Alcohol and Drug Support

If you think you have an alcohol addiction or you are concerned about your alcohol consumption, seeking professional support is an important first step.

It can be useful to visit your GP in the first instance. They will want to assess your physical health as well as your mental health and will be able to recommend and refer to specialist services if appropriate. You may also wish to contact one of the below services:

CAVDAS is a confidential service providing information, support, and treatment for anyone in Cardiff and Vale with concerns about their own or other’s use of drugs and alcohol. You can access this service via the contact details below, or visit them in the Centre for Student Life every other Monday - click here for more information.

• Call 0300 300 7000
• Email info@cavdas.com

Dan 24/7 is a free, confidential, and bilingual telephone helpline and service providing a single point of contact for anyone in Wales wanting further information, help or advice relating to drugs and alcohol.

• Call 0808 808 2234
• Email dan@helpline.wales

BAROD is a service providing free, confidential advice to individuals affected by alcohol and drugs, and by their friends and families’ drug and alcohol use. Barod provides support for adults and young people and is a non-judgemental service.

• You can contact them here

If you are concerned about your substance use, or think you may have developed a dependency, seeking professional support is an important first step.

Below, you’ll find links to trusted external services you can reach out to for guidance and assistance. These organisations offer reliable information, practical harm-reduction advice, and professional support, no matter your circumstances.

Frank is a free, confidential and non-judgemental service providing honest information about drugs. They operate a 24/7 helpline, and can be contacted via text, email and live chat also.

• Call 0300 123 6600
• Text 82111
• Use the webform

BAROD is a service providing free, confidential advice to individuals affected by alcohol and drugs, and by their friends and families’ drug and alcohol use. Barod provides support for adults and young people and is a non-judgemental service.

• You can contact them here

Dan 24/7 is a free, confidential, and bilingual telephone helpline and service providing a single point of contact for anyone in Wales wanting further information, help or advice relating to drugs and alcohol.

• Call 0808 808 2234
• Email dan@helpline.wales

Gemcare is a part of the National Gambling Support network, providing free, confidential support for anyone who is experiencing harm from gambling, including those affected by the gambling of others. They offer the national gambling helpline which is available 24/7 via live web chat, phone, and WhatsApp, as well as online support services.

• Call 0808 8020 133
• Use the webchat
• Use the online support services

Ara Gambling services is a trusted partner of Gamcare, offering free, confidential, specialised gambling help including counselling sessions for those in Wales and the Southwest.

• Call 030 1340 286
• Email info@recovery4all.co.uk

For 24/7 emergency mental health support you can call NHS 111 and select option 2 to speak to someone urgently about your mental health.

If you have serious concerns for yourself or another student's safety, but it's not an emergency, it may be appropriate to contact the university's Student Support Intervention Team (SSIT). You can access support from this service through the Report and Support Tool.

The University’s Counselling and Wellbeing Service are available to offer face to face and online appointments and self-help resources. You can refer yourself into this service using the referral form on this webpage.

The university are also offering a new Wellbeing Drop-in Service which is not a counselling session, however a wellbeing advisor can talk through difficulties with students and offer emotional support. They can also signpost students to and help them access relevant services.

This service is available between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.

To access this service you can:

• Ask for the Wellbeing Drop-in Service at the Student Connect Desk in the Centre for Student Life main desk
• Book an appointment in advance through Student Connect portal.
• Book by calling Student Connect on 02922 518 888.

The University also have a range of self-help and wellbeing resources available on the Student Intranet. This includes information and resources for managing stress, anger, and suicidal thoughts - Mental Health self-help resources

If you are in financial hardship and cannot cover your essential costs, help may be available through the Money Support Fund.

The Money Support Fund can help if you:

• have an unexpected crisis
• are considering leaving University
• need help to cover study costs
• are running out of money before the end of the term

You can check your eligibility on the Student Intranet here. Once you have checked your eligibility, you can apply by logging in to your SIMS online account. You will need to complete the online application form and include all supporting evidence required.

Further Information on applying for the Money Support Fund can be found on the Student Intranet here. If you have any questions or need help to complete the form, email moneysupport@cardiff.ac.uk.

You can also seek advice and guidance from the University’s Advice and Money Team who can be contacted through Student Connect.