Buckinghamshire College Group - Student Services Newsletter - Winter 22

Congratulations on completing the first term of this Academic Year. We hope all of our students have a very safe and enjoyable rest during this Christmas break. The Student Services team will also be enjoying a well-deserved break but if you need any support during this holiday period please contact one of the following agencies;

Help to understand more about how you ' re feeling and find ways to feel better, or support someone who's struggling youngminds.org.uk

A range of free, tried and tested NHS psychological therapies that help with: low mood, anxiety, stress and more oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/healthyminds

24/7 access to self-help materials. Free, safe and anonymous online counselling and support koothcom

Hub of Hope is a nationwide mental health database Whether it’s someone to talk to or a ‘safe place’ to visit, there is always help available. hubofhopecouk

Samaritans is a registered charity aimed at providing emotional support to anyone in emotional distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide samaritansorg

We look forward to welcoming you all back in 2023 – Stay Safe!

Know your emotions

At times feelings may be murky, elusive, and confusing. Some times big and intense and other times quiet, buried away and hard to recognize. While words may fall short in fully capturing the essence of emotion, they serve to identify and then communicate our experience. The Feelings Wheel can help us put words to emotions and care for our mental health.

THE BENEFITS OF FILM

Watching a movie can be revitalising. It allows you to disconnect, relax, and have a good time.

It helps us to become aware of our fears so that we can work on overcoming them.

The content of many movies can make us aware of your own problems through identification and empathy.

When you watch a movie, we can experience passion without suffering the real side effects.

It helps with relaxation because watching a film redirects attention towards an activity, it’s an excellent way to decrease anxiety.

When you watch a movie it can help with motivation, we can find characters who help us find energy in our real life.

Films also creates laughter and happiness. There’s no doubt that it has immense influence over both mental and physical health.

Sad and distressing movies can also help our emotions surface from deep inside of us this helps us shred cathartic tears

Through movies, we can find new perspectives that will help us reflect on and change our attitudes.

Movies make us reflect on existential, spiritual, and even royal questions.

It helps us to deal with loss and heartbreak can be softened by movies that help us through these periods.

Watching films can help you become a better person

The qualities of different characters can inspire us to improve our strengths

Watching and commenting on a movie with friends and family has a huge social and emotional value.

Top 10 Christmas Films >

10) The Polar Express (2004)

A young boy embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express. During his adventure he learns about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas.

9) How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

The Grinch (who hates Christmas and is annoyed with the out-of-control Christmas festivities in Whoville) conspires to deprive the Who’s of their favourite holiday by sneaking into town on Christmas Eve to steal everything associated with the holiday.

8) A Christmas Carol (2009)

An animated retelling of Charles Dickens’ classic novel about a Victorian-era miser taken on a journey of self-redemption, courtesy of several mysterious Christmas apparitions

7) National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

Its Christmas time and the Griswold’s are preparing for a family seasonal celebration, but things never run smoothly for Clark, his wife Ellen and their two kids.

6) Home Alone (1990)

An 8-year old troublemaker must protect his home from a pair of burglars when he is accidentally left home alone by his family during Christmas vacation.

5) Nativity! (2009)

Competing against the rival school for the honour of best reviewed nativity in town, the stakes are raised when Paul Maddens boasts that his ex-girlfriend Jennifer, a Hollywood Producer, is coming to see his school’s nativity with the intention to turn it into a film.

4) Scrooged (1988)

Frank Cross runs a US TV station which is planning a live adaptation of Dickens’ Christmas Carol Frank’s childhood wasn’t a particularly pleasant one, and so he doesn’t really appreciate the Christmas spirit With the help of the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, Frank realises he must change.

3) The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

A comical retelling of the classic Dickens tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, with the iconic muppets. He is held accountable for his dastardly ways during night-time visitations by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and future.

2) Elf (2003)

After inadvertently wreaking havoc on the elf community due to his ungainly size, a man raised as an elf at the North Pole is sent to the U.S. in search of his true identity.

