Health & Wellbeing Information
This is a document containing an extensive (but not exhaustive) list of welfare-related resources.
Senate House Library has an extensive list of guides and resources on various well-being issues that you can consult as well.
Get your own personalised “mind plan” from the NHS here that will be sent to your email address.
Emergency Numbers:
SAMU (ambulance): 15
Police: 17
Pompiers (paramedics + fire): 18
If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you can call 114.
Do not worry if you don’t speak French, they will be able to connect you with an English-speaker. You can also call the European number 112 where you will be redirected to the correct service. You can text this number if you are deaf or hard of hearing, first text ‘REGISTER’ to register your number.
Accident & Emergency (A&E)/Emergency Room/Urgences
If you feel able to, you can also go to A&E (known as ‘Urgences’ in French).
The nearest hospital to ULIP with an A&E department is the Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou. You can call them on +33 (0)1 56 09 20 00. Their A&E department is accessed via Rue du Professeur Florian Delbarre, 75015. Once in the building, take Ascenseur A to Étage 1.
Find your nearest hospital here: Hôpital annuaire Paris Ile de France
If you’re unsure what to do or who to call in both emergency and non-emergency situations, you can contact International SOS. This is a service that provides health, security, travel, emotional wellbeing, and emergency assistance. ULIP has a new partnership with them which means they are available to all ULIP students 24/7 to offer support and give information. You can contact them about finding a doctor in France, help with a visa issue etc., and you can also contact them if you are travelling outside of France and encounter a problem. You can download the app which gives you immediate access to their services.
📱International SOS Assistance (ULIP code: 15AGDA975719IT) ⼁📞 +33 155 633 155
You should have received information from Student Services on how to register with social security in France. Once you’ve registered with them, you will receive a temporary number and eventually you should receive a permanent one so you can then get a Carte Vitale.. Nobody can predict when you will receive your permanent security number, some people still don’t have it after three years and others get it within one year. Your temporary number still gives you the same rights as a permanent one. You can ask Catherine at Student Services to call them for you if you want to try to hurry them up. You will have to renew your temporary number once a year if you still don’t have your permanent one, but this is easily done online.
Seeing a doctor
In France, you can get a doctor's appointment with most doctors without registering with them. Doctolib is the website which allows you to book medical appointments quickly and easily. You can specify the type of doctor you need, the location, the language and the cost. If you just need a GP, you can search for a ‘médecin généraliste’.
You don’t have to register with a GP (médecin traitant), but it’s a good idea to if you find one you like as it can make booking appointments quicker and it will also be cheaper. When you have a registered GP, social security will reimburse you 70% rather than 30% (if they’re Secteur 1, see below). When you go to an appointment you can ask for a form, which you then fill in and send off to your local Assurance Maladie.
Payment system (tiers payant)
In France, doctors are classified under three tiers (tiers payant) that determine the prices they can charge patients and how much is reimbursed by social security. It is very important to check this before booking an appointment to avoid paying more than you planned. The tiers are as follows:
Conventionné - Secteur 1. The price of a consultation is fixed at 25€, and 70% (16,50€) is reimbursed by the Assurance Maladie.
Conventionné - Secteur 2. The price of a consultation can be more than 25€, but whatever the cost, the Assurance Maladie will reimburse you between 15,10€ and 16,50€ (depending on whether or not they are a member of l’OPTAM) If the doctor has signed up for l’OPTAM, then you will likely be reimbursed more or have cheaper consultation fees so it is often better to ensure that this is the case.
Non conventionné - Secteur 3. The price of a consultation is not fixed and the doctor is free to charge any amount. 61 centimes will be reimbursed by the Assurance Maladie.
A doctor should be transparent about which secteur they practise under, but if you’re unsure you can search them on the annuaire santé: annuairesante.ameli.fr
As social security doesn’t cover the full cost of healthcare, you can sign up to a type of health insurance called ‘mutuelle’ or ‘complémentaire santé’ to cover some or all of the remaining cost of your treatment. In France, a Mutuelle is mandatory for all private sector employees but optional for everyone else. Costs of these insurance schemes vary depending on the percentage of the cost that they cover, and the more you pay the more you will get reimbursed. To find a Mutuelle that fits your needs, you can go to a comparison website such as Les Furets to see your options. If you are someone with a long-term medical condition and have regular medical appointments then investing in a Mutuelle could be a good idea.
EHIC
This is a card issued by your state social security system if you’re a resident of the EU, EEA or Switzerland. In order to obtain one, you should contact your national health insurance institution which is usually responsible for covering the cost of your treatment. On how to use the card when seeking medical care in France (but also anywhere else in the EEA and Switzerland), feel free to consult this page of the official website of the European Commission: How to use the card in France
GHIC
This is the card which replaced the EHIC after Brexit for British nationals and residents. It offers you the same protection as the EHIC card in the EU & Switzerland but it’s not valid in Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein. You can apply for one on the NHS website: Get healthcare cover for travelling abroad - NHSBSA.
IMPORTANT:
In the table below you will find some English-speaking doctors in Paris recommended by past and current ULIP students, as well as other people we know. You can find more information about their specialties etc. by looking at their Doctolib profiles.
