University offers 24/7 help to students over festive period

Edinburgh University has extended it’s listening service to operate all hours every day, to help students over the Christmas holidays.

Student support: Edinburgh University

The service offering support to students through the University Chaplaincy was extended amid fears about students mental health after the latest round of restrictions were announced.

It comes after the National Union of Students (NUS) raised concerns about the effect of the pandemic and lockdown measures on their mental health following the announcement of a staggered return to universities after Christmas.

John Swinney told the Scottish Parliament that students should only return to campus when told to do so by their university and advised that students should "voluntarily reduce their social interaction two weeks before they come back to university and two weeks after they come back to university to try to minimise the risk".

President of Edinburgh University Students' Association Ellen MacRae said: “We are particularly concerned about those who are isolated from loved ones.

"Students are exempt from the travel ban but I think people find it hard to know where they are allowed to go, exactly what the rules are. It has been an incredibly tough year. Many are fatigued. The lockdown announcement is earth shattering.

"Students have been asked not to come back to their term time address when they return. So many have the added financial pressure of paying for flats that they are not using. We don't know what to expect next term. I hope that the listening service helps people to know that they are not alone over the break.”

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