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The Link Podcast is created by staff and healthcare/Policing professionals within Staffordshire University's School of Health, Education, Policing and Sciences. It involves inspirational and evocative topics designed, but not limited...
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The Link Podcast is created by staff and healthcare/Policing professionals within Staffordshire University's School of Health, Education, Policing and Sciences. It involves inspirational and evocative topics designed, but not limited to, students of health and policing sciences, healthcare and policing professionals and anyone who is interested in the deeper topics within healthcare.
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The Link Podcast
The Link Podcast
Transcribed
24 SEP 2024 · On this episode: “Guided Meditation Special: Part Three – Reflections from the Podcast Team"
SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE! https://forms.office.com/e/vRH3s8QJ8g
Ben and Kirsty are re-joined by Carole Chance from the Service Users Group (SUC’s) for a very special podcast! Carole has an interest in spirituality, crystals and gives us an amazing experience of guided meditation!
In this special three-part podcast, we start by exploring what guided meditation is and how Carole came about it, followed by a LIVE guided meditation from Carole in part two, and end with reflections from both Ben and Kirsty on the whole experience.
We wanted the guided meditation to be a standalone episode so that listeners could replay it as much as they wanted, and we have created a Microsoft Teams form if you are happy to share your reflections! These will be kept anonymous if you wish but read out on a future podcast if you state that you are happy to do so!
Web links from the show: (correct at time of recording)
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.795077/full ·
- Meditative activities are unified in awareness of awareness.
- Can be observing, producing or being aware.
- Some meditation techniques have led to structural differences in the brain.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36342059/#:~:text=Background%3A%20Patients%20with%20acromegaly%20have,effect%20in%20patients%20with%20acromegaly.
- RCT with 60 participants
- Intervention group – followed a mindfulness-based stress reduction program
- Control group – followed normal clinical routine
- Found reduced pain in the intervention group, improved sleep, improved self-compassion.
- Concluded that mindfulness could be valuable for patients with acromegaly
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07448481.2019.1590371
- Study examining the stress levels of pre-healthcare students.
- Intervention included 5-12 minutes of meditation 6 days a week for 8 weeks
- 5-12 minutes of daily mindfulness meditation is associated with decreased stress, anxiety and increased mindfulness.
- Greater changes were seen following increased minutes of meditation.
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/%3C/b
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/%3C/b%3E%3Cbr
Samaritans Contact - https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/
Upcoming Podcasts: Death within other religions, Human factors and ergonomics, Insights into acromegaly, and a special Halloween episode!
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:
https://x.com/TheLinkPodcast_ on X (formally Twitter)
Ben W-H - https://x.com/benw_h on X
ben.woodrow-hirst@staffs.ac.uk
Kirsty Egan - https://x.com/KirstyODP on X
https://student.staffs.ac.uk
Hosted by: Ben Woodrow-Hirst
Produced & Edited by: Ben Woodrow-Hirst & Kirsty Egan
Artwork: Shaun Kelly
Theme Music: Gavin Samways
Transcribed
24 SEP 2024 · On this episode: “Guided Meditation Special: Part Two – LIVE Guided Meditation"
Ben and Kirsty are re-joined by Carole Chance from the Service Users Group (SUC’s) for a very special podcast! Carole has an interest in spirituality, crystals and gives us an amazing experience of guided meditation!
In this special three-part podcast, we start by exploring what guided meditation is and how Carole came about it, followed by a LIVE guided meditation from Carole in part two, and end with reflections from both Ben and Kirsty on the whole experience.
We wanted the guided meditation to be a standalone episode so that listeners could replay it as much as they wanted, and we have created a Microsoft Teams form if you are happy to share your reflections! These will be kept anonymous if you wish but read out on a future podcast if you state that you are happy to do so!
Web links from the show: (correct at time of recording)
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.795077/full ·
- Meditative activities are unified in awareness of awareness.
- Can be observing, producing or being aware.
- Some meditation techniques have led to structural differences in the brain.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36342059/#:~:text=Background%3A%20Patients%20with%20acromegaly%20have,effect%20in%20patients%20with%20acromegaly.
- RCT with 60 participants
- Intervention group – followed a mindfulness-based stress reduction program
- Control group – followed normal clinical routine
- Found reduced pain in the intervention group, improved sleep, improved self-compassion.
- Concluded that mindfulness could be valuable for patients with acromegaly
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07448481.2019.1590371
- Study examining the stress levels of pre-healthcare students.
- Intervention included 5-12 minutes of meditation 6 days a week for 8 weeks
- 5-12 minutes of daily mindfulness meditation is associated with decreased stress, anxiety and increased mindfulness.
- Greater changes were seen following increased minutes of meditation.
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/%3C/b
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/%3C/b%3E%3Cbr
Samaritans Contact - https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/
Upcoming Podcasts: Death within other religions, Human factors and ergonomics, Insights into acromegaly, and a special Halloween episode!
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:
https://x.com/TheLinkPodcast_ on X (formally Twitter)
Ben W-H - https://x.com/benw_h on X
ben.woodrow-hirst@staffs.ac.uk
Kirsty Egan - https://x.com/KirstyODP on X
https://student.staffs.ac.uk
Hosted by: Ben Woodrow-Hirst
Produced & Edited by: Ben Woodrow-Hirst & Kirsty Egan
Artwork: Shaun Kelly
Theme Music: Gavin Samways
Transcribed
24 SEP 2024 · On this episode: “Guided Meditation Special: Part One – What is guided meditation?”
Ben and Kirsty are re-joined by Carole Chance from the Service Users Group (SUC’s) for a very special podcast! Carole has an interest in spirituality, crystals and gives us an amazing experience of guided meditation!
In this special three-part podcast, we start by exploring what guided meditation is and how Carole came about it, followed by a LIVE guided meditation from Carole in part two, and end with reflections from both Ben and Kirsty on the whole experience.
We wanted the guided meditation to be a standalone episode so that listeners could replay it as much as they wanted, and we have created a Microsoft Teams form if you are happy to share your reflections! These will be kept anonymous if you wish but read out on a future podcast if you state that you are happy to do so!
Web links from the show: (correct at time of recording)
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.795077/full ·
- Meditative activities are unified in awareness of awareness.
- Can be observing, producing or being aware.
- Some meditation techniques have led to structural differences in the brain.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36342059/#:~:text=Background%3A%20Patients%20with%20acromegaly%20have,effect%20in%20patients%20with%20acromegaly.
- RCT with 60 participants
- Intervention group – followed a mindfulness-based stress reduction program
- Control group – followed normal clinical routine
- Found reduced pain in the intervention group, improved sleep, improved self-compassion.
- Concluded that mindfulness could be valuable for patients with acromegaly
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07448481.2019.1590371
- Study examining the stress levels of pre-healthcare students.
- Intervention included 5-12 minutes of meditation 6 days a week for 8 weeks
- 5-12 minutes of daily mindfulness meditation is associated with decreased stress, anxiety and increased mindfulness.
- Greater changes were seen following increased minutes of meditation.
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/%3C/b
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/%3C/b%3E%3Cbr
Samaritans Contact - https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/
Upcoming Podcasts: Death within other religions, Human factors and ergonomics, Insights into acromegaly, and a special Halloween episode!
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:
https://x.com/TheLinkPodcast_ on X (formally Twitter)
Ben W-H - https://x.com/benw_h on X
ben.woodrow-hirst@staffs.ac.uk
Kirsty Egan - https://x.com/KirstyODP on X
https://student.staffs.ac.uk
Hosted by: Ben Woodrow-Hirst
Produced & Edited by: Ben Woodrow-Hirst & Kirsty Egan
Artwork: Shaun Kelly
Theme Music: Gavin Samways
Transcribed
3 SEP 2024 · We speak to Carole Chance who has been a member of the Service Users Group (SUC’s) for over seven years and started out by interviewing candidates for the University. Carole speaks about the co-morbidities she has including Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Acromegaly. She explains that a diagnosis can be a ‘key’ rather than a label and open doors to support and new experiences.
