Self-help Resource List

The resources listed on our website are intended for guidance only, and the views expressed or advice given by any of these organisations do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Kent as an organisation. University of Kent will not accept any responsibility for any action taken as a result of the content, guidance or advice given by the organisations listed. 

• Local support for drug and alcohol addictions in Canterbury is provided by Forward. 
• Turning Point offer local support for drug and alcohol addictions in Medway: 0300 123 1560. 
• Gam Care, a National Gambling Charity offer support for gambling addiction. 
• Gamblers Anonymous. 
• Frank offers advice and education about drugs. 
• NHS alcohol addiction help. 

• CCI self-help booklets. 
• NHS Inform Anxiety Self-Help Guide

Social Anxiety

• Starting point for people finding out about SA and related issues. 
• The Centre for Clinical Interventions (CCI). 

Panic Attacks

• Coping with Panic Attacks.

Health Anxiety

• Overcoming Health Anxiety.

• Cruse Bereavement Care: national charity offers group and one-to-one support to those who have been bereaved: 08456 030024. 
• Marie Curie: practical advice and confidential support covering all aspects of terminal illness and bereavement for patients, and their families and friends. 
• Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS): support for those who have been bereaved through suicide. 

• Winston’s Wish – A national charity supporting children, and parents of children, who have been bereaved. 

Bullying UK: Bullying at University. 

• Canterbury Nightline – support over telephone, messaging and email available from 8pm - 8am on certain nights.

• 01227 824848 

• Rethink Carers Support Group - 01227 760707. 
• Carers Support offers support to those who care for a relative or friend –or 01304 364637. 

• Get Self Help. 
• NHS Inform Chronic Pain Self Help Guide

• Eating disorders national helpline for young people (aged14-25) 0845 527 4809. 
• Self-help workbooks. 
• National eating disorder charity B-eat. 

The Engagement Blog has been designed to help anyone experiencing problems in attending and engaging teaching sessions, consisting of interactive sections and packed full of friendly advice.

Citizen’s Advice Bureau.

Kent Union's Student Advice Centre offers free, confidential and impartial advice for all students studying at the University of Kent. They offer advice on financial issues, student visas, housing concerns and academic issues.

Citizens Advice Bureau – Canterbury 01227 452762 or Medway 01634 383760. National helpline: 0844 499 4128.

• NHS self-help guidance. 
• Self-help guidance. 
• NHS Inform. 
• Consumer Resources section. 
• Ted talks on depression, mindfulness, self-esteem. 
• Brené Brown: the power of vulnerability. 

Wellbeing and self-help books

Porchlight Canterbury offer local support to those who may find themselves homeless - 01227 760078 or 0800 567 7699. 

University of Kent students wherever they are located can access free, 24/7 online support for issues around mental health and wellbeing. Togetherall is a Care Quality Commission registered service recognised nationally through awards by the NHS and is a safe environment overseen by qualified therapists.

Togetherall offers:

• peer talk therapies where members initiate or join forums on topics ranging from depression and anxiety to relationship issues, work stress, abuse, self-harm and eating disorders

• peer support and networks where students make ‘friends’ to create a support network as a reference group, source of motivation and a means to improve self-awareness

• creative therapies employing art and writing therapies where members express themselves are posted to TogetherAll where they can choose to share and discuss the underlying ‘story’

• brief counselling providing immediate 24/7 support from Guides who are trained counsellors

• 24/7 guided groups that are based in therapeutic approaches such as interpersonal therapy and cognitive behaviour therapy

In order to gain access to this service click on the TogetherAll link and sign-up using your Kent email address. 

As part of the registration process, do not use your KENT account password for this service. Note, you may, upon completion of the registration process change your contact email address to a non-Kent email account. TogetherAll take privacy very seriously. Read their privacy policy for more information. 

To access this service please use the following code: KENT1

• Access Togetherall

There is an active Mindfulness community at Kent who is always ready to welcome new students: find out more on the Mindfulness web page.

Moodjuice self-help workbook.

Overcoming Procrastination.

• Meditation Mix CD. 
• You Tube videos – search for guided meditations with Jon Kabat-Zinn or Mark Williams. 

East Kent Early Intervention in Psychosis Service - 01227 812390: This service is based in Littlebourne Road, Canterbury. They are a specialist team who work with people between 14 and 65 who experience symptoms of psychosis for the first time. 

• Best Practice in Sexual Health (BISH) is an online guide to sex, love and relationships. 

• Relate offers counselling for those with relationship problems - Canterbury: 01227 766094 Medway: 01634 380 038. 

• Mindline Trans+ is an emotional and mental health support helpline for anyone identifying as transgender, non-binary, genderfluid, and can also support family members, friends, colleagues and carers.  

For extensive information on support available from a specialist Wellbeing Adviser at the University of Kent, as well as external resources, please look at our web pages on Sexual Assault and Harassment.

• We Can Stop It - an online resource for awareness.

• Canterbury Women's Refuge and Rising Sun Domestic Violence Project offer advice and counselling for women who have experienced domestic violence - 01227 452852 (crisis line).

• Beech House Sexual Assault Referral Centre offers local, confidential support for victims of sexual assault. 

• East Kent Rape Crisis Centre offer support to male and female victims of sexual abuse. Crisis Helpline: 0800 4582818, 18:30 to 21:30 Monday-Friday.  Counselling available via:  01227 451753. Referrals can be taken Monday to Friday 09:00 – 17:00

• Family Matters offer counselling for children and adult survivors of sexual abuse - 01474 536661.

• National Domestic Violence: 24 Hour National Domestic Violence Helpline, run in partnership between Women's Aid and Refuge, is a national service for women experiencing domestic violence, their family, friends, colleagues and others calling on their behalf. 

• Stonewall. 

• LGBT Foundation, formerly known as The Lesbian & Gay Foundation (The LGF): is a national charity delivering a wide range of services to lesbian, gay and bisexual and trans (LGBT) communities. 

• Samaritans, a National helpline 116 123. Canterbury & Medway 0330 094 5717.

• Papyrus / Hopeline, a charity providing support for young people who are experiencing suicidal thoughts. Papyrus can support you if you’re worried about a friend who may be suicidal.  

• For various apps to aid your wellbeing, from mood trackers to meditation mixes, relaxation aids and background ambient sound apps, check out the Wellbeing category of the Software Finder.