Perfection isn't everything
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Student Services
Student Services is a welcoming and specialist team, providing support and advice, working in partnership with our students to empower them to meet their potential while studying at RWCMD.
There’s always someone available to talk to in the office during working hours, so drop by and say hello!
A calming environment
Creativity and mental health go hand in hand. At RWCMD we believe that students’ mental health and wellbeing is one of the most important aspects of the College.
Support for students
'Studies have shown that mental health difficulties can be higher among those who work creatively for a living. Sometimes striving for perfection, as performers often do, means that mental health can take more of a knock when these high expectations aren’t achieved.
We pride ourselves on offering an exceptionally high level of individual attention and support, both academic and pastoral.’Kate WilliamsStudent support manager
How can Student Services help you?
Moving away from home to university and settling into life as an independent adult can be a challenging time for everyone, and some students need more help than others. Our Student Services team co-ordinate a range of specialist services to support the physical, mental and spiritual health of all our students at RWCMD.
They work with all learners to ensure that if any wobbles occur they can access appointments with the team to help them through any difficulties they might have.
A highly specialised team of disability practitioners work together across neurodiversity, mental health and disability, sharing best practice to ensure to remove any barriers to study.
In-house wellbeing support, and Disabled Students’ Allowances Specialist Mentoring and Specialist Study Support for those with diagnosed long-term conditions. In addition to this, College has its own counselling service. Find out more information about DSA.
If it’s something that Student Services aren't able to support directly, the team have connections and links to charities, organisations, and NHS service who can take it forward.
A one-stop shop for support
Student services is also a one-stop shop for day-to-day practical support, from finding suitable accommodation and potential housemates, to offering a friendly face and a chat.
These include support for students with additional learning needs, mental health difficulties, and disabilities, a free confidential counselling service and a Healthy Artist scheme that provides access to specialist performance-related health support. We also offer financial advice and information, and our chaplain can help you find an appropriate place of worship.
Mental health university liaison service
The College is now part of the Mental Health University Liaison service (MHULS), which helps students who require robust and ongoing mental health support in a joined-up approach between the NHS and RWCMD.
A mental health nurse joins the student services’ team on campus once a week and works with the wider team to share ongoing support plans for students, training student services staff and supporting the student community where required.
This means that the very best mental health support is available to those students who really need it, and the continuous communication between the NHS and College means we can go above and beyond to support our students.
Student Services or GPs can refer students to UMHL after meeting and discussing their needs.
If Student Services is closed, then RWCMD students can contact our out of hours support.
Further resources
The College library has created a dedicated collection of resources to support mental health, wellbeing and to help with your study skills. It covers areas including self and identity, self-care, neurodiversity, disability, studying and performing and life skills.
You can discover them using the library catalogue and place a request for any title you would like to borrow.
Our wellbeing partner - Music Teacher magazine
RWCMD is one of Music Teacher magazine's wellbeing partners. Over the last year we've contributed three articles to their monthly mental health and wellbeing column, sharing ideas, experiences and best practice.
