What is SRSH?

We are a volunteer led charity who work with over a hundred young volunteers up and down the country to provide support to students with mental health problems. We believe that talking breaks down stigma and builds understanding.  The project is entirely driven by young people's personal experiences of living life with mental health issues to make sure that the work we do is really relevant! Our founding director, Nicola, set up the SRSH project following her own experiences during her teenage years of struggling with, and recovering from, an eating disorder.   

"I know I owe my recovery to having amazing people to talk to, people who really understood. Through SRSH my ambition is to ensure that all students have someone to talk to, someone who understands!"

Talking really does Change Lives. 

Who are we?

What do we do? 

We run a national network of support groups, providing informal peer-to-peer support to students when they need it. Our groups are open access: students don't need a referral to attend, they don't even need a diagnosis - they are there to offer support to anyone who thinks that it is time to talk. Sometimes we are supporting people to open up for the first time about the problems they've been facing. Sometimes we are there as a safety net to students waiting for a place in more formal treatment. And sometimes we are supporting those who have been through treatment and just want time and space to talk to people who understand - who know how hard it can be to stay on track with recovery. 

And that is the point of a support group: we are constantly bringing together people who understand. People who know what you are talking about without it having to be spelled out. We know that it can be difficult to talk, but in a group setting, everyone is in the same boat, and all there to help each other on the road to recovery.  
To stay in touch with all our discussions around student mental health and eating disorders, make sure you "like" us on Facebook:  

Why do we run SRSH?

We believe that Talking Changes Lives. We know that at times professionals need to be involved in the treatment of mental health problems. We also know that having someone to talk to, whoever that someone is, can make the world of difference. We aim to empower students to be supportive; to be there to listen when people need to talk. 

With ongoing support and supervision, we train small groups of students to develop the skills they need to run support groups.
SRSH is registered with Companies House, 7493445
Registered Charity: 1142783