Self help information
Sometimes it helps to discover that you are not the only person feeling or behaving the way that you do. It can be reassuring to learn that what you are going through is experienced by other people, or that you are not "abnormal" and it is possible to deal with it.
The links on the left-hand side menu offer a brief discussion of some of the issues that people typically bring to counselling. You will also find some useful links to external websites specifically concerned with these topics.
Please remember that each individual is unique. Your issues and concerns may, or may not, resonate with the descriptions contained in these pages, and please don't be discouraged from contacting us if you don't identify with these labels. No concern is too trivial, and if you feel we might be able to help you, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Some students want a little help to get started with self help so we are able to offer one off sessions for assisted self help or to direct you to particular self help programmes such as Beating the Blues.
Student Services
The Counselling Service is just one of a range of free services available to students. You may also wish to find out about others by going to the Student Services website.
External sources
To explore possible links between physiological and psychological states you can consult your doctor or visit the NHS website .
You might also like to visit the website of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, which contains a lot of material about mental health issues.
In addition, the Students' Union provides a range of helpful leaflets on various relevant topics; or you can visit their Just Ask Centre where you can find information and advice on a wide range of issues.
Self Help Links
The following are some general self help websites that can be accessed for support, information and strategies for working through problems:
The Centre for Sport, Exercise and Health (SEH) have some useful information about supporting your health & wellbeing.
The Frank Buttle Trust are an organisation set up to help young people in need of financial support and can offer grants to help with studying.
Minding Your Head is an organisation based in Northern Ireland with some useful information about mental health for young people.
The Mental Health Foundation is a good resource for information about mental health and they have downloadable podcasts about health, wellbeing and relaxation.
Moodgym is a self help programme used to help prevent depression using cognitive behavioural techniques.
Ecouch is a self help programme designed to alleviate depression, anxiety, social anxiety, relationship breakdown and loss & grief using a range of different strategies.
750 words is a forum for therapeutic writing, based on the book 'The Artist's Way' which is available in our self-help library.
Living Life to the Full is a website offering self help strategies for helping you to feel better about yourself.
Information on basic meditation techniques is available on howtomeditate.org
Light Box is a Bristol based organisation offering free happiness courses to young people aged 16-25.
Changes Bristol provide support groups for anyone in Bristol experiencing mental distress.
Get self help is a website that provides a range of worksheets based on Cognitive Behavioural principles (CBT).