Based in each of our campuses, our Wellbeing teams are friendly, supportive staff who can help you with anything from managing your workloads to dealing with personal issues.
They are your first port of call for any problem you might have. This could range from support for your wellbeing, to advice on safeguarding issues. They are also someone you can go to if you just want a friendly, supportive chat.
As well as offering confidential support, they can also help you find sources of advice and support from outside the college, including counselling, mental health and sexual health services.
As a student, parent/carer or staff member you can access support directly from the team or via the information shared on this page.
If you feel you need support you can:
- Get in touch with the team by email:
Seevic Campus – wellbeingseevic@uspcollege.ac.uk
Palmer’s Campus – wellbeingpalmers@uspcollege.ac.uk
- Alternatively, look through the list of topics below to find the best resource for you.
General Support Services
Thurrock Covid-19 Child Wellbeing Support Line
Open to families living within Thurrock - If you would like to discuss anything relating to supporting your child at home during the current lock down then please contact the Thurrock Covid-19 Child Wellbeing Support Line which is staffed by the Educational Psychology and School Well Being Services.
Telephone: 01375 652537 or 01375 652558
Email: SWS@thurrock.gov.uk
A Better Start Southend
Provides support and signposting on a range of topics for residents of Southend
Telephone: 01702 880370
Email: abetterstart@eyalliance.org.uk
Website: www.abetterstartsouthend.co.uk
Essex Family Wellbeing Service
Offering a range of support services for families in Essex
Telephone: Mid Essex – 0300 247 0014
North Essex – 0300 247 0015
South Essex – 0300 247 0013
West Essex – 0300 247 0122
Website – www.essexfamilywellbeing.co.uk
Mental Health Support
Young Minds
Young Minds provides a range of resources to help you manage your mental health during this time. You can text YM to 85258 to access their 24/7 crisis messenger where you'll be able to speak with a trained volunteer who will be able to help you if you're having a mental health crisis.
Visit Young Minds to find out more.
Every Mind Matters
Every Mind Matters is the national platform for good mental health, from Public Health England. It aims to make it easier for everyone to look after their own wellbeing and improve their mental health, by providing a digital hub full of advice, tips and resources and a new online tool to help everyone create their own action plan.
https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/
Kooth
Kooth is your online mental wellbeing community. Access free, safe and anonymous support.
Sane Line
Work with anyone affected by mental illness, including families, friends and carers. Their helpline is open between 4:40pm and 10pm every day of the year. They also provide a free text-based support service called Textcare. And an online supportive forum community, where anyone can share their experiences of mental health issues.
Telephone: 0300 304 7000 (4:30pm – 10:30pm every evening)
Textcare: www.sane.org.uk/what_we_do/support/textcare
Support Forum: www.sane.org.uk/what_we_do/support/supportforum
Website: www.sane.org.uk
Papyrus
Charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide.
Telephone: 0800 068 41 41
Text: 07860 039967
Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org
Website: https://papyrus-uk.org/
The Mix
Aimed at people under 25. Their helpline is open between 4pm and 11pm, 7 days a week. They also run a crisis text service which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Telephone: 0808 808 4994
E-mail: through the website.
Crisis text message service: Text THEMIX to 85258
Webchat: through the website. (4pm – 11pm, 7 days a week)
Website: www.themix.org.uk
20 minute support sessions via The Help Hub
The Help Hub can offer you support if you are isolating alone or have limited contact during this lockdown period. The Hub was set up to help vulnerable people and they are currently offering free 20 minute video or phone calls with a licensed therapist. All you have to do is book an appointment.
Book an appointment with The Help Hub.
The Wilderness Foundation
The Wilderness Foundation are offering free mentoring and counselling. This isn't suitable for those needing therapeutic support but more for those who want someone to talk to about your worries and on how to plan for the future. All mentors and coaches are DBS checked.
