Mental wellbeing
Mental health is just as important as physical health. Whether you’re experiencing an acute period of anxiety, or you’ve experienced longer term mental health conditions, there’s a wide range of support you can access both within College and the University.
How do I know if I should seek help?
There’s no ‘threshold’ you need to meet in order to be able to access support. Just because you know someone who’s having a seemingly more difficult time than you, or because you’ve been managing your mental health on your own for a long time, doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to receive help from others. If you’re struggling, whether it’s short or long term, talk to someone about it.
Who can I talk to in College?
The most important thing about deciding who to talk to about your mental health is finding someone you feel comfortable with. There are a range of people from different walks of life who are trained and practiced in supporting students through difficult periods of mental health, so in the first instance, reach out to who you feel most comfortable with.
Everyone you speak to in College will follow confidentiality guidelines, which they’ll discuss with you at the start of your conversation.
Peer Champions are current St Antony’s students who work with the College welfare team and are trained and supported though the University Counselling Service. Peer Champions are available informally for any fellow Antonian to speak about anything that is concerning you, be it stress, personal difficulties or just a need to get things off your chest. All Peer Champions have been trained to listen effectively, communicate sensitively, respect boundaries and above all, maintain confidentiality.
The Academic Office can help, especially where your mental health and studies are linked. Filiz, Thea and Aym are all happy to talk to you and suggest best next steps.
The College Nurse can listen to how your mental health is making you feel and provide medical guidance.
Find out more about booking an appointment with the College Nurse here.
The College Librarian has also put together a list of books available in our library that can help you support your mental health.
What other support is available in Oxford?
The Oxford University Counselling Service offers free and confidential short-term individual and group support for students experiencing mental health difficulties.
You can make an appointment by email: counselling@admin.ox.ac.uk.
Podcasts and self-help resources are also available on the website.
Talking Space Plus offers a range of free talking therapies through the NHS to people registered with an Oxfordshire GP (doctor). You can self-refer on their website, or be referred by your GP.
Oxford Samaritans
If something’s troubling you, get in touch by telephone, email or visit to speak to someone face to face, even if you are worried about someone else.
Call: 116 123 (this number is free to call)
Email: jo@samaritans.org
Visit: Samaritans Oxford, 60 Magdalen Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX4 1RB
(Open 7 days a week 8:00am – 10:00pm and wheelchair accessible).
If you experience mental health crisis, you can get support with Oxford Safe Haven by calling 01865 903037. Safe Haven is a non-clinical space offering crisis support, signposting, safety planning and listening support. They offer one-to-one support on the phone or face to face and online. Open 7 days a week from 6.00pm until 10.00pm. The referral line is open from 5.00pm on the day of the service and the last entry is at 9.00pm. You must call first to book an appointment for the same day.
Telephone peer support with Nightline available 8.00pm – 8.00am during term (weeks 0-9).
Available for phone, instant message, skype or drop-in.
Call: 01865 270270
Visit: 16 Wellington Square, Oxford
MIND offer help and advice for any mental health problem.
Call: 01865 247788
Togetherall offers opportunity to connect with other students experiencing similar issues through online forums. You can also access advice and self-learning courses. Register with your university email account.
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 – after all, who better to speak to their peers about how depression can be overcome?