Student Health App
*UPDATE: THIS APP HAS JUST BEEN ASSESSED BY NHS DIGITAL AND IS NOW LISTED ON THE NEW NHS APPS LIBRARY*
"We recommend that higher education institutions advertise the ESC Student Health App and encourage its use."
(Higher Education Policy Institute Report 'The Invisible problem? Improving students' mental health', pages 9 and 46/47)
"There has never been a more crucial time for students to have access to reliable, safe, relevant health information. Students need to be able to access credible help fast. The Student Health App provides all of this, on a wide range of topics, from mental and sexual health through to emergencies and travel. They shouldn't leave home without it."
(Dr Dominique Thompson, National Student Health Expert)
Where can I download the app?
The Student Health App is FREE to download on the Apple App Store and on Google Play:
Why did we create the Student Health App?
We developed the student health app because student mental health problems are on the rise and students need easy, fast and discreet access to health information they can trust:
- Transition from home | Students living away from home often have questions about their mental and physical health
- Online searching | Googling health questions is common among students - but can be frustrating, time-consuming and sometimes even dangerous
- Self-care | Students often find it hard to know when it's okay to manage health problems themselves and when to seek help
With many university support services being overwhelmed, students need more effective signposting so they know where to find help when they need it.
How does the app work?
The FREE Student Health App provides reliable and reassuring health advice in seconds - in one single place, even when offline:
- Symptoms | How to spot signs of physical and mental illness - including the warning signs and when not to worry
- Self-care | How to treat common health problems at home, prevent medical problems from happening and stay well
- Signposting | When to seek help and how to find local support
How will users benefit?
The app aims to:
- enable students to identify health problems earlier and prevent them from getting worse
- encourage students to self-care when it's safe to do so - but also encourage them to seek help when needed (especially in emergencies)
- signpost students effectively, so that they can get the right support at the right time and in the right place
How does the app benefit universities and the NHS?
The app provides a FREE tool that university support services can recommend to their students to:
- reduce avoidable pressure on student support services
- improve students' mental and physical health - healthier students will have better results, are less likely to drop-out and have better career opportunities
- reduce serious events such as meningitis or drug-related illness and prevent self-harm and suicide
What can students find on the app?
The app contains over 900 pages with plain-talking reassurance, information and advice on more than 125 topics relevant to students in areas such as:
- Mental health: Learn to tackle stress, depression and anxiety and manage self-harm and suicidal thoughts
- First Aid & Emergencies: Covering everything from unconsciousness to asthma attacks, burns and head injury
- Alcohol & Drugs: Know the score on smoking, alcohol and common drugs - and how to manage a drug overdose
- Love and Relationships: Discover what's to know about healthy relationships, abuse, contraception and sexually transmitted infections
- Healthy Living: How to stay healthy and well at uni - and how to keep active
- Safety: How to be safe on nights out, prevent accidents and avoid online dangers
- NHS: How to navigate NHS Services effectively
...and more.
Does the app contain local information?
We can customise the app for universities and colleges by adding a branded page with links to local support.
Currently, students from the following universities and colleges benefit from local information on the app:
- University College London
- University of St Andrews
- UWE Bristol
- University of Bristol
- Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford
The short (21 seconds) video below to shows how it works, using the University of the West of England as an example. ⇒ learn more about customisation
What do students say about the app?
"slick and professional"
"the appearance of the app is great and I like the tabs in the home page with all the topics"
"very clear and easy to understand"
"very well written and easy to use"
"I would recommend this to my friends. I think everyone should have access to quick medical info and this app helps with that!"(from student user feedback)
Who's developed this app?
The app has been developed by a team of health professionals together with:
- Students from a variety of backgrounds
- Health professionals from the University of Bristol Students' Health Service
- Topic experts including clinicians and researchers
How safe is the app?
We developed the app in line with our robust editorial standards and procedures and update it regularly.
The app has also been independently reviewed and approved:
- certified by the NHS England Information Standard
- assessed by NHS Digital and listed on the NHS Apps Library
- reviewed by the Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Applications
How can I find out more?
To learn more about the app, ask questions or discuss how we can support your college or university please get in touch.