SECTEUR 1 - CONVENTIONNÉ | |
Dr. Anne-Valérie Meyers (5th)* Centre de santé de l’Épée de Bois 3 Rue de l’Épée de Bois, 75005 Paris 📞+33 (0)1 45 35 85 83 Make an appointment online here | Dr. Axelle Dupre-Lailler* Centre de santé du Square de la Mutualité 1 Square de la Mutualité, 75005 Paris 📞+33 (0)1 55 25 01 90 Make an appointment online here |
Dr. Yohana Dery* Centre Médical des Cévennes 66 Rue des Cévennes, 75015 Paris 📞+33 (0)1 88 32 93 38 Make an appointment online here | Dr. Jackie Chetioui & Dr. Anne-Carole Gruny* Cabinet médical Lacordaire 10 Rue Lacordaire, 75015 Paris 📞+33 (0)1 84 25 48 54 Make an appointment online here |
Dr. Krista Johnson 89 Rue de Vaugirard, 75006 Paris 📞+33 (0)1 42 84 14 21 Make an appointment online here | Dr. Chunyun Hu* 22 Avenue de Choisy, 75013 Paris Make an appointment online here |
SECTEUR 2 - CONVENTIONNÉ | |
Dr. Elie Paul Cohen* 3 Rue Sextius Michel, 75015 Paris 📞+33 (0)1 53 96 04 62 Make an appointment online here | Dr. Francis Slattery* 10 Avenue d’Eylau, 75116 Paris 📞+33 (0)01 47 42 02 34 Make an appointment online here |
SECTEUR 3 - NON CONVENTIONNÉ | |
Dr. Nancy Salzman 1 Avenue de Lowendal, 75007 Paris 📞+33 (0)1 45 63 18 43 Make an appointment online here | |
*doctor has stated that the location is accessible for people with limited mobility
In France, dentists are also classified under the tiers-payant system. A check-up at a Secteur 1 dentist should cost 23€, and 70% will be reimbursed by the Assurance Maladie. The cost of dental treatment will vary depending on the type and complexity of the treatment. For example, having one wisdom tooth removed by a Secteur 1 dentist would cost around 82€ on top of the price of a consultation, and 70% would be reimbursed by the Assurance Maladie. Dental prosthetics such as crowns are charged at the discretion of the dentist, whether they are ‘conventionné’ or not, and the Assurance Maladie will reimburse you some of the cost. Your dentist should be clear with you about the costs before going ahead with treatment. For a breakdown of what exactly is reimbursed by the Assurance Maladie, you can look here: service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits
Here are some English-speaking dentists who have been recommended to us:
SECTEUR 1 & 2 - CONVENTIONNÉ | |
Dr. Aidan Dowd 11 Rue de la Fontaine du But, 75018 Paris 📞+33 (0)1 46 06 90 64 | Dr Insung Jang 22 Rue Cler, 75007 Paris 📞+33 (0)1 47 05 40 10 Make an appointment online here |
Dr Yves-Marie Trégouët Cabinet dentaire des Mathurins 19 Rue des Mathurins, 75009 Paris 📞+33 (0)1 40 07 11 26 | Dr Livia Roux* Centre Colliard 4 Rue de Quatrefages, 75005 Paris 📞+33 (0)1 85 56 00 00 Make an appointment online here |
Dr Gaël Millot 12 Rue des Pyramides, 75001 Paris 📞+33 (0)6 76 84 75 24 Make an appointment online here | Dr Hans Dindoyal 15 Rue Godot de Mauroy, 75009 Paris 📞+33 (0)1 47 42 56 66 Make an appointment online here |
Dr Patrick Bauer 71 Avenue Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 75008 Paris 📞+33 (0)1 42 25 76 30 | Dr Elsa Muller* 5 Place du Général Beuret, 75015 Paris 📞+33 (0)1 43 06 05 05 Make an appointment online here |
*dentist has stated that the location is accessible for people with limited mobility
If you want a quick free eye test you can go to Lunettes pour tous, where they will give you one on the spot. They also have a range of frames for low prices and they can fulfil your prescription in about ten minutes. There are multiple locations in Paris. However, if you want a more thorough eye test or have a more complex issue with your eyes you should go to an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) rather than an optician. You can search the term ‘ophtalmologue’ on doctolib to book an appointment with one. They can also issue prescriptions which you can then take to an optician to get your glasses or contact lenses.
If you have French Social Security and a Mutuelle, you can get certain frames fully reimbursed under the 100% Santé scheme. If you just have Social Security, you can get a small amount reimbursed if you have a prescription from an ophthalmologist. Contact lenses are rarely reimbursed by Social Security, only if you have a condition such as an astigmatism or aphakia. Some other popular optician chains with multiple locations in Paris include Optic 2000 and Optical Centre.
PEP
If you have had unprotected sex in the last 48 hours and think you might have been exposed to HIV, you can visit a clinic or hospital where you will be assessed and may be put on a course of treatment called PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis), or TPE in French. PEP is a powerful combination of drugs that can stop the virus in its tracks, but it’s not 100% effective. You will have to take the medicine for 28 days, and you need to start it within 4-48 hours of having sex, but it is most effective in the first 24. You can get PEP at sexual health clinics as well as at the A&E department of hospitals. PEP is 100% reimbursed by social security, but you do not need to be covered by social security to access the treatment.
Emergency contraception
If you have had unprotected sex and are at risk of getting pregnant, there are several options available to you. The first option is to take the morning-after pill (la pilule de lendemain/la pilule d’urgence) which you can get at pharmacies without a prescription, at a Family Planning Centre, or at a sexual health clinic. You will be asked a few questions, this is just to make sure you are given the correct pill. If the unprotected sex happened in the last 48 hours, you’ll probably be offered NorLevo. After that, you’ll probably be given EllaOne, which can be taken up to 5 days after sex. It’s best to take it as soon as possible, as their effectiveness decreases the longer you wait. You could always get one in advance to have at home just in case, but make sure it’s not out of date when you take it.
**From January 1st 2023 the morning-after pill is FREE for everyone in France**
The second option is to have an IUD (Intrauterine Device), or DIU/stérilet in French, inserted up to 5 days after having unprotected sex. This method of emergency contraception is slightly more effective, and it can then be used as your regular method of contraception if you like. You will have to act fast as you need to have a consultation with a healthcare professional in order to arrange the procedure. It would be best to search for an emergency gynaecologist or speak to someone at a Sexual Health Clinic or Family Planning Centre to talk through your options,
Find your nearest pharmacy, including out-of-hours: Mon pharmacien Ile-de-France
Family Planning Centres offering emergency contraception: Pilule d'urgence | iPassContraception
Monkeypox
Due to the rise in cases of Monkeypox worldwide, there is now a testing and vaccination campaign operating in France. Monkeypox is not an STI, but most recorded cases so far have been from sexual contact. Anyone can get Monkeypox, but the vaccine is currently only available in France to specific groups of people deemed to be at higher risk of contracting the virus. According to the government website, the following people are currently eligible for the vaccine:
This may be subject to change, keep an eye on this page for updates (in French): vaccination-info-service/monkeypox
Here is a list of places in France offering the Monkeypox vaccine: monkeypox-info-service.fr/vaccination
If you need advice or information about sexual health and wellbeing, or you need to access STI treatment or testing, it’s best to visit a sexual health clinic. In France, these are called CeGIDD (Centres gratuits d’information, de dépistage et de diagnostic) and are free centres where you can access services anonymously (or not if you prefer). The centres are open to everyone, including foreigners and people without social security.
