Mental Health Advice

small plant pushing through the ground

The role of the Student Mental Health Advisers is to provide support for students who may have had, or are experiencing moderate to severe or enduring mental health difficulties.

Students can be referred into The Student Mental Health Advisers via the Student Mental Health Intervention Officers. This can be through a self-referral or a referral on behalf of a student by another student or a member of staff. A referral to the Student Mental Health Intervention Officers can be made through this form

The SMHAs abide by the Student Counselling and Mental Health Advice Service Confidentiality and Data protection policy.

The Student Mental Health Advisers do not offer an emergency service.  In an emergency please contact your doctor or attend your nearest accident and emergency department at hospital. 

Student Mental Health Advice

At the first meeting the student’s needs are assessed, confidentiality and consent is discussed, and an individual support plan is created. This may include:

  • Practical advice
  • Signposting to another service within College
  • Liaising with academic or other College staff, with the students consent
  • Education and information about particular conditions
  • Advice on how to recognise and cope in a crisis
  • Relapse prevention strategies and care planning
  • Liaising with other College support services such as the Disability Advisory service or Student Counselling, Liaising with external health providers where appropriate and with the student consent

Students can be seen on an on-going or intermittent basis or for assistance with specific issues requiring short term intervention/support.

All members of staff can contact the Student Mental Health Intervention Officers and speak confidentially about concerns they may have about a student’s wellbeing. The Student Mental Health Intervention Officers will then be able to advise on a referral via the Concerned About a Student route, which could result in an assessment with a Mental Health Adviser.

The Student Mental Health Advisers can offer a source of information and advice for staff who are supporting students who have been referred through this process and are receiving ongoing support.

The Student Mental Health Advisers can be contacted by email at studentmentalhealthadvice@imperial.ac.uk

Study Mentoring

Study mentoring is a form of specialist support for students with mental and physical health difficulties, Asperger syndrome and Attention Deficit [Hyperactivity] disorder.

It is designed to support students keep on track with their academic work, by helping them to identify the impact of their condition upon their learning and to develop effective study strategies.

Study Mentoring is not subject specific but aims to facilitate the development of a range of skills needed in Higher Education, such as:       

  • Organisation, time management and planning work  
  • Procrastination
  • Concentration difficulties
  • Coping with stress
  • Motivation and goal-setting
  • Maintaining realistic study patterns  

Study Mentors abide by the Student Counselling and Mental Health Advice Service Confidentiality and Data protection policy. They provide a confidential and non-judgemental setting for students to discuss any difficulties they experience with academic study related to their condition.

There are two Study Mentors (Mental Health) within the Mental Health Advice Service: Mary Fitzgerald and Natasha Cunningham. The study mentors have a professional mental health qualification. The service is available to students Mondays to Fridays between 09.00 and 17.00.

Students cannot self-refer to Study Mentoring. In order to access the service they would need to:

  • Contact the Disability Advisory Service and request an assessment of your needs. Once an assessment has been completed, they can recommend Study mentoring if it is considered appropriate for you.