Monday 21st to Sunday the 27th January 2013
Mental Health Awareness Week
After preparing for this week for so long, it finally arrived! I'm going to stick to my favourite bits - and I've even numbered them!
1. Taking photos of societies
I went to several society gatherings this week and last, and made some posters. Not only was it lovely to meet you all, but it was an enormous pleasure that you were taking part in Mental Health Awareness Week. Unravelling the pieces of paper that people had scribbled "yes" or "no" onto, was incredible. Each slip of paper was anonymous - and with every "yes" I wondered who you had told, if anyone, and how you were doing. I wondered if that piece of paper was the only one that knew. I'd like to thank Voices of Holloway, Gospel Choir, IFIS, Ultimate Frisbee, MTS, Amnesty, the Dance Society committee and finally Exec for taking part in this project.
2. Let's Talk About Mental Health
Previously a little nervous about how the talk would work - it turned out to be fantastic. Each speaker (and contributor) was honest and yet open minded to others experiences. People felt comfortable to talk to each other about what was and wasn't useful - we even touched on the experiences of the family, that mental health is a class issue and also how it disproportionately affects BME. These were all things I'd never really thought about (despite preparing for this week for so long!). We were slowly breaking down the stigma surrounding Mental Health. We talked about how to work it out, where to seek help and what kind of support friends and family can provide.
3. Mental Health Stall in the SU on Tuesday
Tuesday = market day. Kenny and Tina (SU advisory services) took the stall for a bit, and then I took over. It was lovely to see people cautiously come up to the stand - we had so much information, so many cool postcards, so many helplines that you couldn't help but walk away with a couple in your pocket! It was nice to talk to people to see what they knew about Mental Health Awareness Week already, but more importantly, what they knew about mental health!
An enormous shout out to Kenny and Jamie, because together we made the week happen.
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| Say "I do" to Equal Marriage! |
Philip Hammond
This gentleman is our local MP, and he disagrees with same-sex marriage. He came to Holloway for a talk this Friday, and up to 60 people turned up to protest outside when he entered the building. As Equality & Liberation Officer I believe in marriage between people who love each other, so sex really doesn't come into it. We chanted with our banners, and Jack and Joe had a short interview with the MP. I suppose that if I was hoping for him to change his mind and agree with us, then I was naive. You can find the excellent report on the interview, written by Jack here: http://anticuts.com/2013/01/25/philip-hammond-homophobia/
The turn out was fantastic, so thank you to all of those who came to stand in the cold and the dark to prove to our MP that we do care about how he votes, and that he should think about that.
Save Lewisham Hospital
Are you fed up of seeing me being revolting in a red beret? Then look away now!
Lewisham Hospital in London is facing threats of cuts to it's new A&E, it's intensive care and Maternity and children's services. The truth is that this Hospital performs very well, and serves 750,000 Londoners - it shouldn't be cut. At the last demonstration for this cause, there were 15,000 marchers. This time there were 25,000! It was a beautiful day, and although the walk was long the young children were very entertaining to watch. I haven't been on many Demos, but this was the first community march I had been on. There were dogs and children, families with grandparents and aunts - many holding signs revealing the date that Lewisham Hospital had played a part in their lives. It was lovely. Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary will decide come February. Find out more by clicking on the link of the above photo.
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| Save Lewisham A&E |
Today is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. There is a service in the Chapel at RHUL at 6pm, find it on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/events/504382472956073/
That's all from me this week!
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