It’s ok not to be ok as a student

No university student has a good time all the time. Whether you’re struggling with study, housing, employment, mental health or debt, there are places you can turn to for help.

Avon & Bristol Law Centre
2 Moon Street, St Paul’s, Bristol, BS2 8QE
A charity that provides legal advice and representation to people who could not otherwise afford it. Help is available within areas of social welfare law e.g. discrimination, mental health, welfare benefits and more.

Bristol Drugs Project
11 Brunswick Square, St Paul’s, Bristol, BS2 8P3
A charity to help with alcohol and drug problems and part of Bristol ROADS (Recovery Orientated Alcohol and Drugs Service), providing confidential advice for those who feel they have a problem themselves or are affected by someone else’s alcohol or drug use.

Bristol International Student Centre (BISC)
45 Woodland Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 1UT
A programme that offers trips, events, and support for international students coming to study in Bristol. Throughout September BISC runs a free ‘Welcome Programme’ to meet and greet overseas students arriving in Bristol, and each term they arrange a programme of events and activities for foreign students in Bristol to enjoy.

Bristol Mind
35 Old Market Street, Old Market, Bristol, BS2 0EZ
0808 808 0330
A mental health resource providing information, advocacy services, a hate crime service and a free, confidential phone helpline that operates from Wednesday to Sunday between 8pm and midnight.

Bristol University Wellbeing
The University of Bristol offers advice and contacts for immediate help, and offer a range of services regarding academic issues, religious and spiritual support and dealing with unhealthy habits. Bristol University also provides Big White Wall, a free and anonymous online service available 24/7 to help you get support and take control.

Citizen’s Advice Bristol48 Fairfax Street, Bristol, BS1 3BL
Provides free, confidential and impartial advice on a range of issues including work, debt, family, housing, law, health and immigration, aiming to help everyone find a way forward no matter what their struggle is.

Men’s Aid
0333 567 0556
As well as offering a free helpline and support regarding gender inclusivity, Men’s Aid also works to promote and raise awareness of other issues relating to men’s welfare in general, such as suicide, homelessness, domestic abuse, PTSD and mental health issues.

Off The Record
8-10 West Street, Old Market, Bristol, BS2 0BH
A charity providing mental health services and a mental health social movement to support and defend the mental health and social position of young people aged 11-25. OTR provide a drop-in sessions, a newsletter with tips to manage your mental health tips and support regarding all aspects of mental health, including depression, anger, compulsions, family, bullying and sexual/gender/cultural identity.

Samaritans
08457 909 090
A round-the-clock, confidential, non-judgemental helpline that offers a safe place for you to talk about any crisis or issue you have.

St Paul’s Advice Centre
146 Grosvenor Road, St Paul’s, Bristol, BS2 8YA
Offers free, confidential advice on a range of issues including money, employment and housing.

Talking Money
1 Hide Market, West Street, St Philip’s, Bristol, BS2 0BH
An independent charity dedicated to improving lives by providing free, high quality advice and support for people tackling financial problems, whether it be debt, benefits, financial education or otherwise.

Terrence Higgins Trust
Easton Community Centre, Kilburn Street, Bristol, BS5 6AW
Offers sexual health support including help with HIV/AIDS, testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections groups and counselling and information about sexual health.

UWE Wellbeing
As well as being partners with Kooth Student (www.student.kooth.com), UWE’s Wellbeing Service supports your counselling, mental health and personal development needs by offering services for all aspects of student life, including stress, self-esteem, loneliness, relationships and self-harm. UWE have also helped to develop the smartphone app SAM: Self-help for Anxiety Management. Free to use from Google Play and the App Store, SAM helps you to understand and manage anxiety.

Victim Support
An independent charity that offers free, confidential and tailored support for those affected by crime or traumatic events. With several offices around the city, Victim Support helps people feel safer in their communities and move beyond the impact of crime, regardless of how long ago it happened or if it has been reported.

Women’s Aid
0808 2000 247
Offers a 24-hour freephone helpline for women needing support regarding domestic violence and domestic abuse of any kind, and provides around 300 local lifesaving services to women and children across the country.