Rosie Taylor is coming to the end of her 3rd year as a Biology undergraduate. She is the outgoing LGBT+ Officer with the Student Association, and a founding member of WellComm, the award-winning wellbeing and community organisation for STEM subjects at the University of Edinburgh. Rosie gave interviews in our previous Let’s Talk podcast series on Mental Health. In this episode during lockdown, Rosie talks about family estrangement in times of emergency, how overwhelming it can be to have all this time to think about how you are feeling, and wondering what a ‘return to normal’ means when you are questioning ‘What is my “normal”, what was my “before”?’. Rosie also describes how lockdown and online learning exacerbates aspects of OCD for her, and how she wants to feel safe but also to be open to things that she enjoys. And she revisits the subject of social media: the pressure of feeling always available; the messaging about the virus, or weight control in lockdown, and the push for productivity, which detracts from the time needed to be with ourselves and to heal ourselves; but also the possibility of watching Netflix online together and of contacting old friends.
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
us on 0131 537 6000.
· Breathing Space 0800 83 85 87
· The Samaritans 08457 90 90 90
· Edinburgh Crisis Centre 0808 801 0414