Wellbeing and Mental Health

Student attending a library one-to-one session

The Wellbeing and Mental Health team here at the University of Chester are here to provide support, whether you are a student studying a full or part time course, at any of our campuses.

Wellbeing and Mental Health Services

We understand that mental health can affect us day-to-day, and there may be times during your studies when you feel stressed, anxious, or unsure where to turn. You always have the option to reach out for support if you need it.

The University offers a variety of Wellbeing and Mental Health services for you to access.

For more information or to book an appointment with any of the services listed below, don't hesitate to get in touch with our central Student Services Helpdesk by email at studentservices@chester.ac.uk or by phone at 01244 511550.

If you are concerned that you cannot keep yourself safe, then please do ask for help by contacting:

  • Your GP surgery and request an emergency appointment
  • Go to your nearest A&E or call 999 
  • 111 and select option 2 for urgent mental health support

For further crisis support options, please download our Out of Hours Support document: Out of Hours Support

Our Student Wellbeing Advisers offer a safe, respectful space where you can talk about anything affecting your wellbeing or studies. You’re always in control of what you choose to share, and together we explore support options that feel right for you.

Appointments last up to 45 minutes and can take place by phone, video call, or in person. Your adviser will listen without judgement and work with you to create a personalised plan. This may include:

  • Practical strategies and resources you can try at your own pace

  • Connecting you with student support networks, such as the Student Parent Network

  • Signposting to university services including Counselling, Disability and Inclusion, Volunteering and Mentoring, or Chester Students’ Union

  • Linking you with external support if that feels helpful

If you’re experiencing emotional or psychological distress, you may also choose to meet with a Mental Health Adviser. They can help you understand your current needs, explore options such as NHS services, consider safety planning, and access self‑help resources. This is not a clinical service; your GP or other healthcare providers remain responsible for medical care.

We also offer up to six counselling sessions through our in‑house counsellors and the Student Assistance Programme. Counselling provides a confidential, non‑judgemental space to explore whatever is on your mind, whether long‑standing concerns or recent challenges, related to university or not. You don’t need to meet any threshold or have a specific problem to access counselling; your experiences and feelings are valid.

 

In more urgent situations, students can access same‑day appointments with a Wellbeing and Mental Health Adviser. This option is available if you’re facing a pressing or distressing circumstance, such as experiences of domestic abuse, sexual violence, thoughts of suicide, or concerns about homelessness. Our team will respond with care, sensitivity, and respect for your safety.

We have dedicated Student Wellbeing Advisers who offer tailored support for students from the following groups:

  • Care Experienced
  • Estranged
  • Carers
  • Gypsy, Roma, Traveller, Showmen or Boater (GRTSB)
  • Sanctuary seekers (including refugees and asylum seekers)

You can find more information about this support.

 

The Wellbeing and Mental Health team also deliver regular workshops and events throughout the academic year, offering a space to connect with others in a supportive environment. Some examples of sessions that took place last academic year include:

  • A relaxation programme designed to promote calm and ease anxiety and stress

  • Creative wellbeing sessions are held at key points in the year, including Mental Health Awareness Week

  • Look After Your Mate, an accredited training course helping students feel more confident in supporting friends while also caring for themselves

  • Events tailored for our Student Support Networks and target groups

Our networks are safe, supportive spaces where students with shared backgrounds or similar experiences can connect and share tips and information with each other.

We currently have the following networks:

  • Student Parent Support Network
  • Student Menopause Network
  • Student LGBTQ+ Network
  • Care Experienced Peer Support Group
  • Estranged Students Peer Support Group
  • Care Peer Support Group
  • Sanctuary Students Peer Support Group

Current students can discover the latest information on our current sessions and how you can join.

If you have any questions or have a great idea for a session, group or network, please get in touch by emailing studentservices@chester.ac.uk.

Our teams work Monday to Friday during office hours and mainly offer scheduled appointments. We also recognise that life doesn’t always follow a timetable. Challenges, worries, and mental health concerns can arise at any moment, and many students have commitments, such as parenting, placements, work, or caring responsibilities, that make it easier to seek support outside typical hours.

To help meet these needs, we offer a 24/7 Student Assistance Programme (SAP), available 365 days of the year. You can call the dedicated helpline on 0800 028 3766 at any time for emotional support and practical guidance.

Through SAP, you can also speak with legal advisers and medical professionals. If English isn’t your first language, a language line is available to connect you with an interpreter so you can talk in the language that feels most comfortable.

Students can access up to six counselling sessions per issue, per academic year with a qualified therapist from a diverse team. Current students can find more details about the Student Assistance Programme through the link provided here.

Anxious about talking on the phone? You can also access support through Live Chat on the Wisdom app, available to all current students at no cost. When a Counsellor is online, you can use the Live Chat feature to receive virtual support in a way that may feel more comfortable or accessible.

The app also includes a range of wellbeing and mental health tools, such as:

  • Wellbeing trackers

  • Mini health checks

  • Four‑week structured health plans

  • A library of videos and podcasts, including yoga sessions, recipe ideas, and guided meditations

Out of Hours Support 

There are lots of support services available locally and nationally, should you need to talk to somebody outside of University opening hours.  

Please download our Out of Hours Support document for details: Out of Hours Support

All of this support is available free of charge to all students at the University.

If you, or someone you know, has experienced or witnessed unacceptable behaviour such as harassment, discrimination, sexual violence, abuse, bullying or hate crime you can report it using our simple reporting tool: Report a concern.

Our Data Processing and Privacy Notice describes how and why we collect and use personal information about you: Case Working and Triage Privacy Notice