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Suicide prevention and support
Support from UCL
UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services (SSWS) can direct you to appropriate support both within and outside of UCL. The support we provide is free and available to any student enrolled at UCL. Our advisers have specific training in how to have conversations around suicide.
- For telephone support, you can call the Student Support and Wellbeing Services Phone Line on +44 (0)20 3108 8836 during office hours to discuss the options available to you or the UCL 24/7 Support Line on +44 (0) 808 238 0077 (00 353 1 518 0277 from outside the UK), to talk to someone about how you are feeling.
- If you would like to access some confidential support from the Disability and Neurodiversity or Mental Health and Wellbeing Team, you can book an appointment via askUCL - same day appointments are available. You can watch this step-by-step guide to booking an appointment with an adviser.
- UCL's Counselling Services offer up to six sessions of free therapy, you should register for this via their website.
If you're living in a UCL hall of residence, you have an additional network of support in the form of the Wardens and Student Residence Advisers, who live on site. They are the first point of contact for any welfare or pastoral issues you may be experiencing and can help connect you to UCL’s student support services. They can call emergency services if you need them.
External Support
- NHS Doctor (GP - General Practitioner)
Your GP is the first point of contact for any issues affecting your physical and mental health, including suicidal thoughts. Your GP will also be able to diagnose a state of depression or anything in your lifestyle that may be contributing to how you may be feeling. This is not always the case, but suicidal thoughts can be linked to depression and the use of alcohol and drugs.
Find out how to register with a GP
Your GP can also refer you to further specialist support and talking therapies and can prescribe medication. Mind have some useful tips to support you in having that first conversation with your doctor.
If your GP surgery isn't open or if you're not registered at a GP surgery, call the free NHS out-of-hours medical line on 111 and they will help you access the right services in your area.
- Samaritans
You can call the Samaritans on 116 123 to talk to someone at any time, day or night.
- 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 via a live chat and and through email.
Phone: +44 (0)207 631 0101 Email: listening@nightline.org.uk
- 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)
- CALM - Campaign Against Living Miserably
The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is leading a movement against suicide.
Their helpline, livechat and Whatsapp 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.
Call them on 0800 585858
- 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.
Lines are open 24 hours every day of the year (weekends and bank holidays included).
- Call them on 0800 0684141
- Text 88247
- Email pat@papyrus-uk.org
- 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.
- Stay Alive app
A free app that is full of tools and resources to help people stay safe from suicide.
- Jason Foundation - 'A Friend Asks' app
A free information and resources app to help yourself or to prevent the suicide of someone you know. Includes a ‘Get Support Now’ section for crisis situations.
Visit the Jason Foundation website and download the 'A Friend Asks' app.
- The Listening Place
Provide free, regular, face-to-face support so that people can talk openly about their suicidal feelings. They we aim to make contact within 24 hours and to offer a first appointment within 7 days.
- Shout
Shout is the UK's first and only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging service for anyone who is struggling to cope.
Text the word 'Shout' to 85258 to start a conversation. Trained Shout Volunteers are there to listen at any time of day or night and messages won't appear on your phone bill.
