The Mexican ‘Day of the Dead’ festival (Dia de los Muertos) is taking place on 1st and 2nd November to pay tribute to loved ones who have passed away. The dates coincide with the Catholic holidays of All Saints Day (1st) and All Souls Day (2nd).

Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, eating Pan de Muerto (a bread flavoured with aniseed and topped with sugar and decorated with a skull and crossbones). Another tradition is to leave possessions and favorite food and drink of the departed on their graves as gifts.

Diversity Role Models is an organisation which actively seeks to prevent homophobic bullying in schools. They aim to stop bullying before it happens by educating all young people about differences in sexuality and gender identity. Read more about them here http://www.diversityrolemodels.org/

Stonewall has launched a new guide, available in six languages, for lesbian, gay and bisexual people visiting Britain from overseas. The guide will reassure international students that they can be themselves and provides reassurance that it’s safe to approach the police and other authorities for help in case of any problems. www.stonewall.org.uk/visitorsguide

The Hindu festival ‘Navratri’ is a festival dedicated to the worship of the Hindu goddess Shakti. The word literally means nine nights in Sanskrit. During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Shakti – or Devi – are worshiped. Shakti is the concept of divine feminine creative power, sometimes referred to as ‘The Great Divine Mother’ in Hinduism. Devi is the core form of every Hindu Goddess. Goddess worship is an integral part of Hinduism.

World Mental Health Day – Quiz! Refreshments! Prizes!

Wednesday 10^th October, 1pm – 2pm at the Dome (Avery Hill Campus)

Mental illness is a fact of life.  According to the Mental Health Foundation, one in four people in the UK will experience at least one episode of mental illness in their lifetime. 

To mark World Mental Health Day 2012, the Students’ Union is working with the University’s *AccessAbility Ambassadors to raise awareness of mental illness, and the support that’s available for students.   Mental illness does not need to be an obstacle to students going on to achieve academic success, or an issue that stops students from having a complete University experience.

As part of this, we are hosting a Quiz on Mental Health at the Dome on Wednesday 10^th October, from 1pm to 2pm.  The Students’ Union is donating  vouchers for a FREE University of Greenwich hoodie for the lucky first prize winner, as well as food/drink vouchers for the SU Bars for runners-up.   We’ve got cakes and biscuits to share, and a limited supply of coffee mugs to give away courtesy of the Greenwich Drug & Alcohol Action Team (but buy your own coffee!).

And, if you’ve got time to spare in the afternoon, why not stay for an afternoon with the *AccessAbility team for board games?  Relieve your own mental stress (or increase it!) with new friends and old.  Please bring your own favourite (and a personal plea…leave Monopoly at home…)

For information about the Disabled & Diverse Students Network, contact Melanie Thorley (email tm34@gre.ac.uk)

The Students’ Union will be putting further information on the SUUG website, including the answers to Wednesday’s quiz (after the event!). For more information contact Matt Ventrella, Academic & Welfare Adviser, Students’ Union, University of Greenwich.