In this episode, I talk with Nele Vanhoyweghen who is a former Belgian UN youth delegate for sustainable development, and currently studies sociology at Gent University where she is a student representative trying to focus on sustainability, climate and inclusivity.

We discuss many things from the importance of generational equity, critiquing party politics, the need for inclusivity and a prioritisation of wellbeing, along with the hopeful possibilities of a just transition.

Nele also shares her own personal experiences with mental health, and how she made the decision to be more open about the fact that she has a depression, anxiety and has autism. We discuss the incredibly damaging implications of stigmatisation, stereotypes and the taboos that still exist around mental health, the ways they manifest and the huge need for this to be dismantled.

Nele also highlights the immense rise in burn out, and how implementing rest is so crucial to support wellbeing, and again having the space to communicate more openly about mental health without fears of judgement or experiencing stigmatisation is so essential.

This is such a thought-provoking episode, with immense honesty, consideration of the visions to create a better future, and many beautiful words of wisdom that I hope they resonate with you too.

Episode Transcript/Additional Notes:

https://www.alittlebitoflagom.org/ep-36-activism-stigmatism-and-infuriating-party-politics-with-nele-van-hoyweghen/

Music: Martyn King