In Crisis Now?

Mental health crisis will require specialist assessment

What is a crisis what is distress?

Everyone experiences events in different ways. Mental distress is a subjective experience. We can think of mental distress as a continuum between Mental Health and Mental Health Crisis:

Mental Health Crisis <-------> Mental Health

We move along this continuum every day. Some days there may not be much movement, but when significant events occur there will be more movement and the main difference between distress and crisis is safety.

Mental Health Distress

If Mental Health issues and distress are impacting on an individual’s ability to engage in everyday activities then we would be advise seeking support. Effective support from a range of areas can be helpful; trusted individuals; Mental Health and Wellbeing webpages and apps; helplines, and professional services eg. The Student Wellbeing Service, GP or Local Mental Health Services

Mental Health Crisis

If a Mental health Crisis is being experienced and there are concerns about safety then we recommend seeking help as quickly as possible. Our MH flowcharts can help guide in getting to the right help, along with the emergency contact list below.

Mental Health: Responding to Emergencies (PDF)

It is important to get professional help quickly if there are concerns about someone’s safety. We advise accessing emergency support by using the contacts below prior to contacting our service:

• Your local General Practitioner (GP) - Or out of hours GP – Telephone your GP surgery and you will be redirected
• NHS Direct Wales 0845 46 47
• Attend your local Accident and Emergency department (A&E) Bronglais Hospital if in Aberystwyth
• Dial 999
• Samaritans free helpline Tel: 116 123, Welsh Language Line 0300 123 3011 Email jo@samaritans.org. Web samaritans.org

Aberystwyth 24/7 site security also advise if there is an emergency call 999 and site security on 01970 622649 or Mobile 07889 596220. It is advisable to contact the Student Wellbeing Service once the right emergency support has been accessed so we can then help with any impact this issue has had on your AU life.

Seeking timely support for any emotional difficulty can really help in managing difficult emotions more easily and there are a range of support options available:

• Trusted individuals
  We know that talking about our emotions to those who we trust can really help.
• Big White Wall
  Big white wall is an online platform available free to AU students 24/7. Offering help and advice on a range of mental health and wellbeing issues. There is anonymised wellbeing chat, wellbeing and MH assessment tools learning and training modules to help you gain more control.
• IAWN - NHS Mental Health Service Support information
  The Local Mental Health Support Services within Hywel Dda Health Board have information available on their webpages about local support whilst displaying a range of evidenced based self help literature on a range of topics for example: Anxiety, Depression, PTSD, OCD, Eating Disorders, Self Harm, Self Esteem, Sleep.
• Papyrus
  Papyrus offers HOPELineUK to support young people who have thoughts of suicide or harming themselves.
• Sudden
  Supporting people after sudden death including COVID related deaths
• Area 43
  Offers a fully professional and confidential free counselling service for 16-35 year olds.
• The Samaritans
  Samaritans is a unique charity dedicated to reducing feelings of isolation and disconnection that can lead to suicide.
  It is service that operates 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week
  Freephone Telephone: 116 123
  Welsh Language Line 0300 123 3011
• The Student Wellbeing Service
  Register online, telephone or email our service and tell us about any issues so we can help identify what will help.

Aberystwyth University is committed to keeping students safe and our dignity and respect code sets out what needs to be considered and what processes can help with this.

If you feel that yourself or someone else is not being treated with dignity and respect, then it may be helpful to explore the code and the information on how to report unacceptable behaviours.

Support

The police and specialist charities can offer support and advice and we would encourage anyone to talk about the experiences they have experienced to support well Mental Health.

• Emergency Help - to report a crime telephone 999
• Report a historical crime - telephone 101
• Victim Support – Dyfed Powys police victim support available even if you have not reported a crime.
  If you’re a victim of crime, whether you have reported it to the police or not, you can call your local Victim Support team in Dyfed Powys, and we’ll make sure you get the information and support you need. This might be arranging a meeting for you to talk to us and receive emotional support in confidence, helping you to fill out a compensation form or get advice on how to make your home more secure, or referring you to other specialist organisations that can also help.
• Mid Wales Rape Support Centre – Specialist support 
  Mid Wales Rape Support Centre is a registered charitable company that provides a range of specialist counselling and advocacy services for women and men who have been affected by rape or sexual abuse
• The Student Wellbeing Service - will help students get to the right specialist support required and they can help with the impact any issue may have on academic life.