During vacations our Welfare Coordinators in accommodation, and other support services on campus, may not always be available, but will aim to respond to emails as soon as possible at the beginning of the next semester. For details of our vacation periods please see the Academic dates page of our website. For details of support available during the semester please see our Health & Wellbeing section. 

For emergencies call 999. If you are on campus please call 01202 962222 instead of 999 as this will ensure help gets to you quickly. We will call 999 for you and our staff will know to direct the emergency services to your location.

Outside opening hours and during vacations

The following services are available 24/7 or outside of BU opening hours:

• Connection – free 24-hour local NHS crisis number – 0800 652 0190 or NHS 111
• Samaritans – free 24-hour national listening service – 116 123
• The Retreat - 4.30pm to midnight - at Hahnemann House in Bournemouth town centre

Local and online support services you can access

Student Assistance Programme - A free 24-hour confidential helpline and digital resource to support BU students with personal or student-related problems. Call 0800 028 3766 to speak to an experienced advisor who will offer support in a friendly, non-judgemental manner. You can also contact the service through call back request, email or manned live chat within the ‘My Healthy Advantage’ mobile app, available on IOS or Android.

NHS Dorset Access Mental Health - If you are struggling to cope or feel yourself nearing a breakdown, Access Mental Health is there to provide help. You don’t need to be referred by your GP or other health professional, you can just reach out for help when you need it. Mental health professionals and peer support workers will be on hand to help you avoid a crisis and help you find the path to recovery.

Hub of Hope will give you accesses to lots of services within the Bournemouth area - just add in your postcode.

Some free apps you might find handy are:

Pacifica: Provides daily tools for managing stress/anxiety/depression, and has been developed by psychologists to provide online treatments based on techniques such as CBT and mindfulness. (compatible with IOS & Android)

RelaxLite: Focuses on guided meditation and breathing techniques to help alleviate stress & anxiety. (compatible with IOS & Android)

Youper: Provides a personal assistant who you can message 24/7. Through talking with the personal assistant, it keeps an automated diary of day to day feelings/thoughts, and also tracks your mood. This can be used to try and determine patterns/triggers. It also gives information about what anxiety is, and the different types. (compatible with IOS & Android)