Written by Jess Evans and Translated by Iwan Thomas
‘Charlie Asked For Help’ is a relatively new group here in Aber, but one which has received an overwhelming amount of support and traction in the few weeks since it was established. The group, formed by Romana Nemcova, is campaigning for better Wellbeing support at Aberystwyth University, following the tragic suicide of Romana’s partner Charlie, a Computer Science student, in February 2023.
Romana kindly agreed to speak with me about the work that the organisation is doing, their upcoming protest on the 2nd of May, and why she believes the Wellbeing support service in Aberystwyth is failing its students.
Jess (J): Would you mind telling me about #CharlieAskedForHelp in your own words?
Romana (R): Charlie Asked For Help is about changing Wellbeing services here at Aberystwyth University. Unfortunately, my boyfriend, Charlie, became a victim of suicide in early February of this year. He went to Wellbeing services and tried to talk about his suicidal thoughts and his feelings, and he did not get enough help from them.
After what happened, I was talking to a few other students, and they mentioned a similar pattern in their own experiences. I realised it wasn’t just Charlie who had had this negative experience. It was a much bigger issue. We started collecting testimonies from anybody who was willing to volunteer their story, and then set up the Instagram account.
J: Could you tell me a little bit about your upcoming protest?
R: The protest will be on the 2nd of May. We are planning to start near POBL on North Beach, and we will walk up to the university. We want to make the protest as accessible as possible for people with different disabilities, and we are currently working on accessibility accommodations to make sure everyone feels like they can get involved regardless of their circumstances.
J: What do you hope the protest will achieve?
R:We want to pay tribute to Charlie, and to other students who have become a victim of suicide, because we feel that the topic is still very stigmatised. Aberystwyth University is not really talking about it, which is just stigmatising it even more. We want students who are currently having these suicidal thoughts to know that they’re not alone, and there is help if they know where to find it. I think it’s really important to sensitively talk about this topic, but it still deserves to be discussed. We also want to show Wellbeing Services that we’re frustrated, and that we don’t think they’re doing enough.
J: What impact do you think the work you’re doing is having on the student body?
R: There has been a huge impact, which was honestly terrifying for me at first. I’m a psychology student, so I understand well the importance of good mental health support. We’ve had testimonies from students with both good and bad experiences with Aber’s Wellbeing services, but they are overwhelmingly negative.
Some students feel like they have been blamed by the professionals that they went to for help. In some of our testimonies, students said that they had sent emails that were never responded to, or that their meetings and appointments were cancelled without explanation, multiple times in a row. This is quite upsetting as well, because if you’re making the huge step and talking about your feelings, which is difficult for so many students, and you get this sort of responses, you start to think that the support service doesn’t really care about you.
Another problem that multiple students addressed was that they were often seeking help, and just being redirected to other services without follow ups. Nobody was reaching out to check that they had been able to access this help elsewhere. I do understand that Wellbeing cannot support all students, but there should always be a follow through or a check-up on students who have been sent away. They expect students to keep discussing upsetting or maybe even traumatising topics with new people, because they can’t offer the support they should be giving in the first place.
J: What are your thoughts on the new Wellbeing app being advertised by the University?
R: It makes me think they don’t really understand where the problem is. I’ve tried using the app, and I didn’t find it very helpful. It’s a good sign that they’re trying to do something, but I think they don’t understand that an app won’t help people who are struggling as much as some Aber students are. It is great for students who are struggling with stress and anxiety, but the tips given are things that are already available to students online. It just isn’t appropriate for students who are struggling with clinical mental health issues, and it isn’t enough.
J: Some people may argue that the Wellbeing sector is incredibly underfunded, and that’s what’s causing these issues. What’s your opinion on this?
R: I absolutely agree! I think Wellbeing support services are struggling worldwide, and a lot of that is because of a lack of funding. I understand that some of our testimonies, about late responses, and poor email communication, are probably as a result of this. It seems like there are a handful of staff who are doing an exceptional job; however, we shouldn’t just accept that a few are doing a great job if this is at the expense of students. I understand there is a huge problem with finances, but I don't think that is an excuse. We’re planning to send an open letter to the Vice Chancellor, asking for more finance for wellbeing services, but I think the approach and mentality has to be changed internally. The University needs to decide what to prioritise, and it seems like they haven’t been prioritising student Wellbeing.
