Counselling Service

Glamlife

 

Self-help useful links

This page contains links to external websites. Please note, the University of Glamorgan is not responsible for the content of external sites.

General Counselling / Mental Health

  • Student Counselling – Set up by heads of the various Student Counselling Services in UK Universities in order to provide more information about the support available to UK university students.
  • Mind – Mental Health Charity working for a better life for everyone experiencing mental distress.
  • Samaritans – The Samaritans is a registered charity that provides confidential emotional support to any person who is suicidal or despairing.
  • TheSite.org – TheSite.org aims to be the first place all young adults turn to when they need support and guidance through life.
  • Living life to the full – Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) based life skills self-help course with free log-in.
  • Moodjuice – Moodjuice Forth Valley is a site designed to offer information and advice to those experiencing troublesome thoughts and feelings.
  • BBC Headroom – The BBC has created Headroom, a campaign to encourage you to look after your mental wellbeing.
  • Awetu – Support to people with mental ill-health for Black and Minority Ethnic groups in Wales
  • Ways Forward – a solution focused approach to dealing with difficulties

Abused in childhood.

Addictions

  • Alcoholics Anonymous – Alcoholics Anonymous provides a range of information, advice and face to face sessions to help people cope with drink related problems.
  • Down your drink – Most of us drink. Some of us drink more regularly than others. But how often is too often? And how much is too much?
  • Adult children – information and support for women and men who grew up in an alcoholic or otherwise dysfunctional home.
  • knowcannabis.org.uk – Free self-help programme from �Hit- – interactive tools, which to help participants gain insight into their cannabis consumption behaviour, and advice on how to change or stop cannabis consumption.
  • TheSite.org – Advice and information on drug addiction from TheSite.org, providing information and advice on drug safety and drug addiction
  • Frank – upfront advice and information for young people about drugs. Includes an A-Z of drugs, confidential helpline, and reports.
  • Gamblers Anonymous UK – A fellowship of men and women who have joined together to do something about their own gambling problem and to help other compulsive gamblers do the same.
  • Gamcare – GamCare provides support, information and advice to anyone suffering through a gambling problem.

Anger

  • How to deal with anger – Guide to recognising causes of anger and handling it well for better relationships and greater self esteem.

Anxiety & Panic

  • Shy No Longer Coping with Social Anxiety 'Infopax’ from the Centre for Clinical Interventions in Australia – modules to work through in sequence.
  • Panic Stations Coping with Panic Attacks 'Infopax’ from the Centre for Clinical Interventions in Australia – modules to work through in sequence.
  • No Panic – No Panic provides support for sufferers of Panic Attacks, Phobias, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, General Anxiety Disorder and Tranquilliser Withdrawal.
  • Anxiety Alliance – Anxiety Alliance, run by former anxiety sufferers, is helping, advising and supporting sufferers of anxiety disorders and their family and friends.
  • AnxietyUK – AnxietyUK works to relieve and support those living with anxiety disorders by providing information, support and understanding via an extensive range of services, including 1:1 therapy services.
  • Panic-attacks.co.uk – a team of therapists, psychologists and trainers, providing free resources in addition to paid ones.
  • Mastering your Worries 'Infopax’ from the Centre for Clinical Interventions in Australia – modules to work through in sequence.

Appearance

  • Body Positive – Body Positive is an online resource for individuals wishing to promote greater well-being in their existing bodies.

Aspergers Syndrome

  • WrongPlanet – web community designed for individuals (and parents of those) with Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, ADHD, PDDs, and other neurological differences.

Assertiveness

  • Assert Yourself! Improve your Assertiveness 'Infopax’ from the Centre for Clinical Interventions in Australia – modules to work through in sequence.

