Mental

Health and

Disability

Awareness

Week

2

Contents

Campaign Information …………………3

What is a disability……………………...4

Harmful phrases………………………..5

Discussion point………………………..6

Who to speak to………………………..7

3

Campaign Aims

This campaign aims to raise awareness about groups normally stig-

matised 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 col-

lege.

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

4

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

• a specific learning difficulty

• 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.

VisualVisualVisualVisual

HearingHearingHearingHearing

LearningLearningLearningLearning Autism Autism Autism Autism PhysicalPhysicalPhysicalPhysical

EmotionalEmotionalEmotionalEmotional CognitiveCognitiveCognitiveCognitive

Special

Insane Invalid

Retarded

Subnormal Unable

Freak

5

Sometimes things that are said are careless and will affect

people without us realising.

I would rather die

than write that essay I can’t spell, most be

dyslexic or something

She was so mentally

unstable

You could tell they

were just “special”

Pretty sure they are

bipolar their mood is

so unpredictable

He’s just crazy

Anyone with mental

problems just wants

attention

My old teacher was

such a psycho

I feel anorexic today

6

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.

7

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

8