VUB supports UZ Brussel employees with #VerzorgDeVerzorgers
#VerzorgDeVerzorgers – a fundraising campaign by the VUB Foundation on the initiative of rector Caroline Pauwels – has raised €25,000 to improve the emotional and psychological wellbeing of UZ Brussel employees. On Friday 9 October at 9.30, the rector will hand over the cheque to Marc Noppen, CEO of UZ Brussel.
The funds raised will be used to provide psychological support to the care and maintenance staff at the UZ Brussel. Villa Samson has been transformed into a safe place where they can find respite from the pressure and emotions that have been running high since the start of the coronavirus crisis.
It is no coincidence that the cheque is being handed over during the 10 Days of Mental Health event, which runs from 1 to 10 October each year. Rector Caroline Pauwels wants to highlight the importance of good mental health and show that VUB and the university hospital are resilient together. Dr Karen Pien, medical information manager at UZ Brussel, listens to employees’ personal experiences with a team of clinical psychologists. They are alert to signals of stress and anxiety, and help people who need support to deal with pressure and emotions. These heroes are also being celebrated.
Dr Pien says: “I am an expert on post-traumatic stress syndrome. During the first wave of the corona crisis, I told Prof Dr Noppen what I thought we really needed: a place where it was possible to work in peace and quiet on the mental health of the UZ Brussel care and maintenance staff. That place was Villa Samson. Anyone who comes to us can tell their story. We offer a listening ear and then focus on groundwork: on the one hand we encourage self-care and on the other hand we carry out trauma-release exercises.”