CN: Long post, World Mental Health Day, Mental illness Vs physical illness, Discussion of problematic disability narratives It’s really great to see so many posts, campaigns, and events for World Mental Health Day, and as someone who’s struggled with mental health for a long time it’s so wonderful to have seen a culture shift […]
New guide available on reasonable adjustments and SSDs
As a disabled student – or a student with a long-term illness – you’re often entitled to specific support arrangements to aid with your studies. This support is known as having reasonable adjustments, and it’s a legal requirement for the University to put them in place for you. This guide, developed by the Disabled Students’ […]
‘In Camouflage’ zine released!
In 2016, CUSU Disabled Students’ Campaign organised an event called ‘Autistic People, Not Gendered Minds’, in opposition to a talk given by Simon Baron-Cohen in Cambridge at the time. This discussion challenged Baron-Cohen’s extreme male brain theory of autism, and created a space for autistic people to discuss how gender and autism interact. ‘In Camouflage’, […]
We’re developing a discrimination reporting system!
Over the coming months we’ll be developing a reporting service for Cambridge students who have experienced discrimination and harassment due to their disabilities. In the meantime, though, we’ve developed a resource to help students identify instances of discrimination and harassment. This document covers direct and indirect discrimination, victimisation, and harassment, and gives examples of each. […]
Disabled Students’ Officer Updates: 15/05/17
Promoted Mental Health Awareness Week (8-14 May), including visiting lecture sites with resources created by CUSU on mental health at Cambridge. Attended University committees on DTLS, Lecture Capture, Health and Wellbeing, and the University Counselling Service, as well as a working group on updating student wellbeing pages. Attended a meeting of the CUSU Board of Trustees Attended […]
Accessing Support Services at Cambridge – #MHAW17
Content note: intermission, self-harm, eating disorders Written by Sophie Buck. There’s support available on a number of levels: student, college, university, local and national. At the student level, there are a range of areas through which you can seek – or provide – support. Peer2Peer is available to members of all colleges. Additionally, Nightline, a […]
Men and Mental Health – #MHAW17
Content note: violence, substance abuse Written by Sophie Buck. It’s a fact that men often feel less able to access mental health support, especially varying in accordance with the oppressions they experience. While attitudes towards gender and gender roles are changing, restricting ideas about masculinity prevent many men from feeling comfortable talking about their mental health and when […]
The Importance of Self-Care – #MHAW17
Written by Sophie Buck. What does the modern buzzword “self-care” mean and why is it necessary to make time for it in your busy Cambridge schedule? The concept of “self-care” (caring for oneself) has long historical roots, yet it was black lesbian feminist Audre Lorde that popularised and politicised it in 1988: “caring for myself […]
Mental Health as a Disability – You mean, it counts? #MHAW17
It still sometimes shocks people to learn that in certain cases, mental health conditions can be classed as disabilities – even though you can’t always see the debilitating effects mental health conditions can have on you. Today’s post will talk about mental illnesses as an unseen disability, how this all fits in with the law, and […]
Supporting Your Friends – #MHAW17
When experiencing difficulties, students are more likely to tell their friends than anyone else (Student Minds, ‘Mind the Gap’ Report, 2011). Therefore, it’s important to know how to support your friends in an effective way that bears in mind your own wellbeing too. Create a culture of support. Remind friends that things they’re valued and […]