gms | German Medical Science

This text is structured as an interview between authors Julia Brüggemann and Pia Bruchhage, with Julia asking Pia about her attendance at the conference. In the beginning, Julia Brüggemann is explaining the context of how the interview came about.

Julia Brüggemann: As a social scientist, interested in merging urban health and disability issues, I am passionate about creating a more inclusive and accessible higher education environment for individuals with disabilities. Prof. Dr. Heike Köckler provided the occasion and the space to try this out. So, I had the privilege of attending a forum where a person with a disability participated in an event entirely in English. The experience was eye-opening and highlighted the importance of creating a welcoming and open community for all.

Julia Brüggemann: What did you like about the conference day?

Pia Bruchhage:

1.

I was able to gain a lot of knowledge and insights. For example, I attended sessions on mental health and homelessness.

2.

I enjoyed the introduction given by Prof. Dr. Heike on Community Health. She explained the content clearly and provided important insights. She also presented “the main determinants of Health” by Dahlgren, G. & Whitehead, M., which we discussed and worked on in our project. We called it the Rainbow Model and discussed each dimension and our factors in an easy-to-understand language. Many factors have an impact on our health, and all determinants of health together determine the extent of our health opportunities and the likelihood of illness and premature death.

3.

I particularly appreciated the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the presentations and contribute to the forum.

Julia Brüggemann: What did you learn?

Pia Bruchhage: Mental health is affected by psychological instability, loneliness, and lack of social contact. One can counteract this by engaging in enjoyable activities and spending more time with friends. We can strengthen our mental health through positive experiences. Homelessness and housing insecurity are increasing due to rising prices. Thanks to the organization “Bochum hilft”, which offers a lot of support to the homeless and provides them with food, we know how to help these people. Through our participation, we are more aware of homelessness and better understand their needs. I now know that there are various reasons why someone can become homeless.

Julia Brüggemann: The forum was mostly in English, and some of our group members were hesitant to participate. What motivated you to join in?

Pia Bruchhage: I have some English language skills, and I thought I would be able to understand. One just needs to have the courage to participate.

Julia Brüggemann: What would you say to the other ParStaR group members or what would you like to share at our next meeting?

Pia Bruchhage: I will report on what I learned and the insights gained. I also want to stress that I am glad I participated. The day has changed my perspective, and I will not forget it. Everything was easy to understand, and one just needs to have the courage to participate.

Both: Despite the initial concerns from our team members, we decided to go ahead and participate in the forum, with the support of other colleagues. We recognized the value of creating a space for people with disabilities to share their experiences and perspectives, and to contribute to a more inclusive and diverse academic community. Through this experience, we learned that it's important to be proactive in creating opportunities for diverse participation and to provide support and resources to enable everyone to participate fully.

Figure 1 [Fig. 1]