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External organisations

If your needs are beyond our expertise, Student Support and Wellbeing Services will work with you to help you access specialist support outside UCL.

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Counselling outside of UCL

Therapeutic support is available to students on campus through Counselling in Student Support and Wellbeing Services. The team have a wide range of experience and are experts in student mental health and psychological support. 

Access full information about Counselling, including how to complete an online registration form.

Find out more about out-of-hours counselling available over the phone and online through one-to-one real-time messaging. 

In addition to this, UCL works closely with a number of organisations in the local area that provide counselling. Some students may prefer to access counselling externally, or they may need support for issues that Counselling Services are not able to assist with.

Below is a list of organisations that may be able to support you in this case, many of which offer services free of charge. This list is regularly updated, but we encourage you to contact the organisation you're interested in directly for the most up-to-date information.

Please note that some organisations may have particular eligibility criteria, and that currently most do not provide face-to-face support, but over video or telephone call. 

Camden Talking Therapies

At times everyone feels stress, anxiety or unhappiness and these feelings generally subside. However, there may be times when these feelings become more difficult. If you experience these feelings and you are finding it difficult to manage, talking therapy could help. If you live in Camden or Islington and are over 18 years old, Camden Talking Therapies could help you by providing some of the following services:

  • CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy)
  • Self-help intervention workbooks
  • Group support
  • Mindfulness and other therapies
  • Telephone and video sessions

To be supported by Camden Talking Therapies services, if you live within Camden or Islington you can refer yourself here. Alternatively, contact the Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

The Brandon Centre (Camden)

Free for 12- to 24-year-olds living within Camden and 16- to 21-year-olds in Islington. They offer services for a wide range of mental health and wellbeing support. Additionally, they do offer support for psychological, sexual and social-related issues. Referrals and self-referrals for different types of therapy including psychotherapy and CBT.

Bwell Coaching Service is also available supporting 12- to 25-year-olds to improve emotional wellbeing. Currently, there are no waiting lists and should be seen within 3 working days of receiving a referral. You can access a maximum of 4x45 minute sessions to improve your self-esteem, relationships, sleep patterns or any difficulties you may be facing. 

IESO Health (Camden)

IESO provides free therapy services via the Internet on behalf of the NHS.

Self-referral for free online CBT therapy to people living or registered with a GP in Camden. Evening and weekend appointments are available.

Women and Health (Camden)

IESO provides free therapy services via the Internet on behalf of the NHS.

Self-referral for free online CBT therapy to people living or registered with a GP in Camden. Evening and weekend appointments are available.

TAP (Camden)

Free individual sessions for over-18s who are living in and referred by a GP in Camden.

Social space to meet others and make friends in a supportive environment.

British Psychotherapy Foundation

Psychodynamic and psychoanalytic psychotherapy.

Range of reduced-fee schemes for those on low incomes prepared to attend intensive psychotherapy or psychoanalysis.

The Inner City Centre for Psychotherapy (London)

Locations throughout London, sessions are currently taking place online. 

Reduced fee daytime weekly sessions.

There is no specific time commitment in terms of therapy duration.

Minster Centre
  • Cost: Low fee
  • Address: 20 Lonsdale Road, London NW6 6RD
  • Phone: +44 (0)207 644 6240

  • Website: minstercetre.ac.uk

Low-fee, integrative, open-ended individual psychotherapy.

Sessions are provided by senior trainees who work under close supervision. All sessions are currently taking place online.

The London Clinic of Psychoanalysis
  • Cost: Low fee
  • Address: 112a Shirland Road, London W9 2BT
  • Phone: +44 (0)20 7563 5002
  • Website: psychoanalysis.org.uk

Self-referral for psychoanalysis.

The first consultation happens over two meetings.

The following consultation sessions are five times a week for two years.  Sessions are not currently face-to-face. 

Contact the clinic for low-income fee assessment.

Association for Group and Individual Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
  • Cost: Low fee
  • Address: 1 Fairbridge Road, London N19 3EW
  • Phone: +44 (0)207 272 7013
  • Website: agip.org.uk

Low fee at the Fairbridge Clinic – contact them directly for fees.

They expect a commitment to stay in therapy for two years.

The main consultation and assessment service is currently closed, but the Fairbridge Clinic is open for a limited number of places. Therapy will be conducted in person and assessment via Zoom. 

