Support for your mental well-being
Good mental health provides a strong foundation for study and work. It is important to seek help if you are not doing well. There are a range of ways in which you can work on your mental well-being. You can also turn to others for help and guidance. Take a look at the various options available.
Sometimes it’s nice to talk to someone. There are a range of options available within the university. You can contact Student Support Services via studentsupport@leidenuniv.nl or by calling: 071 527 8025. Or why not join one of the many workshops or training courses. Take a look on the workshops and training courses page and find the workshop that’s right for you.
Loneliness
Students can get just as lonely as anyone else. You can get support from a number of organisations:
- Rapenburg100 offers meeting and guidance for those experiencing loneliness.
- AntiLoneliness offers counselling, therapy and other services. Students receive discount.
- You can also contact the student psychologists.
- Podcast- Studenticast: Loneliness
Listening ear
Chat anonymously via @Ease
If you are you dealing with stress, loneliness, depression or something else, you can chat online for free via @Ease. On Mondays from 15.30 till 18.30 you can also drop by for a chat in person at Hooigracht 12 in Leiden. No appointment is required.
Handy apps and websites:
Take a moment to relax and find some peace and quiet. Rapenburg 100 offers free online meditation sessions for students:
- In English, Sundays at 18:00: Send a mail to join
- In Dutch,Tuesdays at 09:00: Send a mail to join
Take a moment to relax in the Mindfulnest
On the fifth floor of Beehive Student Centre in The Hague, you’ll find the Mindfulnest - a place where you can unwind by listening to guided meditations, playing nature sounds or simply enjoying the silence.
Download the Mindfulnest App
You can also enjoy Mindfulnest’s guided meditations at home for free by downloading the Mindfulnest app and logging in with your ULCN account. You can find the Mindfulnest app in the App Store and the Play Store.
Do you have questions about your own habits or are you worried about another person’s substance use? The Trimbos Institute researches and shares knowledge on alcohol, tobacco, drugs and mental health.
Protect your mental health - with Erik Scherder
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Watch the video on the original website orPersonal Support for LUC students
The Student Life Officer, Resident Assistants and the Student Life Counsellors ensure that you are supported in all aspects during your time at LUC. The foremost concern is your well-being. They all come from different backgrounds and bring different values to LUC.
Student Life Counselors
The SLC’s are fully trained psychologists with years of experience. They are located in room 4.09. You can book an appointment with one of the SLC’s by e-mailing slc@luc.leidenuniv.nl.
Whether you are struggling due to personal or studies-related issues (or both!), SLC’s can help you understand the origin of these struggles and find new resources to manage better in your own specific situation. After a first consultation where your case is assessed by the SLC, you and the SLC will set a number of goals appropriate for your situation and draft a plan together consisting of: more individual sessions with the SLC, a referral to another support service (such as the SLO or Study Advisors), a referral to one of the workshops provided by the SLC’s, or a referral to an external psychologist. The plan might also consist of a combination of these options.
Like in any other therapeutic setting, all the information shared with the SLC’s is confidential, unless there is a clear threat to you or the people around you. Note that individual sessions with SLC’s are limited and are not intended to be a deep psychotherapy process.
Student Life Officer and Resident Assistants
Throughout the year, the SLO and RAs will offer you support within the residential life system. This will include not only efforts to build a vibrant community (at times working in conjunction with Fortuna, LUC’s students’ association), but also give students opportunities to learn more about issues that undergraduates regularly face (e.g. coping with stress, time management, health issues).