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External Support

It can be difficult to seek support but it is important for you to know that you do not have to cope alone. As well as internal university support, there are a number of external organisations both locally and nationally that provide specialist support and information.

If you require emergency help, please call emergency services on 999 (or 112 from a mobile). If you're deaf or hard of hearing, you can text 999 if you're pre-registered with the emergency SMS service. Please see the emergency SMS guidance for more information. 

If you are struggling with your mental health in relation to an incident you have either experienced, witnessed or been told about, you can access free and confidential support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through samaritans (phone: 116 123).

      It can be a really hard decision to come forward and talk about bullying and harassment. If you have experienced either of these, it is important for you to know that you do not need to cope alone. Below are a list of local and national sources of specialist support that you can access externally to St Mary's.

  • Bullying UK - If you have experienced bullying at university or elsewhere, you can contact Bullying UK for free confidential advice. Their opening times can be found on their website. Tel: 0808 800 2222, free from landlines and most mobile phones.

  • National Bullying Helpline - Helping individuals struggling with bullying issues, providing operational and timely support to both adults and children. Whether the bullying is in the home, community, school, workplace or on-line. Tel: 0300 323 0169, Mon - Fri 9am-5pm.

  • Cyber Helpline - The Cyber Helpline can provide advice for any cyber security scenario. Including cyber stalking, online bullying and harassment, revenge porn and inappropriate content. Please see their website for more information.

  • Stalking – Suzy Lamplugh Trust – Support and advice regarding stalking, am I being stalked, and how to access the National Stalking Hotline.

  • Paladin Service - National Stalking Advocacy Service. 

      It can be a really hard decision to come forward and talk about a hate incident or hate crime. If you have experienced either of these, it is important for you to know that you do not need to cope alone. Below are a list of local and national sources of specialist support that you can access externally to St Mary's:

It can be a really hard decision to come forward and talk about sexual assault, harassment, stalking or domestic violence. If you have experienced any of these, it is important for you to know that you do not need to cope alone. Below are a list of local and national sources of specialist support that you can access externally to St Mary's:

  • Getting it on  - Trusted sexual and mental health information and support services for young people aged 13-19 in South West London.
  • The Survivors Trust (TST) - Each of their website sections explores a specific area associated with the effects that survivors of rape and/or sexual abuse can often experience in the aftermath of sexual trauma. It provides a resource for survivors and anyone who wants to learn more about the impact of sexual violence, or wants to use as a self-help toolkit as part of their recovery journey.
  • NHS support - Your local GP or Sexual Health Clinic can provide advice and support in relation to medical care and can signpost to relevant local support services. 
  • Rape Crisis - South London Rape Crisis offers specialist and confidential support and advocacy for women who have survived any kind of sexual violence, at any point in their lives. Their national helpline is 0808 802 9999, available daily 12pm-2.30pm and 7pm-9.30pm.
  • South London Rape Crisis
  • Find your local rape crisis centre here 
  • Women and Girls Network - Counselling and support for women and girls recovering from sexual violence. Tel: 0808 801 0770, Mon-Fri 10am-12.30pm & 2.30pm-4pm, Wednesday 6pm-9pm.
  • Survivors UK - Information, support and counselling for male rape and sexual assault survivors. Tel: 0203 598 3898 Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm. Helpline Web Chat Mon-Fri 10.30am-9pm, Saturday/Sunday 10am-6pm. 
  • Galop - Advice and support to members of the LGBT community who have experienced hate crime, domestic abuse or sexual violence. Tel: 020 7704 2040.
  • Respond - Respond is a specialist charity providing support and advocacy to people with learning disabilities or autism who have experienced abuse, violence or trauma.
  • The Havens - Support for anyone in London who has been raped or sexually assaulted in the past 12 months, including advice, counselling, tests and treatments. The Havens can also carry out a forensic medical examination which may help with an investigation if you did decide to report what happened to the police. 
  • National Domestic Abuse Helpline - The National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge, can be contacted on 0808 2000 247 24 hours a day where you can access information and support relating to domestic abuse. 
  • Suzy Lamplugh Trust - The Suzy Lamplugh Trust operates the National Stalking Helpline, which offers practical information, support, and advice on risk, safety planning and legislation to victims of stalking, their friends and family. Tel: 0808 802 0300, Mon-Fri, 9.30am-4pm.
  • Paladin - Paladin provides advice and advocacy to survivors of stalking. Helpline: 0203 866 4107, 9am-3pm weekdays, except for Wednesdays when the timings are 10am-5pm.
  • Cyber Helpline - The Cyber Helpline can provide advice for any cyber security scenario including cyber stalking, online bullying and harassment, revenge porn and inappropriate content. You can contact them via their website. 
  • One Stop Shop - The One Stop Shop is Richmond upon Thames’ weekly drop-in service offering free, discrete support, advice and information concerning domestic abuse, stalking and sexual violence.
  • London Survivors Gateway - Further resources are also available from the London Survivors Gateway, a hub for sexual violence support services in London, including:

 If you would like to see what your options are in reporting an incident, please visit our report page.