Mental Health and Disability Awareness Week
Contents Campaign Information …………………3 What is a disability……………………...4 Harmful phrases………………………..5 Discussion point………………………..6 Who to speak to………………………..7
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Campaign Aims This campaign aims to raise awareness about groups normally stigmatised in everyday life. All statistics and facts are important about groups of people who have disabilities that result in discrimination. This campaign wants to go further than bringing these facts to the forefront by hopefully making Butlerites more aware of stigma and discrimination and ensuring that we are an even more inclusive college.
This week: Monday - Pop-in with information on the counselling service 12-1pm JCR Lounge Tuesday - Welfare at Mentor Night Welfare Discussion: “Should we regard mental health problems as illnesses?” Tea and biscuits provided 7pm JCR Lounge Wednesday - Coffee and a chat with welfare 5pm 14 Mount Joy Crescent Thursday - Pop-in with information on the disability service 3-4pm JCR Lounge Welfare at Mentor Night Friday - Welfare Discussion: “Is an individual disabled or does society disable individuals?” Tea and biscuits provided
6:30pm JCR Lounge Saturday - Sitting Volleyball Session 8-9pm Howlands
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What is a disability? You are disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities. Durham University Disability Service will provide support to students whose university experience is impacted by: a recognised disability
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a specific learning difficulty
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a medical condition or a mental health problem.
A disability is recognised through medical systems, however, in everyday lives can be distorted to mean something fundamentally negative. This preconception is dangerous and leads to stigma towards those who face problems due to their disabilities.
Hearing
Emotional Cognitive Physical Visual Learning Autism
Retarded Special Insane Invalid Subnormal Unable Freak 4
Sometimes things that are said are careless and will affect people without us realising.
I would rather die than write that essay She was so mentally unstable Pretty sure they are bipolar their mood is so unpredictable Anyone with mental problems just wants attention
I can’t spell, most be dyslexic or something My old teacher was such a psycho He’s just crazy You could tell they were just “special” I feel anorexic today 5
Society’s problem Is an individual disabled or does society disable individuals? The answer will be completely subjective as we all have different views to the way society should and does function. This is not intended to be an essay, rather just food for thought. Yes, the individual has the impairment that affects their everyday lives. Some believe that therefore to address any problems they face we need to look at the individual. But, (and it’s a big but) does society do all it should to help the individual? So many areas of life are not ‘designed’ for those different to the norm which further stigmatises those who already have problems. For example, the ease of access to buildings for wheelchair users, the perception of the mentally unwell as crazy and unstable. Come and discuss this topic with Welfare Comm 6:30 Friday 30th.
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Who to speak to: If you are worried about yourself or any other student there are many people you can speak to. No problem is too small to discuss. 1)
The Welfare Team 07902 292 931 butler.welfare@durham.ac.uk 2)
Resident Tutors 07599 817 889 3) Nightline 01913 346 444
4) Student Support at Butler* jb.studentsupport@durham.ac.uk 5)
Counselling Service 0191 334 2200 consel.service@durham.ac.uk 6)
Disability Service 0789 504 2483 disability.support@durham.ac.uk
*First point of call for academic concerns 7
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