Carole and I discuss how healthcare professionals can support service users, including how the use of jargon can be terrifying for people without any healthcare knowledge. We explore how the news of her diagnosis was given to her, and how this could have been improved, including the need for further support and knowledge.
We are very grateful to Carole for sharing her story and lived experience!
Would Carole rather have eyes that bring up medical facts? Or fingers that can grow, snap off (and grow back) that contain quotes to say to students?
Be sure to look out for our special LIVE guided meditation episodes coming out 17th September!
Web links from the show:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36342059/#:~:text=Background%3A%20Patients%20with%20acromegaly%20have,effect%20in%20patients%20with%20acromegaly.
- RCT with 60 participants
- Intervention group – followed a mindfulness based stress reduction program
- Control group – followed normal clinical routine
- Found reduced pain in the intervention group, improved sleep, improved self-compassion.
- Concluded that mindfulness could be valuable for patients with acromegaly
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/acromegaly/
A rare condition where the body produces too much growth hormone. This causes body tissues and bones to grow more quickly. Diagnosis usually occurs in adults aged 30-50 and is usually caused by a non-cancerous tumour in the pituitary gland.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK431086/
Worldwide prevalence of 4,600 per million, 40 per million in the UK
https://academic.oup.com/ejendo/article-abstract/186/3/341/6954251
- Assessed impact of virtual education programme
- Mixed methods – looking at attitudes towards diagnosis/condition
- Livestream of education by a full MDT of experts and patients
- Found that this can have a positive effect on perceptions of the disease.
- No hope for improvement and feeling of being alone both decreased
https://grief.com/images/pdf/5%20Stages%20of%20Grief.pdf
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/%3C/b
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/%3C/b%3E%3Cbr
Samaritans Contact - https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/
Upcoming Podcasts:
Death within other religions, Human factors and ergonomics, and a special Halloween episode!
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:
https://x.com/TheLinkPodcast_ on X (formally Twitter)
Ben W-H - https://x.com/benw_h on X
ben.woodrow-hirst@staffs.ac.uk
Kirsty Egan - https://x.com/KirstyODP on X
https://student.staffs.ac.uk
Hosted by: Ben Woodrow-Hirst
Produced & Edited by: Ben Woodrow-Hirst & Kirsty Egan
Artwork: Shaun Kelly
Theme Music: Gavin Samways
Transcribed
6 AUG 2024 · Trigger Warning: This is a discussion about trauma, death, dying, and resuscitation attempts regarding children/babies. Please refrain from listening if you feel this could be traumatising at this time. There are links for internal (University) and external listeners, if you feel affected or have been affected by any details of this Podcast.
On this episode: Student Focus: Impacts of parents presence at child’s resuscitation attempts.
We speak to third year student ODP Rohanna Wolley, who discusses the debates around parents being present during cardiac arrests, a topic she delved into for her dissertation. She shares her authentic experience from placement in a children’s hospital, as well as mentors experiences and how these shaped the reason for her dissertation topic, and the need for further understanding for future preparation.
We touch on the balance between the professional nature of being an ODP during resuscitation attempts, whilst still being able to show their emotions and having empathy towards the patient and family members.
Rohanna and I discuss how trauma, death and dying simulations at University have prepared her for clinical placements, understanding the importance of debriefs and the ODP involvement in resuscitation attempts. The literature has suggested that positives can be gained for both healthcare professionals and family members. Parents being present can help with the bereavement process, seeing the severity of the situation and the feeling of being able to have a positive impact by having power/energy to help.
Would Rohanna prefer to have tuff cuts for fingers, or transpore tape for hair?
