. Contact the Centre on +44 1483 689498 or drop in during opening hours.

To book an appointment, please fill in this form and send it to centreforwellbeing@surrey.ac.uk

Bereavement Support Group

Run by the Students’ Union and facilitated by the Chaplaincy (but non-religious, and welcomes all faiths) the Bereavement support group runs every Tuesday and is a safe space to talk and express their emotional about any bereavement that they may have experienced.

We know that 51% of student experience a bereavement at University (Being Well, Doing Well survey) and your VP Support wanted to do more. So, this group is for any student who has experienced a loss, either recently or in the past. 

*Please note that groups are not running throughout summer and will re-start in September* For support during this time, please email Duncan who will be happy to chat with you 1:1: duncan.myers@surrey.ac.uk

To book to join an online group, click here

To book to join an in-person group, click here

Disability and Neurodiversity

The disability and neurodiversity team at University will support any student who has specific learning differences, physical disability, those with diagnosed mental health difficulties, long-term health conditions, autism and sensory impairments.

They are able to support you with reasonable adjustments to help you achieve your potential at University – from exam adjustments, to mentor support and supporting specific accommodation needs.

You can find out more here: Disability and neurodiversity | Study | MySurrey

Union Academic Advice

Your Students’ Union has trained academic advisors to help you navigate the Universities regulations which include: Extenuating circumstance, academic appeals, academic integrity, complaints to the University, disciplinary action, Fitness to Practise and Support to Study.

We are able to provide you impartial advice and guidance for whatever process you are going through. Email ussu.advice@surrey.ac.uk or visit our advice pages.

Peer Supporters (University run peer support)

The Surrey Peer Support service is available to all students at Surrey, no matter where you are living or what year you are in. Peer supporters can give you support and guidance from a student’s perspective and signpost you to other services across the University and wider Guildford and Surrey community. If they don’t know the answer to something, they will be able to point you in the direction of someone who does! Peer support will be running remotely this semester via Microsoft Teams, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, so if you would like to talk to a peer supporter feel free to email, direct message or book a video/audio slot. You can find out more info on their webpage www.surrey.ac.uk/peersupport and can email them directly via studentpeersupport@surrey.ac.uk

You can book in to chat with a peer supporter here

Student Success Team

The student success team are here to support all students with all aspects of University life. Whilst they will work with any student who would benefit from their support, they especially work with students from underrepresented groups and those from Widening Participation, estranged students, students with a care background and those with caring responsibilities.

The success team can help you with managing your time, your workload, balancing academic life with social life. They can also holistically support you with money, wellbeing and any other support you may need.

You can find out more here: Student Success (sharepoint.com)

You can book in to meet with someone from the success team here: here

Outline

Outline provides support with sexuality and gender identity, including but not limited to the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and trans community of Surrey, primarily through a helpline, website and support groups. You can visit their website, phone them on 01483 727 667 or email them on info@outlinesurrey.org

LGBTQ+ Outreach: South West Surrey domestic abuse

SWSDA offers emotional and practical support for students who have been affected by domestic abuse or an abusive relationship. They are able to offer legal advice, counselling and peer support groups as well as advocacy and signposting to professional services.

SWSDA have specific LGBT+ outreach workers who will be able to support you if you have been a survivor of domestic abuse. You can find out more by emailing swr@swsda.org.uk or speaking with an SVLO (see above).

SWSDA also offer drop in appointments at Woking Pride Hub, Station Approach, GU22 7PA. Their drop ins are the first and last Thursday of the month from 11am – 1pm.

Buryfields sexual health: Free STI testing

For free STI testing in Guildford, please click here: Buryfields Sexual Health Clinic in Guildford, Surrey (cnwl.nhs.uk)

If you are 25 or under, you can order a Free STI self-test here: Checkurself

If you require free condoms, please email ussu.information@surrey.ac.uk and one of our C-Card trained staff will be in touch.

Period Poverty Project

Your VP Support has been working on ensuring that there are free products for students who have periods, around campus. Click to find out more about the project and how to get support.

National Health Service (NHS)

The NHS in the UK is the system that offers residents physical and mental healthcare services. Most healthcare services are free at the point of use but some procedures, medication (prescriptions) and requests (like doctors letters) may need additional payment. If you are international studying in the UK for more than 6 months, you can access the NHS services but you may need to pay an annual fee, called the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS).

You can find out more about the NHS, the services it provides, costs to use the service and other key NHS information here.

