Heather, student mental health and influencing public policy   Heather McAdam, a third year undergraduate intercalating with Global Health, and soon to return to the Medical School, is also the Student Association Rep for the Medical School and founder of the mental health support community, WellMed. Heather spoke in the previous Let’s Talk podcast series, on suicidality. Now she is back to tell us about her work during lockdown with the Scottish Government Mental Health Directorate, engaging young people in policy making. She describes some of the key challenges of lockdown for students, who are caught in a middle ground between governmental and societal focus on school education on the one hand, and business and employment on the other. Can governments and organisations reach out more to students, and now that the old social influencers have stepped back, can young people step forward? For Coronavirus updates and advice,and FAQs please see the University webpages here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/news/covid-19 The Chaplaincy blogs ‘For Times Like These’ https://www.ed.ac.uk/chaplaincy/for-times-like-these are written specifically for mental health and wellbeing support during lockdown, as are these mindfulness virtual drop-ins: https://www.ed.ac.uk/chaplaincy/mindfulness-and-wellbeing/mindfulness-virtual-drop-ins For University support  The University Listening Service (for students and staff) is continuing throughout the lockdown, [email protected] Student Counselling Service, https://www.ed.ac.uk/student-counselling Staff Counselling Service, https://www.ed.ac.uk/counselling-services/staff If any of the issues in this broadcast have affected you and you’d like support, here are some helplines. If you feel that you or someone you are with is in danger right now, please call 999 A 24/ hour emergency mental health service, Mental health assessment service on 0131 537 6000. ·       Breathing Space 0800 83 85 87 ·       The Samaritans 08457 90 90 90 ·       Edinburgh Crisis Centre 0808 801 0414