Study Ireland – Stories & Guides from International Students

For students, mental health always remains a hot topic. We like reels about “finishing this degree before it finishes me”, we know the keywords of burnout, we send memes about “depression not hitting a moving target,” and maybe we’ve even been called the “therapist friend” in our friend group. But when it comes to actually reaching out for help, standing in front of the UL Counselling Service door can suddenly feel like a much bigger step than we expected. 

You might start telling yourself things like: 

“Other people have it worse” 

“I just need to get through this one more tough week” 

“I should be able to fix this on my own eventually” 

And while those thoughts might sound reasonable, at their core they often dismiss what you’re truly feeling. The truth is — you don’t need to face these things alone. 

What it’s like to reach out 

I wanted to share what the process actually looks like, because sometimes the hardest part is simply not knowing how to get involved. 

The UL counselling service is located in the main building, level M, block C, right across from the student health centre. You don’t need to book an appointment because they operate on a walk-in basis. During the semester, drop-in hours are Monday to Friday, 10:00–11:40 AM, and during off-semester periods, they’re open Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:00–11:40 AM. 

When you arrive, you’ll be welcomed by friendly staff who genuinely want to help. You will be asked to fill out a few surveys to determine the main issues you’re dealing with, as well as a few forms that explain the nature of the counselling services. Everything you share is confidential and used to best accommodate your needs. 

After that, you’ll be assigned a counsellor or another support service depending on your situation. Sometimes, you might get waitlisted, but they’ll contact you as soon as there’s an opening. From there, it becomes a collaborative process — you and your counsellor working together to explore what’s going on and how to best navigate it. 

If I could give one piece of advice, it would be to communicate. Let them know what you need, what kind of approach helps you, and what doesn’t. A therapeutic relationship, like any relationship, works best when it’s built on trust, honesty, and interpersonal boundaries. 

Also, remember that the people at the counselling service are not just professionals — they’re individuals who are committed to supporting students. They understand the challenges of student life, the academic pressures, the homesickness, and everything in between. They’re there to help you find your footing again. 

My own experience 

When I first reached out, I wasn’t sure what it would be like. I was skeptical and, to be frank, scared. But from the present point of view, I genuinely believe it was a necessary decision and ended up to be a very positive experience. 

The sessions created a safe space for me in the middle of campus, where deadlines and tasks and to-do lists could be put on the backburner for a while. Instead, I could finally talk about the things that sat just below the surface and weighed me down. I was met with empathy, understanding, and support. What I soon realized during the sessions was that for me the focus wasn’t about coming up with all the answers and long-term solutions on the spot. Instead, it was about letting me breathe out, re-connect with what I was feeling and provide resources for future reference.  

That’s another thing I appreciated about the service. If you need additional help, they’re happy to connect you with them, whether that’s referrals to other systems beyond the university. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach; it’s a process of figuring out what works for you. 

And it’s important to know that going to counselling doesn’t have to be a last resort. You don’t have to wait until things feel unbearable to reach out. Sometimes it’s simply about having a safe space to check in and reflect. 

Why I’m sharing this 

I wanted to write this because I know how hard it can be to take that first step. When you’re already struggling, the idea of asking for help can feel like an extra layer of responsibility — like something else you have to manage. But it isn’t. Reaching out is not a sign of failure, it’s an act of self-care. Taking care of your mental health isn’t something you have to earn by “having it bad enough.” You deserve support simply because you’re you and because life, especially university life, can be overwhelming sometimes. 

So, if you’ve been hesitating, or if you’ve been putting it off until “things calm down,” consider this your gentle reminder: you don’t have to do this alone. 

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