Web links from the show:
https://www.resus.org.uk/sites/default/files/2023-02/RCUK%20Presence%20of%20Family%20Members%20February%202023%20V3.1.pdf
Presence of family members at the clinical emergency of children and babies. Overwhelming evidence to support parental presence at cardiac arrests. Family support team worker – recommended to be assigned during team brief, a HCP that works specifically with the family during cardiac arrests to provide information in simple terms and emotional needs.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0300957221003737?fr=RR-7&ref=pdf_download&rr=8ae6107ae931368e
What are the care needs of families experiencing cardiac arrest?: A survivor and family led scoping review.
Focus on family member in cardiac arrest
Collaboration between resus team and family
Consideration of family context
Family post-resus needs
Dedicated policies and procedures
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0964339717300836?ref=pdf_download&fr=RR-7&rr=8ae61154c96963f2
The professional and personal debriefing needs of ward based nurses after involvement in a cardiac arrest: An explorative qualitative pilot study. Distinction between personal needs and professional needs, and the potential to improve care of patients and nurses.
https://www.bmj.com/content/351/bmj.h4672
Understanding the Hawthorne effect; how behaviours are changed when people are being observed.
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 religions, traumatic events during childhood, human factors and ergonomics, and a LIVE guided meditation.
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, 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
https://staffs.ac.uk
Kirsty Egan - @KirstyODP on X
https://student.staffs.ac.uk
Hosted by: Ben Woodrow-Hirst
Produced & Edited by: Ben Woodrow-Hirst & Kirsty Egan
Artwork: Shaun Kelly
Theme Music: Gavin Samway
Transcribed
16 JUL 2024 · 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:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/religion/bulletins/religionenglandandwales/census2021#religion-in-england-and-wales (Office for National Statistics)
524,000 people in England and Wales are of Sikh faith.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Devinder-Singh-4/publication/348523701_End_of_Life_Decisions_A_Perspective_From_Sikhism/links/6002ef2945851553a049d553/End-of-Life-Decisions-A-Perspective-From-Sikhism.pdf
The Five K’s Kirpan (sword), Kangha (comb), Kesh (uncut hair), Kachh (shorts), Kara (steel bangle).
https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-3-030-24348-7_200138
Overview of the Sikh faith.
https://api.taylorfrancis.com/content/books/mono/download?identifierName=doi&identifierValue=10.4324/9780429025075&type=googlepdf https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6330909/
Studies showing important aspects for healthcare professionals.
https://livingwithdying.leeds.ac.uk/2018/06/25/sikh-mourning/
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 https://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)
https://staffs.ac.uk
Kirsty Egan - @KirstyODP on X
https://student.staffs.ac.uk
Hosted by: Ben Woodrow-Hirst
Produced & Edited by: Ben Woodrow-Hirst & Kirsty Egan
Artwork: Shaun Kelly
Theme Music: Gavin Samways
Transcribed
12 JUN 2024 · On this episode: Living with Cerebral Palsy
We speak to Charlotte Evans, who is part of the Service Users Group (SUC’s) on her experiences with living with Cerebral Palsy. Charlotte shares her key challenges, strengths and aims to provide education about Cerebral Palsy.
Charlotte bravely shares some of the negative experiences she has had, but says how these shape how education and awareness are a vital consideration for a disability that is not as well recognised.
I explore with Charlotte the challenges surrounding diagnosis, treatment and options for the transition from paediatric services to adult, as well as how Charlotte navigated the system.
“Yes it’s a bit rubbish, but there’s always going to be upsides. So take the upsides”
Web links from the show:
Service User and Carer Team
https://www.staffs.ac.uk/about/schools/health-education-policing-and-sciences/service-user-and-carer-team
Learn about the teams function within the University, and information to join this group if you feel inspired by the mini-series Podcasts!
https://upmovement.org.uk/ – The Adult Cerebral Palsy Movement
A movement that is working for the community voice to be heard.
Cerebral Palsy Manifesto – aid the communities voice to be heard and to move the message up the political agenda.
Raise awareness, education and build a community.
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng119
Newer guidelines to promote participation and support independent living.
