The Faculty of Law recognises the importance of well-being to successful and rewarding studies. We offer a high level of support to students, so that you have every chance of success during your time at Otago.
Support provided by our staff
Our Dean, Faculty and staff care about student well-being, and we are available to discuss conditions or circumstances that you may be facing.
Contact list of staff with special support roles
Well-being co-ordinator
For any comments, suggestions or queries in relation to well-being within the Faculty of Law, please contact Anna High:
Email anna.high@otago.ac.nz
Law-specific wellness resources
Focus, resilience, balance and overall wellness are essential to a successful and fulfilling experience as a law student. It is important that you feel supported in pursuing well-being, both as a student and in preparation for practice – research suggests that many lawyers struggle in this area.
A resource page put together by the Law library
University well-being services
The University of Otago provides a range of well-being services specifically for students:
- Campus Watch – available to offer mainly pastoral assistance and advice on a 24/7 basis
- Career Development Centre
- Conflict resolution and mediation services
- Graduate well-being coach – 1:1 coaching available for graduate students to help you maximise academic performance by improving well-being, balance and productivity
- Māori Student Support Services
- OUSA Queer Support
- OUSA Student Support – for advice, support and advocacy including tenancy/flatting, finances, academics and safety
- Pacific Islands Student Support Services
- Student Health – including same-day mental health appointments. For mental health support any time, text free to 1737.
- Te Whare Tāwharau – sexual violence support and prevention centre
- University Chaplains
A range of University services for students and staff
Need to talk? Dunedin/national helplines
Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor.
- Alcohol and Drug Helpline – 0800 787 797 or online chat
- Anxiety phone line – 0800 269 4389 (0800 ANXIETY)
- Are You OK – 0800 456 450 – family violence helpline
- Depression Helpline – 0800 111 757 or free text 4202 to talk to a trained counsellor
- Gambling Helpline – 0800 654 655
- Healthline – 0800 611 116
- Lifeline – 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE)
- OUTLine NZ – 0800 688 5463 – confidential sexual or gender identity helpline
- Quit Line – 0800 778 778 – smoking cessation help
- Rape Crisis – 0800 883 300 – for support after rape or sexual assault
- Samaritans – 0800 726 666
- Shakti Crisis Line – 0800 742 584 – for migrant or refugee women living with family violence
- Shine – 0508 744 633 – confidential domestic abuse helpline
- Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
- Women's Refuge Crisisline – 0800 733 843 (0800 REFUGE) – for women living with violence, or in fear, in their relationship or family
- Youthline – 0800 376 633, free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat