Mental Health Advisor

Mental Health Advisory Service

This Service is provided in liaison with the Medical Practice. It is designed to respond to students or staff who may have had longer-term mental health difficulties or be in a current state of crisis such that a visit from the Adviser may be more appropriate than an appointment at the Health Centre.

The Mental Health Adviser is Charles Kenderdine can be contacted on c.e.kenderdine@reading.ac.uk or through the Counselling and Wellbeing reception

tel: 0118 378 4216 or 0118 3784218 to arrange an appointment.

The Mental Health Adviser:

• Works in conjunction with the Disability Advisory Service, particularly in planning service provision for students arriving at University for the first time.
• Meets with students/staff either at the Health Centre in Northcourt Avenue, Carrington Building or in a mutually-agreed setting, to assess mental health needs and plan an appropriate way forward.
• Supports students sometimes throughout their time at Reading, where mental health concerns justify this. This includes reviewing whether particular needs can be met by involving Counsellors or others within the Student and Academic Services Directorate such as Accommodation.
• Liaises with academic and/or residential colleagues, to promote the well-being of students and to assist them in successfully completing their degree.
• Works with NHS colleagues within the Medical Practice including secondary service "on-site" clinic providers such as the local Consultant Psychiatrist and the local Eating Disorder service.
• Fulfils a linking role with secondary service Mental Health professionals, either within the student's home town or with those Community Teams who operate within the University vicinity.

Liaison within the University, following an assessment with a student, is carried out only with the signed agreement of the student unless exceptional circumstances exist pertaining to the life or safety of the student or of other people.