Bereavement

  • Cruse Bereavement Care – Cruse Bereavement Care offers information and advice to anyone who has been affected by a death and provides support and counselling one to one and in groups.
  • Bereavement – Leaflets for anyone who is worried about themselves, a friend or a relative, courtesy of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Bi-Polar

  • MDF, The BiPolar Organisation – A user led charity working to enable people affected by Bipolar disorder / manic depression to take control of their lives.
  • Steady – a Self Management Training Programme for young people with the mental health diagnosis of bipolar disorder (manic depression) or extreme mood swings.
  • Bipolar Aware – A family guide about Bipolar Disorder recognition, treatment and prevention. Includes forums and chat room.
  • Keeping Your Balance Coping with Bipolar Disorder 'Infopax’ from the Centre for Clinical Interventions in Australia – modules to work though in sequence.
  • Rethink: Bipolar Disorder – National mental health charity, working to help everyone affected by mental illness recover a better quality of life.

Bullying

Depression

  • Depression Alliance – Information about the symptoms and treatment of depression from Depression Alliance a UK charity for people with clinical depression and anxiety.
  • Student depression – offers UK students comprehensive information and discussion about what depression is and how it works, what contexts depression flourishes in, self-help strategies for tackling depression and how to get further support and help.
  • MoodGym – Delivering cognitive behaviour therapy for preventing depression
  • Post-natal depression – information provided by the Royal College of Psychiatrists for people who want to know more about Post Natal Depression
  • Living Life to the Full – Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) based life skills self-help course with free log-in
  • Back from the Bluez Coping with Depression 'Infopax’ from the Centre for Clinical Interventions in Australia – modules to work through in sequence.

Dissociative disorders

  • First Person Plural – A small UK-wide registered charity led by abuse survivors with first hand experience of complex dissociative distress. Members support each other with self-help tips, information etc through the medium of the newsletter and attendance at occasional open members meetings.

Domestic Violence

  • Welsh Women’s Aid – National umbrella organisation representing local Women’s Aid Groups situated throughout Wales.
  • Wales Domestic Abuse Helpline – National free support and information service for women, children and men in Wales who are experiencing or who have experienced abuse at the hands of someone close to them. Helpline 0808 8010 800
  • Dyn Project – Accessible support for men who experience Domestic Abuse in Wales regardless of age; race; religion or sexuality.
  • Respect – Support for men who want to stop behaving abusively towards their partner.
  • Freedom Programme – Details of a free 12 week rolling programme about the reality of domestic violence and abuse.
  • The Hideout – Women’s Aid have created this space to help children and young people to understand domestic abuse, and how to take positive action if it’s happening.

Dyslexia

  • University Disability and Dyslexia Service – confidential specialist service offering support, advice and assistance to disabled students including those with 'unseen’ conditions such as asthma, epilepsy and diabetes and students with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia.

Eating problems

  • Beat – charity for people with eating disorders and their families.
  • Eating disorders research – Includes, amongst other things, information about eating disorders, including helpline phone numbers and information about a self help network.

Emotional Intelligence

  • Helpguide – Information on how to be emotionally healthy

Exercise and Mental Health

  • Exercise – podcast explains how everyone can look after their mental health using exercise

Fatigue

  • ME Association – Information on supports group for adults and children affected by ME/CFS provided by the ME Association.
  • Action for ME – Action for ME is a UK charity campaigning to improve the lives of people with myalgic encephalopathy within the UK.

Health

  • University Health Service – Nurse-led Health Service in partnership with Ashgrove Surgery in Pontypridd and Llanedeyrn Health Centre in Cardiff, providing appointments with doctors at the University Health Centre in Treforest and Atrium in Cardiff. Walk in or phone in for advice on all types of ailments and problems.

HIV & AIDS

  • Terrence Higgins Trust – Information on HIV and AIDS, safer sex, online booklets, and the national helpline from the leading HIV and AIDS charity.
  • NAM – Site provided by NAM providing daily news on developments in the world of HIV, searchable databases of HIV treatment and care, worldwide HIV organisation listings, and comprehensive ranges of patient information.
  • Positively Women – Positively Women is a national charity providing a range of peer support services to women living with HIV.

Homelessness

  • Shelter Cymru – Housing advice and support services, including links with the NUS in Wales to provide online support for students, and a downloadable pdf guide 'Housing Information for Students’.

Homesickness

  • TheSite.org – TheSite.org is owned and run by YouthNet UK, a registered charity providing factsheets and articles on key issues facing young people, including homesickness.

