From 17 to 21 November, Student Support and Wellbeing Services’ Harm Reduction week will highlight the breadth of support we offer to our students in line with our harm reduction approach.
At UCL, our harm reduction approach is grounded in respect, inclusion and non-judgement. We recognise that students may engage in a range of behaviours that carry potential risks, and our focus is on reducing those risks, promoting safer choices, and supporting overall wellbeing. Evidence shows that harm reduction is about providing practical information, tools and support to help communities stay safe and healthy, rather than enforcing abstinence.
Ongoing support available
Our team of expert wellbeing, disability and mental health staff provide a safe, confidential and non-judgemental space to discuss any issues that may be affecting a students’ ability to study. All of our support services are open to UCL students of all levels.
How students can contact our support services
askUCL : submit an enquiry online to find the guidance and answers to your questions.
: drop in to talk to us in person at the Student Support and Enquiries Desk. Meetings with advisers from the Disability and Neurodiversity and Mental Health and Wellbeing Teams are by advance appointment only.
Student support phone lines : call us and speak to an adviser 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
As a staff member you can find more guidance about supporting student mental health through this toolkit online, self-paced mental health training for student-facing staff.
Building on our harm reduction approach
UCL is among the first London universities to formally adopt a harm reduction policy. This change was driven by strong student engagement and advocacy, and by listening to our students, we have shaped a policy that aligns with their lived experiences and prioritises wellbeing over punishment.
Looking ahead, we plan to extend our harm reduction work into emerging areas such as gambling, gaming, and pornography, topics that our data show are increasingly relevant to student wellbeing.
We remain committed to an open, preventative and non-judgemental approach, equipping our teams to respond proactively and compassionately to complex wellbeing challenges, in collaboration with academic colleagues and the Students’ Union.
Harm Reduction Policy document.- University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT (0) 20 7679 2000
