Project LETS at Columbia Grad

02/13/2019

"If you could never pinpoint why simple 'inspiring' quotes didn't sit well with you, this could be the explanation."

02/13/2019

Great reminder. 🌟

02/13/2019

for anyone following me with an incurable condition.
Just aware I have a lot of people following me with chronic illness, long term conditions, (inc mental health), a bunch of people who can’t access healthcare because they are bed bound, people with life limiting conditions, people who know their health will decline and pain will increase... etc. Can be damaging saying things will get better when for a lot of people they may not or may have to adapt to new disability. Hope this makes sense. The cat is based on . .
[image description: a digital hand drawn illustration of a long haired flat faced cat looking up. The cat has distinctive lower teeth poking out which look like fangs. The background is pink. Above it says “when someone says “things will get better” but you have a degenerative health condition”. ]

02/13/2019

I made this to illustrate how hopelessness is part of mental health problems, a symptom often of depression. It tricks your brain into fully believing there is no future and that’s the illness itself. But it is possible for things to change. I obviously acknowledge I have many disabled people following me in desperate situations and also people with degenerative conditions for whom the future may be shorter or more difficult. [image description: hand drawn illustration of a person hiding under a pale violet duvet on a lilac bed. You can see the persons right eye which is blue/green as they are laying on their left side. They have white skin. The background is a solid darker purple. Around the person are stars and sparkles of different sizes to represent light in the darkness. On the bed is written “sometimes I’ve been so depressed I saw no future”. There is a dark blue circular border. ]

02/13/2019

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a behavioural disorder that includes symptoms such as inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. [source : NHS]. Also shoutout to those with ADD - Attention Deficit Disorder.
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This is my friend Helen. She wanted to share how important a diagnosis of ADHD as an adult has helped her. She also now takes medication which, as she put it “thinks of one thing at once instead of 10”. She feels she is functioning better as time keeping and making decisions.
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There are many people who are sceptical about ADHD, but if someone is diagnosed, they have a recognised disability. Healthcare and workplace should think about “reasonable” adjustments if needed, to make appointments/work accessible. This could mean that for a medical appointment, a healthcare professional/doctor makes a double appointment to allowed for the person to be late. There are many other adaptations and it depends on the person.
[image description: hand drawn illustration of Helen who is a q***r woman of average build, light skin mixed race white/Syrian, with dark rimmed glasses, short hair, lip piercing and a black and red long striped sleeved top. Helen appears able bodied in the image, but is physically disabled, she shared she has Ehlos Danlos Syndrome (EDS). The background is pale pink. Helen is saying “ADHD is real. I was diagnosed as an adult and medication helps me function.” There is a circular rainbow border. ] ***r ***r ***rillustration

02/13/2019

New . Took .
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What is PrEP? PrEP is a pill you take before s*x to protect you from .If you take PrEP correctly, you don’t need to worry about a s*xual partner’s HIV status.
You’re protecting your own HIV negative status by taking PrEP.
PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. [source: iwantprepnow.co.uk] PrEP only protects from HIV not other STIs.
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Why? PrEP is a great idea for you if:
- you are HIV negative, and
- you have s*x in a variety of situations where condoms are not easily used or not always used.
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PrEP is still not available to everyone in the UK. Currently 10,000 people can access it. You can however buy it. Please check out website www.iwantprepnow.co.uk for comprehensive advice. Shoutout to Greg Owen who set up the website and became an activist fighting for people to access PrEP. So much respect for him.
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Just want to dedicate this post in memory of Dr Mags Portman who died. She was a prize-winning HIV consultant at London's Mortimer Market Centre, a cutting-edge s*xual health clinic, who championed PrEP before the medical establishment galvanised around it.
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(This is an independent post, I’m not associated with , I just think what they do is amazing and support PrEP to be available on the NHS).
[image description: hand drawn illustration of two blue PrEP pills. Underneath it says “took PrEP”. The border is blue. Written around it says “boring self care”. ]

02/02/2019

Big difference!

www.instagram.com/sitwithwhit is apparently the original poster. I was given this without context exactly as it is. I did not modify it to remove anyone's name. Also, I don't use Instagram and I do not sit at my computer all the time, so I am doing this as soon as I saw responses about it. I just saw it as a fact filled image.

01/29/2019

Welcome to the start of the new semester! We will be officially starting our Peer Mental Health Advocate (PMHA) program this semester with our new cohort of trained PMHA's. We will be sharing around more information soon about how you can pair up with one of our PMHA's/peer counselors if you seek an additional peer-led/community-based option as a resource.

Also keep an eye out for more information regarding a few of our support groups as well as February/March training dates for folks who are interested in becoming and joining our peer counselor community.

During our and Winter story-sharing/fundraising campaign, we're asking members of the Project LETS community why they need peer-led, community-based mental health care.

Sophie, a PMHA from Brown University states that: "My recovery journey doesn’t only occur during business hours. That is if I can find a provider because finding a good and affirming mental health provider is WAY harder and more expensive than it should be."

Contribute to our campaign until January 31, 2019:

- bit.ly/LETSgive

- www.facebook.com/donate/647237575693749/?fundraiser_source=external_url

*ALL individuals who donate $20+ will receive a set of Project LETS stickers and an envelope of "Letters of Support" written by members of our community for you to have, hold, and read during times of struggle. If you donate through Facebook, we will contact you for your mailing address, or you may email us your address directly at info@letserasethestigma.com*

12/31/2018

Give yourself a big hug for making it through this year.