J: What sort of systematic changes do you want to see in the long-term?
R: We have built some close connections with some of the incoming SU Full Time Officers for 2023-24, including the new Wellbeing Officer, Helen, and the new President, Bayanda. We've sent an email requesting certain changes to the Wellbeing system, such as providing help in booking appointments, registering with GPs, and putting a stop to the redirection that sends students one way and then another.
We also want more funding for the Wellbeing services, and more qualified professionals able to provide proper counselling or therapy to students, rather than just redirecting them to other services. We think there should be better clarity and communication with students going forward, as that is the first big step in making students feel supported by the service.
I’m a third-year student, so I know I won’t get to see these changes happen while I am here. But I trust that they will be representing our cause in the next academic year, and there will still be people around who are enthusiastic about seeing these changes happen.
Romana and her team are still looking for student testimonies to support their protest. If you wish to anonymously discuss your own experiences with the Aberystwyth Wellbeing service, positive or negative, they can be found and contacted on Instagram at @charlieaskedforhelp, and using the hashtag #CharlieAskedForHelp. Romana can be contacted at nemcovaromana870@gmail.com.
The Charlie Asked For Help protest will be taking place in Aberystwyth on the 2nd of May 2023. Further information, including where you can join the group, and the planned schedule for the afternoon, can be found on their Instagram account.
The University’s list of recommended Wellbeing resources can be found at:
English: https://aber.ac.uk/en/studentservices/wellbeing/wellbeing_resources/#cruse-local-specialised-counselling-service
Cymraeg: https://aber.ac.uk/cy/studentservices/wellbeing/adnoddaulles/
Cymraeg
Cyfieithiad gan Iwan Thomas
Mae ‘Charlie Asked For Help’ yn grŵp gweddol newydd yma yn Aber, ond yn un sydd wedi derbyn llawer iawn o gefnogaeth a thraction yn yr ychydig wythnosau ers ei sefydlu. Mae’r grŵp, a ffurfiwyd gan Romana Nemcova, yn ymgyrchu am well cymorth Llesiant ym Mhrifysgol Aberystwyth, yn dilyn hunanladdiad trasig partner Romana, Charlie, myfyriwr Cyfrifiadureg, ym mis Chwefror 2023. Cytunodd Romana yn garedig i siarad â mi am y gwaith y mae'r mudiad yn ei wneud, eu protest ar yr 2il o Fai, a pham ei bod yn credu bod gwasanaeth cefnogi Lles Aberystwyth yn methu ei fyfyrwyr.
Jess (J): A fyddai ots gennych ddweud wrthyf am #CharlieAskedForHelp yn eich geiriau eich hun?
Romana (R): Mae 'Charlie Asked For Help' yn ymwneud â newid gwasanaethau Lles yma ym Mhrifysgol Aberystwyth. Yn anffodus, cymerodd fy nghariad, Charlie, ei fywyd ei hun yn gynnar ym mis Chwefror eleni. Aeth i'r gwasanaethau Lles a cheisio siarad am ei feddyliau a'i deimladau hunanladdol, ac ni chafodd ddigon o help ganddyn nhw. Ar ôl yr hyn a ddigwyddodd, roeddwn i’n siarad ag ychydig o fyfyrwyr eraill, ac fe sonion nhw am batrwm tebyg yn eu profiadau eu hunain. Sylweddolais nad Charlie oedd yr unig un oedd wedi cael y profiad negyddol hwn. Roedd yn fater llawer mwy. Dechreuon ni gasglu tystebau gan unrhyw un a oedd yn fodlon gwirfoddoli eu stori, ac yna sefydlu'r cyfrif Instagram.
J: A allech chi ddweud ychydig wrthyf am eich protest sydd ar ddod?
R: Bydd y brotest ar yr 2il o Fai. Rydym yn bwriadu cychwyn ger POBL ar Draeth y Gogledd, a byddwn yn cerdded i fyny i'r Brifysgol. Rydym am wneud y brotest mor hygyrch â phosibl i bobl â gwahanol anableddau, ac ar hyn o bryd rydym yn gweithio ar lety hygyrchedd i wneud yn siŵr bod pawb yn teimlo y gallant gymryd rhan waeth beth fo’u hamgylchiadau.
