Student Life - November 2018

ISSUE 22 • NOVEMBER 2018 • SUFFOLK

Lifestyle Magazine by Students, for Students

www.student-life.co

Proud supporter of

Cover photo by LEANDRA BRANDENBERG

STUDENT Life

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Editor’s

It’s been a busy month but there is still lots to do before the year is up! Firstly, I’d like to congratulate all those who graduated from the University of Suffolk last month.

Receiving your award after years of hard work is such a huge achievement and I hope you all had a wonderful day celebrating with friends, family and peers. Whatever you go on to do, we wish you all the best with your future endeavours!

Secondly, I would like to welcome our new student contributors who have come on board following our roll out into four more sixth forms in Suffolk! We enjoyed giving our presentation to you all and are delighted that so many of you have expressed an interest. We are really excited to be working with you to produce new content. If you missed the opportunity to get involved, it’s not too late to contact us.

In this month’s publication you’ll find articles on a trip to London; a recipe for vegan soup; a fashion show experience and tips on how to stay safe now that the nights are longer.

Not to mention lots, lots more! We hope you enjoy reading!

Best wishes, Rachel Gilbey Co-editor

Contents STUDENT STYLE STUDENT BEAUTY STUDENT TRAVEL STUDENT CAREERS WHAT THE FOOD ENTERTAINMENT MY LIFE

4-7 8-11 12 14-16 17-22 23-28 29-35

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CONTACT US 01473 35 35 12 rachel@student-life.co www.student-life.co FB: @studentlifeips Instagram: @studentlifeips Twitter: @studentlifeips

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Hello and welcome to November’s edition of Student Life!

STUDENT TECH 36-37 STUDENT SAFETY 38-39 MENTAL HEALTH 40-59 LGBTQ+ 56-57 SPEAK UP, SPEAK OUT 60-62 CONTACTS 63 OUR PARTNERS 64

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FILMING

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Last month saw the start of prod uction for our ‘Speak Up, Speak Out’ antibullying film. The produc tion team at ou r own Unity Films, joine d forces with La urence and his team at Offset Films in W ickham Market and the ‘talking heads’ inter views were recorded.

The day was a huge success and the entire team bond ed through the raw experiences be ing shared and the professio nalism of the wh ole shoot. The film is planned to pr emiere in very early 2019 .

FUNDING by our ed to be invited we were privileg th on m £1000 from t r las fo te ue La to accept a cheq nt rsa Ha ted Liz Patron - Cllr oney was dona ich East. This m sw Ip of e ub Cl Th . ry ign the Rota eak Out’ campa r ‘Speak Up, Sp ental health m r to help fund ou ou to ey on sly donated m ted by Rotary in Club has previou ed to be suppor rill th e ar we d campaign an this way.

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED We’re looking for:

Writers Photographers Designers Business Development Team Mystery Shoppers & Reviewers Distributors

“Since working with Student Life I have gained both confidence and knowledge within the business and journalism sectors.”

Get in touch info@student-life.co 3 • N OVE M BE R 2018 • S TUDENT LIFE

“My roles at Student Life have shaped my leadership and decision making skills.”

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FASHION FASHION CO-EDITOR PAM DAVIS

All Wrapped Up Winter is fast approaching, and you know what that means – a totally legitimate excuse to invest in a nice new coat and outerwear!

We love winter, it’s the only time you can go mad on clothes (coats, boots, jumpers scarves, you know the deal) and completely justify it.

Autumn outerwear is seriously exciting this season, between trenches, tweeds, and puffer coats, all styles are covered.

Though Britain seems a tad undecided about its weather forecast, being shiveringly cold one day and sweltering hot the next, having a good, reliable winter coat is nonetheless essential for keeping up with nature’s unpredictability.

This year we can still indulge in parkas and pea coats, but we can finally brave something completely new.

Faux fur, puffer and longline are some of this year’s most popular styles.

Winter coats are foundations for our winter wardrobes; finding the right one could be tricky and time consuming.

Take a look at these suggestions for some budget-friendly fashion to make a statement this season: A good coat is the core of any fashion weather wardrobe; get it right and you will tackle Autumn/Winter whatever the elements.

From smart checked coats to jackets there are so many styles to choose from, I’m sure you will find a favourite amongst the styles out there on the high street now.

Whatever you are after, investment is key.

Don’t be afraid of colour either!

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FASHION CANDY STYLE

Coat Edit WOMEN RAINCOATS – timeless that will see you from winter to winter - great worn with denims and whites to keep it fresh.

PUFFER COATS – bang on trend this season and a cool way to jazz up your jeans this winter.

TRENCH COATS – Reversible trench coats work harder than your average coat – switch it to work with any outfit.

TEDDY COATS – This winter teddy bear furs are back to help us stay cosy and on trend.

LEOPARD PRINT – Animal prints have returned - work this into your wardrobes to stay super stylish.

TAILORED COAT - These coats are the easiest way to add a masculine edge to pretty frocks and silky skirts.

Opt for a slightly oversized shape to allow extra room for layering up chunky knits underneath.

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MEN DUFFLE COATS – the easiest thing to wear over suits and casual wear.

PEACOATS - one of those styles that makes guys look stylish without shouting about it!

WAXED JACKETS – always works with denim, casual shirts, trousers.

RAIN MAC – can work in staple shades of black and navy.

CAMEL OVERCOATS – a colour that pretty much works with any skin tone.

CHECK OVERCOATS – plain overcoats are low risk, perhaps invest in checks & tweeds.

PARKAS – are timeless pieces that will work in your wardrobes for years.

I would like to invite all of our readers to send me suggestions for anything you would like me to feature in future issues. Any budding fashionistas who need fashion advice, please feel free to get in touch. Follow me on social media for all the latest news.

GET IN TOUCH Facebook: Fashion Candy Style Twitter: @pammystyles Instagram: @fashion_candy_style PAM DAVIS

Fashion Candy Style E: pamela@fashioncandy.co.uk M: 07713 095355 www.fashioncandy.co.uk

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Suffolk Fashion Show WRITTEN BY SARAH NAGLE Last month saw Trinity Park host The Suffolk Fashion Show 2018 – now in its 6th year. The show is an annual fashion event that aims at promoting Autumn/Winter seasonal clothes to "real" men and women.

The 2018 Show supported the charity ‘Lighthouse Women’s Aid', which helps domestic abuse victims.

The Show was presented by 'Fashion Candy Style' owner Pamela Davis. She narrated the show as models walked the walk, describing the clothing items and context behind the local designs. Each brand accommodated different body types with ease and style. The models’ body types ranged from petite to plus sizes and the clothes they wore sculpted their bodies seamlessly, to complement their natural shapes.

The collection of clothes were supplied by Quiz, Moss Bros, Cake & Catwalk, Francesca. R. Palumbo, Urban Vintage, Apples & Pears clothing, Absolutely Natural Clothing, Twist 'N' Shout, Charlies Pop-up Boutique, Blue Poppy Boutique, Zest and Truffle.

Pamela graciously thanked each designer personally and then moved on to the ideologies behind each collection before the models strutted down the catwalk. Music added to the atmosphere, creating a platform for the models to ‘bounce’ off.

They walked in a well-rehearsed style, where two or three models would walk together to the centre of the stage, then weave in and out, switching places so every audience member saw a 360 degree view of the model, perfectly poised and posed. Lights dazzled in the foreground, as cheers echoed as models swooped past, swishing their hips in an elegant sophisticated walk; audience members gushing at the new designs, in awe of the textures and patterns of the clothing & material.

The Show drew to a close with the audience applauding and cheering. The night was a great success and most importantly, raised significant funds for Lighthouse Women's Aid. ALL IMAGES CREDIT: SARAH NAGLE

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STUDENT

BEAUTY BEAUTY CO-EDITOR ROSIE MAY

5 Easy Winter Hairstyles For Work/School Now I’m a big fan of my bed, so getting up early in the mornings to do my hair nicely isn’t something that appeals to me. I’d much rather have the extra time sleeping! I’ve found 5 easy hairstyles that are quick to do before work or school, but still leave you looking ready for the day ahead.

The first go-to hair style is natural curls.

My hair is awful to curl and using a curling wand just never lasts. My way of doing it is having a shower the night before, using some serum on my damp hair and then popping it into two plaits. I then sleep in

it overnight and when I wake up the next morning my hair is beautiful and curly! I love this method because it’s so easy and I can just take it out and go in the mornings.

The serum helps to keep any frizz down and I love this hairstyle in the winter months as my long hair will keep my neck warm if it’s down!

The second hairstyle is a low-down bun. I don’t personally like the look of my hair in a normal bun, so this is a good alternative for me! I separate my hair into a middle parting and create a sleek bun at the bottom of my head. I tend to pull through two pieces of hair at the front too to add to the look. This is really quick and simple to do, and keeps my hair out of my face whilst I’m working!

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Thirdly, half up and half down. This is one of my go-to looks because it’s very quick but still looks nice! I tend to run my fingers from my eyebrows diagonally towards my hair and cut a section out. I then pull through two bits of hair at the front and tie the section into a ponytail. You can even alternate and put the section into a bun. Both are quick and easy, but make it look like you’ve made an effort!

Next up, small plaits. If I’ve washed my hair and I leave it natural, I like to add a little something to it to make it look more presentable. For this, I take two small sections of my hair from the front and make two separate plaits going backwards. I make them a little bit French by adding in small other sections, and then I put some grips in to hold them in place. Sometimes I will put the ends of the plaits into ponytails, just to add some volume to my hair and add to the look.

Finally, a classic ponytail. I tend to do this if I really don’t have a lot of time or if my hair is due a wash. I prefer to have a sleek ponytail, so I usually use a little bit of serum or frizz spray and a small comb to flatten any baby hairs and make it look as sleek as possible. Sometimes I’ll take a small art of the ponytail and wrap it round the actual ponytail, to make it look more put-together and fashionable. I like to keep my natural wavy hair for a ponytail, so that it has more volume and texture.

So there are my top 5 hairstyles. They are all super easy and quick to do, so you can buy yourself some extra time in bed in the mornings! I like all of these hairstyles in the winter, because the wind and poor weather won’t have too much of an effect on them and it keeps hair out of my face especially when it’s windy. When my hair is down it also acts as a very good scarf to keep my neck warm!

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Skincare – Does It Really Need To Be So Expensive?

WRITTEN BY JESS SWANSBOROUGH

24/7, we are bombarded with pictures of celebrities with gorgeous, glowing, spotfree skin. But really, do you have to be a multi-millionaire to be able to afford half-decent skincare products to keep spots at bay? The short answer – no.

