Newsletter #13 - Celebrating the Newsletter and Social Networking; getting the most from school before summer; coping with exam anxiety.

Source: Newsletter | Issue 13 | If you would like to receive the full quality HTML version via email please sign up.


TeenHelp Newsletter #13 - April 15th 2011 - http://www.teenhelp.org

Welcome to the TeenHelp Newsletter! Our Newsletter contains a lot of useful information about our current work, including updates to our site and services, work with our partners and affiliates, details of upcoming events, short bits of advice, interesting links and more!

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TeenHelp regularly makes changes to its site and services. Some of these are large and noticeable, and others are small and much less so, but each one contributes to the positive development of TeenHelp and how our users experience our community. Below are some of the most recent developments.

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TeenHelp Newsletter and Social Networking project anniversaries (April 10th 2011)

Where has all the time gone? This April we celebrate the first anniversary of both this Newsletter and our Social Networking project. Throughout the months we have endured many obstacles and have prevailed to see their respective successes. In the Newsletter we have subscribed up to 150 people via email with many more casual readers too, providing them with news, advice and more. Through our Social Networking pages we have connected up to 500 people with information and organisations dealing with a wide range of subjects. With the continued support of our Editors and volunteers alike, we expect both of these recent additions to our services to continue to grow over the coming years! To learn more about either feature and how to get involved, check out the links below...

http://www.teenhelp.org/newsletter/
http://www.teenhelp.org/volunteer/

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Latest videos (April 10th 2011)

Due to the hard work of our new Videos Team, over the last several months we have seen many great additions to our Videos section. Some of our latest additions include two videos about the risks of smoking. The first video shows you what smoking is all about using some general facts about it. And the second video provides ideas to help you quit smoking if you're struggling to do so. More videos are being added all the time, so check regularly to see all our favourite picks!

http://www.teenhelp.org/videos/general_health/

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TeenHelp works with a range of different organisations and websites in order to help and educate young people. Below is a selection of some of them. For a full list of the organisations we work with, please visit our Resources page.

http://www.teenhelp.org/resources/

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The Trevor Project

The Trevor Project was founded in 1998, with the intent to deter teenage suicide among the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) community's youth. The website provides several services, such as a 24/7 crisis intervention lifeline; TrevorSpace, an LGBTQ social networking site; Dear Trevor, a program similar to TeenHelp's HelpLINK system; and other advocacy/educational programs. Be sure to stop by, as this site is a must for anyone questioning their identity, or even for individuals who wish to help their friends with their own identities.

http://www.thetrevorproject.org

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Math.com

Do you often find yourself struggling with your maths homework? On this site you can find a plethora of resources, such as homework help, online games to strengthen your knowledge, and much more! With help from this site, your confidence and ability in maths is sure to improve.

http://www.math.com

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Each month we share small bits of practical advice that you can implement to improve your life or that of others.

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Ending your academic year on a positive note

Regardless of the grades we're in, in a couple of short months our respective school years will be over. How can we end this year strong and with a head start for the one ahead?

• Don't stop early - With school ending soon, it is only natural for us to move down a gear, but this will cause our grades to drop. Think of each day as if it were during the middle of the school year, and continue to study hard!
• Try not to go overboard - it's easy for us to lose control during our final years, but to prevent future complications we need to ensure we don't lose control of ourselves.
• Finalise your plans for next year - Confirm all your university information, or set goals for yourself for the upcoming school year.
• Expand your bonds - Close bonds are one of the core things to a happy and successful school life. Use your remaining time to strengthen bonds with your friends and teachers.
• Plan for a good, peaceful summer - Everyone needs to rest once in a while. Take the summer time to take care of yourself after all the hard work. Volunteer in your local community or hang out with your friends.

http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f22-education-careers/

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How to deal with exam anxiety

Many of us tend to feel stressed and anxious during exam time. The following tips will help you cope with the anxiety and to look after yourself at the same time.

• Plan well in advance. Don't study the night before or stay up all night cramming, as this will have a negative impact on your results.
• Have a timetable for your studying, allocating times to each subject, and incorporating enough breaks so you don't burn out. If you feel the stress rising, take a few deep breaths and relax.
• Sleep well the night before, as this will help you to concentrate on the questions.
• Arrive early to relax and compose yourself, and to find out the location of your exam.
• Don't focus your efforts on one question, as you might run out of time for the others. Concentrate on what you do know; skip past what you cannot do, then re-visit them at the end.
• Indulge between the exams. Have snacks, have a nap, take breaks. Don't focus on the exams you've already done as this will cause you to lose focus on your upcoming ones.

http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f205-anxiety/

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How to create a clutter-free bedroom

Does a frantic rummage in the morning to find a matching pair of socks sound familiar? Spring is officially here, and what better time to have a spring clean of our room? A clutter-free bedroom can reduce stress, feels peaceful, and looks clean and organised. Here are a few tips on how to achieve that.

