Your wellbeing matters
Your safety and wellbeing are our top priorities, and we're here to support you throughout your studies.
If you have any concerns, are worried, unwell, or in need of specialist support, you should speak with your personal tutor first. They can refer you to a wellbeing adviser to help you get the support that you need.
We also have a team of professionally trained counsellors who are happy to talk to you about anything that’s bothering you. Have a look on the Counselling page to find out how to access our counselling services.
To find out about the full range of support available to you at the University - have a look on our Wellbeing Support pages.
If home is not a safe space for you
If you're at risk of abuse and violence at home, it's vital that you let someone know.
There's a range of support available both inside and outside the University - have a look at the supporting victims of domestic violence section below for more details.
External advice and support
Student Space: Helping you through student life
Student Space is here to make it easier for you to find expert information and advice to help you through the challenges of student life. Find out more on the Student Space website.
NHS: Looking after your mental health
Expert advice and practical tips to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing including tips on what to do if you're worried, your health, feeling lonely, or your mental wellbeing. Find out more on the NHS website.
BBC: Your mental health toolkit
Tools to help you look after yourself and your loved ones, including sounds to relax your mind, strategies to cope with parenting, and films to get you talking. Visit the BBC website.
Supporting victims of domestic violence
It's vital to let someone know if you're at risk of abuse and violence.
You can speak to someone that you feel most comfortable with at University – this could be:
- your personal tutor
- the Students’ Union advice service
- our Counselling Service
- with a wellbeing adviser – you should speak with your personal tutor first to get a referral
We can help find temporary emergency accommodation, offer emotional support, and arrange a safe place for you to study.
If you're in immediate danger
If you're in immediate risk of abuse and violence, you should contact the police on 999.
External support
The following organisations also provide help and support:
Refuge
The freephone national domestic abuse helpline - confidential, non-judgemental information and support.
Respect
Advice for men who are being abused.
Galop
LGBT+ domestic abuse support.
Karma Nirvana
Supporting victims of honour based abuse or forced marriage.
Homelessness support
If you are homeless or at risk of being homeless, there are many services available that can offer you support and advice.
Homeless Link
You can find helpful services including accommodation, day centres, advice, homeless health services and housing departments via the homelessness services search.
GOV.UK
You can get homelessness support from your local council.
Protecting victims of forced marriage
Contact the Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) if you’re trying to stop a forced marriage or you need help leaving a marriage you’ve been forced into.
Information is available on the GOV.UK website or contact 02070080151.
Dealing with anxiety and depression
Anxiety UK
Information, support and access to services for those living with anxiety and anxiety-based depression.
NHS: Generalised anxiety disorder
Informations about symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and self-help.
NHS: Clinical depression
Informations about symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment and living with clinical depression.
Calm
Calm provide crisis support, helpline and text chat support.
Mind
Mental health information, services and resources.
Papyrus
Papyrus provides confidential support and advice to young people struggling with thoughts of suicide, and anyone worried about a young person through our helpline, HOPELINEUK.
Managing stress
Student Minds: Exam stress
What you can do to help deal with exam stress.
NHS: Stress
Where to get help and things you can do to help deal with stress.
Coping with bereavement, loss and grief
Cruse
Cruse offer support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies.
The Good Grief Trust
UK bereavement support helpline offering general and Covid-19 bereavement advice.
Supporting someone with an eating disorder
Beat
Eating disorder charity providing support and information to anyone affected by eating disorders.
NHS: Eating disorders
Types of eating disorders, symptom, warning signs and how to get help.
Looking after your general wellbeing
Feeling good while studying
We are providing free access to a positive mental wellbeing app that will accompany you through your student journey. The Feeling Good app is designed to enhance mental clarity and focus to reach optimal performance. Find out more about the Feeling Good app.
Protecting yourself from infections
Find out how to protect yourself from infections during your studies, including what symptoms to look out for and where to get help and advice on our Preventing infectious diseases page.
Westminster Library Wellbeing Collection
Our library has several resources available to help with your wellbeing - watch our video for a brief introduction to the collection or take a look at the Wellbeing Collection Guide to find out more about the support materials available.
External guidance
Frank
Honest information about drugs and alcohol.
NHS: Eat Well
Tips on eating a balanced diet.
NHS: How to get to sleep
Tips on how to deal with a lack of sleep.
The Sleep Council
An impartial advisory organisation that aims to raise awareness of the importance of a good night's sleep to health and wellbeing. It provides helpful advice and tips on how to improve sleep quality.
Transition into university life
Settling in at the University of Westminster
Student Minds: Starting university
Advice for students starting university including helpful tips on understanding university life.
Information and resources for LGBTQ+ students
Student Minds
Information for LGBTQ+ students.
Stonewall.
Resources and information to support LGBTQ+ communities
Metro
Advice, advocacy and counselling services for LGBTQ+ people.
Mindline Trans
Emotional and mental health support helpline for anyone identifying as transgender, non-binary, genderfluid.
Support for victims of rape and sexual assault
Rape Crisis
Provides specialist, independent, confidential services to victims of rape and sexual assault.
NHS: Help after rape and sexual assault
Information and location finder of local Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) service, to get advice, sexual health screening referrals, forensic medical exam, support of an independent sexual violence advisor, with or without police involvement.