All throughout my early years of High School, I struggled with having bad skin

problems. Every day, waking up and praying to have not broken out into any more spots, but inevitably, one would appear right on top of my nose. But what was I doing wrong for all that time?

Well, I wasn’t really doing anything wrong.

I just hadn’t found the right products for me. A common misconception amongst youngsters is that their skincare products need to be the most expensive, high street brands, or else there’s no point. But this isn’t true at all. After trying out hundreds of different products (through plenty of perseverance), I’ve finally found what’s right for me – and it’s really nothing too fancy.

Every morning, I cleanse, tone, and

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moisturise my skin. I use the Garnier ‘micellar cleansing water’. I put some onto a flat cotton pad, and wipe it over my face, refreshing me and waking me up. You can pick up the water easily from any local drugstore at around £4 a bottle (and the bottles last AGES). This opens your pores up, cleaning out every last impurity, ensuring you have a clean base to work on with the rest of the products. Next, I take a fresh cotton pad, and tip some Simple ‘soothing facial toner’, which is again, easy to get from any drugstore, and costs around £3. I then repeat the process of wiping it over my whole face. The toner closes the pores up again, ensuring that it’s difficult for any muck or dirt throughout the day to get lodged into the pores again. Lastly, for the morning, I take some Simple ‘hydrating light moisturiser’, which is about £3.50, squeeze a little on my hand (although I always end up squeezing out too much), and again, smoothing it all over my face.

The moisturiser helps to minimise excessive oil production throughout the day, making it imperative for people with oily skin, but, obviously, moisturiser is important for people who have dry skin too, as it helps to diminish dry patches, where makeup, such as foundation, can cling to. Then, I put on any makeup that I’d like to wear for the day, and I’m done! Simple as that.

My evening routine is similar to the morning one, just with an extra step added in.

Mirroring my morning routine, I take the same cleansing water on a flat cotton pad and wipe it over my face. Next, I take a new product – Neutrogena Visibly Clear ‘spot stress control’. This has some exfoliating beads in it, so helps to further clear out your pores and make your face even cleaner. I bought it for £5 from Tesco, and I’m sure you can buy it from anywhere that does skincare.

Then, I tone, moisturise, and head off into bed and go to sleep!

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STUDENT

TRAVEL A Day In London We found that national express coaches ran cheap return services under £20 from our town to Victoria coach station. We arrived in London just before the hustle and bustle of the Sunday morning, taking the London Underground to Piccadilly Circus. Day tickets can be bought from ticket machines at any tube station allowing you access to the underground, overground and buses.

However, it is much cheaper to pay as you go with a contactless card, oyster card or even Apple Pay by tapping at the entry points, as daily capping limits travel in zones 1-2 to £6.80. Any travel after the £6.80 is free.

We immersed ourselves, getting lost in the heart of Piccadilly, Regent Street and Carnaby Street with the billboards, crowds and street performances, before making our way to Chinatown for lunch snacks at small bakeries like Golden Gate cake shop. I highly recommend their char siu roast pork buns and red bean moon cakes. Then gushing down at “Cuppacha” for some bubble tea;

IMAGE CREDIT : SAMMY SANTOS

WRITTEN BY SAMMY SANTOS matcha milk tea with tapioca pearls was my favourite flavour. We took the Northern Line and Jubilee Line bound to Southwark station, heading to the Tate Modern. We enjoyed the provocative works of Jenny Holzer - be sure to visit it before summer 2019. You can also head to the 10th floor for great views of the Thames from the viewing deck. Sadly, sky garden was closed but, I would also recommend it as it is free but make sure to book time slots in advance. We ventured over to Westminster, taking in views from Westminster Bridge of the London Eye and Houses of Parliament. We followed the Bakerloo to our dinner location at MW Chinese to get the most for our money.

Before heading into the night to take in the exhilarating dazzles from the illuminated Tower Bridge (not to be confused with London Bridge). As the drawbridge drew to a close, so did our day. We hastily made it back to Victoria coach station via the District Line, with 20 minutes to spare before our departure at 8pm.

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Read All About It WRITTEN BY REV. TOM ROUT

At my ordination service, the Bishop of Leicester asked a number of searching questions. One of them was ‘Will you be diligent in prayer, in reading Holy Scripture, and in all studies that will deepen your faith and fit you to bear witness to the truth of the gospel?’ In other words, ‘will you read good books that help you get a better grasp on the gospel message?’

It’s recognition that what we read is important, and it was the church’s way of urging clergy to study; to read, and through reading, to engage with the thoughts and ideas of others. Of course, I gave the required answer: ‘With the help of God, I will.’

Other books show how faith has sometimes flourished in the trials of wartime. One such book is War and Grace by Don Stephens.

It tells the stories of 13 people (some very high-ranking officers) whose lives were profoundly influenced by God during the First and Second World Wars. It’s a title I’d highly recommend for anyone who wants something appropriate for this month of Remembrance; as we commemorate 100 years since the end of the First World War.

But time for a confession. I don’t find reading easy. I can string the words together ok, but I find it hard to make and guard the time to read. In a busy life, reading is often the first thing to go... the last thing I get round to. The books I find easiest to read usually have a historical angle. I’m just finishing Anna Reid’s book Leningrad. It’s not a religious book, but it has widened my perspective on the ideologies human beings have embraced, and what those ideologies (of Nazism and Communism) led to, in this case for the suffering civilians of Leningrad (now St Petersburg).

Finally, there’s Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German pastor and theologian, whose writings (translated into English!) have been an inspiration in shaping my own thoughts about spirituality. Bonhoeffer wrote about the true nature of Christian faith and belief at a time when the Nazis were intimidating and silencing the critics of Hitler’s fascist ideology. For his beliefs, Bonhoeffer ultimately paid with his life. Anyone curious to find out more about Bonhoeffer might begin with a biography written by Eric Metaxas titled Bonhoeffer - Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy.

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CAREERS WRITTEN BY DARREN OXBROW

Youth Social Action Volunteering Matters is focused on developing Youth Social Action activities with young people.

Youth social action is about; People coming together to help improve their local community.

It’s about being creative and passionate, using your knowledge and skills to produce a social action that has a positive impact.

It’s about being heard and having a voice.

It’s about changing attitudes, behaviours and believing you can make a difference!

Not just in the community but further afield, influencing policies, procedures and regulations.

It’s about producing something which has sustainability and has a positive impact.

The #iwill campaign has six principles which are required to produce a great social action, these are; YOUTH-LED, (led, owned and shaped by young people).

SOCIALLY IMPACTFUL, (has a clear intended benefit for the community).

PROGRESSIVE, (sustained and provides links to other activites).

EMBEDDED, (accessible to all and well integrated to existing pathways).

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REFLECTIVE, (to recognise contributions for learning).

CHALLENGING, (ambitious, enabling but also enjoyable).

The Government has set a target for every young person to experience a youth social action during their teenage years and we are trying to do our bit to promote and encourage young people’s participation.

Please come and talk to us if you have any great ideas or want to participate in any of the social action activities or projects we are already running.

We have a number of ongoing social action projects from WASSUP to our Community trailer project.

WHAT WILL I GET OUT OF IT? Gain valuable experience Enhance your CV and/or UCAS application Meet new people Make friends Develop and gain new skills Build your confidence Feel good Have fun!

Make a difference and influence change!

Darren Oxbrow Volunteer Manager Office 01473 418035 Mobile 07711 497429 The Old Crown Court, Civic Drive, Ipswich, IP1 2DX

We are particularly interested in hearing from young men aged 16 to 22 to work on a number of our projects.

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The Importance Of Networking To Develop Your Career WRITTEN BY SIAN ROBERTSON Networking is all about connecting with other people; developing relationships with those who have shared, or common interests, and generating conversation with those that might offer some support to your business (or vice versa), either now or later down the line.

Networking is a skill that can take years to perfect. Networking traditionally took place face to face, although now it also happens across a variety of online platforms. In my personal opinion, face to face networking is still how the most beneficial connections can be made.

For many young people, networking can be all about getting your name out there to employers to discover work related opportunities and jobs. As you get older it can be essential to developing your career and progressing up the ‘ladder’.

You don’t often have to go far to seek networking opportunities, nor do you have to attend official networking events.

Meeting with peers, new social groups, people with different backgrounds, and people of different ages can all be forms of networking. There are also lots of ways that you can network online (we will look at this specifically next month). Whatever you do to meet with or talk to new people is a form of networking.

When you are in an environment suitable for networking it is always useful to have some information about yourself prepared, ready for sharing. We always advise students

to create an elevator pitch – a 30 second pitch that gives some basic background to who you are, what you enjoy, what you want to achieve and how others can help you. This can sometimes be all you need to encourage someone to offer you some support. Your pitch can alter as your circumstances change, and you can keep it structured but not rehearsed so it can be adapted easily depending on who you meet.

One of the important things to remember though about networking is that it’s not all about taking, and may not always feel like it’s of benefit to you. Often you have to give, and support others before you can reap the rewards of networking.

IF YOU WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU LOCALLY PLEASE GET IN TOUCH

Career Ready Tel: 020 7986 5494 www.careerready.org.uk www.twitter.com/CareerReadyUK www.facebook.com/CareerReadyUK www.linkedin.com/school/954160/

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WHAT THE FOOD

WTF

Top Tips: Takeaway Savings When you’re a student, it’s really easy to stuff the cooking and order in takeawayparticularly if you find yourself in a kitchen with no clue how to navigate your way round it. Takeaways can be expensive, especially if it’s a regular thing. However, if you do get the urge, here are some useful tips to try to keep the cost low.

Split the bill

Chinese for one might sound like a good idea, but if your mates want in, why not consider splitting the bill? You could end up with a lot more for your money and it’s a great way to have a wider variety of dishes in your meal too – bonus!

WRITTEN BY RACHEL GILBEY

Replace take-away with home cooked

If there’s a particular cuisine you crave time and time again, then no doubt your desire for it is burning a hole in your pocket. Why not turn your hand to cooking and recreate your favourite dishes. Sure, it might take a few attempts to perfect it, but just think, you’d have it on tap for whenever the craving arises. Homemade pizza is a personal favejust think of the topping combos!

Shop around

Sometimes shopping around can save you money. You could easily save a few pounds just by switching up where you order from.

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Sites like Just Eat and Deliveroo often offer discounts or free delivery, meaning you can enjoy your favourite restaurant delicacies in the comfort of your own home for less.

Anyone for Wagamamas?

