Newsletter #19 - Dealing with bullies; demystifying sexual health issues; partying safely.

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TeenHelp Newsletter #19 - October 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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Latest videos (October 13th 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. More videos are being added all the time, so check regularly to see all our favourite picks! Some of our latest additions include:

What to do if you are being bullied

This video will help you to recognise when bullying is happening. You will learn how to be confident and stay positive, as well as means to address bullying behaviour affecting you.

Sexual health and STDs

In this video you will find information about a variety of sexual health concerns, including common sexually transmissible infections, and the myths surrounding them.

How to tie a tie

If you haven't quite gotten the hang of tying ties yet, this simple video will show you how it's done.

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

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New Assistant Editor (September 24th 2011)

TeenHelp is pleased to welcome back Jessie (eunoia) to the Newsletter Team, who has taken up an Assistant Editor role.

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

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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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Scope

Scope is a UK charity devoted to supporting children and adults with cerebral palsy. They offer a wide range of services and can help you to find the support and advice you need. The website contains comprehensive information about the disability, education and learning opportunities, a support forum, and useful links and resources.

http://www.scope.org.uk

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Mental Health Foundation

The UK Mental Health Foundation offers a complete guide to mental health problems, topical issues and treatment options. The website also contains information on how to look after your mental health and ways in which you can get help. If you're experiencing a mental health issue and don't know where to go from here, this is a great organisation to get you started.

http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk

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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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Preparing your notes after class

Everyone knows how important it is to take note during class. But what should you do with them afterwards?

• If your teacher speaks too quickly and you can't get it all down on paper, write down any sources he/she mentions so you can research the topic later.
• After class, take a few minutes to review the notes you just took; clarify and amplify them if necessary, while the class is still fresh in your mind. Review your notes again in the evening.
• Highlight titles, vocabulary, and other important information. This will make your notes more organized, and will be helpful as you prepare for exams.
• Make flash cards for vocabulary. On one side write the word, and on the other side write out the definition.
• Exchange notes with your classmates. Using notes from more than one person will reduce the chance of missing information, as well as giving you new perspectives on the material.

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

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Caring for yourself during the winter

Winter weather can damage your skin and hair. The following tips will help you to take care of yourself and keep warm.

• Cover up! In addition to a coat, wear gloves, a hat, and a scarf. Especially if you're going to be outside for extended periods of time, these items will protect you and make the cold and windy weather more comfortable.
• Don't forget to take off your coat while indoors. If you keep your coat on in heated buildings your body will become accustomed to the additional warmth, and you will find it more difficult to adjust to the colder temperatures outdoors.
• Because your hair is more likely to dry out during winter months, invest in shampoo specially formulated for dry hair.
• Your skin can also dry out in the winter months. To avoid this, apply moisturizer regularly, particularly after bathing to replace natural oils that your body has lost.
• Dry, cracked lips are painful. Apply a moisturizer or cream to you lips to replenish them, and afterwards cover your lips with a balm to protect them from the effects of the cold.
• A hot bath in winter might sound tempting, but it is actually bad for your skin. Having your bath or shower in lukewarm water will prevent damage.

http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f16-general-health/

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Staying safe at parties

If you're going to a party, follow these safety tips to minimise risk and ensure you have a good time!

• Always keep an eye on your drink; do not leave it unattended. Never accept a drink from someone you don't know.
• Be vigilant when behind the wheel. Have a designated driver who will stay sober and alert throughout the night. Drive cautiously around neighbourhoods and watch for kids, who might enter the street unexpectedly.
• If you're in costume, make sure it is sensible and functional, and be careful not to include anything that could be confused with a real weapon.
• If you're at a party and the crowd seems sketchy or gets too rowdy, that is your cue to leave. Perhaps you and your friends could go to another party, or spend the rest of the night indoors watching a film.
• Keep a cell phone on you at all times, and bring some spare change in case of emergency.

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

Anyone have any role models?
If there's somebody who's had a particular influence on your life who you look up to, share your story here.
http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f3-ge...y-role-models/

Does anyone else have a teacher they love?
Sometimes teachers do much more than educate; they change our lives.
http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f22-e...her-they-love/

Fears vs. Dreams
We all have dreams and fears for our futures.
http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f3-ge...ars-vs-dreams/

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Social Groups

Aspies
Asperger's Syndrome (AS) is an autism spectrum disorder. People living with Asperger's can often feel misunderstood. If you have been diagnosed, join this group to meet other users with AS and to discuss how it affects you. It is also a great opportunity to make friends with people who may share similar interests.
http://www.teenhelp.org/socialgroups/g188-aspies/

Young Carers
Are you a young person that helps to look after a family member who has an illness, disability, a drug- or alcohol-related problem, or a mental health issue? If so, join this group to share experiences and to get advice and support from other young carers.
http://www.teenhelp.org/socialgroups/g286-young+carers/

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Upcoming events

Discussion: Anxiety (Saturday October 22nd 2011)

Anxiety can manifest itself in many different ways, from acute phobias to complicated patterns of debilitating fear. This discussion will help you to share and develop coping mechanisms, combat your fears and learn to help others living with anxiety.

Discussion: Dealing with triggers (Saturday October 29th 2011)

Triggers are anything that reminds you of negative feelings or makes you want to perform unhealthy or dangerous behaviours. Often these are unavoidable parts of life and are tough to deal with on your own. This discussion will help you learn to control any urges the triggers may cause and how to prevent them from affecting you.

Discussion: Eating disorders (Saturday November 5th 2011)

Eating disorders can affect anyone at any time, can be devastating for your physical and mental health. Join our discussion to discuss the different kinds of eating disorders and to find out what we can do to ensure that we are free from eating disorders, and carry on with our everyday lives.

Discussion: Building positive relationships (Saturday November 12th 2011)

Relationships between family members, friends and significant others each come with their own difficulties, but knowing how to overcome the obstructions to your relationships is essential if they are to be fulfilling for you. Join this discussion to look at how to build positive relationships with those you care about.

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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Statistics

40,000 registered users

TeenHelp now has over 40,000 registered users on our website, which is great news as it means we can help even more young people than ever!

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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: Lyndsee (Amoroso)
Assistant Editor: Jessie (eunoia)
Assistant Editor: Rianna (Moonlight.)

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