Tuesday 09-12-2025 - 17:25

Support is here for you over the holidays

As the winter break approaches and 2025 comes to a close, we at the SU want to say a huge thank-you for another amazing Michaelmas, and congratulate you on getting through the first (and longest!) term of the academic year. We hope you’ve made plenty of memories to be proud of this term, whether that’s volunteering and campaigning within the community, getting involved with our student societies, keeping your head above the academic water or even just having some laughs with friends. 

We hope you enjoy taking a well-deserved rest this winter. We know we will. Dunelm House will be closed on Friday, 12 December, and we will be working on a reduced timetable of 9:00-17:00 between Monday, 15 December, and Friday, 19 December. After this, from the 19 to 4 January, we will be fully closed and on break ourselves. This unfortunately means you won’t be able to contact us directly by email or via our social media accounts, though we’ll make every effort to respond as quickly as possible after we return.

For many of us, especially students staying in Durham over their break, the holidays can be a trying time. Durham might be quieter over the holidays, but it should never feel lonely or isolating. Even for students returning home, we know the need for both academic and general support doesn’t just disappear. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of places where you can find support over the holidays.

How to get to support if… 

You’re struggling with your mental health or wellbeing 

The holidays can be a particularly challenging time for many students for a number of reasons. It's completely normal to find yourself feeling worn out, sad, anxious, or any number of things. If these feelings become disruptive to your day-to-day life, however, then you might benefit from reaching out to one of the many different organisations that can help you.

Find out how to get support for your mental health and wellbeing here.

You’re concerned about your studies 

Though the holidays should be a time to rest and recharge, we understand that your courses can remain academically demanding all year round. You may want to start preparing work for next term, or catch up on content you may have missed or weren’t so sure on from this term. If you need academic support over the break, click the link below to see how the university can support you. 

Find out how to get academic support here.

You’re looking for support, and not sure where to go

The SU ASK enquiry service will be closed from 19 December to 5 January, but you can continue to access our online resources, and self-help guides all year round. Many of the resources signpost to external organisations that may still be operating over the holidays, so we can still help you find the help you need.

Access the online ASK Hub here.

You’re staying in Durham, and you need to know what services are available

From financial support to the counselling and mental health service, the University still offers access to many of their support services over the holidays.

Find out what support is available here.

Those needing help with mental health should visit the University's dedicated student support and wellbeing page here.

Information on accessing the University's libraries and study spaces over Christmas break can be found here.

Additional and Specialised Resources

There is no one typical issue that students face during the Christmas break. Often, you may wish to seek specialist support depending on your individual circumstances. With that in mind, here are some additional resources.

Student Minds has created a dedicated space for students facing issues over the winter break. Student Space is accessible 24/7 throughout the holidays and can help students cope with the stresses the holidays may bring, no matter your concerns or circumstances.  

BEAT offers guides and a helpline to assist those coping with eating disorders, which can be particularly challenging during the Christmas period. Their dedicated support page can be found here.

Stand Alone supports people of all ages who become estranged or disowned from their family or key family members. You can visit their website here, which includes a guide for people struggling during Christmas.

The LGBT+ Foundation has a great base of articles here. 

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