Some sources of help if you're feeling unwell, stressed, or upset

Health	NHS CHOICES & NHS DIRECT High quality information about health conditions.	www.nhs.uk
		www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
	HELPGUIDE “Helps you to help yourself with health challenges”	www.helpguide.org
	PATIENT.CO.UK High quality information about health conditions	www.patient.co.uk/pils.asp
	MEDLINE PLUS High quality information about health conditions	www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus
	FPA “Talking sense about sex”	www.fpa.org.uk
		0845 122 8690
	TERRENCE HIGGINS TRUST Sexual health & HIV	www.tht.org.uk
		0808 802 1221
	MENINGITIS TRUST Students should be aware of meningitis symptoms	www.meningitis-trust.org
		0808 80 10 388
	ZAFASH 24-HR PHARMACY (24-7-365) 233-235 Old Brompton Road, London SW5 0EA	020 7373 2798
		www.zafash.com
Alcohol, drugs & smoking	DRINKAWARE Sensible drinking tips & help with alcohol problems	www.drinkaware.co.uk
	DRINK SMARTER Sensible drinking tips and help with alcohol problems	www.drinksmarter.org/drinkline
		0800 7 314 314
	CAMDEN ALCOHOL SERVICE Information & advice on alcohol related problems	http://bit.ly/XHnhCv
		020 3227 4950
	FOUNDATION 66 Individual sessions with people aged from 11-22 who have concerns about alcohol use	http://bit.ly/UspAf3
	LONDON FRIEND The UK’s only LGB&T run and targeted drug and alcohol support service	http://bit.ly/WZwFlN
	CAMDEN ALCOHOL SERVICE Information & advice on alcohol related problems	http://bit.ly/XHnhCv
	TALK TO FRANK  National Drugs Helpline	www.talktofrank.com  /  0800 77 66 00
	DRUGSLINE Support, counselling and information about drugs	www.drugsline.org
		0808 1 606 606
	SMOKEFREE NHS help to stop smoking	www.smokefree.nhs.uk
		0800 022 4 332
Mental wellbeing	SAMARITANS Talk things through with a trained volunteer on the phone, by text, or at their Central London branch (9am-9pm): 46 Marshall Street, London W1F 9BF Central London branch: www.cls.org.uk	08 457 90 90 90
		www.samaritans.org.uk
		Text: 07 725 90 90 90
		jo@samaritans.org.uk
	LONDON NIGHTLINE Student volunteers offering telephone support	020 7631 0101  / Skype: londonnightline
		www.nightline.org.uk
	THE MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION	www.mentalhealth.org.uk
	MIND Support for people with mental health problems	www.mind.org.uk
		0300 123 3393
	ROYAL COLLEGE OF PSYCHIATRISTS	http://bit.ly/MHVyz5   (www.rcpsych.ac.uk)
	CAMPAIGN AGAINST LIVING MISERABLY	www.thecalmzone.net
	STUDENTS AGAINST DEPRESSION	www.studentsagainstdepression.org
	CENTRE FOR ADDICTION & MENTAL HEALTH	http://bit.ly/LGM7we
Eating disorder	B-EAT	www.b-eat.co.uk
	NATIONAL EATING DISORDERS ASSN	www.nationaleatingdisorders.org

Lower ground floor: hygienic use of toilet facilities

I wrote to you just over a week ago with an offer of help and support in case you are feeling stressed or unwell at the moment. I particularly mentioned eating distress because we have noticed that there has been frequent soiling of the toilet facilities on your floor with vomitus, first before Christmas, but worse this term.

No one has asked for help so far, although of course that offer remains open and will remain open for the rest of the year. I have included a copy of my last letter with this one in case you misplaced it before.

The soiling of the toilet facilities, however, has become a greater problem. This must now stop immediately.

As well as vomitus in and around the toilet, we have seen toilets blocked with paper and sanitary products – and even a toilet brush. This is very unfair on other uses of those facilities, extremely unpleasant for the cleaners, and poses a hygiene risk, particularly in view of our recent outbreak of diarrhoea & vomiting. This can only be deliberate: sanitary products and toilet brushes do not put themselves into the toilets. And whilst all of us at Connaught Hall will do our utmost to help and support anyone who is experiencing mental or physical health challenges, we will not allow the continued deliberate soiling of toilet facilities.

