Speaking to someone over the phone about how you are feeling may be helpful in difficult moments. There are various helplines and listening services that can provide emotional support. Helpline staff are trained volunteers who want to help you.

Samaritans: Whatever you’re going through, a Samaritan will face it with you. Call for 24/7 emotional support. Call 116 123 for English, and 0808 164 0123 for Welsh (7pm – 11pm everyday).

Student Space – to help you find support during the pandemic

HOPELINE by Papyrus: HOPELINEUK is a confidential support and advice service for children and Young People under the age of 35 who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, or anyone concerned that a young person could be thinking about suicide. Available Mon-Fri: 9am – 10pm, weekends and bank holidays: 2pm – 10pm. Call 0800 068 4141.

C.A.L.L.: Community Advice & Listening Line (C.A.L.L.) Helpline offers emotional support and information/literature on mental health and related matters to the people of Wales. Anyone concerned about their own mental health or that of a relative or friend can access the service for confidential listening and support. Available 24/7. Call 0800 132 737.

More helplines for specific needs: If you are looking to speak to someone about a more specific issue, please refer to this list of helplines and infolines.

For times when talking feels too much, textlines can provide a comfortable way to get support from trained volunteers on a text service through your mobile phone.

Shout Crisis Textline: Shout is a national 24/7 text service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. It’s a place to go if you’re struggling to cope and you need immediate help. Text Shout to 85258.

C.A.L.L. Textline: Anyone concerned about their own mental health or that of a relative or friend can access information and advice by sending a short request to 81066. Simply send the word HELP followed by the details you require.

Side by Side is a supportive online community where you can feel at home talking about your mental health and connect with others who understand what you are going through. Side by Side is moderated daily from 8.30am to midnight.

GP Surgery: The Bodnant Medical Center provides special services for students, but you can choose to register at any of the local GP surgeries. If outside of Bangor, you can use NHS Direct online to search for your nearest surgery. Open weekdays 8:00am – 6:30pm.

Out of Hours GP: For medical care when the GP Surgery is closed call 0300 123 55 66 (weekdays 6:30pm – 8:00am, Saturdays, Sundays & Bank Holidays).

Gwynedd Mental Health Team: Our Community Mental Health teams offer a range of help and support services for people with mental health problems and their carers. Appointments can be made via your GP or directly by calling 01248 363470. Located in Hergest Unit, Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, Gwynedd.

Social Services Duty Officer: For concerns around vulnerable adults or children, contact your local Social Services Duty Officer.
– Children: 01758 704 455
– Adults: 1766 772577
– Out of Hours: 01286 675502

Counselling Service: The Student Counselling Service offers a variety of resources to support students during their time at the University, including lectures, workshops, support sessions, and one-to-one counselling. Find them on campus:
2nd Floor, Neuadd Rathbone, College Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DF.
Our reception is open:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: 9:00am – 12:45pm and 2:00pm – 5:00pm.
Tuesday (during term time): 9:00am – 12:00pm & 4:00pm – 8:00pm
Tel: 01248 388520. Email: counselling@bangor.ac.uk

Mental Health Advisers: Mental Health Advisers provide information about mental health issues, and the services and support which might be available. They also assess mental health needs and signpost students to other services when appropriate.

MHA Online drop-in
Cheryl, Fiona and Sioned are taking our regular weekly drop in session online.  We will have to work a little differently so that we can manage and respond fairly to students who need to speak to us.

Email mentalhealthadviser@bangor.ac.uk , stating the outline of your situation and preferred method of communication (Microsoft Teams video / audio call, telephone call or e-mail).  A Mental Health Adviser will then get back to you.

or 

you could join us at our group discussion, held via Microsoft Teams beforehand, 1pm - 1:30pm, working alongside Connect@Bangor  - svbconnect@undebbangor.com,  to talk about all aspects of well-being. You are under no pressure to speak; you can just listen, and you can private message one of the Mental Health Advisers to request an appointment in the drop in session that follows. 

Our reception is open Monday – Friday throughout the academic year from 09:00 to 17:00.
Tel: 01248 383620 / 382032. Email: disabilityservice@bangor.ac.uk

Responding to (Sexual) Assault: If you experience any form of sexual violence, harassment or hate crime, we can provide you with a safe and confidential space, free from judgement, in which to talk about it and we will support you to move forward in whatever way you feel is best for you.
Helen Munro – Student Equality and Diversity Officer
2nd Floor, Neuadd Rathbone, College Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DF.
Our reception is open Monday – Friday throughout the academic year from 09:00 to 17:00.
Tel: 01248 388021. Email: h.munro@bangor.ac.uk

Staying Safe: Information about how to make a Safety Plan can be found on this website for anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts or supporting someone else. It’s designed to offer hope, compassion and practical ideas on how to find your own way forward. 

