Wellbeing and mental health information for prospective students 

At Durham we encourage students to take positive steps to maintain their own wellbeing. Starting university will be a new experience for many of you, it could be the first time you have lived away from home or even come to another country. This new experience may feel exciting, frightening, overwhelming or you may not know how you feel. In truth all these responses are normal, and many students feel this way. 

Whilst preparing to come to university it's important to consider how you will maintain your own mental health and wellbeing. Here are some resources to help you think about putting some healthy coping strategies in place.

Students with ongoing Mental Health conditions

At Durham University we believe mental health difficulties should not be a barrier to enjoying your time at university and reaching your academic potential. We understand starting university can be daunting, but our support services help many students with mental health difficulties to achieve success throughout their academic careers. 

Things to consider before coming to Durham

Registering with a doctor/medical Practice

We ask students to begin their registration with a Durham doctor before arrival, as soon as they have a Durham address, as the doctor not only prescribes medication but is also the gateway into local NHS mental health services.

You can find out how to register with a local doctor here: Medical Registration and Advice - Durham University

If you cannot not register in advance, then opportunities for registration are available on campus and at local medical practices after arrival.

Transferring existing treatment to Durham

If you are currently under CAMHS or adult mental health services and need a transfer into Durham NHS adult mental health services, we would advise you to discuss your ongoing treatment and support needs with your care coordinator. They can contact the Durham City Access Service on 01388 645 399 to discuss possible transfer; if this is not agreed, you need to see your Durham doctor to discuss this as soon as you have registered here. It is often helpful to bring any letters or summaries about your mental health history with you, so that your new doctor can take these into consideration when planning your treatment.

As registering with a doctor/medical practice may take time, we suggest students speak to their current doctor about bringing a supply of medication with them to Durham, so that they do not run out before they are able to meet with a local doctor. 

International Students

Please be aware it may not always be possible for UK doctors to prescribe the same medication you may currently be taking. It is strongly recommended that students speak to their current doctor at home to make a plan, well in advance of their move to Durham. It may not always be possible to arrange a doctor's appointment immediately upon arrival, so students should bring enough medication to last until they can see a doctor in Durham. You can find out more about. bringing medication into the UK here: Bringing Medicine in to the UK and further information here on ADHD medication. 

Specialist support: restrictive eating disorders

Durham University follows national guidelines on thresholds for safe study where a student has an eating disorder; please see our Guidance on Restrictive Eating Disorders outlining our position. We encourage any student with a BMI below 17 to discuss the safety of starting university with their care provider, as national guidelines recommend taking a break from study until a healthy BMI has been sustained for a longer period. We appreciate it can be very disruptive and distressing for students to start at Durham and rapidly be required to pause their studies; therefore, please do contact the Mental Health Advice Team at mh-advisor@durham.ac.uk if you have any concerns or questions about the guidance.

If you need a specialist eating disorder assessment or support after moving to Durham, your doctor or current ED Team can discuss this with our local NHS Eating Disorder Service: Stockton Adult ED Service.

Please view our full guide on  Mental Health Support at Durham University (office.com)