Support is always available.
We are committed to the wellbeing of our staff and students and offer resources to help you through challenging times. Whether you are having problems with stress, substance abuse, sexual misconduct or a variety of other issues, we can help.
Alice Jondorf is POLIS's Wellbeing Officer and Mental Health Champion.
Email Alice at talkaboutit@polis.cam.ac.uk and she will be happy to help you find further support and offer guidance on where to turn when problems arise.
Some of the support the university offers is:
Specialised support within the university on sexual assault and harassment:
Students can self-refer to the Sexual Harassment and Violence Advisor - a specialist advisor who provides emotional and practical support. Email sexual.assault.advisor@admin.cam.ac.uk. For more information on harassment or sexual misconduct, please refer to breakingthesilence.cam.ac.uk.
Support for students encountering mental health difficulties who need professional support:
- The University Counselling Service (UCS) provides free, confidential mental health interventions to students. Call 01223 332865 (during office hours), email counsellingreception@admin.cam.ac.uk or visit our website at counselling.cam.ac.uk
Not ready to talk, but want to report a sexual misconduct incident anonymously?
Full list of contact resources for students encountering a range of problems:
Outside of the university, if you are struggling and need someone to listen without judgement or pressure, The Samaritans are available 24/7. Call 116 123 any time day or night or contact the Samaritans by email on jo@samaritans.org and they will respond within 24 hours.
Staff Diversity Networks
Staff Diversity Networks provide a safe forum to network, socialise, share and receive support and advice in relation to protected groups, with events that run throughout the year. Networks are open to individuals who work for the University, a College or an associated institution and include groups for women, LGBT+, parents and carers, students and staff with disabilities and long-term health conditions, and those who self-identify as being from a racial minority ethnic background and/or who have an interest in the topic of race.
Find out more and join a network here
Wellbeing podcast episode of 'All in the Mind'
The Building Blocks of Wellbeing
Podcast with Professor Felicia Huppert, Professor of Psychology Emeritus, University of Cambridge. Wellbeing has become a bit of a buzzword recently, but what does it really mean? It's not the same as simply being happy or experiencing pleasure - it's something deeper and broader than that. It has to do with how we connect with others, how we feel about ourselves, and much more. So, what do we need to achieve wellbeing?
Wellbeing e-book collection
These brilliant resources have been recommended by librarians from across different faculties, departments and colleges and gathered into a collection of e-books.
All of the books here can be accessed online if you sign in using your Raven login.
The books range across topics like addiction, grief, mental health, race, sexuality, sleep, mindfulness. An amazing collection of materials readily available to us all.