Health Issues

Int. Students Union

This section provides information about medical insurance for international residents in Norway, accessing medical services, as well as counceling services provided by SiÅs. For further information check http://sias.no/english/counselling/

In this section:
-Social consultant
-Psychologist'
-Useful telephone numbers
-Health/social related contacts
-Doctors in Ås

Social consultant

Students can contact Social Consultant Torgeir Hansen in the Circus-building, room 117, ground floor.

The opening hours are:
09.00 - 15.00 Mondays – Fridays.
The office is open for "Drop-in"-talks from
09 - 11.00 every day.

The Service is also available from 12.00-15.00 if you phone and make an appointment in advance. Wednesdays after 12 o’clock will be kept for meetings and courses.

Telephone number 64947590 or mobile number 90156440 (You can also send SMS-messages).

E-mail: torgeir.hansen@sias.no

Torgeir Hansen has got more than 20 years experience in different social offices in Norway. He is a trained Social Worker since 1988, and finished his exam in mental-health work (for nurses and social workers) in 2002.

The service is meant to be easy to get in touch with. The services are also supposed to secure good life quality for the students and to motivate the students to "keep the spirit" in their studies and in their lives.
If you're in doubt, don't hesitate to have an informal conversation with the Social Consultant.

He's got long experience in network building as he's got contacts within the health-, social- and culture institutions within the Student Society
(Studentsamskipnaden i Ås - SiÅs) and the local community (Ås kommune).

* He's got contacts within the State's (Norway) services, like the hospitals, and the services for psychiatric illnesses and drug/alcohol-addiction.
* The Unemployment (Aetat) office and
* The Pension office (Trygdekontor).

The service from the social consultant is free of charge.

The social consultant can help you to get in touch with Student Society's psychologist.

The social consultant can help you fill in public forms. You can get practical help or get help to get in touch with the right services in cases regarding:
Health/illness

* Information about legal rights and services
* Prices/Refunds for doctors and medicine
* How to get your own doctor
* Support conversations for students with life-lasting illnesses
* Help to handle mental problems
* Cooperation/contact with hospitals and clinics

Social issues
The social consultant can offer advice and counselling on issues like:

* Economical advice - personal economy,
* Drug/alcohol addiction
* Family problems
* Network- Relations to partners, friends, other students, parents, staff, supervisor, and so on.
* Pregnancy
* Abortion
* Problems in partnerships/marriages
* Divorce
* Parent cooperation after divorce
* Emotional problems/crisis
* Motivation
* Violence/mistreatment/discrimination
* Anorexia / Bulimia / eating disorders
* Summer jobs/part time jobs
* Emotional support regarding loss of close relations: -Psychological help or a student-priest can be provided, support-groups can be made.

Psychologist

Almost half of the population experience psychological problems in one form or another during a lifetime. Students are no exception. They experience a lot of stress and pressure from the University, from their family, friends and from other students. Not to mention the pressure students put on themselves. Every person has a limit for how much he or she can take.
Because of this, SiÅs offers students the opportunity to discuss their problems with a psychologist. To go to a psychologist doesn’t mean that you’re ill. The service offers you a chance to have a professional looking at your situation together with you. Early intervention can prevent psychological problems later in life. The offer is intended mainly to give students the chance to discuss their problems in safe circumstances. The service has been established with provision for approximately 2-3 hours per student.

If you are in need of acute psychiatric help, or know of someone who does, (for example in cases of suicidal feelings or psychosis), it is best to take contact an emergency first-aid doctor (legevakten). Call 113. These are the people best prepared to respond to a crisis. Please contact the SiÅs if you would like to know more about this service.

Kristin Øvreeide, Specialist in clinical psychology.

Making an Appointment

Visiting the psychologist is free for all students at UMB. The psychologist is from the 9th of February 2005, available on Wednesdays 09.00-14.15. You can make an appointment on tel. (64 94) 7590. However we recommend that you speak to the social consultant before you make an appointment.

The psychologist receives visitors in the GG-hallen. Remember that you must make an appointment in advance.

Cancelling an Appointment

Please make sure you cancel your appointment if you are not coming to the psychologist. This may be done on tel. (6494)7590. You must let us know by 12 o’clock 2 days before the appointment day. You will be charged for missing an appointment if you do not cancel it.

Missing an Appointment

Late cancellation or failure to show up for an appointment for no good reason, will result in a charge of NOK 350,- which must be paid before further appointments can be made.

The Health-services for young people can give you supervision and advice on these issues:

Health problems, partnership/marriage and sexuality, prevention, psychological support, eating disorders, stop smoking, vaccination, addiction and general advice on how to get help in the public health-system.

Useful telephone-numbers:

Legal advice

JUSS-BUSS - You can get free legal advice from Juss-buss. Opening hours: Mondays 10.00 - 15.00. Thursdays 17.00 - 20.00, 7 Arbins Gate(Arbin's street), 0253 Oslo. Tel. 22 84 29 00.

JURK - General Legal advice for women, organizes groups for women who have suffered violence or been mistreated . Separate groups for immigrants. Situated in Oslo. Tel. 22 84 29 50.

FRI RETTSHJELP (Free of charge legal aid) - It is possible to apply to the state to receive free help from a lawyer depending on what kind of problem you have and if your income is low. For more information call Fri Rettshjelp, Storgata 19, Oslo. Tel. 22 42 52 60.

ADVOKATFORENINGEN: The Norwegian Lawyers Union (Den Norske Advokatforening) offers free legal advice without appointment Thursdays 16.00 - 19.00 situated in Kr. Augustsgate 9, Oslo. Tel. 22 03 50 50.

Health-/social related contacts
The Health Office in Ås kommune offers these services:

-Midwife, pregnancy controls, vaccination programmes for children and general advice for parents.

-Advice regarding pregnancies, contraceptives, abortion and sexually related diseases. The office also provides general health advice.

-Vaccination: If you are travelling outside Western Europe you will probably need some vaccination. If you want us to help you with this at reasonable prices, please contact the Health Office.
Telephone number 64962240. The office is situated in Vektergården, Moerveien 5.

Psychiatric help: Folloklinikken, Åsenveien 3, 1440 SKI tel. 64852000
Acute Team: tel. 64852230, after 16.00: tel. 91109242.

Crisis-centre for Women in Follo (Krisesenteret for Follo): Langbakken 9, Post box 152, 1430 Ås. Tel. 64 97 23 00.

Incest-centre for Follo (Incestsenter for Follo): Tel. 64 97 23 30.

Child-care Services (Barneverntjenester): Ås kommune - tlf. 64 96 20 00.

Dentists – There are several dentist in the area. The Social Consultant can help finding a dentist for you.

Published: 09.03.06
Updated: 10.12.11
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