Voices of Diversity podcast
Welcome to Voices of Diversity: Mental Health - a podcast series created by EDI Services at Loughborough University. In this series, we initiate honest conversations about mental health and well-being, centering on the lived experiences of students and staff from diverse and often underrepresented backgrounds.
Hosted by Denise Coles, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Manager at Loughborough University, this series is shaped by her deep commitment of creating a positive culture of inclusion and belonging. Denise’s work focuses on embedding EDI principles into the university’s operations, challenging systematic inequalities and supporting colleagues to adopt anti-discriminatory practices. Her passion for building understanding and meaningful change shapes the conversations you will hear in every episode.
Through powerful one-on-one discussions, we explore the unique challenges faced by individuals across various identities and life stages: from international students to senior women in leadership, from LGBTQ+ voices to those with caregiving responsibilities, and many more. Each episode offers personal insights into how mental health is experienced, managed, and understood within the context of community, culture, and identity.
This series aims to reduce stigma, increase understanding, and help build a more supportive and inclusive environment for everyone at Loughborough. These conversations are not intended to replace professional mental health advice, but to open the space for dialogue, reflection, and learning.
Whether you're a student, a member of staff, or an ally looking to better understand the realities others face, we invite you to listen, reflect, and be part of a more inclusive conversation around mental health.
Please note that these podcasts are not intended to provide professional mental health advice, simply to open the discussion around mental health in the workplace. If you need urgent mental health support, please call NHS 111 or Samaritans on 116 123.