Monday 10-12-2018 - 17:23

At GCU Students’ Association we recognise it’s important to support you throughout your studies and enable you to have an outstanding student experience at GCU. We know that students are disproportionally impacted by ill-mental health (1), and in 2015, the National Union of Students reported that 78% of Students experienced mental health concerns within the previous year (2). 

When seeking support for poor mental health, 21% of students disclose to their university or students’ union to seek mental health support (3), and as such, we’ve worked with Glasgow Caledonian University to develop a wealth of resources to support you throughout your studies at GCU. 

Student Mental Health Agreement 

GCU Students’ Association and Glasgow Caledonian University came together to work in partnership to develop a Student Mental Health Agreement in 2017, where both institutions can work to provide a more holistic support provision at GCU. 
This document is part of the Student Mental Health Agreement project (co-ordinated by Think Positive and NUS nationally, which aims to bring students’ associations and universities together to help support student mental health).
More information can be found at www.gcustudents.co.uk/studentmentalhealth 

Advice Centre

GCU Students’ Association provide an Advice Centre for students. The service delivers a free, empathetic and confidential service. Our student advisers offer listening and support whatever the issue and will take the time to help you find a solution. 
The Advice Centre is unique on campus in that we are the only service that can offer independent support and representation throughout formal GCU student disciplinary and academic procedures.
The Advice Centre can offer advice and information on a wide range of issues including:
•    Accommodation
•    Employment rights
•    Health issues (including our Free Condom service)
•    Financial issues
•    Exam stress
•    Problems with your course
•    Academic regulations
•    Personal issues

Nightline

GCU Students’ Association also co-ordinate a Nightline Service for all GCU Students to use.  Nightline is a confidential listening and information helpline service run by trained student volunteers. It is available to students from 7pm to 7am, Monday to Friday during term time. 

If you need to talk to someone during the night you can phone Nightline on 0141 55 22 555, text on 07982 107 920 or use the online listening service on the www.scnightline.com.

Healthy Body, Healthy Mind

This year, GCU Students’ Association in partnership with Glasgow Caledonian University are also working towards achieving the NUS Healthy Body, Healthy Mind Award! The award is achieved by institutions which champion student wellbeing, and actively work on projects which educate students on the positive links between physical activity and mental wellbeing.  

Wellbeing Campaigns 

Throughout the academic year, your Students’ Association have also run interactive campaigns to promote student wellbeing. Previous topics include student safety, sexual health, healthy eating, physical health and lots more.
The Association also host an annual Wellbeing Fayre where you will find lots of information on a variety of topics; activities and freebies for all students.

Resource Centre

Your Association also provide a huge range of wellbeing information in our Advice Centre resource area. 
This is located as you enter the Advice Centre; on level one. You can access at any time, with materials from housing, our safe taxi scheme, self-help techniques, free sanitary products, and more.
There are also a range of wellbeing leaflets and resources available on our website at the following link; www.GCUStudents.co.uk/wellbeing.

Support Booklet

We’ve also been working to produce a booklet which for the first time will highlight every student facing support service at GCU Glasgow; and external and out-of-hour support services. This came from research from NUS which suggested that up to a third of students were unsure of the support available from their institution.
This is expected to be available to students in Trimester 2.

Gender and Sexuality Safe Space

Since 2014, the Association has hosted a Gender and Sexuality Safe Space.
The space was established to provide a safe space for students to find community regarding gender and sexuality, as well as seeking peer support.
The space is also used by the LGBT+ and the Women’s Liberation Group as a base as per the original idea to Student Voice. This has enabled the groups to have a space in which to host discussion groups, establish pin boards and information bases; and more. 
The room is open to any student and is located on the second floor of the Association, in NH205.
www.gcustudents.co.uk/articles/gender-and-sexuality-safe-space

Annual Wellbeing Fayre 

Each year, we host an annual wellbeing fayre, where we invite external organisations onto campus at GCU Glasgow to distribute information to GCU students on how they can improve their wellbeing! 
www.gcustudents.co.uk/groups/wellbeing-volunteers/articles/wellbeing-fayre-2018

Happy Snaps Photo Competition 

Last year, as part of our Wellbeing Fayre, we ran a Happy Snaps photo competition to encourage students to send in photos of what good mental wellbeing meant to them!
More information can be found here: www.gcustudents.co.uk/groups/wellbeing-volunteers/articles/happy-snaps-photo-competition