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Student talking to a member of the Student Support Team

Student support

We recognise that there may be times when you need support to help you manage academic or personal pressures and we are here to help. The information on this page will guide you through the support channels available to you as a Hull York Medical School student. There is always someone available to help you, 24/7.

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Urgent support

If it is an emergency or you need urgent help

If you are in crisis

If you or someone else is in danger, call 999 or go to A&E now

If you need help urgently for your mental health, but it's not an emergency, get help from NHS 111 online or call 111

Visit the NHS website for details about where to get urgent help for mental health

NHS urgent mental health helplines
University security teams (for students on campus)

University of Hull: Campus Security emergency number: +44 (0)1482 465555

You can also live chat in the MyHull portal with Student Services (student login needed).

University of York: Campus Safety team: +44 (0)1904 323333

The Safezone app also provides quick access to emergency calls, first aid, maps and a help desk (registration with your student email address needed).

Christmas break

Hull York Medical School will be closed from 4 pm on Friday 20 December 2024 to Wednesday 1 January 2025, reopening Thursday 2 January 2025.

The front desks in Hull and York will be unstaffed from 16 to 3 January 2025. Signs will be placed advising of contact details for

  • Phase and PG inboxes
  • Student Wellbeing
  • Campus Security

The AMS building on the University of York campus will be closed from Wednesday 18 December 2024 until Sunday 5 January 2025 inclusive. The AMB on the University of Hull campus will be closed from Saturday 21 December 2024 to Wednesday 1 January 2025 inclusive, open on 2 January 2025; and then closed from Friday 3 January 2025 to Sunday 5 January 2025 inclusive. Both buildings will be open as usual from Monday 6 January 2025.

You can continue to contact your relevant programme team via email if you have any queries up to the end of term.

Our universities are committed to providing support to students during the winter break and have a variety of services available.

University of Hull
Find out more about student support services at the University of Hull including 24 hour support and support over the winter break.

University of York
Find out more about health and wellbeing support services at the University of York including 24 hour support and support over the winter break.

You can also find links to university and external support services on the Medical School’s Student Support web pages.

University support services

The following services are available to all Hull York Medical School students, regardless of your university of registration.

University of Hull Student Assistance Programme (SAP)

University of Hull’s Student Assistance Programme offers 24/7 support, delivered in partnership with Health Assured. They can help you with anything that’s impacting on your mental health and wellbeing. You might be feeling stressed about exams, feeling anxious, homesick or lonely.

Any Hull York Medical School student can access the SAP. You can access this service regardless of your location, and whether you are away from university or overseas.

  • Freephone 0800 028 3766 - 24/7 helpline to speak to a trained and compassionate counsellor
  • Download the My Healthy Advantage app (use unique code MHA148306) to speak to someone through live chat, arrange a video call, or access a range of extra wellbeing resources

University of Hull Student Services

The University of Hull’s Mental Health support services can help you in lots of different ways depending on your personal situation. This might include a one-to-one session, referrals to local specialist services, guidance in using online resources, and individual learning support plans.

For students with more complex difficulties, the team can work with you to plan and co-ordinate support within and outside of the university, including collaborating with academic departments and NHS services.

University of York Open Door

Open Door provides confidential advice and support to students experiencing psychological or mental health difficulties.

We have a dedicated Open Door Mental Health Practitioner who provides support, wherever you are based.

Although all Hull York Medical School students can access the Mental Health Practitioner, if you are a Hull registered student who requires ongoing mental health support you may still be referred to the Hull Mental Health team in order for you to access all support available to you.

To make an appointment:

Medical School support

Hull York Medical School Student Wellbeing Team

Our dedicated Student Wellbeing Team provide pastoral support to Hull York Medical School students who are experiencing an issue which is impacting on their studies.

The Team provide guidance about the appropriate services at our universities or Medical School which can help you in your circumstances, including signposting to appropriate academic support.

You can find details of these services, and lots of other useful information about health and wellbeing, in the Student Wellbeing Team’s area on Blackboard (student login required).

