Support services

The Employability and Careers team are there for all students to get careers advice, placement information and support, help finding part- or full-time jobs. They also run careers events and fairs.

• Employability and Careers team
• MySurrey Hive
• Telephone: 01483 689001
• MySurrey Help
• Surrey Pathfinder.

You don't have to be religious or spiritual to attend events at the Chaplaincy or use our services. Our chaplains are from all faiths and beliefs and offer confidential, discreet and non-judgemental one-to-one pastoral care.

Religious Life and Belief Centre

Contact your GP surgery, depending where registered:

• Local GP surgery contact details
• University NHS Medical Centre (Guildowns): 01483 409309 

Download our your health at Surrey (PDF) booklet to find out more.

The Centre for Wellbeing offers pastoral care by offering guidance, advice and someone to talk to about the sort of issues and challenges that you may experience. This might include relationship or family difficulties, depression, anxiety, bereavement, severe weight change, drink and/or drug problems, severe mood swings, unpredictable behaviour, sleep difficulties, or pregnancy. We are not a clinical or medical centre, but are a good source of pastoral support to our student community.

We are open 8am – 5pm, Monday to Friday.

• Address: Centre for Wellbeing, University Court, University of Surrey
• Telephone: +44 (0)1483 689498
• MySurrey Help
• Email: centreforwellbeing@surrey.ac.uk.

You don't have to be religious or spiritual to attend events at the Chaplaincy or use our faith and spirituality services. 

Our chaplains are from all faiths and beliefs and offer confidential, discreet and non-judgemental one-to-one pastoral care. They also promote dialogue and peaceful co-existence between people of different faiths and beliefs.

ThriveWell are a team of student wellbeing advisers who provide flexible, proactive and in-the-moment support for your wellbeing.

Through one-on-one support, workshops, and outreach activities, we empower students to develop coping strategies, build resilience, and access appropriate support services.

Read more about ThriveWell and how to meet the team.

The University should not be judged by the same criteria as statutory mental health service providers, like NHS Trusts or Community Mental Health Recovery Services.

The Centre for Wellbeing (CWB) is not a care provider, such as a care home or hospital or GP Practice, requiring registration with a regulatory oversight body such as the Care Quality Commission (“CQC”). It is a stand-alone discreet service provided by the University to support students in a pastoral way to help them to succeed at university. It is not designed or authorised to provide diagnosis or treatment and because of this any regulatory processes or policies in this regard will inevitably be absent.

The CWB does not provide medical services and it is important that this distinction is made clear so that mandated services that do provide medical care - such as NHS Trusts or Community Mental Health Recovery Services - understand the boundaries between the care and treatment they provide and the signposting offered by the CWB. 

Nightline is a listening service for students, run by trained student volunteers. You can call us to talk about any problem, ask a few questions or get something off your chest.

Nightline is confidential and anonymous, so you don't have to tell us anything about yourself, not even your name, and the content of the call never leaves Nightline.

You can talk to us about any problem, big or small, in complete confidence. We aren't here to judge or advise you, just to listen and support you through whatever it is you're going through. Nightline volunteers are all current Surrey students who have gone through extensive training to be able to support you.

Nightline is available 7pm – 7am, Monday to Friday, during term time by phone or the online chat service on the Students’ Union website.

Facebook / Instagram

The Students’ Union Support Zone, led by the VP Support, is there to assist students with a range of needs, queries and concerns.

The Support Zone also runs a range of campaigns throughout the academic year on various support topics, which are tailored towards the needs of students at Surrey, and encourage students to talk about the issues that matter most to them.

For more information on how the Students’ Union can support you with health and wellbeing issues visit the Support Zone on their website.

The Bereavement support group is there to enable students to safety and confidentially, talk and express their emotions about any bereavement they may have experienced that may be impacting them.

Run exclusively for students experiencing grief, it is a space to reflect or openly discuss thoughts and feelings with peers going through a similar experience. This is a small group that is organised by the Students’ Union and facilitated by the Chaplaincy in a pastoral manner but with no religious connection or connotations.

You can book upcoming in-person and online sessions now.

Health Assured is a Student Assistance Program (SAP) designed to help you deal with personal or student-related problems. The problems could be affecting your home life, education, health, and general wellbeing. Whatever issues you face in your student life, our confidential helpline is available 24/7, 365 days a year.

Call the Free 24 Hour helpline on 0800 028 3766. 

You can also download the app on the Apple App Store or Google Play.

The personalised login code for the app is: MHA268152

View the Health Assured FAQs page.

The Safe Haven service in Guildford is open to anyone experiencing a mental health crisis and is open 6pm – 11pm, 7 days a week and 365 days a year.

They also run daily drop-in sessions for peer and wellbeing support between 6pm – 8pm. No pre-booking is required and everyone is welcome.

