University students who are suffering from homesickness can turn to Samaritans for support.

The first few weeks of university are a whirlwind for students. Moving away from home to another town or city, meeting new friends, and enrolling into new classes is an exciting but often daunting experience.

Any students who are overwhelmed can contact Samaritans volunteers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to talk through their concerns.

Gill Porter, Director of Samaritans Isle of Man, said: ‘Once settled into their new routine, it’s common for students to experience homesickness, which is unsurprising as they are in unfamiliar surroundings, encountering new stresses, and are away from family and friends.
‘Most students get homesick at some point when they are at university. It is really important to ask for help when you need it.
‘A lot of universities have student wellbeing programmes which we encourage students to make use of. However, we know it can be difficult to talk directly about any concerns you may have, so we want to remind students that they can turn to Samaritans for help.’

Samaritans has volunteers available to speak all day, every day. The number is 116 123 and is free to call, or they can email jo@samaritans.org.

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