Everyday the are people who are being imprisoned, segregated and judged without trial or the chance to defend themselves. And they are being ignored. But what if I tell you that you actually know them, that they could be your neighbors, your siblings, your classmates? They are isolated, regarded as outcasts in a society where everybody is supposed to be perfect and to have everything. They have issues that we do not understand so we merely look the other way. And you know what’s worst? That you, and me, are part of the society that ignores them. That’s why Opening Inclusion Project is a good occasion for AEGEE to discuss these topics.
“I’m sorry but you don’t… fit our job description”, “You are useless”, “Don’t be ridiculous, just relax!”, “You have a normal job? Like… normal?”, “I broke a leg last summer, so yeah, I understand”, “Those things you hear, you know they aren’t real… right?”, “You’re making a fuss, you’re just very immature!”, “Do you go to uni? But you’re in a wheelchair!”, “Cheer up, it’s all just in your head”. Sadly, I’m not making that up. Those are things that are said to or thought about people who suffer a mental health problem or who have a physical disability.
How many people do you know that struggle with their mental health? You will be surprised to know that probably they are more than you think, the problem is that they are not easy to spot: they draw a smile on their face and go on, because either society has made them believe that what’s wrong in their head is not actually happening, that they are making a fuss, or because the possibility of talking openly about it is somehow more scary than swallowing all the pain and confusion. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) regional office for Europe, 1 out of 15 people suffer from major depression every year, which means that at least three to five people in your class or workplace is going through this lifelong battle, and that you personally and closely know two or three people who suffer from it. Even more worryingly, if we include in the figures all types of depression and anxiety, the number increases to 4 out of 15 people, which makes twelve people close to you who battles against a mental illness. The sadder fact is that sometimes a silent battle becomes a loud defeat: WHO estimated that suicide is the cause of death of almost 18% of young people (aged 15-29) in Europe, which makes for about 2 out of 12 deaths. Now estimate how many people you actually know who might be suffering in silence.
And how many people do you know, or see around you, that have a physical disability? Do you actually see many people in AEGEE events who are disabled? How many disabled people are there in your antenna? Not many, even though statistics say we are more than 11.000 members. Strange isn’t it? And how many disabled people (or different able as we rather say) are there in your class or workplace? Quoting EUROPS, people with a physical impairment are two to three times more likely to be unemployed, and it is infuriating to see that the blame for this, according to surveys and media, is no other than prejudice and fear of additional costs like insurance and transport. Does this sound like equal opportunities to you? An article published by The Guardian in 2010 pointed out that no less than 40% of student transport available in the UK was inaccessible for people with special needs, and that 30% of the leisure activities the campuses offered were not suited for these people. Is your University accessible for disabled people? How would you manage around your campus if you were in a wheelchair or had a visual or hearing impairment? Statistics about disabled students at universities in Europe are hard to come across, which makes me wonder why is that so. Maybe the statistical population to analyze is too low.
We have to admit that we don’t live in a society that is inclusive and caring enough, and when we finally admit it, we have to tackle the problem. We have to change. And let me put the emphasis on the “we”, because society is not an ethereal concept lingering above us. We often say “society” to refer to an unreachable entity that somehow is omnipresent and influences our lives through seemingly strange mechanisms that we are not part of. But actually, society is what you discuss with your friends, what you chose to watch on TV, what you write about, what is on your Facebook timeline and on your Instagram… YOU are society. And if you change, so does society.
Opening Inclusion Project challenges you to change your point of view and to step out of your comfort zone. We dare you to be more inclusive and more caring, to grant people the right of being understood before you judge them with a look or a thought, to free these people from their prisons, to be part of the change. We consider that it is important to shed light on these matters, because a great part of the reason behind society ignoring them is lack of information, and with ignorance comes prejudices. Being depressed is nor being sad, using a wheelchair is not being incapacitated, having anxiety is not a choice, being unstable is not being crazy, people with disabilities have normal jobs…
The stories and facts behind these tags are much more complicated, that is where non-formal education comes to the rescue. Embark with us on a journey that will make you more aware, more knowledgeable, and more conscious, break those stereotypes! And where can you start? Follow us on Facebook to be updated about our news! We are planning to organize workshops and a cinema club among other things. But there are two important ideas for which we need volunteers! One is a promo video made up of small videos of AEGEEans, and the other is a collection of testimonials that we will publish. Do you have a story, an experience, either yours or from someone you know, related either to mental health or physical disabilities? If you do, let us know! We encourage you to share it with other people, because although it may feel scary to do so, it’s also a way towards self-acceptance and towards self-development, and a beautiful, effective and direct way to show people what these issues are really about. If you have any questions or you want to join us in this adventure don’t hesitate to contact us either on Facebook (Opening Inclusion Project) or by mail (opening-inclusion@aegee.org)
Written by Eugenia Casariego Artola, AEGEE-Oviedo