J: Beth ydych chi'n gobeithio y bydd y brotest yn ei gyflawni?
R: Yr ydym am dalu teyrnged i Charlie, ac i fyfyrwyr eraill sydd wedi dioddef hunanladdiad, oherwydd teimlwn fod y pwnc yn dal i gael ei stigmateiddio’n fawr. Nid yw Prifysgol Aberystwyth yn siarad amdano mewn gwirionedd, sydd ond yn ei stigmateiddio hyd yn oed yn fwy. Rydym am i fyfyrwyr sy’n meddwl am hunanladdiad ar hyn o bryd wybod nad ydynt ar eu pen eu hunain, ac mae cymorth ar gael os ydynt yn gwybod ble i ddod o hyd iddo. Rwy’n meddwl ei bod yn bwysig iawn siarad yn sensitif am y pwnc hwn, ond mae’n dal i haeddu cael ei drafod. Rydym hefyd am ddangos i Wasanaethau Llesiant ein bod yn rhwystredig, ac nad ydym yn meddwl eu bod yn gwneud digon.
J: Pa effaith ydych chi'n meddwl y mae'r gwaith rydych chi'n ei wneud yn ei chael ar y corff myfyrwyr?
R: Mae effaith enfawr wedi bod, a oedd yn wirioneddol frawychus i mi ar y dechrau. Rwy’n fyfyriwr seicoleg, felly rwy’n deall yn iawn pa mor bwysig yw cymorth iechyd meddwl da. Rydym wedi cael tystiolaeth gan fyfyrwyr sy’n cael profiadau da a drwg gyda gwasanaethau Llesiant Aber, ond maent yn hynod negyddol.
Mae rhai myfyrwyr yn teimlo eu bod wedi cael eu beio gan y gweithwyr proffesiynol yr aethant atynt am gymorth. Mewn rhai o’n tystiolaethau, dywedodd myfyrwyr eu bod wedi anfon e-byst nad oedd neb erioed wedi ymateb iddynt, neu wedi canslo eu cyfarfodydd a’u hapwyntiadau heb esboniad, sawl gwaith yn olynol. Mae hyn yn eithaf annifyr hefyd, oherwydd os cymerwch y cam enfawr a siarad am eich teimladau, sy'n anodd i gynifer o fyfyrwyr, a'ch bod yn cael y mathau hyn o ymatebion, rydych chi'n dechrau meddwl nad yw'r gwasanaeth cymorth yn poeni amdanoch chi mewn gwirionedd.
Problem arall a brofodd nifer o fyfyrwyr oedd eu bod yn aml yn ceisio cymorth, dim ond i gael eu hailgyfeirio i wasanaethau eraill heb ddilyniant. Nid oedd unrhyw un yn estyn allan i wirio eu bod wedi gallu cael gafael ar y cymorth hwn yn rhywle arall. Rwy’n deall na all Lles gefnogi pob myfyriwr, ond dylai fod dilyniant neu wiriad bob amser ar fyfyrwyr sydd wedi’u hanfon i ffwrdd. Maent yn disgwyl i fyfyrwyr barhau i drafod pynciau sy'n peri gofid neu hyd yn oed drawmatig gyda phobl newydd, oherwydd ni allant gynnig y cymorth y dylent fod yn ei roi yn y lle cyntaf.
J: Beth yw eich barn am yr ap Lles newydd sy'n cael ei hysbysebu gan y Brifysgol?
R: Mae'n gwneud i mi feddwl nad ydyn nhw wir yn deall ble mae'r broblem. Rwyf wedi ceisio defnyddio'r app, ac nid oedd yn ddefnyddiol iawn i mi. Mae'n arwydd da eu bod nhw'n ceisio gwneud rhywbeth, ond dwi'n meddwl nad ydyn nhw'n deall na fydd ap yn helpu pobl sy'n cael trafferth cymaint â rhai o fyfyrwyr Aber. Mae'n wych i fyfyrwyr sy'n cael trafferth gyda straen a phryder, ond mae'r awgrymiadau a roddir yn bethau sydd eisoes ar gael i fyfyrwyr ar-lein. Nid yw’n briodol i fyfyrwyr sy’n cael trafferth gyda materion iechyd meddwl clinigol, ac nid yw’n ddigon.