You will typically have to book an appointment to get tested for STIs. The method of testing depends on what they’re testing for. You may be asked to give a urine sample, a blood sample, a swab of your vagina/anus/throat/urethra, and they may also examine you. Taking a test 2 weeks after having sex is supposed to give the most accurate result, but HIV cannot be detected until 4 weeks after exposure, and the most accurate results require waiting until at least 6 weeks after.
Results are usually available around a week after your test, but if you have taken a rapid STI test you can get the results in 48 hours, or 90 minutes for the HIV test. You may have to go back to the clinic to collect your results, or they might text or call you with your permission. If you have a positive result for an STI, the clinic will orient you towards the right treatment, and you may then be tested again once you’ve finished your treatment to check it has worked.
In the table below you’ll find some sexual health clinics with details of what they offer. These are just a few clinics, if you would like more information you can contact your welfare officers or look through this directory: Annuaire CeGIDD.
Paris Sexual Health Clinics | |
CeGIDD Hôpital Saint-Antoine* 184 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, 75012 Paris 📞+33 (0)1 49 28 34 45 | Offers STI testing, including Hepatitis and HIV. In case of a positive result for HIV or Hepatitis, they can treat you at the hospital. They also offer HPV and Hepatitis vaccines. You can turn up for testing without an appointment. |
Checkpoint Paris 13 Rue d’Alexandrie, 75002 Paris 📞+33 (0)1 44 78 00 00 | Centre specifically dedicated to supporting members of the LGBTQ+ community. Consultations are free, even without social security, and can be anonymous. They offer STI testing, treatment, HPV, Hepatitis and Monkeypox vaccines as well as PrEP. You can also book a consultation with a gynaecologist, sexologist or psychiatrist. Call to make an appointment, but go directly to the centre in an emergency. |
Centre Médico-Social Ridder 3 Rue de Ridder, 75014 Paris 📞+33 (0)1 58 14 30 30
| Offers STI testing including Hepatitis and HIV. Consultations are free, even without social security, and can be anonymous. Call to make an appointment, and it’s recommended to call before arriving in an emergency. |
Centre Médico-Social Belleville 218 Rue de Belleville, 75020 Paris 📞+33 (0)1 40 33 52 00 | Offers STI testing including Hepatitis and HIV. Consultations are free, even without social security, and can be anonymous. They also offer vaccine consultations as well as medical and psychological consultations on certain days. Call to make an appointment. |
*website states that the location is accessible for people with limited mobility
Gynaecologists (gynécologues) in France also practise the tiers-payant system, but they are specialists so tend to charge more than GPs. The price of a consultation with a Secteur 1 gynaecologist should be 30€, but will be more if you haven’t declared a GP. The Assurance Maladie will reimburse you 70% of that (21€). A Secteur 2 or 3 gynaecologist can charge a lot more, and it’s always best to check prices beforehand with any health professional. In the table below you will find some gynaecologists, sage-femmes, and doctors specialising in gynaecology recommended by students and friends:
Gynaecologists | |
SECTEUR 1 - CONVENTIONNÉ | |
Dr Mathilde Lankar* Centre de Santé Yvonne Pouzin 14 Rue Volta, 75003 Paris 📞+33 (0)1 48 87 49 87 Book an appointment online here | Dr Emmanuelle Curiant* Cabinet Ipso Nation 73 Rue de Montreuil, 75011 Paris 📞+33 (0)1 80 40 77 77 Book an appointment online here |
Dr Isabelle Karsinti* Cabinet KiGo Medical 70 Rue Marcel Dassaut, 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt 📞+33 (0)1 46 89 61 78 Book an appointment online here | |
SECTEUR 2 - CONVENTIONNÉ | |
Dr Salma Touleimat* PointGyn Bergère 7 Rue Bergère, 75009 Paris 📞+33 (0)1 86 47 84 89 Book an appointment online here | Dr Anne-Françoise Neiman 150 Rue de l’Université, 75007 Paris 📞+33 (0)1 44 18 72 18 Book an appointment online here |
*doctor has stated that the location is accessible for people with limited mobility
Carte des soignant·e·s. You can also check out this feminist directory of gynaecologists, where you can search through tags such as ‘queer-friendly’, ‘person of colour friendly’ or ‘neurodivergent friendly’, as well as seeing which practitioners have been noted for having good understanding of particular conditions such as endometriosis. The website is in French, but you can translate the page.
In an emergency, you can go to a hospital that has a dedicated gynaecological department. One recommended one is at the Hôpital Cochin in the 14th:
Hôpital Cochin (site Porte-Royal) 123 boulevard de Port-Royal, 75014.
📞+33 (0)1 58 41 35 91/92
Contraception is easily accessible in France, and there are multiple options that are free for men and women under 26.
Condoms (préservatifs)
The only method of contraception that offers protection against STIs are condoms. You can find free (male) condoms in the welfare box located in the basement, as well as free lube. They are also available for free in pharmacies for anyone under the age of 26 and in possession of a carte vitale.
The Pill (la pilule)
The pill is now free in France for all women under 26. You’ll need to go to a doctor, gynaecologist, or family planning centre to get a prescription which you can then take to a pharmacy to be filled for free. You may also be offered the pill to help you with PMS or a condition such as endometriosis. If you’ve been put on the pill in your home country and want to get a renewed prescription in France, you can take your empty packet to a pharmacy, but bear in mind the particular brand you’re using might not be available in France. Before you move to France, you can ask your GP at home if they can give you a bigger supply to take with you. If you keep forgetting to take your pill, or any other medication, you can download the app DrugStar to remind you.
IUD (le DIU/stérilet)
The IUD is also now free in France for women under 26 with a prescription, if you have social security. You can go to a GP, a gynaecologist or sage-femme, or a Family Planning Centre for a consultation and prescription.
For more detailed information, check out this page (in French) about choosing the right method of contraception for you: Choisir sa contraception | QuestionSexualité
You can also look at the dedicated page from Brook (the organisation that does our consent and drugs & alcohol workshops). Some information is specific to the UK, but it has a lot of helpful general info in English. Contraception: Unsure Which Type is Right For You? – Brook
If you think that you might be pregnant, you can get a free pregnancy test from the SU welfare shelf (in the basement), or buy one at a pharmacy or supermarket. If you find out you’re pregnant and are unsure what to do, you can visit a Family Planning Centre. There you will be able to talk through your options, but ultimately the decision is up to you.
If you decide to have an abortion, you can have one in France up to 14 weeks, in French it’s called an ‘avortement’ or an ‘IVG’ (interruption volontaire de grossesse). You will need to go to either a doctor, a midwife’s office, or a Family Planning Centre, where you will be required to have two consultations before having the abortion. There are two methods of abortion:
Medical Abortion
This is the method offered up to 7 weeks pregnant or 9 weeks since the start of your last period. Medical abortions are done at a Family Planning Centre, a doctor, a midwife’s office, or another approved health facility. It involves taking a pill in the presence of your healthcare practitioner, and then taking another one around 24-48 hours later at home, as instructed by your practitioner. After taking the second pill, you will begin to bleed and this will last between 10-15 days. Most people also experience some side effects similar to being on their period i.e. cramps. You will be given a follow-up appointment around two weeks later to check that you’re okay and the abortion was successful. This method has around a 95% success rate and the procedure is fully covered by Social Security.
Surgical Abortion
This is the method up to 14 weeks pregnant or 16 weeks since the start of your last period. The procedure is done by either a doctor or midwife. It involves using a thin tube to remove the pregnancy by suction and you can choose to have it done under either local or general anaesthetic. It lasts around ten minutes and you can usually go home the same day. If you’ve had anaesthetic, someone will need to pick you up afterwards, but you might also want this even if you didn’t have anaesthetic. You could bring someone you know such as a friend or partner, or you can ask a welfare officer to accompany you with complete confidentiality. You will be given a follow-up appointment around two weeks later to check that you’re okay and the abortion is successful. This method has a 99.7% success rate and is fully covered by Social Security.
For more information on abortions in France, you can look at the government page.
If you are from an EU country where you are unable to access safe abortions and are back home, you can check out the Abortion Support Network.
Le Planning Familial 75 has 3 locations in Paris:
10 Rue Vivienne, 75002 Paris. 📞+33 (0)1 42 60 93 20
2 Rue Hittorf, 75010 Paris. 📞+33 (0)1 42 45 67 35
9 Villa d’Este, 75013 Paris. 📞+33 (0)1 45 84 28 25
If you feel like you can’t keep yourself safe and may harm yourself, go to your nearest A&E or call the emergency services:
Pompiers (paramedics + fire): 18
SAMU (ambulance): 15
If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you can call 114.
You can also call the European number 112 where you will be redirected to the correct service. You can text this number if you are deaf or hard of hearing, first text ‘REGISTER’ to register your number.
When calling the emergency services you will be asked for your name, age and address. They will not be able to find you if you don’t give an address, but if you really don’t want to give your address and are able to go outside, you can instead give them a place nearby where they can meet you e.g. outside a local supermarket.
There is also a psychiatric A&E in Paris which is open 24/7 and you do not need an appointment to go. It is located in Saint Anne’s hospital in the 14th:
C.P.O.A Hôpital Saint-Anne, 1 rue Cabanis, 75014 Paris. 📞+33 (0)1 45 65 81 09 / 10
Nightline. This is a free, confidential night-time listening service for students open during term time. All the volunteers on the other end of the line are also students who have been trained in active listening. This means they will remain non-directive and will not offer advice. You can call Nightline about whatever is on your mind, no matter how ‘small’ your worry may be. The Paris line is open every day from 9pm-2:30am, except Tuesdays and Wednesdays. There is also an online chat service available during these hours.
🖥️ nightline.fr/en⼁📞+33 (0)1 88 32 12 33 (English line) 📞+33 (0)1 88 32 12 32 (French line)
If you are from the UK and are back home and need to speak to someone, you can also contact a UK Nightline. In the UK, each Nightline is connected to a university rather than a region, so as University of London students, we can contact Nightline London, even if you are from another area of the UK. Open every day during term time from 6pm-8am.
🖥️ nightline.org.uk⼁📞+44 (0)207 631 0101
International SOS. This is a service that provides health, security, travel, emotional wellbeing, and emergency assistance. ULIP has a new partnership with them which means they are available to all ULIP students 24/7 to offer support and give information. You can contact them about finding a doctor in France, help with a visa issue etc., and you can also contact them if you are travelling outside of France and encounter a problem. You can download the app which gives you immediate access to their services.
📱International SOS Assistance (ULIP code: 15AGDA975719IT) ⼁📞 +33 155 633 155
SOS Help. This is a confidential listening service aimed entirely at English speakers in France. Their volunteers are trained by mental health professionals to listen to you without judgement or labelling. You can call about anything you like, from exam worries to suicidal thoughts. The line is open every day from 3pm-11pm.
🖥️ soshelpline.org ⼁📞+33 (0)1 46 21 46 46
If you speak French, there are many other listening services available, including:
Suicide Écoute
🖥️ suicide-ecoute.fr⼁📞+33 (0)1 45 39 40 00
S.O.S Amitié
🖥️ sos-amitie.com⼁📞+33 (0)9 72 39 40 50
Fil Santé Jeunes
🖥️ filsantejeunes.com⼁📞+33 (0)800 235 236
Nightline Paris (French line)
🖥️ nightline.fr/paris⼁📞 +33 (0)1 88 32 12 32
The national suicide prevention line in France is 3114.
ULIP does not currently have a resident counsellor or dedicated welfare department. However, all students are entitled to six free counselling sessions at ICS, and there are also other ways for you to access mental health services in France.
