On this episode:
We speak to Ravinder Kaur, who is the head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) at Staffordshire University.
Ravinder shares her knowledge and experience of being a Sikh, along with the rituals, celebrations and the considerations of how to care for patients from a Sikh faith. We learn just how important the Sikh rituals are, and the importance of the five K’s, which baptised Sikh’s wear at all times.

I also explore with Ravinder, the way in which the Sikh community care for their loved ones during their final moments, including the important aspects following this. We learn about a designated river here in the UK where ashes of loved ones can be scattered, just like they would have been in the Ganges river in India.  

Web links from the show: 

Census 2021 (Office for National Statistics)
524,000 people in England and Wales are of Sikh faith. 

Singh (2016)
The Five K’s Kirpan (sword), Kangha (comb), Kesh (uncut hair), Kachh (shorts), Kara (steel bangle).

Lewis (2020)
Overview of the Sikh faith.  

(Cann, 2022) (Choudry et al, 2018)
Studies showing important aspects for healthcare professionals.  

Rivers used in UK for scattering ashes
Designated rivers in the UK have been approved for those within the Sikh faith to scatter the ashes of loved ones. This would normally be carried out at the ‘Ganges’ river in India.  



Wellbeing/Mental Health Support Contacts:
If you are a student or staff member at Staffordshire University and have been affected by any of the topics that have been discussed in this podcast, don’t struggle alone, Staffordshire University are here to help…
Contact Wellbeing Support on 01782 294976 or by emailing studentwellbeing@staffs.ac.uk.

For external listeners, mental health crisis lines and suicide prevention contacts can be found below.
Please reach out if you feel you need to! 

NHS Mental Health Services - https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/where-to-get-urgent-help-for-mental-health/

Mind Support and Services - https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/seeking-help-for-a-mental-health-problem/where-to-start/

Samaritans Contact - https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/  

Upcoming Podcasts:
Death within other cultures, mental health, human factors, and holistic therapies as we take a LIVE guided meditation with our personal reflections afterwards.  

Previous Podcasts:
Race, Transgender, Neurodiversity, Impacts of trauma, Mature student experiences, Transition from student to healthcare professional, and also specialised areas such as mental health and organ transplant teams.  

Want to get involved? Are you a student? Member of staff? A Healthcare worker?
Do you have a topic you would like to share?

Get in touch! Let’s Pod!  

Contact The Link podcast team:
@TheLinkPodcast on X (formally Twitter)

Ben W-H - @benw_h on X (formally Twitter)
                  ben.woodrow-hirst@staffs.ac.uk
                     
Kirsty Egan - @KirstyODP on X
                      e008085c@student.staffs.ac.uk  


Hosted by: Ben Woodrow-Hirst
Produced & Edited by: Ben Woodrow-Hirst & Kirsty Egan
Artwork: Shaun Kelly
Theme Music: Gavin Samways