It was 2017 when I first spoke out about the lack of institutional support offered by the UM for issues related to mental health and well-being. Back then, I was frustrated by what almost felt like indifference on behlaf of the University about how well their students and staff were doing, especially for those that did not speak Dutch and was unaware of how to find help within the Dutch healthcare system. Since then, I have met many wonderful people working hard to improve the quality and the quanitity of support available to our students and staff.
However, even today, I still hear similar concerns from time to time about the lack of support or that there is much confusion on how students and staff can find the right help, not to mention the lingering stigma that is seemingly attached to the hip when it comes to matters of mental health. In order to: 1) connect those seeking for support with those that are offering them; and 2) to solicit more ways to keep improving the support available to our people, Flourish Maastricht has organized a short web event to showcase the support network available to our Community. On Blue Monday (17 January 2022), we are inviting speakers from the Student Service Center and the SUMa team, the InnBetween, @ease Maastricht, and other local mental health professionals, where they will each give a short pitch on the kind of support they offer and how you can reach them.
This event - which will be conducted in English - is free for all UM students and staff, but we kindly ask you to register for the event here before 16 January 2022. Come join us and find the support that you need!