#LetsTalk Podcast The University of Edinburgh

Overcoming Mental Health Stigma, 10bigideas Scotland: Ailie Ross-Oliver,
3rd year Politics undergraduate, joins Harriet Harris, to talk about
her policy research into mental health stigmatisation, as part of the
student-led think-tank, the Buchanan Institute, which has just launched its ‘10
Big Ideas for Scotland’. When our mental health deteriorates we can be most
concerned to come across as seeming ok, because we fear or experience being
stigmatised. Ailie and colleagues propose legislative and educational changes
to prevent stigmatisation. For more information on their work, see here:



10 Big Ideas for
Scotland website (full report and pledges found here): https://www.10bigideasscotland.com/?fbclid=IwAR1NG3e19aR85cn_yvvHSixZX-cXoSi1a-qsus0apcM4dygmZaQ36qgoorM
Buchanan Institute
website: https://www.buchananinst.org/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/10bigideas2025
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/10ideasscotland/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/10bigideas2025/


 

Let’s Talk podcast,
Islamophobia Awareness


 


In this episode, I am joined
by staff member Umar Malik and PhD student Estifa’a Zaid, for a special
recording made in Islamophobia Awareness Month. Estifa’a and Umar talk about
their experiences of growing up as Muslims in the UK, of coming to normalise Islamophobic
behaviour, and of bracing themselves for reprisal attacks after terrorist
incidents (so-called ‘Islamist’ or otherwise). They talk about reporting hate
crimes, and why people may not choose to report; the targeting of hijab-wearing
women; the intersection with racism and the momentum of Black Lives Matter; and
the intensifying of Islamophobic and racist experiences after the Brexit vote.
They look for improved relations between journalists and Muslim communities as
one way of curbing scaremongering and growing understanding.


 


Resources associated with
this podcast:


Please see these excellent Stand-Up
to Hate animations.


MEND, Muslim Engagement and
Development, https://www.mend.org.uk/about-mend/


Umar Malik’s blog, Islamophobia
and Me,


Estifa’a Zaid’s blog about
the Syrian Tutoring Programme and Black Lives Matter,


Zain Hussain’s blog on Co-existence
and Black Lives Matter,


This current MOOC on
FutureLearn: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/an-introduction-to-the-sharia-and-islamic-law


Plus a new free short online
course, which starts in January 2021, called Christian Muslim Relations - visit
FutureLearn in the new year to find out more and sign up if you're
interested"


And the work of
Ewan McAndrew and Glaire Anderson in adding Islamic Art to Wikipedia.


 

In this podcast, recorded especially in hybrid times when
many students are self-isolating in their halls and flats, and doing their
learning digitally, I am joined by international fitness trainer Ricky Long.
Ricky and his partner Lyndsey Morrison have put together a team of fitness
experts who are providing streamed workouts especially for those who are stuck
indoors. On most days there are 3 exercise work-outs a day – amazing and all
free of charge to members of the University. Ricky talks about the benefits of
exercise for physical and mental health. He gives us some great tips for
building healthy habits into our lives, structuring our living spaces so that
the chair for studying is different from the place for watching Netflix, and
owning our morning (whatever time the morning starts for us) so that we can own
our day.


The link for the fitness workouts is here


https://www.ed.ac.uk/students/health-wellbeing/live-streaming-exercise-classes


Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rickylong42/ 

Holly McConnell is a 2nd year PE undergraduate, who began university at
the age of 16, and in lockdown is combining university work with supporting her
parents, who are both profoundly deaf. Holly tells us about the Youtube videos
that she is making with her Mum, sharing signs so that others can learn more
about British Sign Language. She also talks about growing up with sign language
as her first language, and learning English at nursery age. She talks about
moving into halls and starting university so young, and having been used to a
quiet household. She loves her sport and her friends, and is also aware of an
impact on her mental health, and she shares with us ways she develops to stay
mentally well.

For Coronavirus updates and advice,and FAQs please see the University
webpages here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/news/covid-19
The Chaplaincy blogs ‘For Times Like These’ https://www.ed.ac.uk/chaplaincy/for-times-like-these are written
specifically for mental health and wellbeing support during lockdown, as are
these mindfulness virtual
drop-ins: https://www.ed.ac.uk/chaplaincy/mindfulness-and-wellbeing/mindfulness-virtual-drop-ins
For University support 
The University Listening Service (for students and staff) is continuing
throughout the lockdown, listening.service@ed.ac.uk
Student Counselling Service, https://www.ed.ac.uk/student-counselling
Staff Counselling Service, https://www.ed.ac.uk/counselling-services/staff
If any of the issues in this broadcast have affected you and you’d like
support, here are some helplines.
If you feel that you or someone you are with is in danger right now,
please call 999
A 24/ hour emergency mental health service, Mental health assessment
service on 0131
537 6000.
·       Breathing Space 0800 83 85 87
·       The Samaritans 08457 90 90 90





































·       Edinburgh Crisis Centre 0808 801 0414

Alison Hendry is the British Sign Language Development Officer with the
University of Edinburgh Student Disability Service. She is joined for this
podcast by her BSL interpreter Anna Spence.


Alison tells us about the challenges for communication and technology
that lockdown presents for her, and her appreciation of the BSL Scotland Act,
which led to the creation of her post at the University, and which ensures that
all Scottish Government Covid19 updates have an interpreter present so that people
are not missing crucial information. Alison also talks about the anxiety of
moving her BSL teaching on line, how imposter syndrome can kick in, and how
regular connections with family and friends helps to keep her spirits up.
During Deaf Awareness Week Alison made a series of videos, including one where
her Mum gives her
perspective on having a deaf child. It’s very informative - have a look here: -
 https://twitter.com/alisonhendry16/status/1259483570986418178?s=21

Heather, student mental health and influencing public policy


 


Heather McAdam, a third year undergraduate intercalating with Global
Health, and soon to return to the Medical School, is also the Student Association
Rep for the Medical School and founder of the mental health support community,
WellMed. Heather spoke in the previous Let’s Talk podcast series, on suicidality.
Now she is back to tell us about her work during lockdown with the Scottish
Government Mental Health Directorate, engaging young people in policy making.
She describes some of the key challenges of lockdown for students, who are
caught in a middle ground between governmental and societal focus on school
education on the one hand, and business and employment on the other. Can
governments and organisations reach out more to students, and now that the old
social influencers have stepped back, can young people step forward?
For Coronavirus updates and advice,and FAQs please see the University
webpages here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/news/covid-19
The Chaplaincy blogs ‘For Times Like These’ https://www.ed.ac.uk/chaplaincy/for-times-like-these are written
specifically for mental health and wellbeing support during lockdown, as are
these mindfulness virtual
drop-ins: https://www.ed.ac.uk/chaplaincy/mindfulness-and-wellbeing/mindfulness-virtual-drop-ins
For University support 
The University Listening Service (for students and staff) is continuing
throughout the lockdown, listening.service@ed.ac.uk
Student Counselling Service, https://www.ed.ac.uk/student-counselling
Staff Counselling Service, https://www.ed.ac.uk/counselling-services/staff
If any of the issues in this broadcast have affected you and you’d like
support, here are some helplines.
If you feel that you or someone you are with is in danger right now,
please call 999
A 24/ hour emergency mental health service, Mental health assessment
service on 0131
537 6000.
·       Breathing Space 0800 83 85 87
·       The Samaritans 08457 90 90 90





































·       Edinburgh Crisis Centre 0808 801 0414