Transition from paediatric services to adult services at the age of 25.
https://www.uclh.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/patient-information-pages/adult-cerebral-palsy-and-neuro-disability-service Specialised adult Cerebral Palsy clinic in London.
https://www.cerebralpalsyguidance.com/cerebral-palsy/associated-disorders/post-impairment-syndrome/
A condition characterised by pain, muscle weakness and fatigue due to bone and muscle abnormalities, overuse and arthritis.
This condition is related to Cerebral Palsy.
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 https://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, human factors, Holistic therapies and 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:
Contact The Link podcast team:
@TheLinkPodcast on X (formally Twitter)
Ben W-H:
@benw_h on X (formally Twitter)
https://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
Transcribed
20 MAY 2024 · Episode Description:
Trigger Warning This is a passionate and frank discussion about depression, suicide detail, substance overdose and trauma. Please refrain from listening if you feel this could be traumatising at this time. There are links for internal (University) and external listeners, if you feel affected or have been affected by any details of this Podcast.
On this episode: "A Journey of Two Roads" Robert Lafferty on Surviving Suicide
We speak to Robert Lafferty who is part of the Service Users Group. Following a lower limb injury several years ago, Rob descended into an uncontrollable bout of depression, resulting in him deciding to attempt to take his own life one night...But he is here today and uses his journey from pain, through to recovery, by the cathartic participation within the service users group at Staffordshire University.
Rob shares this experience in great detail, with exerts from his therapy journal and treats us to his written piece he continues to deliver to health and social care students to this day. Rob intuitively titles this piece, "The Journey of Two Roads" a title he feels best describes the journey he has found himself on from the darkest depths of the disease, through to the therapy that brought him towards the 'path of light' as he refers to it.
I explore with Rob, what therapy components made his journey one of success, including the mental health services and how he was treated, the unwavering support of his beloved wife, as well as re-kindling his passion as a highly talented painter.
https://youtu.be/kKGUKSs4NrE
Rob and I explore the phenomenon of the male specific side to mental health and suicide, as well as what we can do to not only support others who may be suffering, but how to recognise this in ourselves, and where the support lies to help you repair and join him on the right road.
Web links from the show:
(Mentioned in the Podcast) Office for National Statistics on suicide rates by gender.
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/suicidesintheunitedkingdom/2022registrations
Service User and Carer Team
https://www.staffs.ac.uk/about/schools/health-education-policing-and-sciences/service-user-and-carer-team
Learn about the teams function within the University, and information to join this group if you feel inspired by the mini-series Podcasts!
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 https://tel:1782 or by emailing https://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:
Experiences of Cerebral Palsy, Death within other religions, Holistic therapies and 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 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)
https://staffs.ac.uk
Kirsty Egan:
@KirstyODP
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
Transcribed
25 APR 2024 · Episode Description:
On this episode: Insights and experiences of being transgender
We speak to Fee Wood who shares her lived experience of being a transgender person, discussing the issues faced and how healthcare professionals can support transgender people better in healthcare settings. Fee is part of the Service Users Group, who use lived experience to help students and practitioners to understand differences and share knowledge.
Fee bravely shares her personal journey and some of the tough experiences that she has encountered and gives tips and tricks for how this can be improved.
Web links from the show:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/genderidentity/bulletins/genderidentityenglandandwales/census2021#main-points
“Is the gender you identify with the same as your sex registered at birth?
Of 45.7 million, 45.4 million said yes, and 262,000 said no.
https://www.bmj.com/company/newsroom/five-fold-rise-in-uk-rates-of-transgender-identity-since-2000-medical-records-suggest/ – BMJ (2023)
Recorded anonymised GP records from 2000-2018.
4 per 100,000 in 2000, 78 per 100,000 in 2018
Transphobic Hate Crimes UK
Home Office - https://www.stophateuk.org/about-hate-crime/transgender-hate/, 2630 hate crimes against transgender people were recorded by police – an increase of 16% from the previous year.