Collection brings price down

Pizza houses are just one takeaway joint known for offering deals for the collection of

your food which is worth looking out for as many of the independent delivery services like Uber Eats charge a delivery fee, some as much as £3.50. Before you click to make an order online, it’s worth checking if you can pay a lot less for swinging by and collecting the food yourself. While it can seem like a lot of hassle, you could save a few pounds!

Have tips of your own?

Tweet us at @studentlifeips

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COOKING ON THE DIME VEGAN PUMPKIN SOUP

RECIPE

WRITTEN BY CHEV MITCHELL

Serves 4 / Estimated time 35 minutes

Introducing Cooking on the Dime, our new recipe segment geared towards students. Each month, our resident chef Chev will be taking you through quick and easy recipes which you can use to impress your peers! Cooking for yourself can be stressful but necessary when preparing for University or just life! Don’t worry though, we’re here to help.

INGREDIENTS 1 tbsp coconut oil 1 onion 2 cloves of garlic 1 tsp ginger 9 cups of pumpkin, peeled and cut into chunks 400ml of coconut cream 360ml vegetable stock

As it’s vegan month, it’s only right that I show you how to re-create a season classic.

As Halloween has not long passed, you’re probably wondering what you’re going to do with your leftover pumpkins. Why not turn them into a pumpkin soup? Just what we need on a cold November evening!

METHOD • Before you begin to cook, chop up your onion and ginger and crush the garlic. Once done, put these ingredients into a cooking pot with the coconut oil and cook until soft.

• Add the coconut cream and vegetable stock and bring to the boil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

• Add the pumpkin chunks and stir until it’s soft (approx. 10 mins).

• Once cooked, transfer to a blender (or use a hand blender) until the soup is smooth.

• Serve with crusty buttered bread and pumpkin seeds as garnish.

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I Bet You Didn’t Know These Were Vegan!

WRITTEN BY RACHEL GILBEY

Whether you’ve been vegan for a while or are looking into it, you may find yourself checking through label after label in supermarket aisles. To help you, we’ve compiled a list of 30 food and drink products that are vegan! How many were you aware of?

FOOD Warburtons crumpets Hovis Best of Both Hartley’s ready to eat blackcurrant jelly Cadbury’s Bournville Green & Blacks dark chocolate Twiglets Bacon hula hoops Pringles – original, BBQ sauce, Texas BBQ, paprika, smokey bacon Walkers – ready salted, salt and vinegar, prawn cocktail, Worcester sauce Oreos Belvita breakfast biscuits Chocolate chip hobnobs McVities rich tea Weetabix Heinz tomato ketchup Mustard Bisto gravy

DRINK Coca-Cola Cadbury’s drinking chocolate Robinson’s squash Gatorade Monster energy drinks Nestle Nesquik syrup – chocolate, strawberry and very vanilla Irn-Bru Belvoir cordials Capri-Sun Drench – blackcurrant and apple, cranberry and raspberry and orange and passion fruit J²0 – apple and mango, apple and raspberry, orange and passion fruit Lipton ice tea – lemon, peach, green tea with lemon and mango Lucozade – original, orange, blackcurrant, tropical, apple, cherry, Caribbean crush and pink lemonade

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IMAGE CREDIT : SAMMY SANTOS

Home Cooked Food In, School Food Out! WRITTEN BY SAMMY SANTOS

A moment where different cultures come together with friends from all different backgrounds. But one thing everyone has in common; a love for good home food. A take on a classical picnic, spending time together to make the food which is certainly a labour of love. So, we encourage you not just to bring in food to share but share your time with each other and enjoy cooking together.

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We have spent time after school at a friend's house venturing into Vietnamese cuisine making spring rolls filled with minced pork, vermicelli noodles, cloud ear mushroom and carrots. We made a portion without pork for our vegetarian friends. We even tried frying rolled, fried vanilla ice cream spring rolls– warning! Do not attempt unless you want to smoke up the house. But we laughed along the way, especially when we bit into them and the ice-cream leaked everywhere.

I chose to cook up Japanese chicken katsu curry with rice for a lean balance of protein and carbohydrates - good for bulking.

In the past we’ve made California sushi rolls, Oreo cupcakes, cookies, roast pork bao buns, fried rice and noodles.

Knowing that your food will satisfy someone makes it an even more special and personal sentiment – we share a part of our time and support.

We're no Jamie Oliver, Martha Stewart, Gordon Ramsay or Nigella Lawson, we're a small group of year 12's who understand that simple comfort food can also bring you and other people together. We want school to be an accessible place for you to express your food and cooking creativity, that should not only be healthy for the body but, can be positively nutritious for your mental health and social life. So, if we are what we eat, eat homemade food made with your friends, filled with care and good times.

IMAGE CREDIT : SAMMY SANTOS

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STUDENT

ENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT CO-EDITOR LOUISE DICKMAN

Top Tunes Welcome to our monthly feature! Each month we will be sharing our fave songs with you (that have been on repeat constantly) and their meaning, for you to either relate to….or for you to discover new songs and artists.

1. PRESSURE - MUSE 2. LET ME DOWN SLOWLY – ALEC BENJAMIN 3. WOMAN LIKE ME – LITTLE MIX (FEAT. NICKI MINAJ) *EXPLICIT* 4. FOREVER AND EVER MORE – NOTHING BUT THIEVES 5. 1999 – CHARLI XCX AND TROYE SIVAN I was very excited when I saw Muse had released yet another new song for their album coming out in November, ‘Simulation Theory’. The currently released songs from this have been great so I was expecting

even more great things. ‘Pressure’ has such a robust sound, full of power chords and a memorable riff. It’s also so unique - the verses feel and sound different compared to the chorus, which makes the song so fun to listen to. The song is mainly about the pressure, (expectedly), felt by the band to keep producing rock songs. To be such a popular band, it must be hard to live up to previous songs released and the fans demands.

Newly risen singer-songwriter Alec Benjamin released a song ‘Let Me Down Slowly’ a few months ago, although, I only recently heard it on the radio. It quickly reached all different charts and top playlists on Spotify with over two million streams during the first week of release! However, I’m not fully surprised by this. I find myself singing it to myself a lot. Alec’s guitar part the whole way through is so soft and lovely the whole song is like a musical hug! He has openly admitted he wrote this song to

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narrate his trouble with a break-up with his ex-girlfriend. He wanted her to not leave him so quickly and give him some time to figure things out, although he realised she was never really there when they were together anyway. Despite having so much sad meaning - it’s a really beautiful song to listen to.

‘Woman like me’ is definitely an empowering song. It emphasises their passion for feminism and covers confidence issues, regrets... all kinds of gal stuff! I was happy to see a great collab of Little Mix and Nicki!

They all have such perfect voices too so the collab was needed. It’s easy to tell all of the girls are confident in their own skin and personalities. What’s really brilliant about Little Mix is that each of them have such distinct and unique voices, but which work well together in harmonies, that you can always tell who is singing - that’s something you don’t get with many bands. Overall, this is a great insight into their next upcoming album.

Nothing But Thieves, unfortunately, have seemed to be rather quiet the past year or so. Although I was pleased to see that they

have now got another single out! If you like rock songs, not too heavy, with an amazing riff and groovy bassline, this is for you!

There’s something about this kind of genre that makes me feel good because they are so much more fun for me to play on guitar and drums, more pop kind of songs can get quite repetitive. How the dynamics were so well figured out with big build-ups of adding instruments and harmonies, coupled with the fantastic solo mid-way through makes a truly great song.

Possibly my favourite of the month, ‘1999’!

It’s an absolute bop and such a feel good song. As you can probably tell by the lyrics, it’s all about wanting to go back to how things were, I suppose, in 1999. Perhaps there is a bit of nostalgia creeping in here - but I agree. Before social media had such an impact on us, even though I was much younger, I remember feeling much less pressured, self conscious and just generally happier... but things change so we must adapt to these changes! ‘1999’ is so catchy and so upbeat, Charli’s and Troye’s voices also complement each others so well. I know this will definitely stay on my playlist for a while.

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Music For Relaxing WRITTEN BY TAYLOR MASON

Taylor is 16 years old. He is heavily into music and the media world and decided to get involved with Student Life to gain experience of writing with some cool people!

What should we listen to? Are we in the mood to belt out the chorus of Abba’s ‘Mamma Mia’ or do we want to take in the harsh lyrics of Radiohead's ‘Creep’? What do you listen to when you’re busy revising for the exam you have the next day? What tunes are you going to ‘bop’ to on the painfully long bus journey home?

Here are my tips for you to choose the songs to fit in your playlist!

3. THE MOOD. Mood is, in my eyes, the most important thing to picking music for your playlist! If you’re feeling happy and energetic, Celine Dion's ‘My heart will go on’ is not going to be the one for you! So try and pick something that’ll fit your mood. That way you won’t get bored, and you can appreciate your song so much more!

MY RECOMMENDATIONS: Music is a very personal choice. If you were me, your playlist would be full of bands, from Abba to Green Day! So honestly… find a music palette that you enjoy. That way, you will never find difficulty in finding a song to listen to. I hope that after following the above steps, you have finally achieved the playlist success you wanted and you are currently bopping to the beat whilst reading this article!

1. OLDIE OR NEW(IE)?

A good start would be to pick which era of music you’re longing to listen to! The diversity of music from the last 100 years means it’s impossible not to find an era of music to pop in your playlist! Perhaps you want to jam out to some rock from the 70s or tap your foot to some hip-hop from 2012? It is a very important decision… so get it right!

2. LYRICS… YES OR NO? Sometimes, music can be distracting. Katy Perry’s ‘Roar’, Taylor Swift’s ‘Look what you made me do’ and Toto’s ‘Africa’ may be ragingly annoying songs, but there is no denying they are the catchiest tunes of the market! This can really distract you from what you are doing; so make sure it doesn’t!

Perhaps music without lyrics or vocals would be a good idea to listen to if you are easily distracted! I know I am!

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w ie v e R m u b l A Trench by Twenty One Pilots WRITTEN BY RAHUL ANEESH

Now I’ve only heard 2 tracks from Twenty One Pilots’; those being “Heathens” which is a really nice song and “Stressed Out” which is another solid track. I haven’t heard the teaser tracks, so this is my first reaction/review to the album. So does this album impress or not? Let’s find out...

Jumpsuit: This is a really nice track because it has a lot of layers and has an aggressive rock vibe to it and then the second half is quite calm. 10/10 Levitate: Tyler has a really dope rapping verse in this track and I loved the intro.