If you believe a meeting with a senior member of the Student Wellbeing Team would be beneficial in managing your circumstances, please complete our meeting request form. We will organise for you to meet with one of our Senior Advisors (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday).

We take confidentiality very seriously and have measures in place to guard any information shared with and held by the Medical School. Information would only be shared elsewhere with a student’s explicit consent unless there were exceptional circumstances and it was lawful to do so.

Contact the Team at: studentwellbeing@hyms.ac.uk

If you are concerned about a student

If you are concerned about another student, whether that’s a friend, family member or any other member of our student community, you can raise a concern through their university of registration:

Alternatively, you can contact our Student Wellbeing Team and raise a concern: studentwellbeing@hyms.ac.uk. Please be aware that without a student’s consent, we may be limited in terms of what action we can take. However, we still encourage you to report any concerns you may have, as we may still be able to support them and you.

Information for parents

We understand that the transition to university can be a difficult time for parents and carers. We take the wellbeing of our students seriously and our programmes are centred around a supportive and encouraging learning environment. Our tutors and staff take the time to get to know our students personally and foster a supportive culture.

However, if you are worried about your child, please do talk to us. If you have any concerns with regards to their mental health and wellbeing, please contact our Student Wellbeing Team: studentwellbeing@hyms.ac.uk

Please be aware that we take the confidentiality of our students very seriously so we will only be able to share any information with you with your child’s permission.

24/7 support services

If you need to talk, day or night

University of Hull Student Assistance Programme (SAP)

University of Hull’s Student Assistance Programme offers 24-hour support to all Hull York Medical School students.

The service, delivered in partnership with Health Assured, is available to help you with anything that’s impacting on your mental health and wellbeing.

Samaritans

Call the Samaritans on 116 123. Samaritans offer someone to talk to in confidence 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you prefer to text

Text SHOUT to 85258 for free from all major UK mobile networks. You'll then be connected to a volunteer for an anonymous conversation by text message.

Shout is a free, confidential, messaging mental health support service run by the Mental Health Innovations charity.

NHS mental health services

Talk to your GP

All students should register with a doctor as soon as possible after arriving at university. You'll need to talk to your GP to use some mental health services.

Your doctor can diagnose your mental health needs and offer guidance and medical treatment. Your doctor may prescribe medication but they can also help you access talking therapies and psychological treatment.

Search the NHS website for GP surgeries in your area.

NHS talking therapies services

You can refer yourself directly to your local NHS talking therapies service without a referral from a GP, although you will need to be registered with a GP.

The service offers talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), counselling, other therapies, and guided self-help. It offers help for common mental health problems, like anxiety and depression.

Other sources of support

MIND

Mind offer a range of services, including one-to-one support, counselling, and group support.

Papyrus – Prevention of Young Suicide

Papyrus’ HOPELINEUK offers confidential support and advice:

York Safe Haven

York Safe Haven offers a walk-in service for people in York and Selby – no appointment needed.

Report with Support

Misconduct and discrimination

We are committed to providing an inclusive community and a safe and supportive environment for our students, staff and partners.

Our Dignity at Work and Study Policy (PDF) outlines our approach to tackling harassment, bullying and hate incidents.

If you have experienced or witnessed harassment, bullying or hate incidents of any kind then you should contact the Student Wellbeing Team in the first instance via email: studentwellbeing@hyms.ac.uk

Reporting an incident

Once you have considered the options for informal resolution as outlined in the Dignity at Work and Study Policy (PDF), you can use the reporting tools linked below. These are used to formally report an incident of serious misconduct including harassment, hate incidents and sexual violence and are open to all Hull York Medical students. There are two ways in which you can report: anonymously, or with contact details.

If you report with contact details then a member of staff will contact you to discuss next steps and advise of support available to you. If you report anonymously then the information you provide will help to inform our work in preventing incidents of this nature in the future.

Our Universities also have a range of guidance and support: visit the University of Hull student support information or the University of York's Report and Support website.

Report an incident with contact details Report an incident anonymously