On this episode: “Medical Mystery 1: The Dance of Death”

This month we bring you a SPECIAL three part mini-series for Halloween!  Ben and Kirsty delve into medical mysteries, and in this first episode, they explore the ‘Dancing Plague’.

What happened in Strasbourg in 1518 that caused many deaths to occur over 40 days?

Ben shares this story, followed by possible theories that could be made. '

Will we ever know what caused the dance of death?
 
Look out for Medical Mystery 2, coming on Wednesday 30th!


Web links from the show: (all correct at time of recording)

BBC (2022) - The people who ‘danced themselves to death’

BPS (2009) - Dancing plagues and mass hysteria

AHDB (2024) - An introduction to ergot and its management in cereals  

 
Wellbeing/Mental Health Support Contacts:

If you are a student or staff member at the University of Staffordshire and have been affected by any of the topics that have been discussed in this podcast, don’t struggle alone, the University of Staffordshire are here to help…

Contact Wellbeing Support on 01782 294976 or by emailing studentwellbeing@staffs.ac.uk.

For external listeners, mental health crisis lines and suicide prevention contacts can be found below. Please reach out if you feel you need to!

NHS Mental Health Services - https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/where-to-get-urgent-help-for-mental-health/

Mind Support and Services - https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/seeking-help-for-a-mental-health-problem/where-to-start/

Samaritans Contact - https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/



Upcoming Podcasts: Death within other religions, human factors and ergonomics, and more service users sharing their unique experiences;

Previous Podcasts:
Race, Transgender, Neurodiversity, Impacts of trauma, Mature student experiences, Transition from student to healthcare professional, specialised areas such as mental health and organ transplant teams, and a LIVE guided meditation.

Want to get involved?
Are you a student? Member of staff? A Healthcare worker?

Do you have a topic you would like to share?

Get in touch! Let’s Pod!

Contact The Link podcast team:
@TheLinkPodcast_ on X (formally Twitter)


Ben W-H - @benw_h on X
                   ben.woodrow-hirst@staffs.ac.uk

Kirsty Egan - @KirstyODP on X
                       kirsty.egan@student.staffs.ac.uk

Hosted by: Ben Woodrow-Hirst
Produced & Edited by: Ben Woodrow-Hirst & Kirsty Egan
Artwork: Ben Woodrow-Hirst
Intro & Outro: Rohanna Wholey
Theme Music: Gavin Samways