Mental health

If you are considering the University of Exeter as one of your university choices and want to know more about the support available, you may benefit from coming along to one of our Open Days and meeting with members of our Wellbeing Team at their stand in the information fair to discuss your needs in person. You can also access information about our range of Wellbeing services online.

If we have offered you a place to study, we will get in touch during the admissions process to encourage you to contact us if you have a mental health issue which may affect your studies.

Equality Act 2010 legislation states that students who declare a mental health difficulty to the University are entitled to have their specific needs considered and appropriate support put in place.

You may not be aware that depending on your circumstances, your mental health issue may qualify you for additional support such as the Disabled Students Allowance.

In order for us to assess how best to support you before and after you arrive at University, it is really important for you get in touch. Information about how to contact us is on our web pages for prospective students.

Mental health teams

Our mental health teams provide advice and support to students with a range of mental health difficulties. Team members are mental health professionals from a range of backgrounds including psychiatric nursing, occupational therapy and social work.  They will work with you to consider support options and reasonable adjustments. They also provide comprehensive, ongoing advice and guidance to students with mental health difficulties.

We would advise getting in touch if:

• You have a mental health difficulty that has lasted for a year or is likely to last for a year, e.g. anxiety disorders (panic, social anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorder), eating difficulties, depression, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, psychoses
• You have a mental health difficulty and are taking prescribed medication
• You are experiencing signs or symptoms of a mental health difficulty which are impacting on your ability to study and cope at university

If you are studying in Devon contact the Mental Health Pathway Team. Contact our Mental Health team if you are based in Cornwall.

Wellbeing support and self-help

Advice, information for prospective and current students, signposting to services and practical support is available through our Wellbeing Services. Support for students studying at our Penryn Campus in Cornwall can also be found here.

A variety of support includes:

• CBT and counselling
• Specialist support for eating difficulties
• Self-help tools including Silvercloud (online CBT programme for students suffering from depression, anxiety, stress and body image problems); Act for Life (audio mindfulness programme); along with other resources.

Support groups, courses and workshops (e.g. mindfulness and managing anxiety).

Disabled Students' Allowances (DSA)

Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for a Disabled Students’ Allowance which can help towards the cost of specialist equipment, one-to-one support and other costs associated with your condition. If you feel this applies to you, you are encouraged to apply as early as possible as the whole process can take up to 12 weeks. If you complete an application and are not eligible for DSA, please make an appointment with a practitioner in our Mental Health Teams who can discuss other options.

This step-by-step guide to applying for DSA will give you all the information you need.

If you qualify for DSA, you will become eligible for a range of additional support such as

• Mental health mentoring – regular support from a mental health professional to help you manage your health and overcome barriers to study
• Employability support – including one to one consultancy and specific programmes of support
• Paid internships through the A2I scheme - support for disabled students under the scheme includes liaison with the employer if required and follow-ups to ensure a successful internship.

Exeter campuses

The Student’s Guild run online Wellbeing Directory signposting information and services relating to a range of issues including depression, self-harm, eating disorders, anxiety and stress, drugs, alcohol and bereavement.

Wellbeing information directory: Student Guild run an online Wellbeing Directory signposting information and services relating to a range of issues including depression, self-harm, eating disorders, anxiety and stress, drugs, alcohol and bereavement.

Exeter Nightline: Exeter Nightline - (open from 20:00-08:00 every evening during term time) - is a confidential listening and information service run by the Student Guild.

Mind Your Head: Student society raises awareness and aims to destigmatise mental health issues.

Penryn campuses

The Falmouth and Exeter Students’ Union website provides information and advice for mental health issues including:

Accessibility team: can provide help, support and advocacy for students with disabilities including mental health differences, and anyone experiencing problems like anxiety or stress. The Accessibility team are also the people to contact when applying for Disabled Students Allowance (DSA).

Feel Stress Free: is the Students’ Unions very own app available to all students, for free. It is designed specifically with student stress in mind. Find out more about how to be stress free.

Mind Your Head: FXU have a Mental Health Booklet to help you through times when you are feeling particularly stressed or anxious.