About 4000 staff and students take advantage of Monash’s free counselling service each year, according to the director of community services, Mr Robin Coventry.

Mr Coventry said the service, available at all Monash campuses in Australia, helps staff and students deal with issues ranging from adjusting to university life and study difficulties to relationship and workplace problems.

Staffed by psychologists and social workers, the service also sees staff and students who are experiencing anxiety and depression, trauma, grief, poor self-esteem, addictive problems, loneliness and isolation, and suicidal tendencies.

Mr Coventry, who has been involved in community services at Monash for 25 years, says counselling can help staff members cope with work stress caused through restructure or a change in status.

“Staff come to counselling for assistance with a variety of issues such as dealing with a crisis, strengthening coping skills, improving relationships and increasing resilience at work,” Mr Coventry said.

Ms Sally Trembath-Hastings heads the Clayton branch of the Monash counselling service, which helps staff and students develop strategies to deal with difficulties.

“Counsellors can help by guiding people through periods of intense personal pain or confusion, anger and disillusionment, when they can see no solution and no value in their studies or work.

“We work to overcome these difficulties, often through exploring and understanding some underlying issue which may be longstanding or acute – and we go on to work with people so they develop new approaches and strategies.”

Mr Coventry said the 21 October anniversary of the shootings at the Clayton campus, combined with media coverage of the recent committal hearing of the accused, could be distressing for staff and students and urged anybody affected to contact the service.

For more information, visit www.monash.edu.au/commserv/ or call extn 53156 (Clayton), extn 32500 (Caulfield), extn 47016 (Berwick), extn 44223 (Peninsula), extn 26425 (Gippsland) or extn 39635 (Parkville).

Immediate appointments may be possible in an emergency, but it is normally advisable to book in advance.