Nightline Awareness Week runs from 20th November – 26th November with a variety of events throughout the week around Sheffield. As a service run for students, by students, let’s take a deeper look into the organisation.
What is Nightline?
Nightline was created in 1970 at the University of Essex, in an effort to reduce local student suicide rates. Since then, it has been adopted by numerous universities around the UK, including University of Sheffield in the 1970s. Sheffield Hallam joined the organisation in 2011 to provide the service to students all across the city.
Nightline is made up of two separate services, a listening service and an information service. You can contact Nightline by calling the number on the back of your SHU card or by the text, email or instant messaging services that are accessible through the Nightline website.
Nightline’s phone lines are open every night in term time, between 8pm and 8am, and the text and instant messaging service are open 8pm until midnight. You can contact the service any time between these hours to talk about things that are on your mind in a confidential and anonymous way. The email service is open all year round.
There’s no specific reason to call Nightline – whether it’s to talk about problems you’re having with your flatmates or more serious mental health issues you’re experiencing, the listeners are trained to listen without judgement.
Is Nightline Anonymous?
Nightline is a 100% anonymous and confidential service. This means that both the caller and the call taker are anonymous and so you can be sure that whatever you speak about does not go any further.
What kinds of calls does Nightline get?
A wide variety! Calls range from trying to find a decent takeaway to more serious discussions about mental health difficulties, stress and bereavement. There’s no problem too big or small to call about – if it’s playing on your mind it’s important enough to call about.
Nightline Awareness Week
Nightline Awareness Week is a great time to get to know the service and come and meet some of our Friends of Nightline, students and ex-students who support the service in their spare time without the commitment of taking calls. The timetable this year is as follows:
Monday 20th November
Biscuit Decorating at the Well Being Café, University of Sheffield - 6pm – 8pm
Tuesday 21st November
Bake Sale, Heart of Campus 10am – 4pm
Bake Sale, Beach Huts, University of Sheffield S.U. - 11am – 3pm
Wednesday 22nd November
Percy the Penguin Glitters Up Crystal, Crystal Nightclub, 11pm – Late
Percy the Penguin Helps Roary at Roar, University of Sheffield S.U. 11pm – Late
Thursday 23rd November
Pub Quiz, The Doctors Orders - 8pm – 10pm
Friday 24th November
Carnival Event at Hallam, Owen Level 6, 10am-2pm
Saturday 25th November
Glow Sticking at Poptarts, University of Sheffield S.U.
Come along to the events to learn more about the service, have some fun and get some Nightline goodies! And don’t forget – you can contact Nightline any time using the number on the back of your SHU card.