Service available in:
The UCOPE team work collaboratively with local universities to improve student access to mental health care. We’re passionate about using our skills and experience to deliver a service specifically designed to address emotional difficulties associated with self harming behaviours and urges. We also facilitate effective, safer liaison between universities and local services which improves awareness and appropriate access.
The team provide short term therapeutic interventions for students who have engaged in self harming behaviour over the past 12 months.
We provide a liaison service between Mersey Care and mental health teams at universities. We link in with university wellbeing and mental health services. We can also liaise and share information regarding Mersey Care services with our partner university mental health and wellbeing services. We require consent from the student in both instances.
Students need to currently be registered as a student studying at these universities:
- University of Liverpool (UOL)
- Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU)
- HOPE University
- Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA)
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM)
Recent (within the last year) self harming behaviour and may be self reported
Self harm refers to an intentional act of self poisoning or self injury, irrespective of the motivation or apparent purpose of the act and is an expression of emotional distress (NICE 2004).
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Presenting with symptoms of acute mental distress such as psychosis
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Already engaged with a secondary mental health service
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Currently engaging with another therapy
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On a waiting list for another therapy (please contact us to discuss whether the student’s on a lengthy waiting list and is unlikely to be seen by the time UCOPE therapy will have finished)
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Drug or alcohol use is the primary problem.
We offer an in depth assessment within two weeks of receiving a referral. The assessment is conducted by one of our therapy practitioners who will determine whether the service is appropriate for needs and offer the first of four therapy sessions within two weeks of assessment.
Sessions are held weekly and after the final session, there will be a break of at least four weeks after which there will be a follow up session to review progress.
If, after the assessment, it’s felt that we’re not the right service, we will signpost or refer to a more suitable service.