Self-help Resource List

• Local support for drug and alcohol addictions in Canterbury is provided by Forward Trust. They offer an online service called Reach Out for drug and alcohol worries, Monday- Friday 09:00-15:00.

• Turning Point offer local support for drug and alcohol addictions in Medway: 01634 820 390. 

• Frank offers advice and education about drugs. 

• NHS alcohol addiction help offering facts, advice, and support. 

• Gam Care: the leading UK provider of free information, advice and support for anyone harmed by gambling.

• Gamblers Anonymous offers various aids for the compulsive gambler including a forum, a chat room, literature and most importantly a meeting finder. 
• YGam - Gaming and gambling advice and support for students and young people.

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.

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.  

Wellbeing and self-help books: A collection of books, both electronic and print format, on self help and wellbeing subjects  

• There is an active Mindfulness community at Kent who is always ready to welcome new students: find out more on the Mindfulness web page.  
•  YouTube videos – search for guided meditations with Jon Kabat-Zinn or Mark Williams.   
• The School of Music and Fine Art in collaboration with the Counselling and Wellbeing team and the Student Learning Advisory Service have produced a Meditation Mix on Spotify: a sound track of guided meditations and original compositions to help students deal with stress and anxiety.  
• 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.
  

• Overcoming Procrastination from Mind Tools, discussing overcoming the habit of delaying important tasks.
• "How to Stop Procrastinating: There Is a Science to It" an article published by Georgetown University, which provides an insight into behaviours related to procrastination and the science behind it, also offering resources to develop healthy time management and study practices. 

Student Space can offer one-to-one support for whatever challenge you’re facing, designed for students. Whether it’s your mental health, your studies, money, housing or relationships, there is support available through Text, Webchat, Phone or Email.

There is now dedicated support for students who have been most impacted by the pandemic including: 

• Muslim students: helpline service for young Muslims, offering support and signposting seven days a week by phone, Whatsapp, webchat and email.

• Trans students: phone and webchat support for trans, gender-diverse and nonbinary students, available 9am-9pm, Monday to Friday.

NHS

• Self-help guidance 

• NHS Inform. 

TED talks

• Ted talks on depression, mindfulness, self-esteem. 
• Brené Brown: the power of vulnerability.

• 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.  

• AtaLoss: a charity enabling bereaved people to find bereavement support, practical information, and resources. This service is free of charge to everyone across the UK.
• Bereavement Support for Medical Students - a compassionate space for information and sharing that specifically addresses the experience of loss during medical training and the unique aspects of that for medical students.

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.

• 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. 
• 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).
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Bullying UK: Bullying at University.   

• Centre for Clinical Interventions (CCI) self-help booklets with brief information sheets, along with a series of worksheets that you may wish to use. 

• NHS Inform Anxiety Self-Help Guide where you can work through a self-help guide for anxiety that uses cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

• Mindful Healthcare: a service for anyone experiencing anxiety. It provides coping strategies and suggests further help for those in need. Mindful Healthcare can provide a free 20 minute consultation, free support webinars and online video therapy.

Social anxiety

• Starting point for people finding out about Social Anxiety and related issues. 

• The Centre for Clinical Interventions (CCI) - Social Anxiety. 

Panic attacks

• NHS Inform: How to deal with panic attacks.

Health anxiety

• Health Anxiety: an NHS self-help guide.

• Phobias self-help guide: Work through a self-help guide for phobias that uses cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).  

• 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.   

• 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. 

• Eating disorders national helpline for young people (aged14-25) 0845 527 4809. Offering free mental health information and affordable therapy options. 

• NHS Inform: Eating Disorders. 

• National eating disorder charity B-eat: Helpline services and online peer support services.

Mental Health Matters run a number of safe haven drop-in services in Kent, open from 6pm until 11pm every day of the year.

They offer a non-clinical, non-judgemental service with an emphasis on providing support to those experiencing distress, as well as supporting people to access potential services and opportunities in the wider community.

Anyone over the age of 16 is welcome and you do not need to be registered with a mental health service. In-person (Canterbury city centre) and virtual services available.

• Advocacy For All have autism support groups across many areas of east and west Kent.

• Aucademy: education for all by Autistic educators.

• Autism&Uni have published a set of Best Practice Guides on supporting students on the autism spectrum in Higher Education.

• For tips for looking after your mental health for autistic students, have a look at Give Us A Shout 

• The National Autistic Society.

• Watch a Kent student's 'Talking in Pictures' film challenging stereotypes.

• PRO Autism is an organisation that works to improve prospects, recruitment and opportunities for young autistic adults.

• SEE Autistic Women are a local group for self- diagnosed and diagnosed autistic women. 

• Dr Chloe Farahar gave a talk on 'Understanding, Accepting, & Embracing Neurodivergent Ways of Experiencing the World': a recording of this Neurodiversity Workshop is available on KentPlayer.

• 'Ways I've Stopped Autistic Masking' poster (pdf, 92 KB): created by Stef Lake and Holly Smale. There is also an alternative text format.

• The University Nursing Service on the Canterbury campus offers a confidential drop in service, which provides support and advice, including contraceptive advice, and can arrange emergency contraception via the University Medical Centre.
• Gate clinic (Canterbury) provides sexual health screening by appointment only. To book contact 0300 790 0245 (within working hours).
• Clover Street (Medway) provides sexual health screening by appointment only. To book contact 0300 123 1678 (within working hours).
• National Sexual Health Helpline can be contacted on 0300 123 7123 for medical or sexual health advice provided by The Department of Health and Social Care.
• Metro Sexual Health provides advocacy and advice. You can also request free condoms and other contraception. 
• Online STI testing service is a service through which you can order a screening kit to be sent to your UK address. 

Chronic pain

• Get Self Help. 

• NHS Inform Chronic Pain Self Help Guide: work through a self-help guide that uses cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to help you live with chronic pain.

• Arthritis Action: a UK charity giving hands on, practical help to improve the quality of life for people affected by arthritis.

• Stonewall.

• Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline: a safe space for anyone to discuss anything, including sexuality, gender identity, sexual health and emotional well-being.

• Metro is an equality and diversity charity providing health, community and youth services in England.

• Medway Gender Sexual Diversity Centre (MGSD) provides a place where LGBTQI+ people their families and friends can meet in a safe environment to enable them to receive peer support, counselling, education, training, advice, and information.

• The Be You Project connects young people in Kent who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary or are questioning their sexual orientation and / or gender identity.

• Support Group for Trans Students: a free, confidential peer-support group run in partnership with TG Pals for all trans, intersex and non-binary gender people at the University of Kent.
• Young Minds - gender and mental health: A guide about gender identity and mental health
  

• 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. 

• Rethink Carers Support Group: aims to help carers and their partners, relatives and friends with a wide range of mental health problems, including accessing the information they need. 
  

• Carers Support offers support to those who care for a relative or friend –or 01304 364637. 

• Carers First: a UK registered charity working with unpaid carers to provide practical information and advice. 

Citizen’s Advice Bureau: information that you need to make the right choices, including help to deal with your debt problems and how to get your finances back into shape.  

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