Student mental health and wellbeing service

Student counselling service

What we offer

  • A confidential service to students needing support for a range of difficulties related to wellbeing and mental health.
  • Our therapists are trained in a range of therapeutic modalities such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Comprehensive Resource Model (CRM), Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Psychodynamic approaches, Yoga for Mental Health and others.
  • Our service is trauma informed in its approach. We offer one-to-one sessions, groups and workshops and we offer these services both online and in person.
  • Our therapists tailor their therapeutic approaches to work within a brief therapy framework and within the context of Higher Education.
  • Our team of therapists consist of Psychotherapists, Integrative Counsellors, Psychologists, Mentors and trainee psychotherapists and psychologists. All are registered with one or more of the following professional bodies: HCPC, BACP, UKCP, BABCP as well as other specific bodies pertaining to their professional backgrounds.
  • We provide specialist support to the Black student community in the form of an in-house Specialist Black Student Therapist.  
  • Alongside the in-house brief therapy that we provide, we also have a number of partnerships with external organisations such as RASASC, Advent Advocacy, Survivors UK, Not the Only One (NTOO) and others that we work closely with to ensure that we are meeting the needs of our student body.
  • We offer an online resource called TalkCampus which is an app that connects university students globally with the intention of offering peer support for those struggling with mental health. The app offers 24/7 support to students in a range of languages. It is free for SOAS students to download and use.

To access our service, please log a ticket on the Student Information Desk or call us on 0207 074 5015 to discuss the process of getting support.  

Our vision statement

  1. The Vision of the SOAS Mental Health and Wellbeing Service is to provide a service which supports students to study, work and develop personally; to do so to the highest level of professional standards and quality measures within the available resources and to report regularly on the work of the service to relevant committees.
  2. In delivering its vision the Service will work co-operatively with faculties, other central services and the Student Union with its focus upon the best interests of students, actual and potential.
  3. The staff of the Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Service are committed to providing accessible, high quality, confidential therapy and support to the whole range of students within the institution, in a manner that is sensitive and responsive to their diversity. The provision is delivered within the context of the School’s commitment to equal opportunities, the extension of access to higher education and the desire to match educational provision to the needs of individual clients.
  4. The staff of the Service will regularly evaluate the views of students who have used the service to increase their awareness of students’ needs and to monitor the overall effectiveness of the service provided.

Out of hours support

Though the therapists themselves are not available in person 24 hours, you can always log a ticket on the Student Information Desk and we will get back to you as quickly as we can.

If you need more immediate help please try:

Emergency Services

Gower Street Health Centre

24 hour duty doctor:

Samaritans

24 hour listening and befriending service:

Helplines and other links

Our team

Personal wellbeing

What is wellbeing?

There is no one-size-fits-all definition of what wellbeing is and it might vary a lot from person to person, depending on your personality and what is normal for you. Generally, wellbeing covers:

  • Feeling secure and confident in yourself and having positive self-esteem
  • Being emotionally grounded - feeling a range of emotions and being able to express them
  • Being able to develop and maintain good personal relationships
  • Coping with day-to-day stress, and managing when things are difficult
  • Positive engagement with friends, family, activities, studies and work

Lots of things can affect your wellbeing throughout your life, and we know that university can be a particularly challenging time: you may be away from home for the first time, adjusting to life in the UK, or finding it tricky to navigate the demands of higher education.

However, there isn't always a specific reason you might be struggling. If you're concerned about your wellbeing, there's some helpful information on the Mind website which is a good place to start. Support is available through Student Advice and Wellbeing year-round for all students, offering confidential support, information and advice on any concerns you may have regarding your mental health and emotional wellbeing.