How to help someone you are worried about

If you are worried about someone else, we want you to understand what you can do to help and ensure you feel OK as well. Life-threatening Emergency If someone's life is in immediate danger, call the emergency services on 999.

Signs That Someone Is Struggling

If someone is struggling, they may not open up or ask for help at first. Some signs to watch out for include:

• Withdrawing from friends and social situations
• Changes in attendance at lectures, tutorials, or club and society meetings
• Being tearful
• Being moody and irritable
• Changes in food habits
• Concerning behaviour

Help Them Get Support

We have put together a list of useful sources of support and advice, which might be a helpful place to start see the information below

Or they can go to the drop in session of the wellbeing team (Monday to Friday 2-4pm) or join the Bothy Club every Tuesday and Thursday from 12-2pm.

Mind, a mental health charity, has some useful advice about how to support someone in getting support. Remember though, you cannot force anyone to get help: Helping someone with a mental health problem - Mind

Free online mental health course: supporting other people: Mind's free online course to help you support others - Mind

Request Support on Their Behalf

If you want to tell us about someone you are worried about, just email the wellbeing team - Wellbeing.ic@uhi.ac.uk in confidence with the details of the person you are concerned about and why you are concerned about them. We may contact you confidentially for further information if required or to offer you further support in relation to your concerns. The person you are concerned about will be contacted, a welfare check will be done and offered the option of further support. Alternatively, you can come to one of our Mental Health Drop-in sessions to raise your concern in person

It may not be possible to discuss specific details due to confidentiality. However, our team will do their best to help support you and the person you are concerned about. They may ask you to speak to the person you are worried about, or to agree that a wellbeing team member can share your name with that person, so they know why we are calling.

Look After Yourself Too

If someone you know or care about is going through a difficult time, it can take its toll on you too. Do not let yourself or your studies suffer. Read the advice from Mind on looking after yourself when supporting someone else: Helping someone with a mental health problem - Mind

If you're a student, you can talk to us about how you are feeling. Find out what support is available: Wellbeing