The Role of the Media in the Spread of Islamophobia

Before discussing how the media fuels Islamophobia, it’s vital to clarify what we mean by the term. Islamophobia has been defined as the fear, hostility, prejudice, and discrimination directed at Islam and Muslims. It should be noted, however, that the popularised use of the term has sparked controversy for different reasons. Many commentators reject the…

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Here’s How Legalising Psychedelics Could Minimise the Risk of a Bad Trip

While the classical serotonergic psychedelics (LSD, mescaline, psilocybin, and DMT) are generally considered physiologically safe and non-addictive, they are certainly not without their risks. Negative experiences do occur – although, under a system where psychedelics are legal and regulated, this risk could be minimised. For a very tiny minority with a pre-existing or latent mental…

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British Work Culture is Ruining Employees’ Mental Health

With half a million people in the UK suffering from work-related stress, it seems clear that something is very wrong about British work culture, and the backward way we view mental health in the workplace. Even if companies only care about profit margins, it would still make the most sense to protect workers’ mental health. Work-Related Stress…

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Challenging the Stigma Surrounding Psychedelics

Between 2016-17, US comedian Shane Mauss was performing on a tour called A Good Trip, a two-hour comedy show about psychedelics. One of the aims of this tour, he said, was to remove the stigma that surrounds the use of psychedelics. Public Perceptions About Psychedelics Many people have misguided and negative preconceptions about what these substances…

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The Mental Health Burden of Student Debt

If we sincerely believe that higher education is a public good then we can argue it, therefore, deserves public funding. There are many government programmes, on the other hand, that are funded by the public that I do not personally believe are in the public interest. Two examples would include our nuclear weapons programme and…

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