Interactive techniques: Sometimes emotions can feel too intense or too distant. Grounding techniques allow you to regain control in those moments of need. Here are four techniques to try.

For more information on grounding techniques and how to use them, you can watch this explanatory video.

3-minute audio: This podcast is a free three-minute breathing space narrated by Ed Halliwell – one of the world's leading mindfulness teachers. You can listen to it whenever you feel tense and it is a simple and great way to calm your mind and body down. 

10-minute audio: This relaxation exercise is narrated by Mindfulness expert, Professor Mark Williams, and features a series of breathing and visualisation techniques. 

If you’d like to learn more about mindfulness, how to practice it, and how it can support mental health, you can refer to this information page from Mind.

Mood Panda: Analyse your mood on graphs and calendars; get support and advice from the MoodPanda community. You can use MoodPanda from your mobile devices and the web app.

NHS: Evidence suggests there are 5 steps you can take to improve your mental health and wellbeing. Trying these things could help you feel more positive and able to get the most out of life:

1. Connect with other people
2. Be physically active
3. Learn new skills
4. Give to others
5. Pay attention to the present moment

The NHS website suggests some ideas for how to bring these 5 steps into your daily life.

Student Minds UK: These resources contain detailed information on different challenges that university life can bring. 

Students Against Depression: Students Against Depression is a website offering advice, information, guidance and resources to those affected by low mood, depression and suicidal thinking. Alongside clinically-validated information and resources it presents the experiences, strategies and advice of students themselves.

Counselling Service Information Handouts: Topics covered by these information handouts from the Counselling Service include anxiety, depression, homesickness, exam stress, sleep, and more. 

Bangor University Inclusive Community: This website provides information about the ways in which we maintain and enhance Bangor’s inclusive community including signposts to support and advice, information on how we promote equality and details about how we maintain a safe campus. Find resources on disabilities, LGBTQ+, faith communities, and more. This is also where to learn about reporting sexual violence, harassment, and hate crimes.  

Information & Support from Mind: If you're living with a mental health problem, or supporting someone who is, having access to the right information is vital. This website will connect you to resources on types of mental health problems, drugs and treatment, legal rights, and more.

Interviews & Discussions: The Mental Health Foundation’s regular podcast features interviews with a number of interesting people involved in mental health, including people who have experienced mental health problems, campaigners and mental health experts. 

Wellbeing Tips & Techniques: Another series brought to you by the Mental Health Foundation, these podcasts provide tips and techniques on improving and maintaining wellbeing in a variety of ways, such as stress, sleep, diet, and exercise.  

Videos: The Mental Health Foundation provides videos with expert information and personal stories. Goldsmiths University Student Wellbeing Service’s YouTube channel has videos for students on topics ranging from procrastination to exam stress and grounding techniques.

C.A.L.L. Mental Health Self-assessment: This site will tell you all about common mental health problems and give you ideas on how to tackle them. 

NHS Mood Self-assessment: This mood self-assessment can help you better understand how you've been feeling recently. 

Student Minds UK: The Student Minds blog is the biggest blog in the UK dedicated to student mental health and university life. They believe students should have a place to speak up about their experiences of living with mental health difficulties and show others that they are not alone.  

Medium – Inspire the Mind: Everything you’ve always wanted to know about mental health, its effects on the brain and the body, and the science behind it. Written by members of the Stress, Psychiatry and Immunology (SPI) Lab at King’s College London, and by invited guest writers. 

Disability Services: The Disability Service can provide advice and guidance on a range of disability-related matters. They aim to provide a quality service which ensures the full inclusion of disabled students within the academic and social community, enabling you to engage with your studies and to function in the wider university environment. 

Study Skills Centre: The Study Skills Centre offers 1-2-1 appointments, workshops, facilitated writing spaces, and learning resources; we work closely with academic staff to embed academic skills development within the curriculum. 

Mental Health Advisers: Mental Health Advisers provide information about mental health issues, and the services and support which might be available. They also assess mental health needs and signpost students to other services when appropriate. 

Sexual Violence, Harassment, Hate Crime and Racism: If you experience any form of sexual violence, harassment or hate crime, this service can provide you with a safe and confidential space, free from judgement, in which to talk about it. They will support you to move forward in whatever way you feel is best for you. 

Counselling Service: The Student Counselling Service offers a variety of resources to support students during their time at the University, including lectures, workshops, support sessions, and one-to-one counselling. 

Undeb Bangor: Undeb Bangor, the Students’ Union, is the voice of students and the home of student life at Bangor. Undeb Bangor runs sports, clubs, societies and volunteering projects. Taking part in student opportunities is a fantastic way to make friends, meet new people and try something new.