Welfare
There is a lot of support available at Jesus and across the university. If you do feel like you are struggling, please reach out for help. There is no shame in needing support.
On this page you can find the JCSU Welfare Guide, which provides in depth information about all the support available. It provides an overview of college and university support, information on how to access them, and guidance on recognising when you or a friend may be struggling with their mental health. The rest of the page has contact details for key services.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please seek Immediate Support:
- Call 999
- Go to the Porters or call them: 01223 339339
- Go to A&E
JCSU Drop-in Hours:
There is a JCSU Welfare Officer in the JCR Office (which is just off the JCR in Second Court- you can always message any of the Welfare Officers if you want help finding it!) every day 5-6pm. They are happy to chat about anything, big or little (or even just for some company)
Monday: Patryk, LGBTQ+ Officer (lgbtq@jcsu.jesus.cam.ac.uk)
Tuesday: Tom and Orchid, Welfare Officers (tom@jcsu.jesus.cam.ac.uk and orchid@jcsu.jesus.cam.ac.uk)
Wednesday: Stephen, Access Officer (access@jcsu.jesus.cam.ac.uk)
Thursday: Anika, Mental Health & Disabilities Officer (mhdis@jcsu.jesus.cam.ac.uk)
Friday: Harge, Ethnic and Religious Minorities Officer (erm@jcsu.jesus.cam.ac.uk)
Saturday: Kieran and Lizzie, Freshers’ Officers (freshers@jcsu.jesus.cam.ac.uk)
Sunday: Helena, Women and Non-Binary Officer(womens@jcsu.jesus.cam.ac.uk)
There is also Welfare Tea most weeks, which are communicated on Facebook and by email.
College Support Contact Details:
- JCSU Anonymous Messaging Phone: 07599928698
- JCSU Disability Guide
- JNET Health and Welfare Page and Mental Health Support Page
- College Nurse: Jacky Poskitt (j.poskitt@jesus.cam.ac.uk)
- Mental Health Nurse: Rachel Michel (mental-health-nurse@jesus.cam.ac.uk)
- Drop in Hours:
- Monday and Thursday: 2:30-3:30pm
- Tuesday and Friday 10-11am
- Drop in Hours:
- Welfare Tutor Drop-In hours:
- 5-6pm on Weekdays
- 4-5pm on Saturday
- Disability Liaison Tutor: Gareth Wilkes (disability-tutor@jesus.cam.ac.uk)
- College Financial Tutor (financial-tutor@jesus.cam.ac.uk)
- Crane’s Charity (funding for private therapy): https://www.cambridgestudents.cam.ac.uk/fees-and-funding/financial-assistance/medical-support-fund-cranes-charity
University Support Contact Details:
- University Counselling Service Website: www.counselling.cam.ac.uk
- Student Advice Service
- Disability Resources Centre (DRC)
General Information about Mental Health:
- Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/
- NHS: Types of Talking Therapy
- The Mix: www.themix.org.uk
- Beat Eating Disorders: www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk
Local Support Services:
- NHS CPFT Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT): Self-referral for psychological therapies such as CBT
- Keep Your Head Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
- Anna Freud Search for a local service: directory
- Cambridge Nightline: 01223 744444
- Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre
- Lime Tree (STI Check): Brookfields Campus, 351 Mill Road, CB1 3DF
Charities Offering Support:
- The Crane’s Charity: Funding for private medical treatment, including psychological therapies
- Personalised Eating Disorder Support (PEDS)
- Centre 33: Support for young people up to the age of 25 with a range of issues, including mental health, housing and finances, sexual health and food.
- The Kite Trust: Support for LGBTQ+ people
- Samaritans (24 hours): Call 116 123
- Text SHOUT to: 85258
- Lifeline (11am-11pm): 0808 808 2121
- Qwell: Free, safe and anonymous mental wellbeing support for adults across the UK
- Togetherall: Togetherall is a safe, online community where people support each other anonymously to improve mental health and wellbeing
Suicide and Self-Harm:
- Calm Harm App
- App that helps you manage or resist the urge to self-harm
- Centre 33: Understanding Self Harm
- Stay Alive Suicide Prevention App:
- App that allows you to make a Safety Plan, signposts you to immediate support in case of crisis, and information for if you’re worried about someone
- Grassroots Suicide Prevention: Understanding Suicide
- Information on causes, warning signs, and myths about suicide
- Zero Suicide Alliance: Suicide Awareness Training for Uni Students
- Free online course: Self Harm Awareness Training and Suicide Prevention
Trauma and Abuse:
- Trauma Informed Care: What is Trauma?
- Royal College of Psychiatrists: Coping After a Traumatic Event
- The Body Keeps the Score by Bessell Van Der Kolk
- What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo
- Women’s Aid: The Survivor’s Handbook
- National Association for People Abused in Childhood: Information about coping with flashbacks and common concerns, and has a confidential helpline
Eating Disorders:
- Beat Eating Disorders
- Personalised Eating Disorder Support (PEDS)
Mental Health Awareness and supporting others:
- Mind Infoline: 0300 123 3393
- Mind Booklet: Understanding Mental Health Problems
- Rethink Mental Illness: Learn about other conditions
- Campaign Against Living Miserably: thecalmzone.net
- Student Minds: studentminds.org.uk/
- Look After your Mate: Guide
- Mental Health Foundation: Explore Resources
- Free Mental Health Courses: