Wellbeing support

Our goal is for you to flourish at Stirling, making the most of the opportunities and support available to you. When you’re thriving, you feel more resilient, confident, powerful and in control in your life. You’re less prone to stress, anxiety or depression – and more likely to feel happy and content in your life. Explore our sources of support that can help you get the most out of University life.

Loch View Wellbeing Suite

Visit our tranquil wellbeing space. Decompress and relax with a book, art supplies, comfortable beanbag chairs, weighted blankets, sensory toys and much more.

Drop-in anytime from 9:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday.

Find out more

A pair of happy students covered in brightly coloured paint powder

Be Connected

Discover a programme of events, activities and resources for our Stirling community of students and staff.

See what's on

External services and self-help resources

There are many services and organisations which support your wellbeing and help with mental and emotional challenges. Take a look at a variety of websites, helplines, apps and community groups available to you.

National Health Service (NHS)

Talk to your to your GP.
Contact NHS 24 by calling 111.
NHS Inform website - information about identifying, treating and managing mental health problems and disorders.
Together Let’s Care for Your Mental Health website - this campaign aims to raise awareness of a range of mental health information, and services that support mental health.
Mind to Mind website - hear from people who have had challenges with their own mental wellbeing and see how their experiences can help you.

24/7 Student Support helpline

Students can access the free 24/7 student support helpline from Spectrum.Life for emotional wellbeing support.

How to access the student support helpline:

Call 0800 031 8227 (freephone UK) or 00353 1 518 0277 (international).
Arrange a call back via WhatsApp by texting 'Hi' to 07418 360 780.
Sign up for Spectrum.Life to arrange a call through their live chat (organisation code: Stirling).

Helplines

There are a host of excellent services available if you need to talk to someone about matters of mental health or emotional wellbeing. Each of the helplines listed will connect you directly with professionals who can offer confidential support around the clock, and we recommend them as a first port of call whether you feel like you’ve reached a crisis point or just need someone to talk to.

Breathing Space
Phone: 0800 83 85 87

Breathing Space are a free, confidential phone service for anyone in Scotland experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety.

Mind
Phone: 0300 123 3393

Mind provide advice and support to empower you if you are experiencing a mental health problem. Text 86463.

Samaritans
Phone: 116 123

Samaritans can offer a safe place for you to talk any time you like about whatever’s getting to you – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

If you’re out of the UK you can also contact them via email on jo@samaritans.org although the response may take a little longer.

Shout Crisis Manager
Text ‘Shout’ to 85258

Free 24/7 text service that provides an anonymous conversation for anyone in crisis. Offers a safe space where you are listened to by a trained Crisis volunteer.

Papyrus HOPELINE247

Call 0800 068 4141

Papyrus UK is a charity for the prevention of young suicide in the UK. Call if you are experiencing thoughts of suicide or are concerned that a young person could be thinking about suicide.

Switchboard

Call 0800 0119 100, 10am – 10pm, every day

Switchboard is the national LGBTQIA+ support line.

Websites

The websites below provide lots of information on issues such as anxiety, drug abuse, self-harm and depression. Each site brings together in-depth expertise in a specific area and lets you connect with professional carers and counsellors.

Boys in Mind (BiM)
BiM is charitable alliance of health and education professionals working in partnership with children and young people to empower them, particularly boys and young men, to talk about their emotions and express their vulnerability in a safe and healthy manner. Visit their website for films, blogs and podcasts.

CALM
Standing for Campaign Against Living Miserably, CALM’s mission is to help people to end their misery not their lives. They provide services, information and advice to help anyone struggling with life.

Circle Scotland
Circle engages with families who face exclusion due to social injustice, poverty and health inequalities.

Cruse Bereavement
Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland (CBCS) exists to promote the well-being of bereaved people in Scotland.

Daylight
Digital therapy in the form of a mobile app is now available for people in Forth Valley who are experiencing symptoms of worry and anxiety.

Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs
The charity works with anyone 16+ throughout Forth Valley, and nationally, who is concerned about someone else's alcohol or drug use. Both one-to-one and group support is available.

Students Against Depression
Information and resources validated by health professionals alongside tips and advice from students who have experienced it themselves.

Student Space
Run by Student Minds, Student Space provides a range of trusted information, services and tools to help you with the uncertainty of life.

Mind – student mental health hub
The Mind student mental health hub is a resource to inform and support all students. Filled with tips, tools and information on how to cope with the challenges of student life.

