{"id":167169,"date":"2024-04-30T07:12:23","date_gmt":"2024-04-30T05:12:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=167169"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:27:19","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:27:19","slug":"one-year-later-students-show-little-engagement-with-the-personal-support-hubs-activities-there-is-still-taboo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2024\/04\/30\/one-year-later-students-show-little-engagement-with-the-personal-support-hubs-activities-there-is-still-taboo\/","title":{"rendered":"One year later, students show little engagement with the Personal Support Hub\u2019s activities: ‘There is still taboo’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite the many options available, students do not seem to actively seek help when it comes to mental health and substance abuse issues.Since the beginning of the academic year, the Personal Support Hub has been working with professionals that assist students in different areas of their lives. Health coach Anne-Fleur Kok, and prevention psychologist Sara Borrelli talk about their efforts to bring more students to the hub, and the dangers of student culture.<\/p>\n

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Health coach Anne-Fleur Kok (left) and prevention psychologist Sara Borrelli hope more students find their way to them.<\/span><\/p>

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The Personal Support Hub (PSH) is facing challenges in reaching student participation, despite offering a variety of services with the help of qualified professionals \u2013 from career coaches to psychologists, and even a spiritual counsellor. The wellbeing centre officially opened its doors on the ground floor of the Langeveld building one year ago, in the spring of 2023.<\/p>\n\t

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About the Personal Support Hub<\/p>\n

The Personal Support Hub (PSH) is the central location on campus for student wellbeing and development at EUR. It offers free walk-in consultations with professionals, workshops, and a space to relax and connect with peers. Located in the Langeveld building, next to the Living Room, the PSH is open on weekdays from 11.00 to 17.00. You can find their event calendar on the Personal Support Hub\u2019s page<\/a> or by following their social media.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n

Seeking help is still a \u2018taboo\u2019<\/h2>

In her position as health coach at the PSH, Anne-Fleur Kok has experienced the low levels of engagement from students first-hand. Since September, she provides individual walk-in consultation hours every two weeks, where students can ask any kinds of questions regarding substance use. \u201cStudents can come to me with questions like \u2018what\u2019s in an ecstasy pill?\u2019\u201d, the health coach explains. This includes asking for information or support on substance abuse, but also gaming, gambling, screentime, or even concerns about a friend or family member.<\/p>\n

So far, Anne-Fleur acknowledges that students seem reluctant to actively seek help. \u201cThey\u2019ve gone through the walk-in hours and asked me different questions but didn\u2019t reach me for having a conversation one on one\u201d, she says. The health coach believes that this lack of participation is due to fear that teachers or peers might \u2018find out\u2019, because \u2018there is still taboo\u2019 around mental health.<\/p>\n

Even so, Anne-Fleur emphasises that the PSH is a safe space and that, despite being in a university setting, everything that students share \u2018stays between four walls\u2019. Right now, her \u2018focus\u2019 is that \u2018students and also teachers, and other employees of the university\u2019 get to know her. \u201cI\u2019m showing my face everywhere\u201d, she says, adding that she has been attending different student events to make sure that everyone is aware of the PSH\u2019s services.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe walk around campus with a big canvas, and we ask students to anonymously write something that has to do with a theme such as stigma or taboo\u201d, says Sara Borelli (left). <\/span><\/p>

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Initiatives around campus<\/h2>

Reaching out for help can be difficult, and many students are not aware of the support system offered. Prevention psychologist Sara Borrelli has also been making an effort to get closer to the students through awareness campaigns. The Sticky Thoughts<\/a> is one of those initiatives. \u201cWe walk around campus with a big canvas, and we ask students to anonymously write something that has to do with a theme that may still be stigmatized or found <\/span> taboo\u201d, the psychologist explains.\u00a0 <\/span>This way, students are shown that they are not alone.
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