Insomnia

  • Sleep Matters – dedicated sleep website from the Mental Health Foundation. You can download the Sleep Matters report, the Sleep Well pocket guide or an audio MP3 on getting better sleep

Loneliness

Mindfulness

  • Mindfulness – news post about how mindfulness helps, what it is, and how you can learn to be more mindful here at the University of Glamorgan; includes a response form to express your interest.
  • Be Mindful – the mindfulness website of the Mental Health Foundation: includes information on both MBSR and MBCT, video clips, evidence.
  • Mindfulness in a frantic world – the website of the book by co-founder of MBCT, Mark Williams and journalist Danny Penman, about mindfulness in everyday life.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

  • OCD-UK Student Factsheet – National charity, independently working with and for people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
  • OCD Symptoms – Extensive advice about causes and treatment of OCD.
  • Mind: Understanding OCD – This booklet is an introduction to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The symptoms of OCD can be very distressing and can seriously disrupt normal life.

Paranoia

  • Mind: Understanding paranoia – This booklet is aimed at anyone who wants to know more about paranoia, its causes, and what can be done to help those who experience the problem, their family and friends.
  • Intervoice – Focuses on solutions that improve the life of voice hearers in the knowledge that these methods have been co-developed by voice hearers and professionals.

Perfectionism

  • BBC – Information on perfectionism from the BBC. The site also provides a useful links section.
  • Perfectionism in Perspective Overciming Perfectionism 'Infopax’ from the Centre for Clinical Interventions in Australia – modules to work through in sequence.

Personality Disorder

  • Borderline UK – This web site aims to provide information on all aspects of BPD – how it is defined, current theories of what may cause it, treatment options and details of the latest news, conferences and initiatives in the field.
  • The James Nayler Foundation – The James Nayler Foundation was set up for the relief of violence and severe Personality Disorders, and for other forms of Personality Disorder which include such distressing conditions as self harming, anorexia and panic attacks.
  • Rethink: Personality disorders – Rethink is a national mental health charity, working to help everyone affected by mental illness recover a better quality of life.

Phobias

  • AnxietyUK – AnxietyUK works to relieve and support those living with anxiety disorders by providing information, support and understanding via an extensive range of services, including 1:1 therapy services.
  • Self-help leaflet on phobias – A self-help leaflet written by the University of Cambridge Counselling Service, with university students in mind.
  • NHS Direct – Wide range of information the symptoms and treatment of phobias from the NHS.
  • BUPA – BUPA health fact sheet containing information on the different types of phobia, their cause and treatment.
  • Phobia Factsheet A fact sheet from the Mental Health Foundation about Phobias (including phobias, panic attacks and obsessive compulsive behaviours).

Post Traumatic Stress

Procrastination

  • Overcoming procrastination – Helping professionals, career coaches, and people from every walk of life who are struggling to overcome their habit of putting things off.
  • Put Off Procrastinating!!! Overcoming Procrastination 'Infopax’ from the Centre for Clinical Interventions in Australia – modules to work through in sequence.

Rape

  • New Pathways – provide an all embracing, sympathetic, caring and worthwhile service to all victims of rape, sexual abuse and trauma. Services, which are provided free of charge, are used by clients throughout Wales.
  • Rape Crisis – Information, support and advice for women who have been raped or sexually assaulted in any way either recently or in the past provided by Rape Crisis.
  • Truth about Rape – Campaign formed to challenge myths about rape, and bring the truth and realities of rape back onto the public agenda. Site also provides unless links and advice.
  • The Roofie Foundation The Roofe Foundation is Britain’s only specialised agency dealing with the issues surrounding drug rape, sexual abuse, drink spiking, and date rape.
  • Survivors UK – Providing information, support and counselling for men who have been raped or sexually abused.
  • Rape and Abuse Line – if you need to speak to someone about rape or abuse, this phone service is there to help most evenings between 7pm and 10pm: For women 0808 800 0123 and for men 0808 800 0122

Relationships, Sex and Sexuality

  • BBC Relationships – Relationship site from the BBC providing information, advice and message boards on all aspects of relationships.
  • Sexual Health – Advice and ideas to help you get the most from your sex life from the BBC.
  • SPLAGWales – Aims to help parents who have a lesbian daughter or gay son come to terms with their child’s sexuality.
  • Gay Wales – Directory and guide to Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual organisations in Wales.
  • The Gender Trust – UK charity that can give support and help to anyone affected by gender identity issues
  • Stonewall – Stonewall Cymru aims to achieve legal equality and social justice for lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Wales.
  • R U thinking? – Information & advice on love sex & relationships.
  • Relate – Relate offers relationship counselling throughout the UK via the Internet, a telephone helpline and face-to-face meetings.
  • TheSite.org – Advice, information and support on sex, relationships, drugs, drink, health, wellbeing, fitness, housing, law, money, work, careers, education and free time for young people.