Please follow this guidance:

1. Place any sanitary products for disposal in the bins provided. 
   Do not put them in the toilet.
   
2. Use the sanitizer spray provided and a small amount of toilet tissue to clean the toilet seat before use (if you wish to). 
   Do not put layer upon layer of tissue on the toilet seat, as this causes blockages when it is flushed away.
   
3. If you have an accident and soil the toilet seat or the area surrounding the toilet, please use the cleaning spay and some toilet tissue to wipe it up and then flush away the tissue. 
   Do not leave faeces or vomitus on the seat or around the toilet.
   
   Cleaning spray has now been provided, so there is no excuse for leaving a mess.
   
4. After you have flushed the toilet, use a brush if necessary to clean it. Do not use a brush while there is still tissue in the toilet bowl.
   
5. If you notice any soiling of the bathroom or toilet facilities, please report it immediately:

• Phone reception (extension 8200) and tell them what the problem is; and
• Send an email to suggestions@connaught-hall.org.uk so we can build up a record of exactly when this is happening. This should help us to track down the person responsible.
• If you have any suspicion of who might be responsible, please talk to me in confidence.

I hope this is clear. Allow me to stress again that if you are experiencing problems right now, we will do our best to help and support you. Provided there is not more soiling of the toilet facilities, there will be no disciplinary repercussions. If, however, this mess continues to be a problem, I will have no option but to pursue this as a disciplinary matter, for the sake of all the other residents on the lower ground floor.

As always, please contact me if you need any help, advice, or further explanation.

Lower ground floor: Looking after your wellbeing & welfare

We know that coming back to college after the Christmas break can be a really stressful time. Academic stress from exams and coursework deadlines, as well as the stress of making plans for accommodation next year, adds up and can take its toll on your personal welfare – sometimes in ways you couldn’t have predicted.

Recently, we have noticed frequent evidence of vomiting in the early evenings in the female toilets on your floor. We’re worried that someone might be feeling distressed and we want to help.

Here in Hall, the Senior Members and I are used to listening to residents’ worries and concerns. As Warden, as also in my other career as a medical doctor, I have many years’ experience of helping students like you deal with a whole array of issues, from self-harm and problems with food to relationship breakdown and revision problems. The Senior Members have all received mental health awareness training, including eating distress. We are here to listen, to understand, and to guide you to the best sources of help.

Conversations with us are confidential: the Senior Members might need to tell me about something if they’re worried, but we will only contact anyone outside the team if we consider that you are in immediate danger. So you really can come and talk to us about absolutely anything.

You can read about what we do and how we can help at www.connaught-hall.org.uk/pages/welfare/support.htmland there’s more about us in the Resident’s Handbook (http://handbook.connaught-hall.org.uk).

If you would like our help with something:

• email me for an appointment – warden@connaught-hall.org.uk (I have some time available on Sunday evening this week);
• come to an open office session – openoffice.connaught-hall.org.uk;
• text me (if you want to be anonymous) on 07 907 753 894;
• contact Joe, the Senior Member for your floor – joe.mason@connaught-hall.org.uk – or Vikki, if you would prefer to talk with a female Senior Member – vikki.easton@connaught-hall.org.uk; or
• ask reception to call the Duty Senior Member between 6pm and 9pm any evening (or overnight in a real emergency) – you don’t have to tell the security officer what the problem is; just say you really need to see the Duty Senior Member.

If you’re distressed about something but not ready or willing to speak with one of us yet, please consider checking out or calling one of these sources of external help:

Mental wellbeing

SAMARTIANS

Talk things through with a trained volunteer on the phone, by text, or at their Central London branch (9am-9pm): 46 Marshall Street, London W1F 9BFCentral London branch: www.cls.org.uk

08 457 90 90 90  -  www.samaritans.org.uk  -  Text: 07 725 90 90 90  -  jo@samaritans.org.uk

LONDON NIGHTLINE

Student volunteers offering telephone support

020 7631 0101  -  Skype: londonnightline  -  www.nightline.org.uk

THE MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION

www.mentalhealth.org.uk

MIND

Support, information, and lots of advice leaflets on their website

www.mind.org.uk  -  0300 123 3393

Eating distress & food problems

B-EAT

www.b-eat.co.uk

NATIONAL EATING DISORDERS ASSN

www.nationaleatingdisorders.org

Please do not hesitate to get in touch with one of us. We really do want to help.