PROJECT:TALK QMSU

PROJECT:TALK is a non-profit organisation with a mission to change the way we view mental health by pioneering mental fitness. In response to the Covid-19 restrictions that have been in place this academic year, PROJECT:TALK created a remote peer support scheme at the University of Bristol, and we are now working in partnership with them to pilot a similar scheme at Queen Mary launching in early 2021. The scheme works by connecting trained student volunteers with students in need of support for a friendly, supportive chat, with the aim of helping look after the mental health of our student community.

We at the Students’ Union recognise that being a student can always be challenging, but this year has been particularly difficult for a lot our student community who have not only experienced the effects of a global pandemic but have faced personal difficulties too. Unfortunately, loneliness seems to be at an all-time high based on the feedback we’ve received, and we hope that this new initiative will be useful to those of you who need it to combat loneliness and prioritise your mental wellbeing.

It is always important to take care of your mental health and sometimes just talking to someone about your life can be a great way to process your feelings or just feel listened to! The PROJECT:TALK peer support scheme is not a substitute for professional support or counselling, but if you’re looking for a casual space to be listened to, this is the scheme for you!

We are not currently recruiting volunteers for PROJECT:TALK QMSU, however we will update this page if we plan to reopen applications.

If you have any questions about the scheme, you can contact us at su-vpcommunities@qmul.ac.uk and su-vpwelfare@qmul.ac.uk

Access mental health support / help in a crisis

The PROJECT:TALK peer support scheme is not a professional service and we are not equipped to deal with emergencies or crisis situations. This scheme is for non-urgent, informal support only. If you're worried about your safety or that of someone else, or need urgent support, you can visit the University’s page on accessing help in a crisis here.

If you are in immediate danger of harming yourself or others, call 999.

For non-urgent professional support, you can contact the University’s Advice and Counselling Service by filling out the contact form on their website, or you can find more information about support services on our website here.

You can get involved in PROJECT:TALK either by signing up as a volunteer or by requesting to chat to one of our volunteers. Once the scheme launches, if you would like to arrange a one-to-one chat with one of our volunteers, you can do so by filling out a simple form and someone will be in touch to arrange a call.

Each one-to-one chat will last around 30 minutes and will be a friendly and relaxed outlet for any student to discuss what they are dealing with. Both the student and volunteer will have the opportunity to submit feedback to our team after each conversation to ensure everybody is comfortable and getting the experience they deserve and to let us know if you’d like to talk again.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we anticipate most calls will be via telephone or online however we will provide clearer guidance on this closer to the launch of the scheme.

Volunteer with us

The PROJECT:TALK pilot scheme will be launching in early 2021 and we’re looking to recruit 20 volunteers who are interested in supporting their fellow students through conversational peer support. The scheme can’t run without student volunteers, so if you have thirty minutes or more to spare each week and enjoy listening to others, why not sign up to take part?

Volunteers will be provided with comprehensive training from the PROJECT:TALK team in order to ensure they are equipped to offer appropriate peer support to fellow students. The training sessions will be mandatory and following each session there will be a short quiz.

Volunteers can decide how many 30-minute sessions they would like to take part in each week, and this can be reviewed depending on your availability. There will be a small amount of additional work involved in arranging sessions and filling out feedback forms.

We are not currently recruiting volunteers for PROJECT:TALK QMSU, however we will update this page if we plan to reopen applications.

Request to chat with someone

If you are feeling lonely or isolated due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, or just fancy a chat, fill in the form below and we will get one of our trained volunteers to make a one-to-one call via Zoom, at a time that suits you. These calls will be friendly and relaxed, and we hope it will provide you an opportunity to discuss what you might be going through. We at PROJECT:TALK QMSU know that by openly engaging with our peers about what is going on in our lives, we can find the comfort and support we need.

Please note, PROJECT:TALK QMSU is not a professional service and we are not equipped to deal with emergencies. If you need to access help urgently, please see the section below. If you are in immediate danger of harming yourself or others, call 999.

Request to chat to a volunteer
Access mental health support / help in a crisis

The PROJECT:TALK peer support scheme is not a professional service and we are not equipped to deal with emergencies or crisis situations. This scheme is for non-urgent, informal support only. If you're worried about your safety or that of someone else, or need urgent support, you can visit the University’s page on accessing help in a crisis here.

If you are in immediate danger of harming yourself or others, call 999.

For non-urgent professional support, you can contact the University’s Advice and Counselling Service by filling out the contact form on their website, or you can find more information about support services on our website here.

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