Get urgent advice or support
If you or someone else requires urgent or out-of-hours support, here's who to contact.
In an emergency
If the situation involves:
- imminent danger
- suicidal intention
- possessing a weapon
- threats of harm
- physical injury
- death of a student
- terrorism.
Dial 999 and notify University Security at +44 (0)29 2087 4444.
How to access urgent medical services
If you need medical assistance but are unsure if it is an emergency, the NHS in Wales offers 24/7 support. Dial 111 or visit NHS 111 Wales.
A call handler will assess what service you need. If eligible to be seen at the Emergency Unit, you will be given an appointment time to visit and will be called half an hour before as a reminder.
This call ensures you go to the right service at the right time. If you attend the Emergency Unit without an appointment you will be given a basic assessment and allocated an appointment time if eligible.
How to raise a serious concern that is not an emergency
If you have serious concerns for yourself or another student's safety, but it's not an emergency, it may be appropriate to contact the university's Student Support Intervention Team (SSIT).
Who are SSIT
SSIT (previously known as the Disclosure Response and Student Intervention Teams) is one streamlined team of practitioners who specialise in violence and abuse support or mental health support and intervention.
SSIT is not an emergency service and is only open during office hours Monday to Friday.
SSIT are part of the university’s Student Health and Wellbeing service.
What services do SSIT offer
SSIT provide support and guidance for students who have been affected by:
- violence, abuse or any other inappropriate behaviour that causes offence or distress, regardless of when this happened, and regardless of any intention to report formally to the university or police
- urgent mental health needs or who are posing a risk to themselves and/or others
- allegations of concerning or inappropriate behaviour.
Specialist practitioners provide bespoke, non-judgmental and confidential support that is tailored to students’ needs and circumstances.
Support is offered through 1-2-1 sessions. Examples of support include:
- specialist risk assessment
- safety planning
- signposting
- sharing resources
- help to access appropriate internal and external services
- information on formal reporting processes (if this is what the student wants).
When and how to make a SSIT referral
Presentations appropriate for SSIT mental health support may include:
- a significant change in behaviour relating to a mental health or wellbeing issue
- behaviour that could pose a risk to self, such as; self-harm, disordered eating and substance misuse
- behaviour that could pose a risk to others
- suicidal ideation including thoughts, plans or intent
- signs of paranoia or psychosis.
SSIT will respond to your query where possible within one day between 10:00 and 16:00 Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays) term time only.
If you submit a concern after 16:00 the concern will be looked at on the following weekday.
To make an SSIT referral submit your information via the Report & Support homepage. You may submit your report anonymously or with contact details but consider the information below before doing so.
Consent
If you are contacting SSIT on behalf of another student, where possible, gain consent from the student you are concerned about and indicate this on the report form.
If you choose to report anonymously, we will not volunteer where the concern has come from but be aware that the student may guess who reported the concern.
Disclose an experience of violence or abuse
Specialist Practitioners in SSIT are available to speak to students and provide practical support if they are experiencing any kind of violence or abuse, including harassment, hate crime, sexual violence, relationship abuse and other forms of inappropriate behaviour that students may find distressing.
To get in touch, submit your information via the Report & Support homepage.
We will respond to your query where possible within one working day between 09:00 and 16:00 Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays) term time only. If you email us with a concern after 16:00 the concern will be looked at on the following weekday. If you have questions regarding the process, call Student Connect at +44 (0)29 2251 8888.
If the experience is occurring now and you are in imminent danger, refer to the following immediate safety advice. This contains information on what to do in a medical emergency, advice if you have experienced sexual violence in the last 72 hours and includes out-of-hours support information.
This information can also be viewed on the Cardiff University Student Intranet