1) It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

George Bailey is good man who is loyal to his home town, Bedford Falls and its residents but during a time of trial he seriously considers throwing away his life. An angel named Clarence comes down from heaven to help George by showing what life would be like if he never existed.

ATimeout ctivities

1) What is the name of the snowman in the Disney movie Frozen?

2) True or false: There are three towns/cities in the United States named Santa Claus?

3) The lyrics, 'Holidays are coming, Holidays are coming' feature in Christmas adverts for which famous drinks company?

4) In which country is Father Christmas known as Weihnachtsmann?

5) What four letter word is an abbreviation of the word 'Christmas'?

6) Where does Santa live?

7)

True or false: In Japan, millions of people eat KFC for their main Christmas meal?

8) Santa Claus is also known as Saint who?

9) True or false: As a family tradition in Sweden, millions of people settle down on Christmas Eve to watch Donald Duck?

10) Tradition has it that in order to bring good luck, people should do what on each of the twelve days of ChristmasA) Eat a mince pie B) Open a present C) Pull a cracker

11) What is the name of the lead character in the movie Elf: A) Ronald the Reindeer B) Alfie the Elf C) Buddy the Elf 12) How many points does a snowflake have? 13) In The Simpsons, who or what is called Santa’s Little Helper? 14) What is the name of the evergreen plant that it's traditional to kiss under? 15) What might a naughty child find in their stocking on Christmas morning? 16) What is the name of the 25 days leading up to Christmas? 17) What is lucky to find in your Christmas Pudding? 18) Who were the first people to visit the baby Jesus? A) Shepherds B) Three Kings C) Three Queens 19) Which reindeer is said to be the most famous reindeer of all?

20) Which popular Christmas movie is about a young boy who takes a train ride to the North Pole?

Answers: Page 17

doing

VACANT POSITION

WYCOMBE CAMPUS VICE PRESIDENT

REPS Meetthe

AVA CHILLINGWORTH AYLESBURY CAMPUS VICE PRESIDENT

Could this be you?

Speak to Student Services to find out more!

Look out for info about your Student Voice and it's representatives around your campus in the new year

CASSIE HOOPER AYLESBURY CAMPUS PRESIDENT

RACHEL LLEWELLYN WYCOMBE CAMPUS PRESIDENT

DAISY CLARKE AMERSHAM CAMPUS PRESIDENT

WONDERFUL OLOWOKERE AMERSHAM CAMPUS VICE PRESIDENT

How might Christmas affectmy mental health?

Whether or not Christmas is part of your life, your mental health might be affected by it happening around you. It's a time of year that often puts extra pressure on us, and can affect our mental health in lots of different ways

For example, if you:

Feel alone or left out because everyone else seems happy when you ' re not

Wish you didn't have to deal with Christmas, or find it stressful because of other events in your life

Feel frustrated by other people's views of a 'perfect' Christmas, if these feel different to your experiences

Have ideas about what Christmas should be like, feel as if we need to enjoy it or worry something will ruin it

Feel like Christmas gives you something to focus on and look forward to, and find it difficult when it's over Want to celebrate with someone who's struggling

Your mental health problem might make it hard for you to spend Christmas how you want.

Difficult and stressful experiences at Christmas could make your mental health worse Enjoying Christmas might also affect your mental health, for example if it triggers hypomania or mania.

It can be harder to access services that normally help you Some of these services may be closed during the Christmas period. Your usual routines may be disrupted, which might make it harder to manage your mental health.

Your experiences during the coronavirus restrictions may affect how you feel about this Christmas.

If you celebrate other religious festivals or holidays, you may feel overlooked. It might feel like Christmas is given special attention. New Year can also be a hard time. It can make us look back at difficult memories or worry about the coming year. We might also reflect on our lives, and regret things we haven't achieved.

To get further support please visit mindorguk