- 88% of transgender people do not report hate crimes.
- 48% were dissatisfied with police response.
USA Current State
https://www.apa.org/topics/lgbtq/mental-health-anti-transgender-legislation
Bills and laws that target access to healthcare, sports participation, school policies, legal recognition and “the right to publicly exist”.
Increased level of anxiety, depression and suicide risk among the trans population
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 https://tel:1782 or by emailing https://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:
Experiences of Cerebral Palsy, Death within other religions, human factors in healthcare,
Previous Podcasts:
Race, Transgender, Neurodiversity, impacts of trauma, Mature student experiences, Transition from student to healthcare professional, and 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:
Ben W-H - @benw_h on X (formally Twitter)
https://staffs.ac.uk
@TheLinkPodcast on X (formally Twitter)
Samuel O’Brian – https://staffs.ac.uk
Joe Natalello – https://staffs.ac.uk
Hosted by: Ben Woodrow-Hirst
Produced & Edited by: Ben Woodrow-Hirst & Kirsty Egan
Artwork: Shaun Kelly
Theme Music: Gavin Samways
Transcribed
25 MAR 2024 · Episode Description:
On this episode: Christianity
We speak to Mick Williams, who has been the chaplain for Staffordshire University for 14 years. Mick shares his experience of what Christianity is, what it means to be a believer, and what death looks like in Christianity. Mick has spent time with student groups to help empower and break down barriers with religious terminology.
We explore how healthcare professionals can meet the spiritual needs of patients within their care with some top tips from Mick to create a ‘toolbox’.
Finally, Mick speaks about the importance of education around different religions for healthcare professionals, the importance of the body after death and the simple touches that can make huge differences to patients and families in end-of-life care.
Web links from the show:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jocn.14648
Qualitative study of healthcare professionals’ perception of training and skills, with many feeling unprepared and lack confidence when dealing with religious and spiritual needs. Themes found communication skills, not having answers and recognising spiritual care. The study concluded spiritual care is AS important as physical care.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/2153599X.2016.1238844
Death anxiety has been suggested to be lowest amongst the very religious, and highest among uncertain individuals. Does this mean it is more important to get it right?
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2022.813531/full?utm_source=fweb&utm_medium=nblog&utm_campaign=ba-sci-fnagi-what-happens-in-the-brain-when-we-die
Study looking at the early evidence of what happens within the human brain during near death.
https://www.england.nhs.uk/improvement-hub/wp-content/uploads/sites/44/2017/10/Guidance-for-Staff-Responsible-for-Care-after-Death.pdf
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 https://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/
Samaritans Contact -https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/
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/
Upcoming Podcasts:
Exploring dying and Death within other religions .
experiences of being transgender service user.
Previous Podcasts:
Race, Transgender, Neurodiversity, impacts of trauma, Mature student experiences, Transition from student to healthcare professional, and 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:
Ben W-H - @benw_h on X (formally Twitter)
https://staffs.ac.uk
@TheLinkPodcast on X (formally Twitter)
Samuel O’Brian – https://staffs.ac.uk
Joe Natalello – https://staffs.ac.uk
Hosted by: Ben Woodrow-Hirst
Produced & Edited by: Ben Woodrow-Hirst & Kirsty Egan
Artwork: Shaun Kelly
Theme Music: Gavin Samways
The Link Podcast is created by staff and healthcare/Policing professionals within Staffordshire University's School of Health, Education, Policing and Sciences. It involves inspirational and evocative topics designed, but not limited...
show more
The Link Podcast is created by staff and healthcare/Policing professionals within Staffordshire University's School of Health, Education, Policing and Sciences. It involves inspirational and evocative topics designed, but not limited to, students of health and policing sciences, healthcare and policing professionals and anyone who is interested in the deeper topics within healthcare.
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Information
| Author | Ben Woodrow-Hirst |
| Organization | Ben Woodrow-Hirst |
| Categories | Education |
| Website | - |
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