Newsletter #49 - Increased safety and security; choosing the right time to have children; successful money management.

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TeenHelp Newsletter

TeenHelp Newsletter #49 - April 18th 2014 - 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 News

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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Many of TeenHelp's users will have seen that in recent weeks a computer bug known as "Heartbleed" has affected the security of many websites as a result of a problem in the OpenSSL software. TeenHelp was not affected by this bug and therefore we are pleased to be able to tell users that their private information was not put at risk as a result of this bug. However, users are encouraged to be vigilant and to follow good security practice, including changing passwords regularly, choosing secure passwords and regularly scanning their computers for viruses.

http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f24-technology-gaming/

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Project Advisors are some of the senior Staff members who keep TeenHelp running behind the scene by providing guidance to Staff members and removing content that breaches our Terms of Service, helping to provide an overall better experience for our users. We are pleased to have recently appointed four new Project Advisors - Dez, Lizzie, Nicole and Robin - who are all existing Staff members with a wealth of experience between them. The addition of these new Project Advisors will help to resolve issues on TeenHelp more quickly and keep TeenHelp safer for all. Congratulations to the four new Project Advisors, we wish you all the best in your new roles.

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

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Latest videos (April 5th 2014)

Due to the hard work of our 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 is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is becoming a bigger problem in today's world. It is usually more common among public servants, but it is now affecting more people within society as a whole. Watch this video to learn about PTSD, what it is, and what help you can get when suffering from it.

How to break up the right way

Sometimes it’s time to take a break from a romantic relationship and/or become single. Breaking up with someone can be a very hard thing to do, and people often don’t break up the “right” way. Watch this video for advice and tips on how to break up, and ways that you should never break up with someone.

How to convince your parents

We don’t always seem to agree with our parents/guardians. In fact, we often get involved in arguments with them about a variety of different subjects that seem to never pull any positive results. Take a look at this video to learn how to negotiate with your parents during these tense situations.

Ecstasy

Ecstasy is a very popular drug around the world, but can be very dangerous and addictive to use. Watch this video to learn about how it works, the psychological effects and what can result from long-term use of it.

Marijuana side effects

Cannabis is one of my most commonly used drugs in the world. Using cannabis can have certain side effects that can cause temporary problems for its users. In this video, they discuss the major side effects, answer typical questions about it (for example, if it causes brain damage or depression), and much more that can be of benefit for those who are or considering using this drug.

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

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Latest articles (April 1st 2014)

Our team of talented writers bring our users a constant stream of fresh articles to read each month. Articles are being published regularly, so be sure to check regularly to see what we're doing. Some of our latest additions include:

How to make lucky stars

Lucky stars are a fun, easy form of origami and are sure to brighten up any room. This article walks through the steps of making lucky stars, and provides step-by-step diagrams to make it easy to follow.

Virtually You: The Dangerous Powers of the E-Personality by Elias Aboujaoude, MD

This article reviews the above-mentioned book, which examines the increasing impact of the Internet on our lives - and especially our personalities. The review gives some of the key points and highlights, which may well prompt you to read the book yourself!

http://www.teenhelp.org/articles/

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Affiliates

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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MindShift

MindShift is a free mobile application that was developed to help people cope with many different kinds of anxiety. By using the MindShift application, you are aided in the process of facing your anxieties (whatever they may be), and challenge yourself to live with and overcome them. MindShift also offers a variety of tips for relaxing such as breathing techniques and developing more useful ways of thinking. MindShift is considered suitable for people aged 12 and over, and is very user friendly.

Available for free on Apple and Android devices through their application stores.

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Tips Of The Month

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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Knowing if you are ready to have children

Having children is one of the biggest events that may happen in your life. Think about it, as a parent you have to put a large period of your life on hold in order to take care of, nurture, and socialize your child. Deciding to have children is not an easy decision to make; not to mention trying to find out at which point you should try to have children. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when thinking about having a child.

