King’s is committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive and safe environment for all members of our community. This means protecting our students, staff and visitors both on our campuses and in our digital spaces from the following unacceptable behaviours:
- bullying
- harassment
- sexual misconduct, and
- restriction of free speech or academic freedom.
Gaslighting is contrary to the King's College London's Dignity at King's - Prevention of Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy
It's happened to someone I know, what can I do?
- Think
- Find a safe space. If an incident has just happened, try and find somewhere you feel safe.
- What is gaslighting? It might be useful to think about what is meant by gaslighting and how this behaviour is described.
- Report
- Students and staff can report an incident using King's Report and Support system.
- You can choose to do this anonymously or you can request support from an advisor. If you choose to talk to an advisor, they will be able to talk through the options and support available to you, in confidence.
- If you choose to make a formal complaint to us about a student or member of staff there are procedures which set out the steps you'll need to follow.
- Get support
- There is a wide range of support available to you as a student at King's. For broad information on anything to do with your health, please visit Health & wellbeing on Student Services Online.
- For more specific information on support you can access, please refer to these articles:
- Top tips on managing your mental health & wellbeing
- What specialist mental health services can I access?
- Top tips on managing your physical health while studying
- What student support services are available at King's?: For a full run-down of all student support services available to you, including how to contact them.
- You may want to consider approaching your Personal Tutor, Faculty Wellbeing & Welfare Team, the Chaplaincy or any other trusted person, to talk about anything difficult you may be experiencing and help you find the best source of support for you.
It's happened to someone I know, what can I do?
If you know someone who has been affected by gaslighting, you are not alone and support is available.
- Think
- Find a safe space. If an incident has just happened, try to help them find somewhere they feel safe.
- What is gaslighting? It might be useful to think about what is meant by gaslighting and how this behaviour is described.
- Talk
- Listen. Just taking the time to listen to someone and talk about what has happened can help. Try these 6 active listening tips to help you support them.
- Give options. When they have finished talking, ask them if they are okay to talk through some possible options and next steps.
- You can encourage them to seek support. If this is a fellow student, encourage them to explore the guidance we have on Student Services Online, as described above, especially for our guidance for looking after your health and wellbeing.
- Alternatively, you can make an anonymous disclosure which will allow us to investigate if there are multiple instances in one area.
- Find out more
- You can read information from Solace Women’s Aid: Have you heard about gaslighting?
- Get support
- You may want to seek out support yourself for guidance on the best way to help the person you know who's been affected.
- You may want to consider approaching your Personal Tutor, Faculty Wellbeing & Welfare Team, the Chaplaincy or any other trusted person to help you help someone else.
- If the gaslighting is related to gender-based violence, you may want to seek support from Solace Women’s Aid or Refuge.