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Counselling Services

Other resources

Mental health

  • Head to Health - mental health and wellbeing information and resources
  • Headspace - mental health support and counselling with a youth focus (ages 12-25)
  • Mindspot - anxiety and depression counselling
  • Beyond Blue - depression and anxiety counselling
  • Lifeline - support for suicidal thoughts or attempts, personal crisis, anxiety, depression, loneliness, abuse and trauma. 

LGBTI

  • Q Life - LGBTI counselling support

For men

Suicide counselling

Domestic violence and sexual assault

Trauma

Eating disorders, drug and alcohol abuse, addictions

General health

Homelessness

  • Links2Home - homelessness and crisis accommodation support

Financial support

The UOW Wellbeing team run events regularly on Mindfulness and Mental Health. Check Student Wellbeing Facebook page or the MyUOW app and subscribe to the Wellbeing channel for details.

The UOW Wellbeing team also offer a space for students to relax and unwind in Building 11, Room 125.

Health and wellbeing

Mental and physical health is fundamentally linked. Taking care of your physical health is scientifically shown to improve mental wellbeing, and vice versa. If one declines, the other can be affected too.

A balanced diet, proper sleep, and cutting down unhealthy habits such as smoking, alcohol, and drugs are some of the key physical health factors that can promote mental wellbeing. Some of the things that can affect mental wellbeing are stress, working too much, and being too inactive.  

Online supports

On campus supports

Taking care of your sexual health means that you have a physically and emotionally, enjoyable and satisfying sexual life.

There are many things that can impact on your sexual health such as:

  • how you are feeling
  • your desires
  • religious and spiritual beliefs
  • what society thinks and expects
  • your relationships with people close to you
  • the forms of contraception you choose to use
  • what you think or feel about sex
  • society's attitude towards gender
  • other health conditions
  • your experience and skills in negotiating sex

Good sexual health means making sure you have the knowledge, skills and ability to make informed sexual choices and acting responsibly to protect your health and the health of others.

Today when people talk about sexual health they are talking about a broad range of issues including:

  • sexual development
  • sexual function
  • sexual behaviour
  • self esteem
  • intimacy
  • gender roles and identity
  • sexual rights
  • body image
  • relationships
  • sexual identity
  • reproductive health
  • HIV and STI prevention

Online support services for sexual health

 

Domestic Violence (DV)

Domestic violence is when one person in a relationship hurts another and can make them feel unsafe. DV is not just physical violence but can also include psychological and emotional, financial, social and legal violence as well as neglect. DV is taken very seriously and there are a lot of free and confidential support services available - 1800RESPECT

Sexual assault and harassment

  • You may choose to disclose incidents of sexual assault or sexual harassment to any staff of the University; however, we recommend you contact the Sexual Assault & Sexual Harassment Support Service for specialist advice and support.
  • See a female GP/doctor if you would prefer.
  • To disclose a sexual assault/harassment incident, please call 1300 303455.

Protection during sex

If you are having sex, make sure you protect yourself against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unwanted pregnancy.

Remember that contraceptive pills/implants do not cover you for STIs – only condoms provide the most protection.

Mental health and wellbeing

Exercise and eating well is vital in maintaining good health.

  • Healthy eating on a budget
  • Mental Health is not something to be ashamed about and is taken very seriously in Australia. If you are experiencing sadness for long periods of time, confused thinking, excessive fears, worries and anxieties, negative changes in eating or sleeping habits, social withdrawal, suicidal thinking, alcohol or drug abuse, the inability to cope with stress or any other ongoing feelings that stop you from being able to function normally, please contact a doctor, the UOW counselling service or a Student Support Coordinator

Breast health awareness

Supporting someone else

Is immediate safety at risk?

If the person is at risk of self-harm or suicide

  • Encourage them to seek immediate help
  • If they are unable or unwilling to seek help, organise help for them and stay with them until it is in place: call the NSW Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511 for advice.

If immdiate safety is not at risk

  • Make an appointment with a UOW counsellor - call 4221 3445, 9.00 am to 4.30 pm Monday to Friday.
  • Call or text the UOW Afterhours Crisis Support Line
  • Seek support from the person's friends and family
  • Contact the person's doctor
  • Contact an organisation such as Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 

You may find it tough supporting someone with a mental health issue and even avoid discussing what they are experiencing because you don't know what to say, or you're afraid about saying the wrong thing.

Supporting them and acknowledging how they feel can make a real difference--even if it is just staying in contact, listening and showing you are there. There is no 'one size fits all' model for supporting someone who is in distress.

Tips to help when someone needs your support

  • Ask how they are and make sure you have the time to really listen to their response.
  • Be positive, sensitive and encouraging.
  • Ask if there is anything that you can do to help.
  • Keep the conversation open and relaxed.
  • Encourage them to keep regular contact with you and others
  • Try to engage them in healthy lifestyle activities e.g. healthy eating, getting enough sleep and getting some regular exercise.
  • Invite them to do some activities together (such as exercising, socializing, joining a sporting group, watching movies).
  • Provide some specific information about what they are experiencing e.g. books, brochures and offer to make an appointment and/or take them to their doctor or mental health professional for additional support.
  • Use 'I' statements? such as 'I'm worried ... 'or 'I have noticed'.
      

Try not to ...

  • Make unhelpful or dismissive comments like 'snap out of it', 'pull yourself together'; 'forget about it'; 'I know how you feel'. These comments can invalidate their experience.
  • Pressure them to into discussing their issues with you if they don't want to.
  • Make fun of their mental health issues.
  • Avoid them or avoid discussing suicide and self-harm. It can be difficult to know what to say, but usually when people talk about suicide they are looking for help. Just being there for them is important.
  • Get frustrated and use words like 'psycho' or 'crazy'.
  • Feel guilty if you didn't notice that they had a mental health issue. People often hide their symptoms from close friends and family.
      

The Headspace website features more information on what to look out for and how to support those you are concerned about, with resources on a range of topics from mental health, substance abuse, work/life balance and physical health.