Urgent wellbeing support

Call: 0800 58 58 58

CALM is specifically for young men who are feeling suicidal or in need of emotional support. They offer support via webchat and also operate a helpline on 0800 58 58 58, both open every day between 5pm and midnight.

Call: 0300 123 3393

Mind offer information and support for anyone experiencing a mental health problem. Call 0300 123 3393, or text 86463, phonelines are open Monday-Friday 9am-6pm. You can download leaflets on a wide range of issues including the effects of street drugs on mental health, or visit the Mind website for more information and support.

Call: 0800 068 41 41

Papyrus offer support specifically for young people aged up to 35. If you are a young person at risk of suicide or are worried about a young person at risk of suicide you can call 0800 068 4141, text 07786 209697 or email [email protected] for confidential help, advice and support. Opening hours are: 9am-12pm, every day.

Call: 116 123

The Samaritans provide confidential non-judgemental emotional support, 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which could lead to suicide. Call free anytime on 116 123 or, if you are worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email [email protected]. 

If you're having a difficult time, struggling with every day life, or worried about someone else, the Samaritans can help you.

You can also visit the Samaritans drop in centre in Bournemouth ​at 1 Durrant Road, BH2 6LE - which is open from 9am-9pm every day, including weekends. It's approximately a 10 minute walk from Bournemouth Square - walk up Richmond Hill, turn left onto St Stephen's Road and take the second right onto Durrant Road - the Samaritans drop in centre is towards the end of Durrant Road, near the A338. See the map for details.

STARS Dorset provides support for people of any age or gender who live, work or study in Bournemouth, Dorset or Poole and who have experienced sexual assault, rape or childhood sexual abuse at any time in their lives. For confidential listening support call our support line on 01202 308855 at the times below. Alternatively, you can email [email protected] to arrange a zoom drop in with a member of the team. To find out more about our services please visit our website.

Support line hours:
Monday, Tuesday & Friday: 1pm – 3pm
Wednesday & Thursday: 7.30pm – 9.30pm

STARS are running a drop in at the Student Wellbeing office in Talbot House on the first Monday of the month from 11am - 12pm: 1 November, 6 December, 10 January, 7 February, 7 March, 9 May, 6 June.

We’ve teamed up with Health Assured to provide a free confidential helpline and digital resources to help you with any personal or student-related problems.

Call the free 24-hour confidential helpline on 0800 028 3766 to speak to an experienced advisor who will offer support in a friendly, non-judgemental manner.

You can also contact the service through call back request, email or manned live chat within the ‘My Healthy Advantage’ mobile app, available on IOS or Android.

Visit the Student Assistance Programme page to find out more.

Led by Student Minds, the UK’s student mental health charity, Student Space provides free, trusted information, tools and services to help you navigate the unique challenges to student life during the coronavirus pandemic. The support provided by Student Space is safe, confidential and developed with students and experts in student wellbeing and mental health. ​

Access dedicated support services for students:

• phone - call free on 0808 189 5260 from 3pm to 12pm every day
• text - text ‘STUDENT’ to 85258 for 24/7 support
• email - [email protected] 
• webchat - 4pm to 11pm every day.

However, you’re feeling help and guidance is available. Explore the Student Space resources at www.studentspace.org.uk.

The Retreat provides a safe space to discuss your problems and access support. It is open to anyone who is 18 and over and lives in Dorset. If you are struggling to cope with life and feel yourself approaching a crisis point they offer face-to-face drop-ins (4.30pm-midnight) and virtual drop-in sessions from 4.30-11.30pm every day. Find out more on the website.

The Retreat is staffed by both peer specialist and mental health professionals and will not offer medication or formal therapy, but will support and promote self-management. There will also be the capacity for mental health professionals working in The Retreat to escalate to further clinical support if required.

The Retreat in Bournemouth is based at Hahnemann House, Hahnemann Road, Bournemouth, BH2 5JW. It's approximately a 10 minute walk from the BIC - walk up Priory Road and turn right onto West Hill Road, and then left onto Hahnemann Road. Or from the Triangle - walk up St Michaels Road, turn right onto Hahnemann Road and then cross over West Hill Road to re-join Hahnemann Road. The Retreat is in the middle section of the road. See the map for details.

The Retreat in Dorchester is based at 30 Maiden Castle Road, Dorchester, DT1 2ER. It's approximately a 10 minute walk from Dorchester South train station along Weymouth Avenue. The train from Bournemouth to Dorchester takes around 40 minutes. See the map for details.

If you're not on campus at BU, or in Dorset, there is a range of services available to you:  

You can contact the BU Student Wellbeing team by email [email protected] or contact the above external services.

Support services in the South and South West

Improving Access to Psychological Therapy Services (IAPT): 

• italk (Parts of Hampshire, except Southampton and Portsmouth) 
• Somerset Talking Therapies 
• Talking Change (Portsmouth only).

Mental health support: 

• The Lighthouse - mental health support in Southampton for over 18s.

Rape crisis support: 

• Portsmouth Abuse & Rape Counselling Service (PARCS) 
• Somerset & Avon Rape and Sexual Abuse Support (SARSAS)  
• STARS - Sexual Trauma and Recovery Service (previously Dorset Rape Crisis Support Centre).

Sexual Assault Referral Centers (SARC): 

• The Shores (Dorset) 
• The Treetops Centre (Hampshire and Isle of Wight)  
• The Bridge (South Gloucestershire and Somerset).

If you're looking for help with a specific issue not listed here, you could also try our online health and wellbeing A-Z of resources.