Peer Supporters and Residential Life (University run peer support)

The Surrey Peer Support service is available to all students at Surrey, no matter where you are living or what year you are in. Peer supporters can give you support and guidance from a student’s perspective and signpost you to other services across the University and wider Guildford and Surrey community. If they don’t know the answer to something, they will be able to point you in the direction of someone who does! Peer support will be running remotely this semester via Microsoft Teams, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, so if you would like to talk to a peer supporter feel free to email, direct message or book a video/audio slot. You can find out more info on their webpage www.surrey.ac.uk/peersupport and can email them directly via studentpeersupport@surrey.ac.uk

You can book in to chat with a peer supporter here

Student Success Team

The student success team are here to support all students with all aspects of University life. Whilst they will work with any student who would benefit from their support, they especially work with students from underrepresented groups and those from Widening Participation, estranged students, students with a care background and those with caring responsibilities.

You can find out more here: Student Success (sharepoint.com)

You can book in to meet with someone from the success team here: here

Welfare Watch

Welfare Watch volunteers are here to help you during most Rubix nights out or Students’ Union events, to sober up in a safe environment and help you get home safely. If on a night out you need help or are looking after someone who does then you can find volunteers in the Front Room (just below Rubix), wearing the pink Hi-Vis. Whether you’ve been kicked out, not let in, are stressed or just need a breather and someone to talk to, go say hi to our Student Volunteers!

Make sure you’re following Welfare Watch on Instagram – @surreywelfarewatch

To volunteer with Welfare Watch, click here!

Chaplaincy

Chaplaincy offers the provision of worship and spiritual practices one-to-one pastoral care and he promotion dialogue and peaceful co-existence between people of different faith and belief. The Chaplaincy offers advocacy if you are being discriminated against on the grounds of you faith or belief. 

You can find a list of the places for worship here

You can book in to speak with a chaplain here

Sexual Violence Liaison Officers (University of Surrey)

The University and Students’ Union have trained members of staff to support students who have been affected by sexual violence.

Our SVLOs are University and Union staff members, who will be able to listen to you empathetically and non-judgementally. Speaking to an SVLO does not mean you need to report what has happened to anyone, and they will just provide a safe space to talk through your options to find you the right support.

You can find more about the service here

You can book in with an SVLO here

RASASC

RASASC stands for ‘Rape And Sexual Abuse Support Centre’ and they aim to support all male and female survivors of rape and sexual abuse in Surrey and the surrounding areas. You can contact RASASC in a number of ways, depending on the support you need. Please visit www.rasasc.org/ for more information.

Surrey SARC

The Surrey SARC Solace Centre offers free support and practical help to anyone in Surrey who has experienced sexual violence and/or abuse. The SARC offers counselling, emotional support and ISVAs (Independent Sexual Violence Advisors). The SARC will, with your consent, also obtain and preserve forensic evidence for up to 2 years for you, with no obligation to report to the police or the University.

You can call them free on 0300 130 3038 or find out more here: The Solace Centre – Home (surreysolace.org)

If you have experienced sexual violence and feel you need to visit the SARC for preservation of forensic evidence, then your Union and University would be happy to pay the costs of your taxi fair. Please speak with security, the centre for wellbeing or an SVLO who will be able to help. Students should not have to cover this cost alone.

The Flying Child – Support for adult survivors of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) “Society’s shame, not mine” 

The Flying Child provides community for adult CSA survivors in the form of free, therapist-facilitated, peer support programmes, as well as creative spaces to ‘just be’ in art and creative writing. 

For more information please visit https://theflyingchild.com/peersupport/ 

You self-refer or contact us at groups@theflyingchild.com

South West Surrey domestic abuse

SWSDA offers emotional and practical support for students who have been affected by domestic abuse or an abusive relationship. They are able to offer legal advice, counselling and peer support groups as well as advocacy and signposting to professional services.

SWSDA will work with students who are experiencing, or have experienced domestic violence, coercion, love bombing, gaslighting and all other forms of domestic abuse.

You can find out more by emailing swr@swsda.org.uk or speaking with an SVLO (see above).

SWSDA also offer drop in appointments at Woking Pride Hub, Station Approach, GU22 7PA. Their drop ins are the first and last Thursday of the month from 11am – 1pm.

National Centre for Domestic Violence

NCdDV is a free and fast emergency injunction service to survivors of domestic abuse and violence and supports survivors in applying for court injunctions.

You can find out more, and self-refer here: Domestic Violence & Abuse · Emergency Injunction Service (ncdv.org.uk)

Stalking behaviours

As a Union we are committed to keeping our staff and students safe and this is why we have undertaken training with the Alice Ruggles Trust to become SAfEE Ambassadors (Stalking Awareness for Education Environments).

