Get free, immediate and confidential advice online with Ask Counselling
Life as a uni student can be full of ups and downs. That’s why it’s just so important to look after yourself while you study and to get the uni–life balance right.
If you ever need some support with study issues, personal problems or your mental health, please know that you’re not alone. Many of your peers are likely feeling the same way or wondering how to cope.
Asking for help is an important part of looking after your wellbeing. Deakin offers a number of services, including one-on-one counselling if you’d like to talk with someone. We understand that this can seem daunting, so a great first step is to visit our Ask Counselling blog.
What is Ask Counselling?
Ask Counselling is an online resource that offers support and advice on emotional and psychological issues. You can either browse existing questions and answers or post your own question for a personalised reply from Deakin’s Counselling and Psychological Support (CAPS) team of student mental health experts.
The best thing about the blog is that it’s real questions asked by current Deakin students. Anything you read about on Ask Counselling has been a problem faced by someone like you – a student feeling overwhelmed, alone or unsure.
What sort of questions can I post?
You can ask anything you like!
You could start by reading the existing discussions for advice relating to your own query – questions are categorised for easy navigation and include topics such as depression, anxiety, falling behind, making friends and exams.
Then, if you want specific advice, you can post your own question. A CAPS counsellor will respond within 72 business hours with a tailored reply to your issue.
I don’t want my name published.
Rest assured your name won’t be published. We do publish the questions and answers on Ask Counselling so that others can benefit too – but it’s all anonymous, so no one will know what you’ve asked.
Can I talk one-on-one with someone?
Ask Counselling isn’t intended to replace personal counselling. If you feel ready and you’re located in Australia, we recommend you speak to a CAPS counsellor if you need more personalised advice. Our team of professional psychologists and social workers offers free and confidential support to Deakin students.
Book online now – you’ll speak to your counsellor over the phone or via Zoom. We also have some specialist counsellors available – see their discipline-specific details on the webpage and select the relevant cohort when you book.
More help is available
Ask Counselling is not a 24-hour service for students in crisis. If you need immediate emergency help, you should contact Lifeline or SuicideLine now.
To access a range of health and wellbeing resources, we also recommend you download the DeakinWELLBEING app. It’s available free to all students, no matter where you’re based.