• Are you independent? Do you have to rely on other people to get daily tasks done? Do you find yourself asking others what to do all the time, rather than trying to do something on your own? Or, do you deal with and fix situations as they are presented to you? Being independent, is very important, especially knowing that a child will be relying on you until they are old enough to be independent themselves.
• Do you have a healthy and thriving living environment? Meaning, are you, someone you live with, or a neighbor a danger to others or a child? If so, you may want to find a environment in which you feel a child would be safe.
• Are you financially stable? Do you have extensive debt? Do you have a steady income to afford clothes, food, water, heat, rent, etc for a child? Having a child is very expensive. It's best to be financially stable before having a child so that you're not struggling to provide necessary items for them to survive.
• Are you ready for the commitment of having a child? The long hours, the sleepless nights, the ups, the downs, and the in-betweens. Having and providing for a child is not an easy thing to do, nor should it be taken lightly. So again, are you truly ready for the commitment of having a child?

http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f9-relationships-dating/

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Rocky Road bars

Perfect for lunchboxes, or simply as a delicious snack, these Rocky Road bars are easy to make. The following instructions will teach you how to make these tasty treats.

• Melt 300g dark chocolate, 125g butter and 3 tablespoons golden syrup in a stainless steel mixing bowl suspended over a pot of hot water, stirring frequently, and ensure that the bowl does not touch the water.
• Crush 200g digestive or rich tea biscuits (you may wish to experiment with different types of biscuit). They do not have to be finely crushed; some larger pieces are fine for extra texture.
• Fold the crushed biscuits into the melted chocolate mixture.
• Add 100g marshmallows to the mixture. You can get creative at this stage and maybe add some dried fruits and nuts, or even some mini chocolate eggs for a special Easter treat.
• Add the mixture to a baking tray or suitable dish, allow to cool, and leave it in the refrigerator to set. Then, cut the Rocky Road into squares.
• Optional step: Dust a little icing sugar over the top before serving.

http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f184-food-recipes/

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Interesting Things (on TeenHelp)

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

Getting a job with no experience
It is easy to be discouraged by the prospect of applying for a job with minimal previous experience. Check out this thread for some ideas on how to find a solution.
http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f22-e...no-experience/

Twitter's #killallmen trending
The #killallmen tag on Twitter has raised a storm of controversy recently. Share your thoughts and read others’ here.
http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f38-c...lmen-trending/

Why are so many teenagers atheist?
This thread asks a simple question, and users from all walks of life have gathered here to give their thoughts on the matter. What do you think?
http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f39-r...agers-atheist/

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Blogs

Famous last words
Sometimes inspiring words are all it takes help you through a rough patch. Read this user’s inspirational message here.
http://www.teenhelp.org/blogs/acoust...us-last-words/

My life with you
Blogs are a great place for self expression. One user shares their heartfelt poem here.
http://www.teenhelp.org/blogs/warrio...2-my-life-you/

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Social Groups

Advisors
Not every day is a good one, but there is some good in every day. Join this group if you want to spread smiles and encourage positivity.
http://www.teenhelp.org/socialgroups/g451-advisors/

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Picture Of The Month

Each month we feature a picture by one of our users. If you would like to see your picture here please contact us by replying to this Newsletter, emailing us at contact@teenhelp.org, or messaging our Newsletter Officer (Halcyon) on the website.



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Upcoming events

Discussion: Building confidence and self-esteem (Saturday April 26th 2014)

If you have low confidence or self-esteem you may find yourself unable to carry out certain tasks or feeling that you are disliked by others. These feelings might hold you back and stop you from enjoying life to its fullest. Join this discussion to learn techniques to give your self-esteem a boost, and how to work on building confidence for a more fulfilling lifestyle.

Discussion: Managing finances (Saturday May 3rd 2014)

Handling, saving, and using money correctly can be a very hard task to accomplish. With shopping sprees, date nights, gas, food, and other expenses you may have to pay for, money can be very tight. Join this discussion to learn, explore, and utilize many different finance-related tips that will help you manage your money successfully.

Discussion: Dealing with triggers (Saturday May 10th 2014)

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: Dealing with relatives/friends and substance abuse (Saturday May 17th 2014)

In general, dealing with relatives/friends can prove to be a challenging and straining task; though dealing with relatives/friends who have a substance abuse issue may prove to be much worse. This discussion will explore many different things you can do when dealing with relatives/friends who have a substance abuse problem.

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, Twitter and Tumblr

Our social networking 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
Tumblr: http://www.teenhelp.org/tumblr

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Editorial team

Newsletter Officer/Editor-in-Chief: Haley (Halcyon)
Assistant Editor: Chris (Chris)
Assistant Editor: Sammi (Masquerade.)
Assistant Editor: Chess (Mercicle.)

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