International Counselling Service (ICS). This is a confidential, English-speaking counselling service based in Paris who have a partnership with ULIP. The university will fund six sessions for each student per academic year, but more can be arranged on a case by case basis. You can attend an initial consultation, and you will then be referred to one of their practitioners. Hopefully you will feel comfortable talking to the counsellor you’ve been allocated, but if not, you can ask ICS or student services to change. To start using ICS, you can contact them via email or phone, and don’t forget to mention you’re a ULIP student.
🖥️ icsparis.com ⼁📞+33 (0)1 45 50 26 49 ⼁✉️ icsparis@gmail.com
Santé Psy Étudiant. This is a relatively recent initiative from the French government aimed at helping students with their mental health. It entitles you to 8 sessions with a therapist, with no charge to you at all. In order to benefit from this scheme, you need to make an appointment with a GP who should make you a referral. You can then choose and contact someone from a list of therapists partnered in the scheme. You will find there are several therapists who offer therapy in languages other than French, including English.
APASO. This is an organisation with a centre in Paris offering free and confidential psychological support to students and young people. You can book an appointment to talk to one of their psychologists who will listen to you and assess your needs, and will be able to direct you to appropriate services.
🖥️ apaso.fr ⼁📞+33 (0)1 40 47 55 47 ⼁✉️ apaso-paris@apaso.fr / etudiants@apaso.fr
CMP (Centre Médico-Psychologique).These are centres where you can go for a consultation about your mental health. They have psychologists, nurses, doctors etc. there who you can talk to. This can be a good option if you want to talk to a psychiatrist but don’t want to pay lots of money, as the consultations are covered by social security. There are lots in Paris, and you would go to the one nearest to where you live.
🖥️ etablissementsdesante.fr/cmp/dep:75
BAPU (Bureau d’Aide Psychologique Universitaire). These centres are for students looking for wellbeing support. To access support there you must be a student and be registered with social security, as they cover the entire cost of it. You can make an appointment by calling them and a psychotherapist will assess your needs. There are different options they might propose to you like sessions with a psychotherapist/psychoanalyst, support groups, or even group drama therapy or they might direct you to another service. They are quite popular so you may be put on a waiting list. The Paris locations are listed below:
BAPU Grange Batelière 13 rue Grange Batelière, 75009 Paris +33 (0)1 47 70 70 32 | BAPU du Centre Psycho-Pédagogique Claude Bernard* 20 rue Larrey, 75005 Paris +33 (0) 1 42 24 52 29 |
BAPU Bagnolet 131 rue de Bagnolet, 75020 Paris +33 (0)1 40 09 05 09 | BAPU Ribera 50 rue de Ribera, 75020 Paris +33 (0)1 45 20 14 40 |
BAPU Pascal* 30 rue Pascal, 75005 Paris +33 (0)1 43 31 31 32 | BAPU Luxembourg* 44 rue Henri Barbusse, 75005 Paris +33 (0)1 43 29 65 72 |
*listed as having English-speaking staff
NHS services
If you’re in the UK and are struggling with your mental health, you can access NHS mental health services by making an appointment with your GP. There are several options that may be offered to you such as medication or referral to the NHS waiting list for therapy. If you’d prefer not to go through your GP, you can also visit a Single Point of Access (SPA). There is an SPA for every NHS trust in the UK, e.g. a team of clinicians who review your emotional and mental health concerns and help establish the best way to support you.
The single point of access SPA every nhs trust. Assessment phone. Website / long waiting list therapy cbt depends on area/in urgent need admitted to hospital either voluntary or sectioned crisis service short term, mental health support worker
Private therapy
You can also access therapy privately. Costs vary greatly based on the therapist, the type of therapist and the location. Some therapists offer discounted rates for students. Anyone can call themselves a therapist in the UK so always choose someone who is accredited by either the BACP or the UKCP.
Friends can be vital in helping us maintain our mental health. If you have a friend who is going through a difficult time, often the most helpful thing you can do is listen. Sometimes you might find that your friend’s problems are overwhelming you and at this point it is useful to get some extra help. You might want to suggest that your friend talks to a doctor, counsellor, or the SU welfare officers. If you are concerned that your friend may hurt themselves you should talk to a health professional or a trusted member of staff from your university. This is not a betrayal of trust, but you doing your best to help your friend keep safe. If a friend tells you something that feels too upsetting or worrying for you to carry on your own, the best thing to do is to share it with someone you trust. If you start to feel that your mental health is being affected by the demands for support made upon you by someone else, that is a warning sign that you need to set some clear limits as to what your friend can expect, as well as pointing them in the direction of professional help.
Student Minds have a useful guide on how to look after your mate: Student Minds LAYM guide pdf
English-speaking service in Paris
Alcoholics Anonymous Paris
aaparis.org ⼁📞 +33 (0)7 56 98 45 71
English-speaking AA meetings in Paris for anyone looking to stop drinking. Both online and in-person.
Al-Anon Alateen France
Support for anyone who is being affected by someone else’s drinking. There are several English-speaking meetings held each week in Paris, usually at the American Church and Scots Kirk, as well as online.
CSAPA Pierre Nicole
pierre-nicole.com ⼁📞 +33 (0)1 44 32 07 60
A treatment, support and prevention centre in Paris for those suffering from addiction to alcohol, drugs, tobacco and gambling.
UK & online
Alcohol Change UK
Offering support and information for anyone who is worried about how much they’re drinking.
Alcoholics Anonymous UK
Find a UK meeting.
FRANK
talktofrank.com ⼁📞 +44 (0)300 123 6600
Detailed information about a wide variety of drugs, including their effects on mental health.
Marijuana Anonymous UK
ma-uk.org ⼁📞 +44 (0)300 124 0373
Supporting people who are addicted to weed and are wanting to stop. They hold online meetings as well as in-person ones across the UK.
Adfam
UK charity supporting the friends and family of people addicted to drugs, alcohol and gambling. Offers advice for coping with the impact as well as online support groups.
Al-Anon UK & Éire
⼁📞+44 (0)800 0086 811 🇬🇧 / +353 (0)1 873 2699 🇮🇪
Support for anyone who is being affected by someone else’s drinking in the UK and Ireland.