Relaxation

  • BodyMind Relaxation Programme – From the University of Limerick Counselling website – free downloadable mp3 files of guided relaxation exercises. So relaxing you will probably fall asleep before the end!

Schizophrenia

  • Rethink: Schizophrenia – Rethink is a national mental health charity, working to help everyone affected by mental illness recover a better quality of life.
  • Mind: Understanding schizophrenia – There’s considerable disagreement about the diagnosis of schizophrenia. This booklet introduces the different theories and ideas about causes and treatment.

Schizoaffective disorder

  • Rethink: Schizoaffective disorder – Rethink is a national mental health charity, working to help everyone affected by mental illness recover a better quality of life.

Self-esteem

  • BBC Health – Information and advice on increasing self-esteem from the BBC Health site.
  • Improving Self-Esteem – A number of resources for consumers, mental health practitioners, and doctors.

Self-injury

  • The Amber Project -The Amber Project provides help and support to young people (14-25) who have experience of self harm.
  • Self Harm – The Young People and Self-harm website provides information for young people who self-harm or self-injure. It includes sources of help, support, advice, local services, organisations and publications on self harm.
  • The Calm Zone: Self Harm – The Campaign Against Living Miserably is targeted at young men aged between 15-35. The campaign offers help, information and advice via a phone and web service. Anyone, regardless of age, gender or geographic location can call the line.
  • Mind: self-harm Written to help you understand why you self-harm and what you and others can do to help.

Sexual abuse

  • New Pathways – provide an all embracing, sympathetic, caring and worthwhile service to all victims of rape, sexual abuse and trauma. Services, which are provided free of charge, are used by clients throughout Wales.
  • AEST – AEST provides online support forums, multiple chat rooms and information for survivors of childhood and adult sexual abuse or rape.
  • The Calm Zone: Abuse – The Campaign Against Living Miserably is targeted at young men aged between 15-35. The campaign offers help, information and advice via a phone and web service. Anyone, regardless of age, gender or geographic location can call the line.

Stress

  • Sort out Stress: Anxiety and Panic – Help for young men who are stressed, anxious, down or have any other personal problems. Also particular sections on being a man, anger, depression, drugs and alcohol, anxiety and panic, psychosis and OCD.
  • NHS choices: Stress – Information on stress from NHS Choices including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, risks and treatment and with links to other resources

Study Skills/support

  • Education Drop-in Centre – The Education Drop-in Centres offer optional, extra study support to all University of Glamorgan students to help you improve your academic performance.
  • Skills4study – Practical advice on how to maximise your learning potential.
  • BBC Skillswise – BBC Skillswise enables adults to improve reading, writing and number skills. Level one literacy and numeracy resources – worksheets, quizzes, games and a community messageboard.

Suicidal thoughts

  • Need help right now? – This pop-up reproduces 4 pages from the main Students Against Depression website focusing on understanding and surviving suicidal thoughts.
  • Samaritans – The Samaritans provide confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to those experiencing despair, distress, or suicidal feelings. Or you can email a Samaritans worker on jo@samaritans.org
  • Papyrus – A national charity in the UK working in suicide prevention
  • The Calm Zone: Suicide Campaign Against Living Miserably is targeted at young men aged between 15-35. The campaign offers help, information and advice via a phone and web service. Anyone, regardless of age, gender or geographic location can call the line.
  • How to help someone who is suicidal – What are the warning signs that someone might commit suicide? What can you do if you are close to them? This booklet answers these questions and many more such as what is the nature of the link between suicide and self-harm, if any.
 

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