The Bowlby Centre (North London)
  • Cost: Low fee
  • Address: 1 Highbury Crescent, London, N5 1RN
  • Phone: +44 (0)207 700 5070
  • Website: thebowlbycentre.org.uk

Psychoanalytic psychotherapy, attachment-based therapy focussing on relationship attachment to others.

Contact the centre for low-cost therapy. The centre is partially closed and staff are working remotely, conducting consultations online. 

Think CBT

BABCP-accredited CBT therapists across London.

Time-limited lower-cost CBT therapy for a range of problems including anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and OCD.

Confidential service with flexible evening and weekend appointments. Some sessions may take place in person and most will be online. 

Anxiety UK
  • Cost: Low fee
  • Phone: +44 (0)8444 775 774 (Monday to Friday)
  • Website: anxietyuk.org.uk

Therapy can be face to face, via phone or video call.

Offers CBT, hypnotherapy, and counselling.

Annual fee scales depending on your income.

Chinese Students International Wellbeing Support Centre
  • Cost: All services are free (this includes up to 3 one-to-one emotional wellbeing support sessions)
  • Address: 8 Northumberland Avenue, London, WC2N 5BY, United Kingdom
  • Website: ciscic.org.uk

A not-for-profit organisation offering emotional well-being support for Chinese international students living in the UK. 

CISCIC offer both one-to-one and group support sessions, as well as support over the phone and by email.

If you are experiencing a difficult time in your academic or personal life and your emotional health is preventing you from overcoming these difficulties, get in touch with CISCIC to discuss your support needs with them.

Anxiety and worry 

Find out what apps and programmes are available to help you with your anxiety. 

Anxiety UK 

Supporting those who experience an anxiety disorder with a range of services and resources, including downloadable apps. 
Visit the Anxiety UK website.  

Mind 

The UK's mental health charity, Mind provides a wide range of resources and guidance for those experiencing stress, anxiety, depression or related conditions. 
Visit the Mind website. 
Visit the Mind page on anxiety and panic attacks. 

NHS 

Comprehensive guidance and signposting from the NHS on anxiety. 
Visit the NHS page on anxiety, fear and panic. 

Bereavement 

Practical advice 

Bereavement Advice Centre 

Advice on practical issues when someone dies as well as coping with the grief. 
Visit the Bereavement Advice Centre website. 

Sudden 

The charity Sudden produced COVID-19 specific bereavement advice. 

NHS

Comprehensive guidance and signposting from the NHS. 
Visit the NHS page on bereavement and young people. 

Counselling and further support 

NHS Choices ‘Grief after bereavement or loss’ has information about how to cope and mental health and wellbeing.  

Child Bereavement UK 

Support for young people, up to the age of 25, who have experienced a bereavement. This site also includes Android and Apple apps that help you cope with bereavement. 
Visit the Child Bereavement UK website. 

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide 

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SoBS) exists to meet the needs of and overcome the isolation experienced by people over 18 who have been bereaved by suicide. 
Visit the Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide website. 

Amparo

Amparo offers support for anyone living in or affected by a suicide in the boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Haringey, Islington and Enfield.
Visit the Amparo website.

Support after Suicide Partnership

Support after Suicide Partnership support people bereaved by suicide who are neurodivergent.
Visit the Support after Suicide website.

Cruse Bereavement Care 

Somewhere to turn when someone dies, Cruse offers support, information and advice. 
Visit the Cruse website. 

What's Your Grief? 

What's Your Grief? offers an online supportive community, resources and discussion about grief.  
Visit the What's Your Grief? website. 

Good Grief Trust 

The Good Grief Trust offers support and resources by others who have been bereaved.   
Visit the Good Grief Trust website. 

Local support (Camden and surrounding areas) 

Camden, City, Islington, Westminster Bereavement Services 

Free bereavement counselling for over-18s registered with a GP in Camden or Islington. 
Bereavement counselling to people from all other boroughs is offered on a concessionary basis. 

Depression and low mood 

Find out what app resources are available to you to help manage depression, low mood and general wellbeing. 

Explore the online self-help library for reading material on depression and low mood.

Mind 

The UK's mental health charity, Mind provides a wide range of resources and guidance for those experiencing stress, anxiety, depression or related conditions. 

Visit the Mind website. 
Visit the Mind page on depression.   

NHS 

Comprehensive guidance and signposting from the NHS on depression. 
Visit the NHS page on low mood, sadness and depression.  

