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Students Affected by War and Conflict

Many students at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø are personally affected by war and conflict. You may be worried about family and friends, experiencing distressing news updates, or finding it difficult to focus on your studies. These reactions are completely understandable.

This page outlines ways the Student Counselling & Mental Health Advice Service can support you, along with additional resources you may find helpful.

Understanding your emotional responses

Experiencing or witnessing conflict - directly or through loved ones can lead to a range of feelings, including:

  • Anxiety about the safety of family and friends
  • Sadness or grief after loss or uncertainty
  • Anger or frustration about events outside your control
  • Difficulty concentrating or keeping up with academic work
  • Feeling disconnected from peers who may not share the same experiences


These are normal human responses. You do not need to go through them alone.

Support available at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø

How SCHMAS can support you

Our team offers a confidential space to talk about how conflict is affecting you  - emotionally, academically, or personally. We can help you:

  • Explore your feelings in a safe, non‑judgemental environment

  • Develop strategies to manage stress, uncertainty, and overwhelm feelings

  • Access additional support within 51³Ô¹ÏÍø or externally

You do not need to be directly involved in conflict to seek support - you are welcome to contact us.

Choosing the Right Support

We understand that feeling comfortable with the person supporting you is important. You can request to see a counsellor or mental health practitioner of a particular gender, race, faith background, or someone with experience supporting people from diverse identities and backgrounds.

We will always do our best to match you with someone you feel comfortable talking to and who is a good fit for your individual needs, preferences, and experiences.

If you have any specific preferences, please let us know when you contact us, and we will work with you to find the most suitable practitioner available.


To make a referral:

Please complete theor call 020 7594 3224 to make a referral for either yourself or if you're concerned about a student. If you have any issues with the form, contact referraltoscmhas@imperial.ac.uk.

 

Worried about loved ones

It is common to feel helpless or distressed when loved ones are in danger. Our team can help you:

  • Navigate constant news exposure

  • Manage guilt about being far away

  • Cope with communication difficulties or long periods without updates

  • Build routines that support your wellbeing while staying connected

If you need urgent help locating or contacting family, we can guide you towards appropriate external agencies, though we cannot intervene directly.

Academic support and adjustments

If the conflict is affecting your ability to study, you may be eligible for mitigating circumstances or other academic adjustments.

Our team can help you think through what you need and direct you to the right teams, such as:

  • Student Support Zone

  • Departmental Wellbeing Advisors

  • Your personal tutor or supervisor

 

Community, identity & belonging

Students affected by conflict often benefit from connecting with others who understand their experiences. You might find support through:

  • Cultural or faith‑based student societies

  • Peer-to-peer networks

Practical Support at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø

Conflict can affect more than someone's mental health - it can also disrupt finances, travel, visas, accommodation or your ability to stay connected with family. While the SCHMAS cannot provide direct practical interventions, we can help you think through what you need and guide you to the right teams across 51³Ô¹ÏÍø.

  • International Student Support - for visa questions, immigration advice, travel concerns or changes in personal circumstances

  • Student Financial Support - if conflict has affected your ability to access funds, pay fees or manage living costs

  • Student Hub / Registry - for enrollment, documentation or changes to your student status

  • Campus Safety & Security - for guidance on staying safe in London or if you have concerns about your personal safety

  • Chaplaincy - for support with your spiritual and personal wellbeing
External support

Some students prefer to access support outside 51³Ô¹ÏÍø. Options include:

  • Low‑cost counselling services

  • Private therapists

  • Helplines offering emotional support 

When to seek urgent help

 

For more information, see here.

Safety, Respect and Inclusion

51³Ô¹ÏÍø is home to students from many countries and communities, and we recognise that global events can affect people in very different ways. During times of conflict, it is important that our community remains safe, respectful and inclusive.

51³Ô¹ÏÍø does not tolerate racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, xenophobia, harassment or hate speech of any kind. If you experience or witness behaviour that feels discriminatory, targeted or unsafe, you can report it through Report and Support. You can choose to report anonymously or with your contact details, and support is available regardless of whether you decide to make a formal complaint.

We ask all students to treat one another with care, empathy and respect, especially when discussing sensitive or distressing world events. You do not need to share the same views or experiences as others to access support.