Below is a brief breakdown of similar services managed and/or recommended by other UK Universities. For this, I’ve taken a sample of Universities who form part of the Russell Group association.
- Nightline : Phone number / available from 6pm to 8am every night during term times.
- Student Mentor Scheme
- Listening service – linked in with the student mentor scheme
- No University live-chat advice lineĀ available
- Nightline
- Confidential counselling for young people up to 25
- Group support sessions
- Just Ask : Support for any issue – phone / email
- Vulnerable Students Service – Phone / Email / 24 hours a day
- No University live-chat advice lineĀ available
- Student advice service
- University Counselling Service
- Group Sessions support service
- Linkline – run by Students – listening and information service – 7pm – 7am during term time.
- Recommendations for multiple services such as Cambridge Rape Crisis, B-eat Adult & B-eat Youth helplines ( helpline for those suffering with eating disorders), Samaritans, Saneline ( National service offering emotional support to anyone affected by mental illness.
- Individual college counsellors.
- No University live-chat advice lineĀ available
- Student advice service
- University Counselling Service
- Nightline
- Counselling Service
- BiteBack University Service – Support group which offers both group and 1 to 1 advice to those who suffer from eating disorders.
- No University live-chat advice lineĀ available
- SilverCloud Online Support – Computer-based therapeutic programs
- University Advice Squad – via email
- No University live-chat advice lineĀ available
- Peer Support Service – Student Minds UCL – A support group network for UCL students who suffer from eating disorders
- Students for Students – Group meet once every 2 weeks for those suffering from stress, anxiety etc
- Psycho-educational workshops – Cognitive therapy workshops to help with procrastination.
- Survivors network – in the process of being created, this group will offer support to students who areĀ survivors of sexual assault.
Further reading:
All the above Universities recommended local and national charities across a range of advice and well fare issues.
Application To TrustPal
By reviewing what services are available at other UK universities, we can assess whether TrustPal fills a needed gap whilst also drawing inspiration from differing universities. As shown above, an application such as TrustPal would be beneficial to not only the students of the University of Southampton but many other UK institutions. There seems to be an over reliance for recommending already stretched national services such as ReThink and Samaritans. These Charities are fantastic but with TrustPal using the student-mentor chat and group support, we can give instant, relatable advice for students in need.