We know that students can be at risk of stalking behaviours which can be seen as harassment. Stalking is recognised by law in it’s own right and behaviours can include some of the following:

• Hanging around outside your home, work or lectures
• Sending or leaving unwanted gifts, messages, texts or emails
• Repeatedly tagging you in social media posts or monitor you on-line
• Continue to contact you once you have told them not to
• Show up wherever you go
• Threaten to end their lives because they cannot live without you
• Make up stories to damage your reputation
• Threaten you or those close to you

Stalkers are controlling, obsessive and fixated and this can become dangerous. If you are in immediate danger or at risk then please call the emergency services: 01483 683333 from your personal device, 3333 from any fixed campus phone or 999 if you are off campus.

If you believe that you are being stalked by either a student, staff member or non-student of the University, or if you are not sure, then you can get in touch and have a chat with us about what is happening.

Our SAfEE Ambassadors can help you identify if you are being stalked, and talk to you about what your options of reporting are.

You can either email ussu.advice@surrey.ac.uk for an impartial and confidential chat with a Student Union advisor. Or, see above for your options on reporting someone to the University.

You can access Report+Support here: Report + Support – University of Surrey

Surrey Students’ Union is aware that some students engage in sex work during their studies, and the VP Support 22-23, Oriana Savvidi, wanted to remove any barriers or stigma that students may feel if they wish to access support services. She developed this Toolkit, not to encourage students to engage in sex work but to help and support the students who do and to provide them the best guidance to keep them safe.

Centre for Wellbeing

If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope at any point, you can make an appointment to see a wellbeing adviser or counsellor at the Centre for Wellbeing, located on the east side of the Stag Hill campus, next to the Duke of Kent building.
The Centre for Wellbeing has specifically trained counsellors to talk to you about your drug and alcohol use and abuse.

The Centre is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, excluding bank holidays and University closure days. Contact the Centre on +44 1483 689498 or drop in during opening hours.

To book an appointment, please fill in this form and send it to centreforwellbeing@surrey.ac.uk

Catalyst

Catalyst offer help or support for people who are dealing with issues stemming from drug and alcohol abuse. They are Guildford-based and work throughout Surrey and its borders in partnership with a wide variety of statutory and non-statutory organisations and bodies to provide support. You can visit their website, phone them on +44 1483 590150, text them on 07909 631623 or email them on info@catalystsupport.org.uk.  

When something unwanted happens around campus, you may wish to think about reporting it to the Union, the University or even to the police. There are lots of ways of reporting incidences so we have added some information below which you may find helpful. At the Union, our academic advisors can support you through reporting processes to both the police and the University, just email ussu.advice@surrey.ac.uk for independent advice and guidance on reporting.

If you are reporting sexual violence, then you may wish to speak with an SVLO also

Reporting to the Police

You may decide that you wish to report something to the police, and that is ok. We would suggest you call 999 if it is an emergency, otherwise you can call 101 for support.

Reporting to the University/Students’ Union

Report and Support

Report and Support is the best, and easiest way to report something happening. You can report a staff member, another student, or a visitor to the University or the Students’ Union. Not only that, but you can report anonymously or, with your details. You can report abuse, racism, harassment, sexual assault, bullying, mental health concerns for a friend, homophobia or anything else that you are concerned about.

Once you have made your report, someone from the University will be in touch to ensure that you have support in place, and to discuss your report with you to find out what you would like to happen next.

You can access Report+Support here: Report + Support – University of Surrey

Anonymous reporting

You can also use the Report+Support pages to report anything anonymously to the University. Anonymous reporting. helps the University by building up a picture of what is happening on campus, by whom and where. Although the University wont be able to act upon any anonymous reports, it helps identify what is happening so we can keep campus as safe as possible.

You can access Report+Support here: Report + Support – University of Surrey

Reporting to a person

You might find that reporting to a person makes you feel more comfortable and there are lots of people on campus who can support you in reporting:

Security are open 24/7 and can be accessed by calling 2002 from any fixed campus phone, or 3333 in an emergency.

For anything within the Students’ Union, you may wish to make a complaint via this page.

You may choose to report to your personal tutor or to any other member of staff.

You can access Report+Support here: Report + Support – University of Surrey

Students Union Support

Your Students Union Support team are here to provide you with imparital advice and guidance, and can talk through your difficulties with you to come up with signposting options of where to find the right advice and guidance. You can speak with our VP Support or, email ussu.advice@surrey.ac.uk.

Not local to Surrey? Cant find the right thing?

Can’t find what you need? Not local to Surrey? Click here to find National support service to help you feel better.

We understand that sometimes you may want to talk to someone not affiliated with the Union or the University.  As such, we hope that this support page will provide some guidance of networks that you may be able to use in worrying times. 

• If you are elsewhere in the UK, a very useful app is Hub for Hope that outlines all support services available around you. 
• If you are elsewhere in the world (not in the UK) then here is excellent list of mental health crisis line and services in your country:https://www.befrienders.org/