Alternative formats: If you require any of this information in an alternative format (eg braille, large print or audio) please email disability@leeds.ac.uk or telephone 0113 34 33927 

The Mental Health Team is comprised of specialist mentors (for those in receipt of Disabled Students Allowance), Psychotherapy trainees and a Mental Health Advisor who will provide a range of services to students who are experiencing an existing or emerging mental health difficulty.

This is a free and confidential* service offered by the University to support you in your personal and academic life while here at the University and beyond, empowering you to achieve your potential by addressing some of your difficulties or concerns.
We will try to respond to you promptly and encourage you to get in touch as soon as possible. Accessing the service sooner rather than later may prevent more serious issues and crises from developing.
If we cannot help you directly we will know a service that can and will support you in accessing an appropriate service either within the University or through an external/ community agency.

What support is on offer?

Mental health advice and one off intervention or signposting – it may be that all the support you need is to be directed/ signposted in the right direction, you may be fully supported by a Community Mental Health Team, GP, Psychologist or Psychiatrist and feel that another layer of support from the UoL is not required, however, you may also like to find out more information about the service for future reference, accessing voluntary sector support, medication and affects, therapies, counselling etc…

Students who would like academic support may be in a position to have reasonable adjustments put in place in accordance with the Equality Act (2010). This support can be explored by making an appointment with the Disability Coordinator (Mental Health) in the Disability Team

Mental health support – for those with an existing/ emerging mental health difficulty there are several pathways of support available.

1:1 support – ongoing 1:1 support allows for the building of a hope inspiring relationship between you and the Mental Health Team, providing greater monitoring of your mental state and earlier intervention and recognition of deteriorating mental ill health. Providing you with a safe and confidential place to discuss your situation and develop the tools and skills to manage your condition allowing for an improved understanding from an institutional perspective and a better chance of success for both you and the university. Having access to support that fully understands and can evidence the affects and difficulties experienced also allows for more improved access to support from your school in regards to mitigating circumstances, fitness to study , temporary leave and a supported return to study. Reasonable adjustments in regards to academic work can be sought through the Disability Coordinator (Mental Health) in the Disability Team and not through the Mental Health Team.

Mental Health Support Plan (MHSP) - is available to those who would like to learn how to balance their lives and their mental health, identifying the triggers/ relapse signatures of their mental health alongside the issues/ problems that may be impacting on their ability to achieve stability. The plan is based around goal setting, building the skills and tools needed to maintain a positive balance of mental health and can include collaborative working/ resources from within the UoL and external agencies.

Crisis Support Plan (CSP) -  can be used in isolation for those who have a good care team but may want to have a plan of action in the UoL should it be identified that they are becoming unwell. It can also be used in conjunction with the Mental Health Support Plan to provide an extra layer of support at times of crisis and helping you to recognise when you are becoming unwell.

Advocacy between student and the UoL or vice versa – the Mental Health Team will provide support to those who may be experiencing difficulty in disclosing their condition to their school, friends/ family or experiencing difficulties affecting their studies the team can provide education around the issues/ difficulties they may experience as a result of their condition and ways to manage this. Support is also available for those who may be returning to study after a long time away due to ill health, return to study programmes similar to the Mental Health Support Plan can be put in place to provide extra support in the first few months of a return, helping to minimise the risk of relapse.

Specialist Mentor support – this is available to students who are in receipt of Disabled Students Allowance and have a current and up to date Assessment of Needs. The role of the Specialist Mentor within the Mental Health Team is to provide support both academically and personally in achieving the goals identified within your Mental Health Support Plan.

Interim Psychotherapeutic intervention – this part of the service will be introduced in October 2011 and will be available only to those students with a moderate to severe and enduring mental health condition; it is hoped that it will help to bridge the gap in support whilst students are on the waiting list to access external IAPT services.

* Confidentiality will always be kept unless directed otherwise by you or if a risk to self or others is identified.