UCLan BAME Students

Happy Diwali to all our followers from us 🕯️

Here are some of the positive feedback from BAME students who have utilised the university’s student counselling service! You are not alone

Have you seen BAME Students’ Rep Odette’s new Campaign?

‘Talking Matters’ aims to destigmatise the subject of mental health in the Black and Asian community and get more ethnic minority students to seek help if required. 😌 🤝

Last year I wrote an open letter to the university concerned about the lack of representation in our student counselling team which many of you shared. Today I am pleased to announce that we have successfully hired our first Black biracial student counsellor as well as launching our mental health campaign targeted towards BAME students! Thank you to everyone who shared the letter and the students who messaged me to give their help on this campaign, I appreciate it greatly and without your help we would not have gotten where we are today. In more ways than one Please take care of your mental health during this difficult time. For help you can call: 01772 893020 or email: [email protected] For our self referral form please visit: https://www.uclan.ac.uk/students/support/support-request-form.php
Read more about this journey here: https://www.uclansu.co.uk/news/article/6013/Your-BAME-Reps-Success/?fbclid=IwAR3z2L9D6H5wtRKyl54b3Kxqvf_ZTSKY0B-ylDqIaoU8vOZjrlAObNYha28 UCLan SU The University of Central Lancashire - UCLan Zuleikha Chikh

The second episode of our Black History Month UCLan BAME Students podcast is now live! Listen to 'Colourism in the Black community' on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Se5ozYmwFCih1xP90Z59R or Sounder here: https://uclanbhm.sounder.fm/episode/colourism

For the book lovers! There is a new online book club exclusively for women of colour! follow : OKRA BOOK CLUB for more information on Facebook/Twitter and Instagram ☺️

Support the open letter to UCLan to provide specific peer well-being and mental health care for Black students #blacklivesmatter By signing this I suppport the open letter to the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) regarding the lack of Black representation in the university's well-being sector. I believe that Black Lives Matter and that Black mental health matters always, but especially so at this moment and going forwa...

Black Lives Matter: 9 ways to donate money & support BLM in the UK Following the killing of George Floyd, numerous people have protested and supported the Black Lives Matter movement, but how can I donate to BLM in the UK and what petitions can I sign for BLM in the UK?

A text version of the open letter to the university regarding the lack of black representation in the wellbeing sector:

To the University of Central Lancashire,

My name is Odette Emilie Anne Yende and I am the current BAME representative for the university. One of my main goals for this year was to try and ensure that the university hired a Black mental health councillor as currently we do not have one and I am determined to see this goal through. I had previously emailed student services about this matter but was met with a poor and dismissive response.

With the knowledge of what is currently transpiring globally due to the unlawful murders of Black people by systems designed to and the hands bound to keep us oppressed we can no longer ignore and turn a blind eye to the discrimination that Black citizens face. It is now time for the university to hold itself accountable. It is time for change.

Black mental health is something that is very important because already this topic is seen as a taboo in the Black community and this is something that needs to be addressed. As a Black student we unfortunately do not have many safe spaces where we can discuss our many hardships with someone who understands and identifies with the stigmas and unconscious preconceptions that we Black students face daily in today’s society.

I had previously conducted a focus group specifically with Black students about their experiences in university and if and why they believed that a Black councillor would be beneficial, the results heavily showed that they would largely benefit from this as they would feel more comfortable speaking openly with someone who both looks like them and has similar life experiences.

At this moment in time, Black mental health is more important than ever. So how can the university help in ensuring that their Black students are taken care of now and in the future?

- Firstly, by hiring a Black mental health councillor as Black students’ mental health is just as important as the mental health of our non – Black peers.
- A set date for conversations to be held during induction week with students, surrounding mental health in the Black community to help deconstruct the stigmas surrounding this topic.
- Providing reassurance to Black students that the student union is there to support them by performing regular checks to vulnerable students as well as encouraging Black students to seek help if required.
- Providing a safe space specifically for Black students to express their emotions regarding the current climate. This should be held by a Black member of teaching staff.

This is an important issue that needs to be addressed because as students we go to a culturally diverse university and this needs to be reflected in our staff, to not only promote inclusion but to also ensure that every student is represented. As a university you can not claim to stand in solidarity with Black lives and yet dismiss the mental health of those very students you say matter.

With kind regards,

Odette Emilie Anne Yende
UClan BAME representative