National Association for Children of Alcoholics
nacoa.org.uk ⼁📞+44 (0)800 358 3456
Support for the children (including adults) of parents who are alcoholics. Offers support, advice and resources.
Drinkline
a free, confidential helpline for people who are concerned about their drinking, or someone else's. Call 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am–8pm, weekends 11am–4pm) - UK based.
Alcoholics Anonymous, whose helpline is open 24/7 on 0800 9177 650. If you would prefer, you can also email them at help@aamail.org or live chat via their website at www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk.
Self-help & advice:
Self-help & advice:
NHS Self-help guide
A work through self-help guide based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for anyone struggling with anxiety.
English-speaking in Paris
Bereavement Support Network 🇫🇷
bsnvar.org⼁📞+33 (0)6 24 50 22 74
An organisation that supports English-speaking residents of France who are grieving or anticipating grief.
UK & online
Cruse
cruse.org.uk⼁📞+44 (0)808 808 1677
The UK’s leading bereavement charity offering support and information for anyone grieving. They have a helpline you can call as well as an online chat service where you can talk to a bereavement counsellor for free.
Hope Again
hopeagain.org.uk ⼁📞+44 (0)808 808 1677
The young people’s website for Cruse for 12-25 year olds.
At A Loss
ataloss.org ⼁📞+44 (0)800 448 0800
Signposting website for bereaved people in the UK so they can easily find local and national resources and services. Also offers a chat service with a bereavement counsellor.
The Good Grief Trust
Resources and guides for anyone affected by grief.
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide
uksobs.org⼁📞+44 (0)300 111 5065
An organisation offering support to all adults in the UK who have lost someone to suicide. The people who run this organisation have all also been impacted by suicide loss. They offer peer led support groups both online and in-person, as well as a national helpline, online community forum and email support
Winston’s Wish
winstonswish.org⼁📞+44 (0)8088 020 021
Supporting grieving children and young people up to the age of 25. They have a helpline and online chat service. They also have a peer support Facebook group for adults bereaved as children.
The Compassionate Friends
tcf.org.uk⼁📞+44 (0)345 123 2304
Support for parents, siblings and families grieving the loss of a child. Offers a helpline, online support group and resources.
SADS UK
sadsuk.org.uk⼁📞+44 (0)1277 811215
Organisation for information and prevention of Sudden Arrhythmic Death who can provide a qualified counsellor to those affected by a SADs death.
SSAFA - The Armed Forces Charity
ssafa.org.uk⼁📞+44 (0)800 260 6767
Offers support groups for family grieving the death of a member of the UK armed forces, including through suicide.
Blue Cross
bluecross.org.uk⼁📞+44 (0)800 096 6606
Support for anyone affected by the death of a pet.
If you’re from the UK and are interested in joining a grief support group, you should be able to find something local to you here: How to find bereavement support. In Paris, there is Empreintes, in French.
Self-help
Students Against Depression
UK & Online
Refuge
refuge.org.uk⼁📞+44 (0)808 2000 247
Organisation helping women and children who are victims of domestic abuse. Offers support and information on recognising abuse, your rights in the UK, and your options. Has a 24/7 helpline.
Respect
mensadviceline.org.uk⼁📞+44 (0)808 8010 327
Organisation supporting men who are victims of domestic abuse. Offers support and information on recognising abuse, your rights in the UK, and your options. Has a helpline open weekdays from 10am-8pm and an online chat.
English-speaking in Paris
Outremangeurs Anonymes
For anyone struggling with compulsive eating. There is an English-speaking meeting every Saturday at 14h00-15h00 in the Tuileries.
UK & Online
Beat
A UK charity offering support and information for anyone who is suffering from an eating disorder, or who knows someone who is. They offer an online chat as well as a helpline in the UK and Ireland.
Talk ED
Supporting people with eating disorders in the UK. You can book a 1:1 support call with them or attend one of their online peer support groups for those contemplating recovery at £20 rather than £100 - a four week course. Also can be paired with someone who has been through the recovery process and understands. Also get nutritional training. Also helpful for anyone struggling with supporting someone they love..
Overeaters Anonymous UK
For anyone struggling with compulsive eating. English-speaking meetings in the UK.
UK & online
Mindline Trans+
mindlinetrans.org.uk⼁📞+44 (0)300 330 5468
A UK support helpline for anyone identifying as transgender, non-binary, genderfluid etc.
Tranzwiki
Comprehensive directory of groups and organisations supporting trans and gender diverse people across the UK. Has an interactive map to find your local options.
Prospects UK article
An article outlining the ways in which you can alleviate feelings of homesickness, featuring our very-own welfare officer, Zoe.
Self Injury Support
UK organisation supporting women and girls who use self-injury. Offers support services, information, resources and self-help guides. Their helpline and chat services are currently suspended.
Calm Harm
App on playstore or Appstore: https://calmharm.co.uk/
This app helps people who have urges to self harm by suggesting other activities to do depending on the reasons behind the urges. It is a good app to use if you find yourself wanting to self harm. It also allows for you to write notes and journal about the urges to spot any patterns that may occur.
Sleepstation
A clinically validated online sleep improvement programme. You can get access to it free in many parts of the UK via the NHS through a referral from your GP.
RSPH Understanding Sleep online course
Understanding Sleep: Don’t Hit Snooze on Your Health
A free online course where you can learn about a range of sleep issues including: sleep as a public health issue, melatonin, drugs and alcohol, sleep and culture, and sleep disorders.
Trauma | Mental Health Foundation
As ULIP students, we have access to the QMUL Disability & Dyslexia Service (DDS). When you enrol, you have the opportunity to declare a disability, mental health condition or specific learning difference (SPLd). If you do this, QMUL will send you an email inviting you to get in touch with DDS so you can access the support you’ll need during your time at uni. There are several ways to get in touch with DDS:
You will be assigned a Disability Advisor from QMUL who will support you for the duration of your degree. You can set up a first meeting online to discuss your needs for making your course more accessible to you. This could include things such as having an SPLd cover note for your coursework, library concessions, unlimited printing credit and adjustments in your classes.
