You can self refer by clicking on this link: Self-refer to Student Wellbeing Services
Student Wellbeing delivers a range of professional, specialist services to support you with emotional, mental health, disability and health related issues. This includes Counselling, Disability and Mental Health support. We also link in with the University Medical Centre.
All of our services are delivered by trained and experienced staff. We take a holistic and multi-disciplinary approach to the delivery of our services within Student Wellbeing to ensure that you get the best support possible.
Student Wellbeing is based on College Lane Campus and is available for all students to use. They provide support for students with disabilities, mental health and long term health conditions. The counselling service offers short term counselling about many different challenges which you may face at University in your academic and personal life.
Student Wellbeing support is delivered in a blended way, with appointments offered online, face to face and by telephone. Support will be offered in the most appropriate way for students needs and may be a mix of online and face to face. All of our advisers and counsellors will work in the above ways without compromising on the quality of the support.
Student Wellbeing will continue to follow Government and UH guidance to ensure we are always working in a Covid compliant way
You can start the process off by filling out our on-line Self Referral Form which you can find here: Student Wellbeing Self Referral & Consent to Share.
If you are not sure which service is for you, the brief descriptions and links below will help you to decide.
Free 24/7 Helpline via Health Assured:
Please Note:
All students have access to a free 24/7 helpline. If you need immediate wellbeing/emotional support, financial, legal, non-urgent medical advice or grief support call: 0800 028 3766.
We are aware of claims in a recent BBC report about the counselling and support services provided by our affiliate partner, Health Assured. Consequently, we are awaiting further guidance from the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) to ensure Health Assured are providing a good standard of clinical practice. We will provide an update when we have more information.
In the meantime, and given the claims are still under investigation, Health Assured information is still accessible to students should they wish to access the service.
If you would like to access alternative support services outside of Student Wellbeing please visit the Mind webpage for guidelines, helplines, and services https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/crisis-services/helplines-listening-services/.
Our commitment to supporting our students remains unchanged; the support services are still available to students and our referral system to Student Wellbeing remains open for those in need.
What we offer:
- Therapy/Counselling
- Disability Support
- Mental Health Advisory Support
- Other sources of support within the Office of the Dean of Students
- Self Help Resources
Therapy / Counselling
Accredited Counsellors and Therapists offer short-term counselling to students. What they support with can range from emotional difficulties to mental health conditions. It is a space for you to explore how you feel, what may be causing the issues and how you can find solutions to move forward. We have a team from varied therapeutic backgrounds and we assess your needs from your self-referral form.
For more information click here
Disability Support
Disability Advisers support students at the University by making recommendations for adjustments to study, supporting students to get evidence of their disability if they are applying for the Disabled Students Allowance, supporting adjustments in placements and raising awareness across the community. Disability Advisers will discuss what works best for you and how you can be supported and will formulate your Study Needs Agreement which will support you throughout your studies.
For more information click here
Mental Health Advisory Support
Mental Wellbeing Advisors can support students with mental health difficulties agreeing support and adjustments as well as providing practical support and helping you to access other services e.g. in the NHS. They offer short term and longer term support, which is assessed based on student need’s. We ask that you complete a self referral form when you request an appointment so we can make sure we are able to offer you the best type of support to meet your specific needs.
For more information Click Here
Ready to access one of the above services? Fill out a Self Referral Form and we will then contact you to discuss the next steps. If you are still not sure which service is right for you, talk to us and we will help to make sure you get the support you need.
Student Wellbeing – Confidentiality & Data Protection
Student Wellbeing comprises of Counselling, Disability, Mental Health and Health Services. All our staff work under a strict code of confidentiality and will hold your information in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA) and the University’s policies relating to Data Protection (UPR IM08) and Student Mental Health (UPR EQ07)and Equality and Diversity (UPR EQ03). Counsellors also work according to the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy’s ‘Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions’, information on this is available here: British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy’s ‘Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions’.
Sharing Information
Where necessary we may consult with other colleagues in Student Wellbeing in order to provide a holistic framework of support for you. Notes from a session with a counsellor will only be shared within Student Wellbeing on a need-to-know basis upon discussion with you in order to provide the support you need. We do not normally divulge information about you to University staff outside of Student Wellbeing or third parties without your express permission.
In very rare circumstances we may need to disclose information to third parties without your express permission. This would only happen if there was a serious risk to your own or others’ safety or if we were compelled to disclose the information by law. In such circumstances we would, where possible, endeavour to discuss things with you before taking any action.
In the event of a serious and/or imminent risk of major harm, other members of the University may be informed or called upon to assist in managing the immediate situation. In these circumstances Student Wellbeing will, wherever possible, limit any disclosure to only information that is necessary in the circumstances.
In line with our professional requirements, and in order to work effectively Student Wellbeing staff may discuss their work with a professional supervisor. The supervisor may be part of the Student Wellbeing team or may be external to the department. All information shared in this way is treated in strict confidence and your personal identifiable information is not shared..
Storing Your Information
All Student Wellbeing records are kept securely on University servers in accordance with the GDPR, DPA and the University’s policies relating to Data Protection (UPR IM08) and Information Security (UPR IM03).
From the information gathered Student Wellbeing will collect anonymous statistical data. This data may be shared within the University for administrative and statistical purposes and will be supplied to Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) and the Office for Students both of which the University has a statutory duty to report to. The information provided will be completely anonymous and you will not be personally identifiable in the reports.
If you have any questions or concerns about confidentiality, please feel free to discuss them with us prior to or during an appointment. If you wish to withdraw your consent to Student Wellbeing using information as detailed above please email: StudentWellbeing@herts.ac.uk.
There are also many other sources of support within the Office of Dean of Students at the University, to help with your wellbeing including:
Chaplaincy
Friendly, warm and welcoming to students of all faiths, the Chaplaincy team are here to help you explore religion and spirituality, lend an ear when you want to chat, help you explore a wide variety of spiritual traditions, offer advice on where to pray and worship and arrange Chaplaincy services and other events.
Please see the link here to the Chaplaincy pages on Ask Herts.
Medical Centre
Our Nurses, Doctors and Staff look after approximately 7,000 University Students . A GP Practice with all the usual services but run to meet the needs of the student population. If you live in Hatfield away from home and haven't yet registered please do so now. Do not wait until you are unwell to register.
Please click here.
Healthy Students
It is important you look after your health as well as have a good time while you are at University. Healthy Students is has been developed to help our students live happy and healthy lives and know where to go when they need a little help. Check out our different areas:
- Healthy You
- Healthy Mind
- Healthy Sex
- Healthy Body
- Staying Healthy
- Healthy Support
You will also find links to all of our Healthy Animations where our ‘blob characters’ take you on a range of experiences.
Self Help Resources
You may not want or need to speak with a counsellor or mental health advisor directly but everyone can use some help, support or advice now and again...!
Please see our UH Self Help Resources Page for support and advice on a wide variety of topics
Student Wellbeing is a part of the Office of the Dean of Students.