Safe Haven is located on Walnut Tree Close, just a few minutes' walk from the Stag Hill campus and Guildford town centre. For more information on their services visit the Safe Haven website.

Virtual Safe Haven

We are also available to offer crisis support virtually. This virtual service is available from 6pm to 11pm.

Guildford Samaritans are open to anyone who quite simply wants to talk. They are available for both face-to-face and phone contact and offer a safe, non-threatening space to talk through your problems in complete confidence.

The Samaritans are based in Guildford town centre, close to the Guildford Cricket Club, and you can visit them between 12 noon – 9:30pm, seven days a week, with no appointment needed.

You can also call them on +44 (0)1483 505555 (local rates apply) or 116 123 (Freephone) or email them.

For more information on their services visit the Guildford Samaritans website.

At Surrey we’re committed to cultivating an inclusive community and supporting the needs of people with hidden disabilities and/or invisible illnesses.

Wearing the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower discreetly indicates to people around the wearer (including staff, students and colleagues) that they may need additional support, understanding or a little more time. It aims to increase awareness of the, often invisible, adjustments that people with hidden disabilities may require. Without a visual cue, it can be difficult for people with invisible illnesses to communicate certain adjustments, or to not be questioned or challenged when they do.

Members of our community with hidden disabilities and/or invisible illnesses who wish to adopt a visual cue will be able to collect a Surrey Sunflower lanyard, pin badge or wallet card from a number of points across campus:

• Stag Hill Reception (at Senate House)
• Wellbeing Centre Reception
• Library helpdesk
• MySurrey Hive Stag Hill.

Do I have to wear a sunflower to have my disability recognised?

No. The scheme is entirely optional and is intended to offer support to those who would find it useful to have a visual cue. It also aims to widen understanding and awareness about hidden disabilities and build an inclusive culture of support for those who live with invisible, and therefore often misunderstood, conditions.

What sunflower items are available?

We are offering a number of options for wearing a sunflower including a lanyard, pin badge or discreet wallet card. People with hidden disabilities can choose the most suitable option for them.

How can I access further support related to my disability or health condition?

You can find out more on our dedicated MySurrey pages. Search on MySurrey Help for further advice and support.

How can I find out more about the scheme?

Contact Jo McCarthy-Holland, EDI Adviser:  j.mccarthy-holland@surrey.ac.uk.

How can I learn more about invisible illnesses/hidden disabilities?

You’ll find more information and resources at www.bvisible.info.

The NHS offers talking therapy services, particularly for anxiety and/or low mood. You need to be registered with a GP in this area to be eligible. You can refer yourself either online or by phone, and don’t need to go through your GP.

Useful links:

• DHC face-to-face therapy
• With You face-to-face therapy
• Centre for Psychology face-to-face therapy
• Ieso online live time therapy.

Visit the Mind Matters NHS and view their video to find out more about talking therapies and how they can help you. 

Student Space is here to make it easier for you to find the support that you need.

However you’re feeling, help and guidance is available. Explore a range of trusted information, services and tools to help you with the challenges of student life.

There are three ways that Student Space is here to help during the pandemic:

• Access confidential support via text, phone, email and webchat
• Explore online resources
• Find help available at Surrey.

The support provided by Student Space is safe, confidential and developed with students and experts in student wellbeing and mental health. New services and information will be added to the platform on a regular basis in line with emerging student needs to ensure that it is relevant to you.

Student Space is run by Student Minds, the UK’s student mental health charity. It has been developed collaboratively with services, higher education professionals, researchers and students to complement the existing services available to students.

Clear Fear app

Clear Fear is a free app to help young people manage the symptoms of anxiety. It uses the evidence-based treatment CBT to focus on learning to reduce the physical responses to threat by learning to breathe, relax and be mindful as well as changing thoughts and behaviours and releasing emotions.

• Clear Fear website
• Clear Fear video.

Combined Minds app

Combined Minds is a free app to help families and friends support young people with their mental health. Combined Minds helps families and friends to find ways to provide the right environment to help the individuals they support affect their own change. As important influencers in the lives of young people, this provides a positive impact on their mental health.

• Combined Minds website
• Combined Minds video.

Calm Harm app

Calm Harm is an award-winning, free app to help teenagers manage or resist the urge to self-harm. Calm Harm is based on an evidence-based approach called Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) which is a form of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT). Calm Harm provides a range of targeted five or fifteen-minute activities to help alter thoughts, emotions and behaviours, enabling young people to ‘ride the wave’ of emotion they experience and manage the urge to self-harm.

• Calm Harm website
• Calm Harm video.

Move Mood app

Move Mood is a free app to help young people manage the behaviours associated with low mood and depression. The app uses the evidence-based treatment Behavioural Activation Therapy to help you set goals in a number of areas, helping you to build confidence.

• Move Mood website
• Move Mood Video.