Disabled Students’ Allowance
If you have declared a disability, learning difficulty or health problem to Student Finance, you can then apply for the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA). There are a range of things that you can receive through DSA such as a printer, money towards a computer, specialist software for your computer etc. Unfortunately the companies who provide equipment often will not send it abroad so you would have to arrange for any transport of equipment to France yourself.
You can apply for DSA through your Student Finance account and you should hear back from them within six weeks. If your application is successful, you will be asked to book a Study Needs Assessment at an approved centre. This will usually be one local to you in the UK but you can have your assessment remotely or in-person. The assessment report will then be forwarded onto the DSA team.
First-generation students, also sometimes known as ‘first in the family’ students, are students who are the first person in their family to attend university. Research shows that around two thirds of young undergraduates in the UK are first-generation students.
If you find yourself unable to complete your work on time due to unforeseen circumstances, you may be eligible for extenuating circumstances. Accepted circumstances include illness or injury, personal difficulties, bereavement, being a victim of a crime etc. Things such as uni workload, employment commitments, laptop problems or travel disruptions are not considered extenuating circumstances. If you have a long-term physical or mental health condition, or an SPLd, this is not considered extenuating circumstances in itself. However, if your condition involves periodic unpredictable flare-ups, you can use your diagnosis as evidence for extenuating circumstances when this happens. If you are unsure whether your situation makes you eligible for extenuating circumstances, you can contact a member of Student Services who will advise you. EC claims cover a maximum of two weeks, if you are unable to complete your assignment in this time then you may want to consider summer reassessment. There are two types of claims:
Self-certified claims. These claims can cover a period of up to 1 week from the original deadline and are limited to 3 per student per academic year. You must explain your situation in full but there is no need to submit any evidence. You cannot use two back-to-back self-certified claims for an assessment. Each claim can cover multiple assessments.
Evidence-based claims. These claims can cover a period of up to 2 weeks from the original deadline and there is no limit to the number of evidence-based claims you can submit per year. Each claim can cover multiple assessments. You must submit a piece of evidence for these claims, a guide on what is generally accepted as evidence is below:
Circumstance | Evidence |
Serious illness or injury | Doctor’s note, Hospital admission/discharge certificate, Report from a qualified medical professional |
Unforeseen personal difficulties | Written statement from an external professional e.g. psychiatrist |
Disability/long-term condition | Medical report |
Serious illness or death of an immediate family member or close friend | Copy of death certificate, Funeral programme |
Victim of crime | Police report, Crime reference number |
Legal proceedings requiring attendance at court | Supporting evidence from a court or solicitor |
The summer reassessment period begins around July each year and is an opportunity for students to retake an assessment or exam that they have failed, or to take an assessment for the first time if they had to defer it due to extenuating circumstances. The reassessment essay questions are usually announced around late June/early July and you are usually required to submit the assignments around mid August. Sometimes the questions are the same as the original ones, but sometimes they are changed or adapted. You will usually have less choice in questions for summer reassessment, and often there is only one option. If you have multiple summer reassessments for one module, they are sometimes combined into one essay, but often with compulsory modules this is not the case.
Resits
If you fail an assignment or an exam, you will have another chance to pass in the summer. The grades for resits are capped at a pass (50).
First sits
When you submit an Extenuating Circumstances claim, you have the possibility of choosing the ‘summer reassessment’ option which defers your assessment to the summer. You can choose this option if you don’t feel that an extra two weeks will be enough for you to do your assignment. There is no limit to the number of summer reassessments you can do, but remember that you will only have just over a month to complete them, so it’s best not to give yourself too much to do. The grades for first sits are not capped.
If you are going through a difficult time and it’s impacting your ability to keep up with university work, you might want to consider interrupting your studies. This means taking a break from university either during an academic year or between two academic years. Students often choose to take one year out, but you can interrupt for up to two years. There are many reasons students choose to interrupt, from mental health struggles to financial difficulties, and sometimes they may just want to take a year out to work on something else. It’s a big decision and it’s important to keep in mind that interrupting can sometimes affect your Student Finance allowance and/or Disabled Students allowance. If you are considering this option, you can start by speaking to either your Personal Tutor, your Welfare Officers, or a member of Student Services.
The University of London has set up a hardship fund available to all UoL students who are facing financial hardship. Each student can receive a non-repayable grant of up to £2000. In order to be eligible for the grant, you need to prove that you are in one of the following situations:
To apply to the fund, you need to complete this form and send it to Claire in Student Services (c.miller@ulip.lon.ac.uk) along with your supporting evidence. Normally you would need to provide at least one recent bank statement as evidence of financial hardship along with any relevant evidence such as medical bills if you are facing unforeseen circumstances that have put you in financial difficulty. You can also get a short-term loan from ULIP of up to 600 euros if you’re faced with an emergency situation such as a hospitalisation. You’ll need to complete this form.
If you’re an undergraduate student from England, Scotland or Wales who’s either estranged from their parents or care-experienced, you can apply for Estrangement Status with Student Finance. You can do this when you first apply to university and you will need to prove that you are ‘irreconcilably estranged’ from your parents. If you become estranged from your parents during your time at uni, you can still apply for estrangement status.
You can check out the Estranged and Care Experienced Students (EaCES) handbook here: https://sites.google.com/view/eaces-handbook/
If you’re struggling to afford food, there are places you can turn to in Paris to help you out. We also have a small food bank at ULIP which is there for everyone to donate to, and we top it up regularly. We unfortunately don’t have the means to keep it full all the time, so if you are struggling, please don’t hesitate to use one of the following organisations for students:
Linkee
linkee.co/beneficiaires⼁etudiant@linkee.co
This is an organisation set up to fight food waste and since 2020 has been giving out food packages to students who are struggling financially. To be able to get these food packages, you need to find your closest distribution location and sign up online, then you can turn up with your student card to collect your package. You need to sign up each time you go. You can find more information about the times and locations of the distributions and sign up on their website - the info is in English too!
Cop1 Solidarités Étudiantes
cop1.fr/les-distributions⼁distributions.cop1@gmail.com
This organisation helps students across France by providing them with free access to food and clothing. There are three food distribution locations in Paris and you can sign up on their website. Each student can only go once every fortnight, and you must bring proof of student status.
