Welfare
Ganymedes aims to defend the rights of LGBT students and to provide a basic level of welfare services to LGBT students of the University of Groningen and Hanzehogeschool. It will take some time before the infrastructure is in place to enable us to do this efficiently. In the interim, if you have any issues you can contact the Ganymedes Welfare Officer (see Contact page) who will try to redirect your query appropriately.
Sexual health
The SOA (seksueel overdraagbare aandoening; sexually-transmitted disease) department of the government-funded unit concerned with public health (the GGD) provides free and discrete testing for common STDs (gonorrhoea, syphilis, chlamydia, HIV and if indicated, hepatitis). They also provide advice on the subject of sexual health and free vaccinations against hepatitis B. Hepatitis A vaccinations are subsidised and cost €60. You can visit their website or telephone them to make an appointment (0900 736 736 6 – €0.10 p/m).
Since gay and bisexual men form a high-risk group in terms of STD-transmission, Ganymedes also has a quantity of condoms (courtesy of the GGD) which are provided to such students free of charge. If you would like to make use of this service e-mail the Ganymedes President or Welfare Officer (see Contact page) for more information or ask during a Ganymedes event. Your privacy will be respected.
Psychological wellbeing – RuG-specific service
The University of Groningen provides the Psychological Counselling Service which may be of use to students of the University, in particular relation to or regardless of sexual orientation. The service aims to address a range of issues from personal to academic and relationship to identity. See their webpages for more details.
General counselling – Hanze-specific service
The Hanzehogeschool provides the student counselling service which may help students to address a variety of difficulties, related or not to their sexual orientation. If necessary, they will refer you to another external service that is better suited to deal with your situation. See their webpage for more details.
Abuse or discrimination
The University of Groningen offers a confidential advisory service to assist students of the University in the event of sexual harassment, aggression, violence, discrimination or other undesirable manners of conduct, regardless of the reasons.
The Discriminatie Meldpunt Groningen assists inhabitants of the province of Groningen who feel that they have been illegally discriminated against by individuals, companies or organizations. It can offer advice, register your complaint and should you wish, help you to take the complaint further by mediating between both parties, contacting the police and/or guiding you through legal procedure, should you choose to take this route.
In some cases of abuse, related to sexual orientation or otherwise, involvement of the police may be advisable but will not be forced by either Ganymedes or the confidential advisory service. Ganymedes will try to provide a liaison with the police if you request it.
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