• Go through your wardrobe and sort your clothes into summer and winter wear, removing clothes that don't fit or haven't been worn in over a year.
• Sort all your other items into three piles labelled 'Donate', 'Keep' and 'Trash'. If you haven't used something for over a year, chances are you never will again.
• Try to clear desk surfaces of objects, and place them in organised storage or make use of shelf space.
• Store items in their separate categories, for example, jewellery, ties and socks.
• Clean horizontal surfaces regularly to keep them free from dust.

http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f219-lifestyle/

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A lot of content is posted to TeenHelp every single day, from threads to articles, social groups to albums. But it is difficult for even the most veteran user to keep on top of it all, so we have selected a few items from among the masses that we thought were interesting to draw your attention to.

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Threads

Help! Japan situation; worried for friends and family
All of us have heard about the recent fatal earthquake that has left Japan in ruins. But do we know how much it has affected the citizens of Japan?
http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f38-c...riends-family/

Acceptance/Rejection Thread (2011)
Planning to go to university or college when you finish school? Curious to see what everyone else is doing when they finish school as well? Check out the following link to see!
http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f22-e...thread-2011-a/

Positive Pictures
A positive picture, together with a thoughtful quote, has the potential to cheer you up after a long, gruelling day. It may also inspire you to undertake something new to change your life for the better. Why not share your positive pictures here?
http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f36-p...ve-pictures-d/

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Social Groups

Fitness Friends
Did you know that exercising is proven to help combat major mental illnesses? In this group we are able to share our goals of a better lifestyle, receive encouragement, and help each other to introduce more fitness into their lifestyles.
http://www.teenhelp.org/socialgroups...tness+friends/

Meditation
If you practice meditation on a regular basis, or would like to learn how, then join this group to meet members who share a similar interest to you. Here you can discuss techniques, ask questions and hear about other people's experiences.
http://www.teenhelp.org/socialgroups/g250-meditation/

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Blogs

You're amazing
If you're feeling down in the dumps, take a look at the following blog entry; it will hopefully help you to beat those 'blue' feelings.
http://www.teenhelp.org/blogs/xineas...youre-amazing/

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Upcoming events

Discussion: Health (drop in) (Saturday April 16th 2011)

Do you often find that the fast pace of everyday life gives you little or no time to look after yourself and take care of your health? When each new day presents us with new demands and makes us busier, we often neglect the basics, which leaves us susceptible to illness and other health concerns. Join this discussion for tips on how to stay or become healthy, or if you have questions about your health.

Discussion: Mental health (drop in) (Saturday April 23rd 2011)

Many people find themselves touched by mental health issues at some point in their life, whether it affects us directly, or someone we know and care about. The stigma behind mental health may be preventing you or a loved one from seeking the support you need and deserve in order to recover, but you're not alone. No matter what your mental health concern, this discussion is for you.

Discussion: Puberty and growing up (Saturday April 30th 2011)

Adolescence can be a time of both great confusion and great change. From sex and puberty to the inevitable challenge of making the right choices, this discussion will help you to deal with the changes we must all face as young adults growing up.

Discussion: Depression (Saturday May 7th 2011)

Depression is a pattern of low moods that can affect all aspects of your life, and is often accompanied by low self-esteem and withdrawal from emotional and social activities. This discussion will help you learn how to reach out for help, and begin to recover from depression.

Discussion: Dealing with parents (Saturday May 14th 2011)

Living with your parents can sometimes be a challenging experience, especially if they take it upon themselves to make your life difficult. Come along to this discussion to learn how to approach problems with your parents more effectively and make your home life more enjoyable.

For more information about upcoming Facilitated Chat Room Discussions (FCRDs), and the times that these discussions will take place, please visit our FCRD page.

http://www.teenhelp.org/chat/discussions/

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Donate to TeenHelp

In order to continue providing free services to young people around the world, TeenHelp requires a constant income of voluntary donations to support our regular costs. If you are able to, we ask that you please donate any money you can to us, even if it's only a few dollars.

http://www.teenhelp.org/donate/

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Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

Our Facebook and Twitter pages are a great place to get a lot of high-quality information. We aim to connect you to interesting organisations, volunteering opportunities, events, news stories, pictures, videos, and more!

Facebook: http://www.teenhelp.org/facebook
Twitter: http://www.teenhelp.org/twitter

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Editorial team

Editor-in-Chief: Rob
Deputy Editor: Haley (Halcyon)
Assistant Editor: Rianna (Dreaming ♥)
Assistant Editor: Rylan (u.got.ninja.ed)

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