J: Efallai y bydd rhai pobl yn dadlau bod y sector Llesiant yn cael ei danariannu’n aruthrol, a dyna sy’n achosi’r problemau hyn. Beth yw eich barn am hyn?
R: Dwi'n cytuno'n llwyr! Rwy'n meddwl bod gwasanaethau cymorth Lles yn cael trafferth ar draws y Byd, ac mae llawer o hynny oherwydd diffyg cyllid. Deallaf fod rhai o’n tystiolaethau, am ymatebion hwyr, a chyfathrebu e-bost gwael, yn ôl pob tebyg o ganlyniad i hyn. Mae'n ymddangos bod llond llaw o staff sy'n gwneud gwaith eithriadol; fodd bynnag, ni ddylem dderbyn bod ychydig yn gwneud gwaith gwych os yw hyn ar draul myfyrwyr. Rwy’n deall bod problem enfawr gyda chyllid, ond nid wyf yn meddwl bod hynny’n esgus. Rydym yn bwriadu anfon llythyr agored at yr Is-Ganghellor, yn gofyn am fwy o gyllid ar gyfer gwasanaethau llesiant, ond rwy’n meddwl bod yn rhaid i’r agwedd a’r meddylfryd newid yn fewnol. Mae angen i'r Brifysgol benderfynu beth i'w flaenoriaethu, ac mae'n ymddangos nad ydynt wedi bod yn blaenoriaethu Lles myfyrwyr.
J: Pa fath o newidiadau systematig ydych chi am eu gweld yn y tymor hir?
R: Rydym wedi datblygu rhai cysylltiadau agos â rhai o Swyddogion Llawn Amser UM newydd ar gyfer 2023-24, gan gynnwys y Swyddog Llesiant newydd, Helen, a’r Llywydd newydd, Bayanda. Rydym wedi anfon e-bost yn gofyn am newidiadau penodol i'r system Llesiant, megis cymorth i drefnu apwyntiadau, cofrestru gyda GP, a rhoi terfyn ar yr ailgyfeirio sy'n anfon myfyrwyr un ffordd ac yna'r llall.
Rydym hefyd eisiau mwy o gyllid ar gyfer y gwasanaethau Llesiant, a mwy o weithwyr proffesiynol cymwys a all ddarparu cwnsela neu therapi priodol i fyfyrwyr, yn hytrach na’u hailgyfeirio i wasanaethau eraill yn unig. Rydyn ni’n meddwl y dylai fod gwell eglurder a chyfathrebu â myfyrwyr wrth symud ymlaen, gan mai dyna’r cam mawr cyntaf i wneud i fyfyrwyr deimlo eu bod yn cael eu cefnogi gan y gwasanaeth.
Rwy'n fyfyriwr trydedd flwyddyn, felly rwy'n gwybod na fyddaf yn gweld y newidiadau hyn yn digwydd tra byddaf yma. Ond hyderaf y byddant yn cynrychioli ein hachos yn y flwyddyn academaidd nesaf, a bydd pobl o hyd o gwmpas sy'n frwd dros weld y newidiadau hyn yn digwydd.
Mae Romana a'i thîm yn dal i chwilio am dystiolaeth myfyrwyr i gefnogi eu protest. Os hoffech drafod eich profiadau eich hun yn ddienw gyda gwasanaeth Llesiant Aberystwyth, boed yn gadarnhaol neu’n negyddol, gellir dod o hyd iddynt a chysylltu â nhw ar Instagram yn @charlieaskedforhelp, a defnyddio’r hashnod #CharlieAskedForHelp. Gellir cysylltu â Romana yn nemcovaromana870@gmail.com.
Bydd protest ‘Charlie Asked For Help’ yn cael ei chynnal yn Aberystwyth ar 2fed o Fai 2023. Mae rhagor o wybodaeth, gan gynnwys lle gallwch chi ymuno â’r grŵp, a’r amserlen arfaethedig ar gyfer y prynhawn, ar gael ar eu cyfrif Instagram.
Mae rhestr y Brifysgol o adnoddau Llesiant a argymhellir ar gael yn:
Cymraeg: https://aber.ac.uk/cy/studentservices/wellbeing/adnoddaulles/