10/10 Morph: This track isn’t as good as previous, but it’s got a really smooth texture. 9/10

My Blood: This has a nice and fruity beat and will always put a smile on my face. 10/10 Chlorine: Another really smooth track with a nice murky texture too. It’s insanely catchy.

10/10 Smithereens: This is one of the weak tracks in this album because the beat is nothing special and the performance was average.

7/10 Neon Gravestones: This track is really impressive since it sounds quite dark and grimy. 10/10 The Hype: This is yet another beautiful banger since this has yet another fruity sounding beat and the vocals are just simply brilliant. 10/10 Nico and The Niners: This is another track which is also solid since the chorus was really well done. 9/10 Cut My Lip: This is yet another fruity banger to this album which pins down his mental struggles. 10/10 Bandito: This track is also quite smooth and this has a nice beat that just simply builds up. 9/10 Pet Cheetah: This has a mysterious sounding intro and then when the song starts it gets quite grimy and dark. 10/10 Legend: The guitars and ukulele in this track put me in such a great mood and the singing adds to the brightness. 10/10 Leave the City: This track is quite emotional because the pianos sound really sad and tragic. 10/10 OVERALL = 10/10 It’s been a pleasure listening to this album. I’m definitely checking out their music after this, because it has truly been an amazing listening experience.

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MOVIE WRITTEN BY RACHEL GILBEY

The Hate U Give

Director – George Tillman Jr.

Run Time – 2hrs 13mins

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Certificate – PG

be reaching for a weapon after being pulled over at the side of the road.

From then on, the community seeks justice, marching for his case to be tried in court and for the police officer to be convicted for his actions.

The name of Karlie Harris rings out amongst those affected by his tragedy and Starr battles with the thought of having to speak out in Karlie’s name. When Starr agrees to take part in a TV interview, with her identity hidden, the truth about Karlie’s past and the town’s drug gang is revealed, provoking the gang to hunt down Starr.

I’ve found it difficult to put into words my thoughts on this film. But if you get the chance, go see it. I promise, you won’t regret it.

This hard hitting film speaks on the injustice many black families witness in their communities through the wrongful killing of young lives when they are innocently killed by police.

However. I can’t write this pretending that I can relate. I can’t pretend that I’m not covered in white privilege. I will never be a victim of any of this. But I cried. I cried for my friends, I cried for my fiancé and his family and I cried for my son, merely 3 months old and not old enough to understand that one day he will he viewed and probably treated differently to me.

As the community learn that the case will not be taken to trial, the protests continue.

Starr, who is raised in one area and sent to school in another is forced to decide who she wants to be of the two personas she lives.

Does she hide away, or fight for a voice?

When her high school friend shares some conflicting views, the decision is made easy.

This powerful film explores what is real life for so many and is an eye opener to the racism that sadly is still prevalent in today’s world.

Reader note- this next bit contains a lot of spoilers.

The film itself stars a young girl of 16 named Starr who is left witness to the murder of her childhood crush when he is believed to

Rating: 28 • N OVE M BE R 2018 • S TUDENT LIFE

IMAGE CREDIT : GEORGE BENTLEY

MY LIFE MY LIFE CO-EDITOR RACHEL GILBEY

Dear Past Me...

Dear past me, you’ve got this. Right now, you’ve just made the biggest decision in your life- to withdraw from Midwifery and enrol onto an Events Management course.

While you have completely legitimate reasons for doing so, this is going to be a big change to what you’ve been used to and what you planned on doing since your school years. However, do not worry. This is going to be the best decision you ever make. Staying at the University of Suffolk is 100% the right choice and in two years time you’ll see why, when you get your degree and be

voted in as the first female President of the Students’ Union.

These next few years will be far from easy but little do you know you are going to gain so much from your university experience including amazing friends, work experience and even a husband and baby!

When times get tough and they will, because your anxiety is going to sky rocket, keep strong. Push on, focus on your studies and prove to everyone that you made the right decision.

You are going to be just fine. I promise.

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Staying Safe WRITTEN BY HARRIET RACKHAM

Harriet is twenty-one years old and has just completed her degree in BA (Hons) Digital Film Production. She will be graduating with a 2:1. Harriet got involved with Student Life because she enjoys writing and wants to continue this skill.

As a new student in Ipswich, it’s important to stay safe. This is even more crucial in the upcoming winter months when the clocks change, and it gets dark by seven thirty pm.

Ipswich is a wonderful place during the daytime but like most places, night-time can be a completely different experience.

Firstly, always ensure that the front door of your residence is secured after you enter.

Most student accommodation is accessed only by students with a personal key or fob and separate key to your own door. After moving in, ensure all of your expensive belongings inside your building are insured.

This can include bicycles, instruments, cameras and laptops. This will protect your belongings if anything bad does occur.

I would suggest that if you were to go out in the evening, try and ensure you are in a group or at least with a few people. If you are on your own, try and see if a friend can meet you on the way back. If alone, I think personal safety is worse as strangers may target you. However, if you do end up on your own, remember to bring a torch with you because sometimes there are not street lights on every road.

Furthermore, be responsible for yourself.

If you go out drinking, don’t overdrink as you will not be in control of your actions.

Overdrinking and losing awareness could give someone the opportunity to spike your drink. I would suggest only having a few drinks, so you are still aware of everything, always stay with your drink and never drink anything from someone you don’t know.

Never go out without a mobile phone, as this would be critical if there was an emergency or if you lose your friends. Additionally, if you are alone, being on a phone call can make you appear less isolated.

These points are a few simple pieces of advice to stay safe around University. I believe if you follow these, then the whole University experience will be much safer and more enjoyable.

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IMAGE CREDIT : ROSIE WEDGE

Study Time WRITTEN BY ROSIE WEDGE

Everyone Having Fun Back At School?

Everyone glad to be back in the classroom, with a couple of coursework assignments already due, several key topics you fully don’t understand, and looming mock exams in two months time? Yeah, I thought not.

Despite this usually being two whole pages of study-wisdom, I’ve got something a little different this time. Instead of sitting here, yammering away about how to improve your studying, increase your motivation, and make the most out of your time, I’m going to do the opposite. I’m going to encourage you to take a break....

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However, if your break started three years ago and seemingly hasn’t ended, I suggest you skip this article, and go read some of my previous ones, because I’m talking about a break day. Not a week, a month or a decade, no; a day.

I know exams are still a way off, and so it’s likely you haven’t started studying and revising yet, but in a few months’ time, there will be a little voice in the back of your head reminding you of the valiant words I’m about to share with you. It’s okay to take a break, and it’s definitely okay to take a day off if you’ve been dedicated throughout the rest of the week. At GCSE, I outright refused.

I occasionally gave myself a morning or an afternoon off, but the thought of not touching my revision for a whole 24 hours made me want to cry. Not because I liked studying, but because I instantly thought “I’m gonna fail”…news flash; you won’t.

It wasn’t until A Level that I would allow myself one day off a week. During term time I made it a Sunday, however once we were on study leave, I would alternate it depending on my scheduled exams. If you over-do it, you’re going to put yourself in a far worse position. The education system is designed to get harder and harder each year, and we eventually reach a point where we need to give our brains a rest and stop forcing it to adapt at such a successive pace. By allowing your brain to go to sleep for a day by exposing it to three whole series of a TV show in one sitting, an assortment of trash content on YouTube, and a whole tub of Ben and Jerry’s, (well, maybe not the whole tub) you are doing yourself a big favour.

than if you worked every day, but just had 2 x 30 minute breaks instead. Remember, not only is your brain trying to learn new information, retain it, remember previous information, remember how the mark scheme works, apply information correctly, remember a ton of criticisms as to why the information you spent 10 months learning may be a big bunch of hooey after all *takes a deep breath*, but it’s also working to keep you alive every day; making sure you eat, helping you move, helping you socialise.

He’s a busy little bee, and don’t take his incredible power for granted. The brain is a phenomenal thing, but even he gets bored of Pythagoras’ theorem and the 104 sociologists’ names you have to remember.

So what should you do on this day? Well, try and do something proactive for your brain, even if it’s just reading a fictional book, or a magazine, or doing a crossword. Try and get a bit of exercise too, even if it is just walking to your local shop for comfort-food (if you ask me, that still counts) to keep your brain and body healthy. Finally, just try and do the things you love, as keeping in a positive mindset is the healthiest thing you can do for your brain.

Numerous psychology studies suggest that giving ourselves a large break during a prolonged period, as well as smaller 5-10 minute breaks across the day, boosts information retention significantly more 32 •32N OVE • MM Y BE LI FE R 2018 • S TUDENT • S TUD ENT LIFE LIFE

Making the International Move WRITTEN BY MARIA LAZAR

Maria is 19 years old and has decided to join Student Life because she would like other internation students out there who want to take this step, to hear her story.

I am from a city in Romania called Cluj. I knew I wanted to move to the UK since I was 14 years old. Back then, it all seemed like a distant, impossible dream. Yet here I am, living it. I cannot break it down to one reason I made this decision, I just knew I had to.

This little girl’s fantasy is what brought me here today. It is what made me choose a bilingual high school which specialised in English. The first solid step I took towards my new life was collaborating with Edmundo, who helped a lot with my application and fed me fundamental information. Days flew by as I started getting accepted into the UK based universities I applied for. To say it felt like a dream come true would be an understatement; I’ve never been so proud of myself in my entire life!

I had 3 options: Worcester, Chichester and Suffolk. What made me pick the last one was definitely how welcoming and friendly their staff were. I have received countless letters, greetings cards and even a hoodie from them! Months before buying my plane ticket, I was experiencing severe anxiety about leaving my life behind: friends, family, teachers… The warm welcome I felt emerging from the University of Suffolk represented what I was desperately searching for: a sense of belonging. Following induction week, the friendly atmosphere was definitely not just a façade to lure students, it is real, and it is all over the place: students, lecturers, staff; you name it!

The last thing you should not be worried about is the student accommodation. If you feel like the traditional Athena Hall is overpriced, Spring Court and Grimwade Street are low budget options. I personally reside in one of these off campus accommodations; the conditions are great, the prices are good and the area is quiet.

If you yourself are a ‘foreigner’ thinking about making this change in your life, being anxious is fine, having doubts is normal. But you can do it!

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IMAGE CREDIT : ROSIE WEDGE

Good News, I Made It To University, Woo! WRITTEN BY ROSIE WEDGE So far the experience has definitely been a combination of exactly what I imagined, and the entire opposite of what I imagined.

Moving day was incredibly nerve-wracking at first, however by the time I’d set up my room, made my bed and hung up my fairy lights, it was really cosy and already had a homely touch to it.

