FAQs (including information on urgent help)

The term ‘Mental Health’ covers a person’s wellbeing; social, psychological and emotional. It is important at all stages in our life.

If you are concerned about the immediate safety of yourself or of someone else you should call 999, alternatively you can call the Samaritans on 116 123

Mental Health is important because it affects all areas of our lives – impacting on our ability to concentrate, learn and be successful, as well as our capacity for building and sustaining relationships. It can also impact our ability to cope with change and transitions.

If you would like to speak to me you can email me on c.gilchrist@imperial.ac.uk to make an appointment. Whilst I cannot guarantee an appointment on the same day, I will always try and see you as soon as possible.

Any support given will be confidential and discreet unless there is a concern about risk, in which case we may need to talk to your GP or include another member of staff in the department. We will always try and talk to you about this first.

No, accessing support is a sign that you are motivated, self-aware and empowered.

No, the college sees accessing support a sign of strength not something to be punished for. In fact, reaching out to support within the department may help if you have fallen behind with your studies or are not doing as well on your course as you had hoped.

The wellbeing support is for any student in the department who feels that it may benefit for them to speak to someone. Most people can benefit from talking to someone and sharing any worries they may have. It is best to access support as early as possible as waiting can make recovery much harder than it needs to be. Don’t wait for a crisis point to seek help.

No,  wellbeing support is not the same as counselling. Wellbeing support is the chance for you to come and talk about anything which may be on your mind. Following our appointment, it may be that counselling is the right next step, in which case I will signpost you to the counselling service. Or it may be that other support is more appropriate in which case we will discuss this and work out what is the best next step for you.

No,  wellbeing support is not the same as counselling. Wellbeing support is the chance for you to come and talk about anything which may be on your mind. Following our appointment, it maybe that counselling is the right next step, in which case I will signpost you to the counselling service. Or it may be that other support is more appropriate in which case we will discuss this and work out what is the best next step for you.

If you, or someone you know, is experiencing a mental health crisis you can call the NHS 24-hour Mental Health Crisis Lines:

Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, Hillingdon, Brent, Camden and Harrow 0800 0234 650

Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham and Hounslow 0300 1234 244 

Wandsworth 020 3513 4421

Berkshire 0300 365 9999