Victim Support
An independent charity, they provide support and information to people affected by crime and campaign for victim and witness rights. Regardless of whether a crime has been reported or when it happened, there services are free, confidential and tailored to individuals’ needs.

Mobile apps

List of mobile apps
Column one lists app names, column two provides links to the app, column three lists the cost of the app and column four describes the app
App name	Platform	Cost	Summary
BlueIce		Free	This app helps young people manage their emotions and reduce urges to self-harm.
Breathe 2 Relax	iOS	Free	Learn the stress management skill of diaphragmatic breathing.
Calm	iOS/Android	Free (with in-app purchases)	Mindfulness and guided meditation app.
Calm Harm		Free	Reduce urges to self-harm and manage emotions in a more positive way.
Catch It		Free	Learn to manage negative thoughts and look at problems differently.
Chill Panda		Free	Use breathing techniques to help you relax more, worry less and feel better.
Daylight		Free	Available for people in the Forth Valley area who are experiencing symptoms of worry and anxiety.
Deep Sleep with Andrew Johnson	iOS/Android	Subscription required	Relaxing guided meditation.
distrACT		Free	Quick and discreet access to information and advice about self-harm and suicidal thoughts.
Headspace	iOS/Android	Free (with in-app purchases)	Guided meditation and mindfulness.
Insight Timer	iOS/Android	Free (with in-app purchases)	Guided meditations.
iSleep Easy/ iSleep Easy Light	iOS/Android	Subscription required	A wide variety of guided meditations.
Mindshift CBT	iOS/Android	Free	Designed to help teens and young adults cope with anxiety.
Panic Shield - Panic Attack Aid	Android	Subscription required	Designed to bring calming relief to panic attack sufferers.
Sleepio		Free with NHS Scotland	An online sleep improvement programme, clinically proven to help you fall asleep faster.
Spectrum.Life's app		Free for University of Stirling students	24/7 emotional wellbeing support, wellbeing series, digital gym, and more.
Stay Alive	iOS/Android	Free	Pocket suicide prevention resource
What's Up? – A Mental Health App	iOS/Android	Free (with in-app purchases)	An aid for coping with depression, anxiety, anger and stress.
Relax Change Create Meditation	iOS/Android	Free (with in-app purchases)	Unwind and de-stress with relaxation techniques.

Be Active

Physical activity is a great way to de-stress and can have a positive effect on your mental health. From organised and recreational sport to health and fitness classes, the University has something for students of all abilities and experience. See more on the University of Stirling Sports website.

The Art Collection

The Art Collection is committed to supporting our students and staff by providing a welcoming environment with opportunities to meet others and engage in activities to promote wellbeing.

5 ways to wellbeing

1. Connect with others

Connecting with those around you is important to staying well – whether that’s friends, family or peers. You can find new people to connect with every day in your life as a student. Through your course, accommodation, clubs and societies, sport, the chaplaincy and the wider university community.

You can also connect with others through our Be Connected programme, a calendar of events for all staff and students in the University of Stirling community.

Find out how to connect with us in Student Support Services. We can help you get ready for university life, make valuable connections while you’re here, and maintain a happy and healthy mind-set – as well as helping you navigate through difficult times or experiences.

2. Be active

Exercising, moving and getting outside all help you to feel good and change your mood. Whether it’s trying a new sport, taking a break to walk around the loch, going to the gym, swimming or doing a yoga class – getting active will make a massive difference to your wellbeing.

3. Learn something new

Coming to university is a great opportunity to embrace new experiences. When you first arrive learning new skills can really help with this transition time - such as cooking, managing your money and study skills.

It’s also a chance to try something completely different - and Stirling is the perfect place to do it. Whether you join one of the hundreds of clubs and societies, try a new sport, get creative, learn a language, try gardening or learn yoga – there are opportunities everywhere. Surprise yourself.

4. Give

Giving your time, your words, your presence or your skills are some of the many ways to feel happier and more fulfilled. Whether it’s the small act of saying hello, smiling, thanking someone – or volunteering for a charity or to be a buddy to a new student, there are limitless ways to give back.

5. Take notice

Being aware of the world around you, noticing the changing seasons, appreciating a cup of coffee or a chat with a friend, taking a deep breath, noticing how you are feeling, going to a meditation or yoga class are some of the ways you can take notice and be more mindful in your life, reduce stress and feel calmer and happier.

Group of students talking to each other