The first few days were spent getting to know the area, and meeting new people.

Unfortunately for me, I had a cold for the entirety of Freshers’ week, and so didn’t make it out to anything other than a trip to

Spoons which ended at 11:30pm when my migraine kicked in. I know that many people, like me, are not interested in going out to clubs and drinking our Student Loan away, and therefore worry about making friends during the first week. I can tell you first hand, there are plenty of other people like that! I really recommend joining a Facebook page or a Whatsapp group for all other Freshers at your uni; everyone is in the same boat so if you announce you’re just having a quiet night in if anyone wants to join, chances are you’ll get a good few responses!

Don’t worry about not making friends, I guarantee you will.

My university was great during Freshers’ Week as they put on plenty of optional events for you to attend, as well as one introduction meeting a day, ranging from 1-2 hours in length, to ease you into the groove of things.

Whilst this may not seem all that exciting, it’s worth it because during this week you’ll have a lot more spare time than you realise, it makes the first few lectures far less daunting as you’ll know what to expect, and most importantly, you meet new people! I met a group of people that week who I have seen everyday since, they’re awesome! And remember to join clubs!

Don’t forget to explore the area around your campus as well, check out the town centre and find out where the buses and trains go from; you’ve got endless possibilities at your doorstep! Make the absolute most of it, I’m in love with uni life already!

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Relationships The Value Of Interconnection

reflects this; the lyrics I resonate with reinforce what makes me human, as they explore themes of identity, love, loss, dissatisfaction, desire and encourage me to reflect more deeply on these, to understand them, and how they constitute who I am.

WRITTEN BY EMMA FAWKES

I therefore believe that relationships should be founded on human qualities, on emotional value, on empathy, yes…on compatibility, but also on the principle that ‘opposites attract’. If you are only exposed to one particular version of something, a version identical to yourself and therefore familiar and comfortable, how are you supposed to learn and deepen your insight? Bad relationships exist alongside the good ones; you wouldn’t appreciate a good apple if you hadn’t tasted a bad one!

Relationships function to do just that, to challenge normality, to open your mind, as mine was opened to new music through Marina’s lyrics. Most importantly, they serve to reinforce our own identities through exposure to others, making us feel genuine, authentic, rather than forcing us to ‘pick a personality for free/when you feel like nobody’.

Emma is 17 years old and wanted to write for Student Life as it appealed to her, as she sought a method of exercising & honing her written communication skills.

My personal experience with regards to relationships doesn’t really refer to the typical kind: those that are romantic; but rather those which are much more commonplace and conventional within our lives.

The ways in which I interact and associate with others; with my parents, animals, teachers, professionally, with those younger than me, those older than me, those in my community, those in my society, strangers, God - all replicate the intimacy of a romantic relationship to some degree and are all valued just as equally. I allow them to mould my identity and that is something I encourage. As quoted from singer Marina Diamandis, known professionally as ‘Marina And The Diamonds’; ‘through others, we become ourselves’.

It is these connections between humans that establish any kind of relationship, that don’t assume a rigid form but that alter.

As a humanist, I am of the view that the personal, emotive, sensitive, compassionate values that are characteristic of humankind shouldn’t be dismissed or perceived in a narrow-minded fashion. Instead they should be embraced as qualities that found relationships and that are nurtured by them.

My relationship with music particularly

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SUPPORTED BY

STUDENT

TECH

PRODUCT REVIEW BY TOMMY CURRY

Tech Review: The Hive As part of our partnership with Hughes, each month we will be reviewing an exciting and innovative product for your home. This month, we test The Hive.

The Hive is a smart thermostat that is so much more; on average saving users £150 a year, making it worth the initial price.

The Hive is an easy to use smart thermostat meaning it can connect to other devices like your phone - with the easy to use app.

You can control everything from the app; the time it comes on, what temperature you would like it set at, what rooms you would like heated......the list goes on, but The

Hive can control so much more than just temperature.

The developers of Hive want to create a technological ecosystem in your home; meaning every device is connected. Hive also offers smart bulbs and cameras & motion sensors, all connected via the app. There is also a list of commands you can set. The motion sensors can be set to activate the bulbs and the cameras, so if one of your roommates sneaks in to steal your leftovers in the fridge, it will all be on film!

Recently, I had the opportunity to use a device similar to Hive called ‘Nest’ and it was so simple and elegant. Just twist the device to raise or lower the temperature. I didn’t have to press a hundred buttons to get it

36 • 36 N 36OVE • • TTM EECH BE CHR • • 2018 SSTUDENT TUDENT • S TUDENT LIFE LIFE LIFE

HUGHES’ VIEW Take control of your home heating and do it all from the palm of your hand with the Hive Active Heating with Professional Installation.

With the purchase of this smart heating system you get a professional installation service from a British Gas engineer alongside an amazing, well-crafted product.

working like home; no setting a time and hoping the weather man was right that it’s getting cold. Just simplicity, it does it all for you.

If you purchase Hive through Hughes, inside the box is a scratch card that will have a code on it. Simply call up British Gas and they will come and install it all for you, that’s easily £50-£70 saved on installation alone.

As a young adult, I see this as the way technology is going; it won’t be long before everything is connected, so why not get involved now and show off to your friends.

With your smart device in tow and the Hive app downloaded you’re able to control every aspect of your heating from the palm of your hand and on the go. Avoid coming home to a freezing cold house and even avoid heating an empty house and wasting energy - you’re able to schedule up to six heating events so that your home is always the ideal temperature for you without any needed work from you.

Made to look after you, your Hive Heating even works using geolocation - it can sense when you’ve left your home and when you’re approaching home based on your phone’s location, using this it’s able to send you handy notifications such as when to turn your heating on before you walk in the door and even send you reminders to turn it off.

Connection is kept as simple as possible for you - when purchased you’ll be able to redeem the installation voucher on the Hive website to book in an installation date.

your home connected

hughes.co.uk/smarthome 37 37• •NOCTOBE OVE M BERR2018 2018• •SSTUDENT TUD ENTLIFE LIFE

STUDENT

SAFETY WRITTEN BY KATIE TYRELL

Online Harassment: How Do I Know Whether I Have Experienced It? First of all, harassment, what is it?

There has been a lot of focus upon sexual harassment, particularly since the #MeToo movement, and since this movement there has been more focus upon the abuse faced by individuals in the digital world. Although social media and mobile technologies have opened up a positive world of knowledge, communication and expression, it also facilitates and enables behaviours present in the offline world, with the added dimension of anonymity.

Online harassment can take many forms, but in the simplest terms it is online abuse, it is when someone makes you feel humiliated, threatened or distressed online. There are various behaviours which constitute online harassment, we will take a look at some of these now…

1. ONLINE STALKING

Someone may send you unwanted messages online in a threatening persistent way, or they may use digital methods to track your movements. If someone asks to track you via your phone either using ‘find my phone’ or asks you to turn off ghost mode on snapchat, think twice and ask yourself about the intent behind this, after all you have a right to privacy! If you are unsure how to switch on

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ghost mode on snapchat and protect your location check this out: https://support. snapchat.com/en-US/news/ghost-mode-timer

2. IMAGE-BASED SEXUAL ABUSE

You may have sent an image to someone you thought you could trust, this person may have broken your trust, passed on this image or shown it to their friends or others.

This is not ok, if you are over the age of 18, then this is an unlawful act, the person who shared your image has committed a crime and there is help and support out there through organisations such as the national Revenge Porn Helpline. If you are under the age of 18, and your intimate image has been shared online, or you have found a sexual image of an under 18 online, you can report the image anonymously to the Internet Watch Foundation (https://report.iwf.org.uk/ en), they do this crazy thing where they tag images using what I can only describe as a digital hashtag, they can then remove all the images associated with that code, pretty awesome right?

3. SEXTORTION

Sextortion is a form of blackmail, typically the person on the other side of the screen coerces and encourages an individual to perform sexual acts online, for example through livestreaming, webcam, facetime or messages. These images or videos are then used against the individual as a way of bribery for more images, for sexual exploitation, monetary blackmail or hacking. This is again an offence, if someone threatens to share your image or video, as hard as it is, don’t panic and keep the evidence, call the police or contact the Revenge Porn Helpline (https://revengepornhelpline.org.uk) or CEOP if you are under the age of 18 (https://www.ceop.police.uk/ceop-reporting) for help and support.

4. ONLINE HATE CRIME

Online hate crime is the same as offline hate crime, it causes distress and damage to the person on the other end of the abusive messages, pictures, videos or other media. You may have received hurtful messages as a result of your race, religion or sexual orientation. This is not ok, it is discriminatory behaviour, and you can report this abusive content to the internet providers. True Vision have more information about hate crime and reporting online hate crime to the police as well as social media platforms here: http://www.report-it.org.uk/home Online harassment has offline harms, with those who have experienced online harassment suggesting that they have suffered with mental ill-health, as well as relationship issues, employment and social difficulties. As tempting as it is to delete all the information, messages and images straight away, make sure you don’t. Take those vital screenshots, this is important evidence needed to ensure you can get the right support and help.

If you have experienced any forms of online harassment mentioned in this article, this is not ok, and you have the right to get the help and support you deserve. Speak to someone you trust, inform internet providers or the police, contact your student support services or get in touch with one of the national organisations who have the expertise to assist you. It is time to take a stand against online harassment and hate crime.

UOS_SISER @UniofSuffolk @UOSUnion @UOSSISER @UniofSuffolk @UOSSU

39 • N OVE M BE R 2018 • S TUDENT LIFE

SUPPORTED BY

MENTAL

HEALTH MENTAL HEALTH CO-EDITOR LEANNE ARNOLD

Mental health difficulties are like weeds in your garden.

We can spend so much time ignoring the issue that the root spreads.

Digging deeper identifies the root; removing the root, removes the problem.

4 0 • N OVE M BE R 2018 • S TUDENT LIFE

“

Hi Everyone!

Since October’s edition the weather has turned cooler and we are getting deeper into the autumnal season and winter weather. We have been busy as always, and I am super excited to welcome on-board all the new writers we have for Mental Health!

Editor’s WORD

I also wanted to say congratulations to all the mental health nursing students that have graduated recently! The University put on a fantastic event and feedback has been brilliant! Congratulations class of 2018!

P.S. November 9th is wear blue day for bullying awareness day! – Don’t forget it!