Crisis Support
If you're in immediate danger of hurting yourself or others:
- Go directly to the Accident & Emergency (A&E) department of your local hospital to get help
- Call 999 to request an ambulance if you are unable to reach the hospital yourself
If you're feeling distressed and need urgent support:
- Contact your GP surgery to request an emergency appointment
- If your GP surgery isn't open, call the free NHS out-of-hours medical line on 111 for help accessing the right services
- You can call the Samaritans on 116 123 to talk to someone at any time, day or night
Protection from Abuse and Support
NSPCC
Work to protect children and prevent abuse so we can make child abuse a thing of the past
Telephone: 0808 800 5000 or for 18 years and under 0800 1111
Email: help@nspcc.org.uk
Website: http://www.nspcc.org.uk
The National Domestic Abuse Helpline
This website provides guidance and support for potential victims, as well as those who are worried about friends and loved ones. They can also be called, for free and in confidence, 24 hours a day.
Telephone: 0808 200 0247
Website: https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/
Women’s Aid
Women’s Aid provides information and education and training and campaigns on Domestic abuse as well as helping women to escape from domestic abuse and providing support and guidance for those suffering.
Email: helpline@womensaid.org.uk
Website: https://www.womensaid.org.uk/information-support/
Men’s Advice Line
A confidential helpline for male victims of domestic abuse and those supporting them.
Telephone: 0808 8010 327
Email: info@mensadviceline.org
Website: https://mensadviceline.org.uk
CEOP
CEOP is a national reporting service for online crime and exploitation against children (under 18).
Website: https://www.ceop.police.uk/ceop-reporting/
The Survivors Trust
Specialist rape and sexual abuse services in the UK.
Telephone: 08088 010818
Website: https://www.thesurvivorstrust.org/
Victim Support
Victim Support is an independent charity dedicated to supporting victims of crime and traumatic incidents.
Telephone: 08 08 16 89 111
Website: https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/
sericc
Rape and Sexual Abuse Specialist Service in Thurrock.
Telephone: 01375 380 609
Website: https://sericc.org.uk/
Bereavement
Cruse Bereavement Care
Offering support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies.
Telephone: 0808 808 1677
Website: https://www.cruse.org.uk
St Luke's Hospice
Providing support to young people and adults in South West Essex
Telephone: 01375 648175
Website: https://stlukeshospice.com/
Havens Hospice
Their Crisis Bereavement Line is a telephone helpline for bereaved adults and children from across Essex whose loved one has died directly or indirectly as a result of Coronavirus.
Telephone: 01702 220321
Website: https://www.havenshospices.org.uk
St Helena's
Providing support to young people and adults in North Essex
Telephone: 01206 890360
Website: https://www.sthelena.org.uk
Keeping Safe Online
Thinkuknow
Information about staying safe when you’re on a phone, tablet or computer. Helping keep you safe online and offline.
Website: https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/4_7/
Useful Apps
Balance
The Balance app is a meditation app full of meditations for different scenarios. They are currently offering free one-year subscriptions.
Hear Me
Through the Hear Me app, you'll be connected to a trained listener who will be able to guide and talk you through your feelings. Everything you say is confidential and anonymous.
Visit their Instagram account to find out more.
Headspace
Headspace have a wealth of mental health resources available. They've even created a free pack of resources called 'Weathering the storm' which include meditations, sleep advice and movement exercises.
Find out more about 'Weathering the storm'.
Sanvello
Sanvello are offering their content for free during lockdown and the app has as number of features available to help you. It can help you track your moods, provides guided journeys, coping tools and progress assessments. There is even a peer-support element where you can talk to your peers in a judgment free zone to explore a range of topics.
Clear Fear
An Award-Winning App Designed To Help Anxiety Using Cognitive Behaviour Techniques.
Calm Harm
Calm Harm is a free app to help teenagers manage the urge to self-harm.
Self Heal
A free App to help with the management of self-harm. Includes distraction task suggestions, useful contacts, information on self-harm and a gallery of inspirational images.
Stay Alive
Suicide prevention resources, including your own safety plan and links to local and national crisis resources.
https://www.prevent-suicide.org.uk/find-help-now/stay-alive-app/