Students Against Depression

Students Against Depression provides you with a calm environment and the resources to help you find a way forward - a website offering advice, information and guidance to those affected by low mood, depression and suicidal thinking.

Visit the Students Against Depression website.

Drugs and alcohol misuse or addiction 

UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services offers dedicated support for students experiencing issues relating to alcohol use, drug use and other addictive behaviours such as gambling, gaming, pornography and more. Our empathetic advisers will take the time to listen to your concerns before signposting you to the most appropriate service. 

Please refer to our webpage on support for alcohol, drugs and addictive behaviours for further information on our support and external resources. 

Eating disorders, body image and weight 

UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services offers dedicated support for students experiencing issues relating to eating disorders. We are here to listen to you and guide you towards to the most appropriate service. 

Please refer to our webpage on support for eating disorders for further information on our support and external resources. 

You can also explore the online self-help library for further reading on overcoming eating disorders.

General mental health and wellbeing 

There are a variety of organisations that offer support across a range of mental health and wellbeing issues. Some are aimed at young adults, others are for all ages. 

Check out apps and online resources to help you take simple steps to look after you mental health and improve your mental wellbeing.

Explore the online self-help library for a vast array of reading material, including topics such as stress and anxiety, personal development and relationships.

NHS 

Comprehensive guidance and signposting from the NHS on a wide range of mental health and wellbeing subjects. 

Visit the NHS page on student mental health.  

Mind 

The UK's mental health charity, Mind provides a wide range of resources and guidance for those experiencing mental health difficulties of all kinds. 

Visit the Mind website. 

Every Mind Matters 

Every Mind Matters is an NHS campaign to help people with their mental health and wellbeing. Their website provides expert advice and practical tips on supporting your mental health and even has a coronairus related wellbeing section. You can get a free mind plan by just answering their quick 5 questions and they have links to urgent support and tips on how to help others in need as well. 

Visit Every Mind Matters. 

Good Thinking 

Good Thinking is an NHS approved mental wellbeing service that can link you up to over 100 different free mental health resources and services based across London. 

Visit Good Thinking. 

Royal College of Psychiatrists 

The Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP) is the professional medical body responsible for supporting psychiatrists throughout their careers. They provide information on a wide range of mental health difficulties, much of which can be downloaded as leaflets.  

Visit the RCP page on mental health. 

Side-by-Side  

Side-by-Side is a supportive online community where you can feel at home talking about your mental health and connect with others who understand what you are going through. 

We all know what it's like to struggle sometimes, but now there's a safe place to listen, share and be heard. Whether you're feeling good right now, or having a hard time, it's a safe place to share experiences and listen to others. The community is available to all, 24/7. 

Side by Side is moderated daily from 8.30am to midnight. 

Visit the Side-by-Side website.  

Student Minds 

Student Minds is the UK’s student mental health charity, empowering students and members of the university community to look after their own mental health, support others and create change. 

Visit the Student Minds website.  

The Hive 

The Hive delivers a free drop-in health and wellbeing service to support young people aged 16-24 who are connected to Camden.

Visit The Hive website. 

The Mix 

Aimed at those under 25 years of age, The Mix offers information and support on mental health, as well as physical health, relationships, drink and drugs, housing, money, work and study, crime and safety, travel, and lifestyle. 

Visit The Mix. 

Mindfulness 

Explore reading material on mindfulness and meditation here.

More digital resources on mindfulness here. 

NHS 

The NHS provides a useful introduction to mindfulness. 
Visit the NHS page on mindfulness.  

Mind 

The UK's mental health charity, Mind provides a wide range of resources and guidance for those wanting to explore mindfulness, how to practice it and how it can help with mental health problems. 
Read Mind’s information about mindfulness. 

Self-harm 

NHS crisis support 

Visit Where to get urgent help for mental health in a crisis situation, if you or someone you know is at serious risk to their life. Includes finding your local NHS mental health helpline. 

Comprehensive guidance and signposting from the NHS on self-harm. 
Visit the NHS page on self-harm. 

Mind 

The UK's mental health charity, Mind provides a wide range of resources and guidance for those who are self-harming. 
Visit Mind's page on self-harm. 

Rethink 

Provides information and a helpline for anyone affected by mental health problems, including eating disorders. 
Read Rethink’s page on self-harm, disclosing self-harm and help and treatment. 

TESS 

For women in the UK affected by self-harm. 

Open Sunday to Thursday, from 7pm to 9pm via text or webchat from their webpage. 

