Checking in with our Wellbeing Mentors
05 May 2023Our mental health and emotional wellbeing affects how we operate psychologically, emotionally and socially amongst our peers. Creating an environment where our students feel safe and are able to seek support whenever they most need it is therefore critical to how we operate as a College.
Our Wellbeing Mentors are based in the Wellbeing Room in BG27/28 at Queens Drive and P104 at North Star. It is open every day between 9am – 4pm for referred students only. If you feel as though you may need a bit of extra support, please ask your Progress Coach for the link or email wellbeing@newcollege.ac.uk. We have wellbeing facilities at both our North Star and Queen’s Drive campuses, as well as an onsite nurse and a counselling team who can be contacted on counselling@newcollege.ac.uk.
You can self-refer, making it easy for you to retreat to a safe space whenever you need it. The Wellbeing team offers discreet support and someone to talk to if you are in distress, or just need a reassuring chat. You don’t have to book an appointment, as the team run a drop-in service to offer flexibility for those of you who wish to visit the centre for help and support. We can also write any Support Recommendations and can act as an advocate for you, walk you to class and signpost you to outside agencies.
Some of the things the team deal with include:
· Anxiety
· Panic attacks
· Low mood
· Self-harm
· PTSD
· Disordered eating
· Post-Covid loneliness and anxiety
It is clear that our students value the wellbeing facility. One anonymous student said: 'It is without doubt that without all of your support, I would not be the person I am today and for that I am forever grateful'. Meanwhile another student said: 'I had thought about dropping out of College but the Wellbeing team really helped me through my anger management issues. It helps having somewhere to come when I need to talk to someone'.
To ensure that we are providing our students with the best possible help we can give them, the Wellbeing Mentors works closely with the College's Counselling team and also with CAMHS (Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services). They also work with Project Me, which is run by Barnardo’s every two weeks. Project Me consists of four mental health support teams consolidated into one service that delivers mental health interventions to children and young people, who are struggling with their emotional wellbeing. Students also have access to the Togetherall website, resources and community. Togetherall is a safe, anonymous online community for mental health support.
Protecting members’ anonymity is very important to Togetherall. Students don’t use their real names, so it allows you to share how you’re feeling more openly. The service is free to all New College Swindon students and allows you to get support, take control and feel better- all in a way that is most comfortable to you. It is moderated by trained professionals to keep you safe.
