KU students unsure how to access mental health support

Kingston University students are unsure what mental health support is available on campus and how to go about accessing it. 

With Movember helping to raise awareness of men’s mental health, it is important to know how to access support and speaking to KU students revealed that there is a need for better promotion of mental health support at Kingston. 

Interior design student, Drew Bentley, said: “In Freshers Week, I did see a stall about generic mental health and all the rest of it targeted towards all people, but none necessarily specified towards a gender.

“If anything, the university could maybe separate the mental health support stalls at Freshers slightly so that people don’t miss it, because if it is just linked to general well-being it could be overlooked by the person seeking any help.”

Salim Ammouni, an economics student, said that he does not really know what support there is available for mental health on campus but he hopes that it exists. 

“I think mental health support should be promoted better because some people, for their first-year, don’t really know many people around here or have many friends so they may experience mental health problems,” Ammouni said. 

“From the university, I would like to see some people having one-on-one sessions with students who experience mental health problems and in general more people should talk to everyone so people don’t feel alone. There are always differences between people so everyone should come together.”

Kingston University offers wellbeing services and mental health support for students who need it, with information outlined on the Health and Wellbeing Services page of the Kingston University website.

The university offers drop-in sessions remotely or bookable face-to-face-sessions twice a week at Penryn Road. It also has listening sessions stress management and counselling.  

Media and communications student, Deon Dre, said: “I feel there is enough mental health support on campus but it depends on whether students will decide to seek it out which is the main issue.

“I also think guaranteed confidentiality may help encourage students to access the support that is available,” Dre added.

The drop-in sessions offered by the university’s Health and Wellbeing Services are confidential and students can talk to a wellbeing practitioner or health adviser who will offer advice, support and if relevant an onward referral. 

Outside of the university if you need support you can call Samaritans any time on 116 123.