Warm Wishes xo Leanne Arnold, Mental Health Director

Contents

CONTACT US 01473 35 35 12 leanne@student-life.co www.student-life.co FB: @studentlifeips Instagram: @studentlifeips Twitter: @studentlifeips

“

This month plays host to numerous awareness days; national stress awareness day, international survivors of suicide loss day, anti-bullying week, and of course some peoples’ favourite, Movember. As it is men’s health awareness month I thought it would be fitting to discuss this topic and how mental health treatment and discussion differs hugely in comparison to females.

SELF CARE 42 DRUGS & ALCOHOL 43-44 MALE MENTAL HEALTH 46-49 Q&A 50-51 SUFFOLK MIND 52-55 LGBTQ+ 56-57 SPEAK UP, SPEAK OUT 60-62 CONTACTS 63 41 • N OVE M BE R 2018 • S TUDENT LIFE

Self Care: Exercise

suggests that exercise reduces stress and depression.

WRITTEN BY RACHEL GILBEY

If you are interested in introducing exercise into your week, there are a number ways to explore what is available locally to you. If there is a particular sport you are interested in, why not see if your school, sixth form or University offer this. Additionally, there may be a local team that you could get involved with. You could also contact your local sports centre or community hall to see if they have any timetables available.

The word exercise can often instil dread into many of our minds but for others, it’s a word that offers a chance to take time out and look after our bodies.

Exercise is suitable for any ages, any skill and can be adapted for the individual. It encompasses a whole heap of activities and workouts for your body and also can be done competitively or for leisure.

Exercise can be a sociable activity and this may lead to new friendship groups and opportunities.

The NHS website notes that exercise not only helps to lower the risk of developing a number of long-term conditions, it also has a positive effect on your self-esteem, sleep quality and mood. In addition, research

If you think exercise is boring- it doesn’t have to be. There are so many new and exciting classes you could try including; Bounce (on mini trampolines, run at Goals), self defence (run at the University) or Aqua Fit (at Crown Pools).

If you are a bit nervous about going it alone, see if you can find a friend to go with you.

There may be discounts available if you bring a friend and also don’t forget to ask if they have a student price for those sessions that cost.

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Drugs & Alcohol: Their Correlation With Mental Health WRITTEN BY ANH TRAN

This is Anh, a 17 year old studying Maths, Biology and Chemistry A-Level at St. Albans school. Anh decided to get involved in Student Life because it is really interesting to have a useful activity for students, especially for someone who are less confident in speaking and communication, also gaining more experience.

As the world is developing, drugs and alcohol issues also increase alongside. Therefore it impacts greatly in peoples’ lives.

In the beginning drugs and alcohol could bring a somewhat pleasurable experience to users, in the short term. But also in the long term it could causes serious problems for their mental health. Alcohol and illegal drugs such as: heroin, cocaine and marijuana misuse causes disruption to individual lives and is linked to stress, anxiety, depression, memory loss or even death.

BRAIN FUNCTION Alcohol and illegal drugs can disrupt the function of our brain, for example depressants which will affect your thought, action and feeling. They also cause the brain to release chemical changes that could lead to an increase in confidence which, in turn, can bring in other problems such as: more

drink driving (car accident), thefts and attacking people.

ANXIETY, STRESS AND DEPRESSION Drugs in particular have been associated with mental health by causing psychiatric illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder, forms of anxiety and phobias.

Alcohol is also known to lower levels of serotonin in the brain causing changes in our mood, over drinking causes an increase in anxiety, stress, and depression.

PSYCHOSIS, SELF-HARM AND DEATH Psychosis is one of the main mental health issues caused by alcohol and drugs. There can be things such as confusion and disturbed thoughts along with individuals gaining a lack of self-awareness. Drugs in particular can trigger psychosis related mental health issues. They can be associated with self-harming and suicide.

In conclusion, drugs and alcohol are harmful to our mental health and cause lots of different problems. From that, we should cut down the amount of drugs and alcohol as much as possible to improve your mental health. We should also encourage people away from drugs and alcohol to reduce risk in the future. Let’s all build a healthy community!

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The Relationship Between Drugs, Alcohol & Mental Health WRITTEN BY ANDRA MARALOW

Andra is an 18-year-old who decided to get involved with “Student Life” to help students realise their worth, make them feel understood and remind them that they are never alone no matter how hard life can get.

We live in a society where it is hard to maintain our sanity when many factors can affect our mental health. Some of us get so tired and sad to the point when we feel like there is no one in the world that can understand us. We get desperate seeking help to be saved and sometimes external influences can interfere in the process, such as drugs and alcohol.

Drugs and alcohol can affect our mood drastically. The changes in our behaviour are the result of changes to our brain which is also the part that controls our mental health. The short-term effects are that they

usually make bad feelings go away, increase confidence and happiness and make you feel relaxed. No more heartbreaks, pain or tears; sounds like the perfect escape even if it is for a maximum 2 hours, right?

Let me tell you, it isn’t. The effects of these substances don’t last long, which would automatically make you want more, turning into addiction. The addiction is satisfied by the high rate of “happy hormones” which create euphoria. When the level of these brain chemicals that influence our mood drop too low, it can lead to depression and anxiety over time. Drugs can also make you hear or see things that are not real which is a sign of psychosis. All of the negative effects of alcohol and drugs, can damage the quality of life. It might all start on a Saturday night when you go out after a long week and you view it as a relief, then it turns into a “small habit”, then your happiness depends on it, so you start doing it everyday and before you know it, it’s got you.

We don’t get to choose if we get hurt or not, but we get to choose how we deal with the agony. Take a breath, relax, find new hobbies and opportunities, do things that make you happy because you enjoy them and only thinking about them makes you smile without realising. In the end, our greatest

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Jenny’s Story Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training WRITTEN BY JENNY WOLEDGE

My name is Jenny Woledge and I am a mother to two children, Rebecca and William, I lost my Wills to suicide on 2nd January 2015.

After the Loss of my William, I was really at a loss as to what I could do to prevent another family going through what we had been through, and how to reach out to our community to make it safer and more Suicide aware.

I wanted to try and understand what had happened, why, and what could I have done better to save William.

I came across Papyrus which runs a hopeline (0800 068 4141) which is for young people or a young person you know who is not coping with life. You can phone, text or email. Text-0778620967, email pat@papyrus-uk.org.

I attended a two-day course called ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) and on the second day I realised that I could run these training sessions myself as my background is in HR and Learning Management, so I am used to delivering courses. I put my name down on the waiting list to be a ‘Train the Trainer’ so I could

deliver this training which I am passionate about and I truly believe if I had been more aware of this intervention training my William could have been saved.

I was really lucky to be able to attend the five-day training course last May. I then attended safeTALK training which is a 3.5 hours training session which gives confidence in being able to talk to someone about suicide. I then went on the ‘Train the Trainer’ course, and then finally I attended the ‘Suicide to Hope’ course which is based around a model that can be completed on a one to one basis for people who have tried to commit suicide but who actually want to live.

I run these courses on a voluntary basis as it’s my way of giving something back to our community and I have been fortunate enough to be able to attend schools, colleges and universities to deliver them.

The Training is completed in three levels.

Suicide Talk- 90 minutes. A gentle approach about how to talk about suicide in a more comfortable manner.

SafeTALK- 3.5 hours- gives more confidence on how to deal with someone who is having suicidal thoughts.

ASIST- These are people who have been trained to intervene and is a two-day course.

Not everyone would want to attend all three, the more people that have been safeTALK trained the less ASIST trainers we need.

Which will ensure we have a suicide safer community.

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Men’s Mental Health WRITTEN BY JACK J-MOFFAT

Jack is 17 years old and is studying English Literature, Modern History, Law, and English Language at sixth form. Jack decided to get involved with the Student Life magazine because he wanted to write to support mental health, and antibullying.

Up until recent years, society has become more ‘capable’ of speaking out about mental health. This is great, and partially due to the stigma surrounding it being extinguished by celebrities, and other high-profile figures which we sometimes tend to idolise.

Stereotypically, if we reverse the history of our society, men were always deemed to be the members of the family who were to maintain a stiff upper lip, and not show their true feelings and emotions otherwise, they would be deemed as cowards. Nowadays, society has become more accepting of mental health, and mental health surrounding male individuals.

For those who have served in the armed forces, and on the frontlines of Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and so forth, the cases of men who have served in these conditions returning home with diagnoses of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) has helped release the stigma attached to this older attitude towards male mental health, linking back to my previous point whereby for many years men were expected to not show any signs of ‘weakness’… Essentially, not being able to truly show their emotions.

Personally, since recently moving into sixth form and having completed the new, reformed GCSEs a matter of months ago I myself have come to terms with my mental

health as a male, realising that potentially I suffer with anxiety (although not clinically diagnosed). It has only become apparent to me recently; however, I feel grateful that I am able to comfortably talk about it to my friends and family – which also makes me reminisce to the times not long ago when it was unheard of for men to do so.

The point is, with society nowadays it is absolutely no problem if you suffer with a mental health condition (even if you are male) and that with how society has changed we can talk about it publicly, with no fear as such of being subjected to abuse or being discriminated against for doing so.

I greatly appreciate that with no major stigma surrounding mental health (especially regarding men) anymore, that we may live with a mental health condition.

No One Took Him Seriously WRITTEN BY JADE HALLAM

IMAGE CREDIT : JADE HALLAM

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manifested itself as us saying horrible things to him. As a consequence, his mental health deteriorated, to the point where, instead of helping him, he was kicked out of high school.

From here it was a downward spiral, Aaron moved to Manchester and tried to kill himself twice by overdosing, both times he was sectioned for a few months and then just left to live by himself again. His friends didn’t take him seriously when he tried to seek help from them, they viewed him as weak, and the mental health services didn’t see him as ‘at risk’. He began to drink significant amounts along with sniffing cocaine and smoking weed. Eventually, he was evicted and had to come back to Felixstowe to live with me and my mum.

IMAGE CREDIT : JADE HALLAM

Jade is 17 years old. She takes maths and further maths at Felixstowe Academy.

Jade got involved with Student Life as she enjoys writing and wants to get more involved in the community.

Why is it that men feel like they can’t open up about their feelings? Four months ago my brother, Aaron, hung himself. He didn’t feel like he could tell anyone about his emotions, or how low he was feeling. The one time he did tell someone, his GP, he got this response ‘I can’t section you because you’re not mad’. Of course, it isn’t the GP’s fault, but had he taken my brother as seriously as he maybe would have taken a female, Aaron would still be alive.

All his life, Aaron suffered with bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, and schizophrenia. He couldn’t tell his friends about this, because they would just make jokes about it, and he couldn’t talk to me or my mum because his schizophrenia

Still, no one took him seriously, they all turned a blind eye, until he hung himself.

