My loved one is struggling; where can they access help at King’s?
Adjusting to life at university can pose many challenges. It’s common for students to experience feelings of anxiety, overwhelm and loneliness as they establish themselves in a new environment.
If someone in your life is facing these struggles, King’s support services can help.
Student Services Online contains support for a range of issues. You can also refer to the following articles to learn more about the different types of help we offer:
I’m worried about a student; how can I report them to King’s?
If you have serious concerns about one of our students, we encourage you to log your concerns with Student Services through our article I need support urgently, how can I contact student services?
This system filters and monitors cases based on categories submitted and the language used in your request. Please provide as much information as possible so we can support you in the best way.
I’m concerned that a student is at risk of suicide; what should I do?
It can be very difficult to hear that someone you care about is experiencing suicidal thoughts. You can help your loved one to take the first step to getting help by listening to their experiences and encouraging them to access professional support as soon as possible.
For help in a crisis and more information, please read our article Concerned about suicidal thoughts for yourself or someone else?
What will happen when I raise a concern?
How the university will deal with your concern
If you are not a member of the King’s community and have serious concerns about one of our students, we encourage you to log your concerns with Student Services through our article I need support urgently, how can I contact student services?
This system filters and monitors cases based on categories submitted and the language used in your request. Please provide detailed information so we can help you as soon as possible. If appropriate, we’ll make a referral to our Student of Concern procedure, as outlined in our article I’m concerned about a student/peer.
Student Services will be guided by the King’s College London Safeguarding Policy. To understand how we manage confidentiality, please read our article When I share information with a student support service, is this kept confidential?
Important to know: If you log a concern with Student Services you will receive an acknowledgment that it has been received. However, it will not be possible to provide any further details unless the student has given prior consent to share information with you.
Student confidentiality
King's staff are bound by a code of confidentiality which is laid out in the King’s College London Core Privacy Notice. If a parent, guardian or relative contacts us to discuss a student's support needs, we will inform them that we cannot discuss the case or take any action without the student's permission.
If a student wishes to have another person communicate with us on their behalf, we will need signed express permission from the student to do so.
Important to know: The university sometimes receives enquiries from concerned third parties who wish to know if a student is accessing support. If this happens, King’s needs to respect the student’s confidentiality. We are not able to provide student information without their express consent.
Emergency contact
An ‘Emergency Contact’ is a person nominated by the student who can be contacted if there are significant concerns for their safety and wellbeing.
Students are free to nominate anyone as their Emergency Contact. Who they name is their choice; they don’t have to name a parent or partner.
Should it be considered in the student’s Vital Interests, we may decide to reach out to a student’s Emergency Contact via the King’s College London Student Emergency Contact Procedure.
King’s supports the aims of the Information Sharing and Suicide Prevention Consensus Statement coordinated by the Department of Health. These guidelines aim to improve information and support for families who are concerned about a relative who may be at risk of suicide.