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Mental Health Policy and Procedure

The majority of students with mental health difficulties are able to navigate their University careers successfully through a combination of self-care, pastoral support in Colleges, adjustments within their academic Departments, specialist support services and the support offered by external services.

Some students experience difficulty managing the impact of their mental health on their own safety, wellbeing, academic progression and engagement with the wider student experience. These policies aim to support students experiencing these difficulties through formal University process.
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Mental Health Policy

The aims of the Mental Health Policy are:

  • To set out the framework in which the University provides students with mental health difficulties the opportunity to reach their full academic potential;
  • To provide practical advice and guidance to those staff responding to students with mental health difficulties.

Read the Mental Health Policy here.

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Fitness to Study Policy

The purpose of the Fitness to Study policy is to ensure an appropriate response by the University in exceptional cases where:

  1. There are concerns about a student’s current capacity to engage in academic engagements, maintain their own safety or to reside in the College communities of Durham University without adversely impacting their peers or College staff. The Policy reiterates the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic progression and lays out the framework for how concerns will be addressed in those cases where the range of supportive measures that the University may be reasonably expected to provide have been employed but have not satisfactorily resolved concerns.
  2. A student intends to participate in University-related activities in the near future and where there are outstanding concerns about a student’s capacity to engage in the activity without adverse impact upon themselves or others once the process of risk assessment and health screening have been completed.

Read the Fitness to Study policy here.

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Further information

  • Taking a Break from Your Studies

    If you are considering a break from study on mental health grounds, you need to talk to your College student support team. At Durham, a break from study is called a concession; your College will usually apply for a concession on your behalf.

    Students studying in cafe
  • Guidance on Restrictive Eating Disorders

    This guidance has been prepared for current and prospective students, their families, medical practitioners and University staff, to outline our approach to this area, and the support available at the University and in the locality.

    Students sitting with Durham Cathedral in the background

Taking a Break from Your Studies

If you are considering a break from study on mental health grounds, you need to talk to your College student support team. At Durham, a break from study is called a concession; your College will usually apply for a concession on your behalf.

Students studying in cafe

Guidance on Restrictive Eating Disorders

This guidance has been prepared for current and prospective students, their families, medical practitioners and University staff, to outline our approach to this area, and the support available at the University and in the locality.

Students sitting with Durham Cathedral in the background

Crisis Information

Further advice on what to do if you or someone you know is in crisis and requires support.

   

Get in touch

How you can find and contact the Durham University Counselling & Mental Health Service.

Contact Us

Durham University Counselling & Mental Health Service

Palatine Centre

Stockton Road

Durham

DH1 3LE

Telephone: 0191 334 2200

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Crisis Information

If you or someone you know is at risk, or in urgent need of emotional support, there is information on a range of internal and external resources offering support and guidance.

Find out more