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Student Psychological and Counselling Services

We're dedicated to helping UCL students with personal, emotional and psychological concerns. Our service is free to undergraduate and postgraduate students registered at UCL.

Our service is intended to provide free short-term counselling, psychiatric support and group workshops to help you manage a range of personal, emotional and psychological concerns. We are unable to provide support for long-term conditions or in the event of a crisis situation.

Support during lockdown

We recognise students may be facing additional mental health challenges due to the disruption and uncertainty caused by coronavirus (COVID-19). Full support remains available from UCL. You can register for counselling with SPCS (Student Psychological and Counselling Services) and access self-help resources across the Student Support and Wellbeing site. You can also access same-day appointments with the DMHW (Disability, Mental Health and Wellbeing) team. For more information read the summary of the support on offer in the 2020/21 academic year.

To make an appointment with Student Support and Wellbeing advisers or for any further enquiries you have or support you may need, access askUCL and a member of the team will get in contact with you.

We are running wellbeing events open to all students in partnership with Students' Union UCL. 

Students struggling with their mental health at this time can also access support via the NHS and online resources from Public Health England, along with support from mental health charity Mind. Further sources of information and support are Every Mind Matters, and Young Minds for young people. 

Waiting times for counselling

All students are triaged within 24 hours of registering with SPCS. During triaging, if we feel you may be at higher risk, we will contact you by phone, email and/or text.

Our current waiting time for an initial appointment after registering is two to three weeks. If we feel you are at higher risk, you will be prioritised and seen sooner.

Wellbeing events

student at computer

We are running a range of free wellbeing events in partnership with Students' Union UCL to support your mental health and wellbeing. 

Accessing counselling

Types of support provided by Student Psychological Services

We offer a range of free support options, including counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy, psychiatric consultation and group workshops.

After you've registered

Understand our service

Find out more about our process, including registration, consultation, ongoing sessions and waiting times. 

Re-scheduling and late arrivals

Rescheduling your appointment

It's important that you attend all your sessions. If you can't make your appointment find out how to re-schedule. 

Self-help and other resources

Find out more about self-help resources

Borrow one of our self-help books free of charge or find out which organisations offer external support. 

Contact us

Contact Student Psychological Services

Find out how to get in touch with us if you need to ask a question or provide us with feedback. 

Crisis support

Talking with a counsellor

Before talking to a counsellor you may have some questions. This is a general guide of things to consider when talking to us. 

Give us your feedback

Woman pointing at a scale of how happy she is

We want to hear from you and how you've found our service. Please fill in the short feedback form to help us ensure we're providing the best possible service.

Contact Student Support and Wellbeing

Follow Student Support and Wellbeing

Meet the team

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

Crisis support

Student Support and Wellbeing 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
  • UCLH is the nearest A&E department to UCL’s main campus
  • 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 on +44 (0)207 631 0101

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