You can claim housing benefit as a university student in France to help you with the costs of accomodation. You will need to visit caf.fr in order to make an application.
Paris is an expensive city, so here are a few recommendations of places to eat, drink, and shop on a student budget.
Supermarkets…
The cheapest supermarket in Paris is Lidl. Supermarket prices can vary by location but in general Aldi, U Express, Super U, E.Leclerc, Auchan and Intermarché tend to be cheaper than other supermarkets. Another cheap option is Nous anti-gaspi, which sells produce unsold by major supermarkets at up to 50% less than the original price in order to reduce food waste. There are several locations in Paris and there is sometimes a student discount too.
Restaurants & cafés…
Da Rocco, 119 rue de Grenelle, 75007
Apollon, 24 rue Jean Nicot, 75007
IKEA City, 23 bd. de la Madeleine, 75001
Mangez et cassez-vous, multiple locations
Bouillon, multiple locations
Bars…
Le Nouvel Institut, 1 bd. Saint-Germain, 75005
2bis Café, 2B rue des Écoles, 75005
Le Sully, 13 rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, 75010
Café Populaire, 102 rue Saint-Maur, 75011
Le Bar à Mines, 64 rue de Charenton, 75012
Le Cristal, 163 av. de Suffren, 75015
Les Innocents, 77 rue Ordener, 75018
Aux Folies, 8 rue de Belleville, 75020
Thrift shops…
Cheap Frip Vintage, 158 rue Saint-Denis, 75002
Free’P’star, 61 rue de la Verrerie, 75004
Untucked, 94 bd. Poniatowski, 75012
Frishop, multiple locations in the 18th
Emmaüs Riquet, 40 rue de Riquet, 75019
Guerrisol, multiple locations
Kilo Shop, multiple locations
& don’t forget about the clothes swap box in the ULIP music room!
Second-hand furniture…
Emmaüs, multiple locations
You can also check out websites like Le Bon Coin and Gens de Confiance.
If you are a victim of sexual assault, the first thing to do is to speak to someone you trust. You can also call your embassy to ask for guidance. What you do next is up to you, but if you do decide to report it to the police, this is what you can expect and what your rights are as a victim:
If the assault just happened, you can call the police on 17 or 112 or go directly to your nearest police station. Another option is to report it on the dedicated online platform here: plateform en ligne de signalement des violences sexistes et sexuelles which is open 24/7 and run by police officers who are specifically trained in responding to victims of sexual violence.
If you are an adult at the time of the crime, you have up to six years to report it, this is extended to twenty years in the case of rape.
At the police station
If you go to the police station to report the crime, you can either turn up without an appointment or call them beforehand. If the police are called to the scene of the crime, they should bring you to the police station. You have the right to file a report, if for any reason you are not offered an appointment then you should at least be able to talk to someone, and you can request this be a woman. Some police stations have specific trained ‘violence referees’ for this.
When you file a report, you have the right to an interpreter if you do not speak French well or at all. Often it can take some time for an interpreter to become available, especially if it is nighttime. If you are accompanied by someone who does speak French, the police may suggest that you designate them as your interpreter, and it is up to you if you agree. You have the right to be accompanied by someone of your choice throughout the process. The welfare officers will also be willing to accompany you should you wish.
When reporting the crime, you will be taken to a private room to give your statement. You will be asked to give a detailed account of what happened, and they will follow up with questions to make sure they have the most information possible. Take your time as this is a difficult process and remember you do not have to respond to any questions you don’t feel comfortable answering. Don’t forget to mention any possible witnesses who could also give a witness statement. Your statement will be printed out so that you can read it to make sure it’s correct, take your time to read it before signing. If you remember something later, you can always make an additional statement.
It is the responsibility of the police to collect anything you have in your possession that will help them identify the assailant.
At the medical consultation
If you go to the police to report the crime, they will give you a paper so you can access the Unité Médico-Judiciaire (UMJ), a specialised medical unit for treating and examining victims who have filed a police report. In Paris, this is located at the Hôpital Hôtel-Dieu (opposite Notre Dame). It’s best to go to the UMJ as soon as possible to avoid losing any evidence. When you go, you should bring:
You will go to the reception and be told to sit in the waiting room to be called by a doctor. The doctor will talk to you about what happened and how you feel, then they will examine you with your consent. This may involve a clinical examination of your body including your genitals, checking for traces of violence such as bruises and photographing them, taking internal and/or external swabs for DNA and also evaluating your psychological state. They will give you any medical care that you might need including the morning after pill, PREP or an STD test if necessary. They should also point you in the direction of services that offer psychological support specifically for people who have suffered sexual violence. You should be provided with a medical certificate which will be added to your police dossier (don’t forget to keep a copy for yourself).
What happens next?
The police will try to identify the assailant, and they might ask you to help them by showing you photos. If they have already arrested someone, they can be held in custody for 24 hours or up to 48 if the public prosecutor agrees.
If the assailant’s version of events does not match yours, which is often the case as aggressors do not tend to want to accept what they have done, then you could be asked if you will agree to attend a ‘confrontation’. This involves an officer speaking with both the victim and the accused and asking questions about the two statements, but with neither of you being allowed to address each other directly. Obviously, this is not at all an easy thing to ask of you, and you have the right to refuse.
The police will submit the report to the public prosecutor and they will decide on the next step.
Information mostly translated from: Collectif Feministe Contre le Viol - livret juridique
For support services in France, you can contact any of the following organisations:
Collectif féministe contre le viol.
Provides a free listening service, support and information to anyone who has been sexually assaulted. They can inform you of your options and it’s possible to remain anonymous if you prefer. Their website has a number of useful resources on legal rights, emotional support as well as advice on how to support someone who has been assaulted. The line is open Monday - Friday from 10am until 7pm.
🖥️ cfcv.asso.fr ⼁📞+33 (0)800 05 95 95
France Victimes. Organisation supporting victims of sexual violence in France. They have an online chat where you can talk to a professional as well as various resources and advice.
A mindfulness psychedelic therapy podcast that could be used to destress/ relax.
Link: here
Various podcasts on a variety of topics.
Link: here
Loads of different podcasts, often with experts in their topics
Link: here