Then they all asked ‘Why didn’t he seek help?’. The answer is he did, but they didn’t listen.

RIP Aaron Hallam 1994-2018

The Stigma Around Male Mental Health WRITTEN BY ELAYNE LACORTE

Elayne is 18 years old and is in her final year of sixth form. She decided to get involved with Student Life as she likes the idea of students sharing their stories, and hopes to be a part of it.

When you first hear the word mental health, what do you immediately think of? Do you think of a man? Or do you think of a woman, suffering from an eating disorder or going through depression? It is said that 1 in 4

47 • NOVE M BE R 2018 • S TUD ENT LIFE

IMAGE CREDIT : ELAYNE LACORTE

women will require treatment for depression compared to 1 in 10 men, so the differences regarding men’s mental health and women’s mental health are there and are very real, but there are other factors that have to be taken into account.

Man up. Act like a man. Don’t be a sissy.

There is this silent rule in our society that says men who show emotions or open up, are weak. They are looked down upon and laughed at. In fact, there are more social factors that put women at risk of poor mental health than men, but at the same time, women are more open to talking about their feelings, thereby balancing this fact.

The more they talk about it, the easier it is for diagnosis and treatment to take place.

This is a message that needs to be echoed not just to women, but men.

The stigma surrounding male mental health needs to be cleared before our society tattoos

it, and a straightforward way to do so? Get rid of the rule that romanticises men who are stoic and unemotional. Mental health is a real thing. It affects more than just the individual, it affects families, relationships, education, regardless of the gender. This is why men’s mental health should be as important as women’s mental health.

In 2013, 6,233 suicides were committed by people aged 15 and over, in the United Kingdom. A staggering 78% of the suicides were committed by males, while only 22% of the suicides were committed by females.

Without recognition and support, these numbers will not change. Mental health is already important, there should not have to be an article written, reminding everyone about the importance of men’s mental health.

Mental health is mental health, beyond age, beyond culture, beyond race, beyond status and most importantly, beyond gender.

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Men Find It Difficult To Talk About Sarah is 16 years old and is studying at St Alban’s RC high school. She decided to get involved with Student Life because she wanted to write about and photograph things that interest her and others

and opening up to others’ as they feel that they may be seen as weak. When considering his personal experience with mental health, he expressed that sometimes he has found himself ‘becoming sad or angry’ which causes him to become very anxious. He also said that shortly after serving in the Falklands’ war in 1982, ‘due to extreme feelings of fear and mixed emotions which occurred daily’ he was often affected by stress, this led him to feel trapped as he was unable to change things which were out of his control.

Did you know that men account for the highest rate of suicides in the UK? In 2017 three quarters of suicides registered were men, many of which could have been prevented if individuals were able to discuss their mental health more openly.

His advice to other men struggling with mental health problems would be to ‘discuss your feelings with someone you are comfortable to talk to’ and to be open about your struggles as it is the best way to lift the weight off your shoulders.

Men’s mental health has become a topic many people find difficult to talk about and I believe has only recently been brought to the attention of the general public. This is because, typically in our society, men are seen to be ‘tough’ and have to hide their emotions from their families and friends. However, more individuals are beginning to speak up about their mental health struggles which, I believe is the best way to move forward from this idea and to prevent them from being unseen.

I would agree with this advice as there are a growing number of people and places, individuals can to go to for help. I would also tell people to remember that even the strongest of men may be struggling with their mental health and that it is okay to tell someone about it.

WRITTEN BY SARAH BARNES

Personally, when considering men’s mental health, the first person I would look to is my father. Who, despite being a former Royal Marine Commando and serving during the Falklands’ war, has never shown any weakness regarding his own mental health and wellbeing.

Recently when talking to him, he suggested that men prefer not to talk about their own mental health because ‘they are stereotypically seen as being the ‘alpha’’ and do not like expressing their own ‘personal problems

IMAGE CREDIT : SARAH BARNES

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Tips & Advice

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED Got a burning question about mental health difficulties? Want non-professional, peer-to-peer advice? Look no further, this feature will appear every month and invites readers to send in questions regarding mental health for tips and advice*.

My name is Leanne and I have both specialist training and personal experience in mental health and will aim to provide user-friendly, non-professional advice to anyone who asks for it!

Q: UPON MY LAST VISIT TO

THE DOCTORS I EXPLAINED HOW MY MENTAL HEALTH WAS GETTING WORSE, YET I WALKED OUT OF THE APPOINTMENT WITH NOTHING, NO HELP, IT WAS COMPLETELY DISMISSED. WHAT SHOULD I DO NOW?

A: I’m sorry to hear you had this experience.

I would make another appointment at the doctors and maybe even request to see a different doctor to the one you saw initially.

Maybe there was a lack of communication and understanding of your situation, so it might just need to be reinforced that your mental health is deteriorating. If I ever have an

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important appointment I always make myself a list of questions of which I’d like to know the answer to, that way I can guarantee that I will remember everything I want answering. So, in your instance, maybe you could make a list of the thoughts/feelings you have regarding your mental state and that way you can be sure that you will explain exactly how you are feeling.

Q:

DOES EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES GIVE PEOPLE A GREATER APPRECIATION FOR LIFE? A: This is a very broad and deep question!

I believe that with any experiences in life, there is opportunity to learn and grow and therefore give you more appreciation for life. I think that if you have been mentally unwell you have a different understanding and appreciation for that specific experience to that of someone who hasn’t had the experience. I believe, personally, after experiencing total un-enjoyment for life I can now look back on that experience and appreciate what I have now with more understanding and gratitude. However, that doesn’t mean that I have more of an appreciation in life in comparison to someone who hasn’t experienced that. I believe there are many experiences that we go through throughout life and each one has the ability and potential to mould and shape our appreciation of life.

Q:

CAN YOU SUFFER WITH MENTAL HEALTH WITHOUT HAVING A ‘LABEL’?

A: This is a very hard question to answer. I believe that the answer should be yes, however in this day and age we as a society still haven’t reached the level of understanding and empathy of mental health that we should be at. We all have mental health, it’s just that some of us have poor mental health and that’s

How to ask: PLEASE SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: LEANNE@STUDENT-LIFE.CO

*Please note not all questions will be answered, and all will be posted anonymously. If you are seeking urgent or professional advice, please see our contact list at the end of this sub-section.

where the labels make an appearance. It isn’t until something is ‘wrong’ with us that society become preoccupied with trying to put that ‘something’ in a box, if it’s in a box and has a label then it becomes ‘safer’ and ‘easier to manage’. But, in reality that person is the same person they were, they’re just dealing with things that they previously didn’t have to deal with – so why label them when they’ve not changed? I sadly believe that, no, we can’t suffer with mental health without someone putting a label on it, unless that suffering is in the back scenes and not made apparent to anyone else. But, just because someone or society as a generalisation wants to judge and label people, doesn’t mean that we should suffer in silence or be shunned into not discussing our feelings and worries. The more people that discuss their mental health, the more ‘normal’ it becomes, when it’s ‘normal’ it’s less judged. Once the judgement dies down so does the stigma. So, in the real world, no I don’t think we can suffer with mental health issues without being labelled. But, we as a society can do something to change that.

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How Does Drug And Alcohol Use Affect Mental Ill Health?

And Can Drug And Alcohol Use Cause Mental Illness?

WRITTEN BY EZRA HEWING, HEAD OF MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION, SUFFOLK MIND To understand why mental ill health and addictions arise, we first need to understand that stress is nature’s way of telling us that key emotional needs are unmet.

Addictions arise as a short-cut to managing stress and meeting these needs, when we are unable to do so in healthy ways. If we find ourselves troubled by feelings of stress and anxiety in response to an unmet need, we may fall into the trap of using depressant substances – including alcohol, cannabis and opioids like heroine – which relax the mind and body to meet the need to get control over how we feel.

For example, if a person feels anxious at the prospect of large social gatherings they may avoid social situations – but this reaction will prevent them from meeting emotional needs for connecting to other people. If they learn that drinking alcohol lowers anxiety, they may fall into the habit of using alcohol to manage stressful feelings in anticipation of social events. This situation is not uncommon and can be helped by practicing relaxation skills ahead of an event and learning to socialise confidently without alcohol.

Addictions can often arise in response to serious anxiety disorders. Andy* had returned to the UK after a period of travelling abroad and came to get help from Suffolk Mind’s Healthy Minds Counselling service, suffering with both addictions and post-traumatic stress disorder. While travelling overseas, he had witnessed distressing scenes of dead bodies at a cemetery for people living in extreme poverty and been the victim of violent attacks and muggings.

As a result, Andy found that he was constantly on edge and had been experiencing intrusive memories, thoughts and flashbacks of these events. The part of Andy’s brain that is concerned with meeting the need to feel safe – the amygdala, or ‘security officer’ – was on red alert, looking out for signs of danger and sending Andy constant reminders.

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Andy had become addicted to using alcohol to try and calm down and block out these symptoms. To try and get over the alcohol addiction, Andy had begun using prescription drugs instead, but soon became addicted to these too. Working with a psychotherapist to treat the post-traumatic stress disorder, who used relaxation techniques and a technique called Rewind, Andy was able to get relief from the intrusive thoughts and memories; better meet the need for security; and then reduce the amount of prescription medication he was using.

This case study shows how addictions can arise in response to mental ill health, but can drug use cause mental ill health? Some people experimenting with cannabis report experiencing feelings of anxiety or paranoid thoughts. Many studies have demonstrated that cannabis use increases the risk of psychotic illnesses like schizophrenia – symptoms of which include hallucinations, seeing and hearing things which others do not, including voices, and delusions & strongly held beliefs. However, there are other factors which significantly increase the risk of psychotic illness, including traumatic experiences during childhood and adolescence and stress acting on a genetic predisposition.

Paradoxically, studies have also shown that people experiencing psychotic illness like schizophrenia may try to manage the symptoms of their illness with cannabis. Why would this be? One reason is that cannabis is a compound of many substances, including THC (Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol) which triggers the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with causing psychotic symptoms; but also cannabidiol, which suppresses dopamine release and provides some temporary relief from stress

and psychotic symptoms.

In surveys, some schizophrenia sufferers say that they feel fewer of the side effects of antipsychotic medication compared to cannabis, and have more control over the dosage of cannabis than they do over prescribed medication – even though the long-term effects of using cannabis can make the symptoms of psychotic illnesses even worse.

Other drugs associated with psychotic illness include hallucinogens like mushrooms and LSD, and stimulant drugs like cocaine and amphetamines. Hallucinogens mimic the hallucinatory symptoms – hearing and seeing things - of psychotic illnesses.