 

Sexual misconduct, domestic violence, bullying and harassment 

UCL is committed to the safety and wellbeing of our students. We are here to listen, to offer empathetic and confidential advice, and to support you in whichever way you need.

Please visit our webpage on sexual harassment, misconduct and violence for information on how to report an incident, the dedicated support we offer at UCL and other external support options.

Sleep problems 

Explore the online self-help library for reading material on insomnia and sleep problems. 

Mind  

The UK's mental health charity, Mind provides a wide range of resources and guidance for those experiencing difficulties related to their sleep. 
Visit the Mind page on sleep problems. 

NHS 

The NHS provides a number of resources to help improve sleep quality and support those experiencing insomnia. 
Visit the NHS page on sleep and tiredness.  
Read 10 tips to beat insomnia from the NHS. 
Visit the sleep section of the Every Mind Matters campaign from the NHS. 

Stress and resilience 

Explore the online self-help library for further reading material about stress. 

Discover online programmes and app resources to help manage stress. 

NHS 

Comprehensive guidance and signposting from the NHS on stress, anxiety and depression. 
Visit the NHS page on stress. 

Mind 

The UK's mental health charity, Mind provides a wide range of resources and guidance for those experiencing stress, anxiety, depression or related conditions. 
Visit the Mind website. 
Visit the Mind page on stress. 

Mental Health Foundation 

A nationwide charity helping people to thrive through understanding, protecting, and sustaining their mental health.  
Visit the Mental Health Foundation website.  
Visit the Mental Health Foundation page on how to manage and reduce stress.  

Suicidal thoughts 

UCL 24/7 Student Support Line

UCL 24/7 Student Support Line provides telephone counselling and advice available 24/7. This confidential, free service is available to all UCL students in the UK and overseas. To speak to an adviser, call +44 (0) 808 238 0077.

Samaritans 

The Samaritans offer a safe place for you to talk any time you like about whatever’s getting to you. They can help you explore your options, understand your problems better, or they can just be there to listen. You can call the Samaritans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You don’t have to be suicidal to call. 

You can also visit the Samaritans in branch to talk to a volunteer face to face if you find it easier. 

Body & Soul 

Body & Soul is a charity who use a whole-person approach in supporting people. Having begun by supporting people affected by childhood adversity, the charity has grown to support people in a range of ways. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or self harm, Body & Soul can support you with the following services:

  • Integrative psychotherapy 
  • Systemic family therapy 
  • Life-coaching 
  • DBT (Dialectal Behavioural Therapy) 
  • EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) 

For support, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services, or Body & Soul directly. 

CALM - Campaign Against Living Miserably 

The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is leading a movement against suicide. 

Their helpline and webchat is for people in the UK who are down or have hit a wall for any reason, who need to talk or find information and support. They're open 5pm to midnight, 365 days a year. 

HOPELINE247 

The free HOPELINE247 service is similar to the Samaritans but specifically for people under 35 who are feeling suicidal. 

They will also give advice if you are worried about someone else with suicidal thoughts. 

Open 9am to 10pm on weekdays, 2pm to 10pm on weekends and bank holidays. 

Maytree 

Maytree is a charity that provides support by offering a one-off residential stay when in a suicidal crisis. Volunteers at Maytree are available to talk to throughout a stay - this is not a centre for therapeutic support, but a place of sanctuary in a crisis. 

For more information on the support that Maytree can provide, visit their website. Alternatively, contact the Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

Nightline

Nightline is an out-of-hours listening service run by students, for students. Their advisers are students themselves who have had extensive training to help them support their peers. 

You can speak to someone from Nightline over the phone at any time from 6pm to 8am every night of term. They also offer support online, through text and through email. 

Contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services

Follow Student Support and Wellbeing Services

Meet the team

Find out more about who we are and what we do.

Crisis support

Student Support and Wellbeing Services does not offer emergency support.

If you're in immediate danger of hurting yourself or others:

  • Go directly to the Accident & Emergency (A&E) department of your local hospital to get help
  • Call 999 to request an ambulance if you are unable to reach the hospital yourself

If you're feeling distressed and need urgent support:

  • Contact your GP surgery to request an emergency appointment
  • If your GP surgery isn't open, call the free NHS out-of-hours medical line on 111 for help accessing the right services
  • You can call the Samaritans on 116 123 to talk to someone at any time, day or night
  • Nightline are a listening service for students, by students - they're available overnight via live web chat 6pm - 2am

Important links