Student Mental Health Support

Immediate risk of harm

A student is:

• In distress and needs support
• About to self-harm or has just self-harmed, e.g. overdose, cutting
• About to attempt suicide or has just attempted suicide
• Being violent and/or aggressive (to self or others)
• In a vulnerable state; intoxicated or in a psychotic state (experiencing delusions, hallucinations or unusual beliefs)

1. If you need immediate support to manage the situation
   • Engage colleagues in the vicinity and ask for their help
   • Call University Security (2222 / 01484 258338) to alert them and seek support
2. Explain your concerns to the student and why you think they need support
   • If student is able to get safely to local Accident and Emergency, offer support to co-ordinate transport (taxi via Mount Taxi Service 01484 515006)
   • If student is unable to get to Accident and Emergency or refuses help, contact emergency services
3. Contact emergency services (999)
   • Explain the situation to the call operator who will advise on dispatch of appropriate services (police, ambulance, fire)
   • If student refuses service or leaves before arrival of service, advise emergency services of situation - they will determine next steps
4. After the event
   • Email Wellbeing Service (studentwellbeing@hud.ac.uk) with brief overview of situation, circumstances, and actions taken
   • Wellbeing will follow-up as needed with student and offer opportunities for debrief with staff

Moderate risk of harm

A student is:

• Distressed and has disclosed concerning information (e.g. acts of self-harm or overwhelming feelings of suicide but no immediate intent or plan)
• Concerned about their immediate personal safety, welfare or circumstances (e.g. they are unable to return home, they do not feel safe, they are being threatened)

1. Find out more
   • Start a conversation to find out what's wrong
   • Ask if they're OK and what help they think they need
   • It's OK to ask direct questions about suicide
2. Offer reassurance that help is available

 

Student still distressed - moderate risk of harm to self or others

In working hours

• If able to, walk the student to iPoint (Level 4, Student Central) to see the Wellbeing Duty Advisor
• Or contact the Wellbeing Duty Advisor for advice: 01484 471001

Out of hours, encourage the student to:

• Access self-help and 24/7 support services
• Contact emergency services if their circumstances worsen
• Attend Accident and Emergency if self-harm or suicide thoughts worsen

 

Student is able to calm self - no imminent risk of harm to self or others

Ask

• Check what the student plans to do now
• What support do they have?

Signpost

• NHS: 111
• Samaritans: 116 123 (24 hours)
• Saneline: 0300 304 7000
• Papyrus: 0800 068 4141
• Emergency Services: 999
• Find your local Accident and Emergency
• Find your local NHS urgent mental health helpline
• Further useful support (including local services and Hub of Hope)

Refer

• Explain you will email Wellbeing Services so that they can offer the student further support