M4M: Combatting Unhealthy Competition in Medical School
We're halfway through the year, and with formatives and assessments on the horizon, it's easy to get caught up in a toxic spiral of comparison and competition. Competition has its perks, yet all too often, it can develop into harmful behaviours and thoughts. Coming into an environment like the medical school where so many high achievers are packed together can easily result in this toxic mentality.
Join us as we discuss what unhealthy (and healthy) competition looks like and what we can do to combat it. We'll have a few students speak about their thoughts and experiences on the topic, as well as a member of the UCLMS Support team to share a little wisdom.
Looking forward to seeing you all then!
With love,
Your Medics4Medics Committee
M4M Kindness by Post
As a society, we want to do all we can to unite UCLMS, join us by signing up and being randomly allocated to a fellow member of UCLMS and send them an (anonymous) message of kindness!
You will have a 4 week window from 21st December til 21st Jan to send your message so please do sign up !!
Enrolment opens next Monday (14th December!), so keep your eyes peeled and your hearts kind
Sign up here: https://forms.gle/SLGo4BefJoeGYijU7
M4M MEN'S MENTAL HEALTH: WHY IT MATTERS
Hope you are well! This Movember, M4M wants to focus on Men’s Mental Health and why it matters. Come join us on zoom to listen to Kenny Aruwa- a Student Support and Wellbeing Advisor. As one of the few men on the Mental Health side of his team, men’s mental health is an issue close to his heart. With three times as many men than women dying from suicide, we all have a responsibility to continue the conversation and learn more about what we can do. We would love for you to join us on the 30th November from 6-7:30 to learn more and ask your questions!
With love,
M4M
Medics4Medics Peer Navigator Training Day
Come along for our online peer navigator training day on the 21st of November! ✨
Our peer navigators are people who our fellow students can turn to when going through a tough time. We'll equip you with the confidence to have sensitive conversations and the knowledge of the support systems available to students, both in and out of university.
We have resources from Rethink Mental Illness and speakers from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing and UCL Student Psychological and Counselling Support. We will also run through a few scenarios so you guys can get a little experience with the sort of interactions that you might have.
These insights help to support not just our peers, but our friends too! Uni does get tough and we could all use a bit of support at times - this is your chance to be a wonderful friend. 🤓
We will also be providing certificates to those who train as a peer navigator and engage with M4M, because you guys deserve it for being utter champs.
You can sign up for the event (and further involvement with M4M if you wish) using this form:
https://forms.gle/zQ9qfYS3TwxVMx5i6
Looking forward to seeing you then!
Lotsa love,
Your Medics4Medics Committee
M4M: Loneliness in Medical School
If you have any questions please feel free to get in touch! We hope to see you there :)
Meditation, Spirituality & Mental Health
Medics4Medics are proud to present our fascinating second digital event, which will be looking at the relationship between mindfulness and meditation, and mental health. In the first half of the session Research Assistant Marco Schlosser will be giving a talk on the variable experiences that individuals have with meditation, and what factors influence these. Following this there will be a guided mindfulness meditation session led by Niraj Mulji. Niraj has approached meditation from a more spiritual perspective and has been practising for 3-4 years alongside a career in Investment Management.
Please come along from 6-7:30pm on Thursday 10th September for what promises to be both a fascinating and really useful event. In light of everything going on in the world, taking a bit of time to practise mindfulness and refocus may be just what we all need! And as with all of our Medics4Medics events, it is completely free. Hope to see you there!
*Please feel free to drop in at any time & leave earlier if needed!*
Please check out our FB group (Medics4Medics) to find out more!
Link to the event:
https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YWViM2VkMGEtMzEzMy00MWZiLTlmZjMtMzFkZmFhNzI4MmQ5%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%221faf88fe-a998-4c5b-93c9-210a11d9a5c2%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%226b596911-cc73-43ca-9151-ac7ffd45f62c%22%7d
Ethnic Minority Mental Health Experiences at Medical School
Much Love
Your Medics4Medics Committee
Please note: Because of the sensitive nature of the event if you attend please try and make sure that you can find a private place to watch from.
UPDATE:
These are the ground rules for the event. Please have a read in advance and we look forward to seeing you all there :)
The link to the session will be posted tomorrow morning
GROUND RULES
We are incredibly grateful to our speakers who have agreed to share their experiences with us all today. Please:
Ensure that you are somewhere private in order maintain strict rules of confidentiality
No recording and do not share anything that is said in the event, outside of the event.
Make sure your microphone is muted while another speaker is speaking.
Turn on your video icon (if you are comfortable with that)! It would be great to see everyone’s faces and mimic the style of our usual events!
Be courteous to speakers and other attendees
All experiences are individual, and valuable. We can ask about their nature, but please respect that they are personal.
Eating Disorders
Supporting Friends Through Difficult Times
Preventing Burnout
Medics4Medics are excited to announce next week’s talk on Preventing Burnout. Our speaker for the evening will be Dr Asta Medisauskaite. Dr Asta Medisauskaite is a Research Fellow at the Research Department of Medical Education, UCL Medical School. Asta is an organisational psychologist who obtained her PhD at Birkbeck, University of London. Her PhD was on understanding and improving the occupational health of UK medical doctors. As one of her studies, Asta tested an intervention for doctors which is now transformed into practical tools (app/board game; workingstress.co.uk). Currently Asta is working on a number of studies investigating doctors professionalism, attrition rates and leading a study on mental health of medical students
Previously this has been one of our most well received events so hope to see many of you there. Also free food and drink provided!