A nationwide campaign shows what studying with a chronic illness really means
“Talking costs me energy. Staying silent costs me my place in life.” Those are the words of Sara, 23, a student with ME/CFS.*
Many students with Long COVID and ME/CFS feel the same. Around 15,000 students in Austria live with chronic physical illnesses such as post COVID syndrome. They struggle with exhaustion, poor concentration and circulation problems, while exams, deadlines and attendance requirements carry on as usual. Help is available: universities offer counselling and accommodations for students with health conditions. Yet almost three out of four affected students don’t know about it.
The Austrian Students’ Union (ÖH), the ÖH University of Vienna, Long Covid Austria and the Austrian Society for ME/CFS want to change that. With posters, flyers and stickers at universities across Austria, they are drawing attention to the situation. On Instagram, affected students share what weighs on them and what they hope for under #Denkzettel, German for a note that makes you stop and think.
We are glad to support the campaign. The more people understand what ME/CFS and Long COVID mean, the more support research receives too.
Studying with Long COVID or ME/CFS? You’ll find everything about support and accommodations at your university on the ÖH campaign page (in German).
Read the press release (in German)
*Anonymised and edited testimony.
Join in: Your #Denkzettel
Are you studying with Long COVID or ME/CFS? Tell us what weighs on you, what you’re afraid of or what you wish for.
How it works:
- Download the blank note.
- Open it in your Instagram story and write your thought on it.
- Share the story with #Denkzettel and tag @longcovidaustria.
One sentence is enough. Every note makes visible what no one else sees.