Stimulant drugs speed up our nervous system and can affect the quality and amount of sleep people using them have.

Because cocaine and amphetamines trigger the release of dopamine, which is associated with seeking rewards and the feelings which come with satisfying emotional needs, taking them may temporarily improve people’s mood and give them relief from feelings of dissatisfaction of low mood.

The answer to overcoming addictions and the symptoms of mental ill health is always having a life that works to meet emotional needs in healthy ways. As Andy’s experiences demonstrate, seeking help with mental ill health that may be maintaining the addiction is a necessary first step towards relief from mental ill health and addiction too. *Anonymised case study

You can also seek advice from your GP, the Suffolk Wellbeing Service or by calling Suffolk Mind on 0300 111 6000 or visiting their website suffolkmind.org.uk.

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Planning your wedding reception? Quay Place is a truly stunning venue for your special day. We offer some wonderful wedding packages, including the hire of the Nave from just £1,000.

Wedding Receptions at Quay Place Quay Place is a brand new venue for wedding receptions and is just a stone’s throw from Ipswich Registry Office. The nationally important medieval building is a beautiful piece of architecture that has been renovated to a very high standard. It has all the character and charm you would expect from a former church, but with a modern twist. The building provides a relaxed and enjoyable environment for your special day.

Wedding Packages Our wedding team have put together some wonderful wedding packages including the hire of our Nave from just £1000. We also offer a range of all inclusive packages.

Contact us For more information or to view the venue please contact The Wedding Collection on 01473 917795 or Quay Place on 01473 569696.

Quay Place Key Street, Ipswich, IP4 1BZ • quayplace.co.uk • 01473 569696 IF THIS ARTICLE54 HAS UPR ANY THATLIFE YOU WOULD LIKE • BROUGHT N OVE M BE 2018EMOTIONS • S TUDENT TO DISCUSS, PLEASE REFER TO OUR CONTACT LIST AT THE END OF THIS SECTION

Mental Health Charity, Suffolk Mind, has a range of opportunities to get involved; from fundraising, becoming a friend, or volunteering. Visit suffolkmind.org.uk Volunteering Opportunities

Get Fundraising

Volunteer Peer Mentor

Are you organising an event or taking part in a sponsored challenge and would like to raise money for Suffolk Mind?

If so, we would love to hear from you - email fundraising@suffolkmind.org.uk or call us on 01394 330823.

This is an exciting and varied volunteer role which will include 1-2-1 and group support for people seeking advice and information to help them improve their own wellbeing.

Children’s Activity Helpers In this role you will help run and set up a children’s activity area at Quay Place. You will also engage children with activities to explore local heritage.

Ecotherapy Allotment Volunteer You will attend weekly sessions to organise an allotment project across Suffolk helping people to improve their mental wellbeing.

Event Volunteer You will attend events, both within Suffolk Mind and externally, to promote the wide range of services and activities within Suffolk Mind and Quay Place.

Suffolk Mind

Become a Friend of Suffolk Mind Join our free network and receive information, help and support to make your own mental health a priority, and create a life that meets your needs. For more information email friends@suffolkmind.org.uk. It’s a small step that could make a huge difference.

To apply for a volunteering role, or for more information, email Corrina.Hanley@suffolkmind.org.uk

0300 111 6000 • suffolkmind.org.uk

55 • N OVE M BE R 2018 • S TUDENT LIFE

WRITTEN BY LEANNE ARNOLD

This is a monthly feature that will focus on all aspects of identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning, as well as other ways of defining our gender/sexuality.

We aim to cover a variety of topics; some relating to mental health, positive and negative experiences, the reality of today’s society in accepting the LGBTQ+ community, day-to-day life, and many more. As always, we invite anyone who has a passion for writing, or who wants their voice heard, to contact us about writing an article for Student Life. I believe it is important to talk about the things that society can sometimes find uncomfortable. Hiding away encourages this behaviour, and I personally think that we are all different and there is no right or wrong. I say: “be who you truly are, be yourself, embrace yourself, and don’t let anyone get you down” – how boring would it be if we were all the same, eh? Please see our first LGBTQ+ articles which focus on the relationship between mental health and identifying within the LGBTQ+ community. If anyone has any questions regarding this topic, please feel free to contact me at Leanne@student-life.co

+ Q T B LG Coming Out WRITTEN BY DANA VIVAS

Dana is 16 years old and is studying at St Alban’s. Dana decided to get involved with Student Life because she wants to share her experiences, knowledge and opinions.

Last month, October 11th, was National Coming Out Day. Many people use this time to come out for the first time and share stories about it and if you’re part of the LGBTQ+ community, you may be familiar with coming out or have already done so.

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To be honest, coming out isn’t something we actually have to do. In a perfect, ideal world, our sexuality and gender shouldn’t be assumed. We should be allowed to love each other without fear and shame, and love ourselves and our nature. But our world isn’t perfect yet, with anti-LGBTQ+ attitudes prevalent in so many aspects of our lives, the act of coming out can be terrifying, but also an important one in many ways.

Coming out is a huge step for anyone, but also an extremely difficult milestone to reach. The most important thing to remember is that it has to be your decision based on your situation. Some people do it to be able to get it off their chest, embrace their identity freely and proudly instead of

hiding under the cis-hetero labels society is accustomed to. It can help you find people who are truly allies that support you and give inspiration and courage to others in our community, and increase our representation in the public.

However, you might be worried about being rejected, or may be in an environment where it is dangerous to come out, but not outing yourself does not mean you are not valid.

The people all around the world who have come out, stood out and up for all of us, and maybe one day we will win the fight for love.

Whether you decide to come out or stay inside the closet, remember it’s a small but significant step to self-love and peace which we can get to at our own pace through our own decisions.

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Work-Life Balance – What Is It And Why Is It Important?

WRITTEN BY KATE BLACKFORD Work-life balance is about how an employee can balance their working life and career with their family life, social life and ability to ‘switch off’ at the end of the working day. In an increasingly technological age the distinction between work and home life is becoming more and more difficult to achieve. Gone are the days where the end of the working day was signified by the physical act of leaving the office, with mobile technology allowing work to invade more and more of our time out of work.

Working hours are becoming a thing of the past with more and more employees feeling pressure to check email as they ‘relax’ at the

end of the day. The psycho-physical barrier between work and home has become blurred and this has important potential impacts on our health and well-being.

Being able to ‘switch off’ from work at the end of the day is important in our body being able to manage stress as we produce the chemicals necessary to counteract cortisol (the stress hormone). Stress is not limited to being a psychological condition and long-term chronic stress through being unable to truly take time out from work literally stresses the body physically as well as psychologically. Over time we feel tired, lacking in energy and motivation and can suffer symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Our sleep suffers and we succumb to more and more minor ailments – colds, flu, headaches, back and shoulder pain – and this is just the tip of the iceberg. Long-term effects of being unable to relax out of work are much more devastating.

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enjoy outside of work. Our lives become increasingly small and focused around work to the exclusion of many other aspects of a healthy, balanced life.

SO WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THIS? Check out your companies’ policies around mobile technology and expectations around taking time out of work. Being clear on what is expected helps to set the standard and reduce perceived pressure to be constantly ‘on-call’ – some organisations even disable mobile technology outside core hours (which may or may not be possible depending on role and function). If your company has yet to clarify its expectations – start the conversation.

Inability to achieve work-life balance also puts strain on relationships with family and friends and we are unable to really be with our family and friends even when we are with them as our attention is split between what is going on around us and the distraction of the office invading our off time through mobile technology. And it is not just mobile technology that causes problems – feeling overwhelmed at work can just as easily carry over into home life. Similarly, insufficient notice of shift patterns for shift workers means that people are unable to plan in time with family, time to invest in health, holiday time and time to socialise – all vital elements of a healthy, balanced life both physically and psychologically.

Our lives become overshadowed by when we may or may not be working and we feel as though we are at the ‘beck and call’ of the company with no control over when we might plan in those activities we

Giving shift workers clarity around shift patterns and notice of when they will be working so they can plan their time out of work is also an important factor. Yes we do have to satisfy business need, but if we do this at the expense of employee well-being we leave our people feeling undervalued and this can result in decreased turnover, reduced productivity and increasing sickness absence levels.

Switch off at least two hours before bed. The ‘blue light’ from mobile phones activates parts of the brain that disrupt our ability to relax and sleep well. Even if you switch off the ‘blue light’ (which is possible with some devices) you are still setting your brain going when it needs to be slowing down.

Schedule in your out of work activities so they are a part of your calendar week. It is all too easy to plan in the work activities and forget that our personal growth, health and well-being are vital to functioning effectively at work. So, set them in your schedule to ensure they happen.

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SPEAK UP

SPEAK OUT Hello Everyone!

Welcome back to our anti-bullying pages.

Our ‘Speak Up, Speak Out’ campaign is attracting countywide interest and we have several meetings planned in the coming weeks to discuss funding and of course, our film.

If you would like to get involved with any aspect of our anti-bullying message, please email info@student-life.co

Wear Blue WRITTEN BY TOMMY CURRY The 9th of November is ‘Wear Blue’, the national anti-bullying day. It is a day where we think back on what we have been through as individuals and how we can help others who are currently going through what we did. It’s really easy to get involved. Simply take a photo of you with a sign saying ‘Not a victim, but a survivor’ with the hash tag ‘wear blue’ then post it tagging @studentlifeips or @tommyctalks and we will share it on our social media. Let’s break the stigma of being bullied. Let’s Speak Up and Speak Out.

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THE FILM

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CONTACTS IN CASE OF EMERGENCY CONTACT NHS OUT OF HOURS SERVICE: 111 OR CALL FOR AN EMERGENCY AMBULANCE: 999

Otherwise you can contact other services such as: SUFFOLK MIND: 0300 111 6000

or Your Local GP: www.nhs.uk/service-search/GP/LocationSearch/4 4YP – 01473 252607 or www.4yp.org.uk Childline: 0800 1111 Inside out Community: www.insideoutcommunity.com Lighthouse: 01473 228270 or www.lighthousewa.org.uk Papyrus Hope Trust: 0800 068 4141 or www.papyrus-uk.org Samaritans: 116 123 or www.samaritans.org Stem4: www.stem4.org.uk Students against depression: www.studentsagainstdepression.org Suffolk Wellbeing: 0300 123 1503 Turning Point: www.turning-point.co.uk 63 • N OVE M BE R 2018 • S TUDENT LIFE

Our Strategic

PARTNERS

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