Bristol SU News April 2015

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WHAT'S ON

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mind your head WEEK It’s time to talk about mental health.

In Bristol SU’s ‘Speak Your Mind’ report last year, we discovered that 1 in 4 students will suffer from a mental health issue at some point during their time at the University of Bristol.

The report found that one of the barriers to students suffering from mental health issues was a perceived stigma around talking about mental health, which prevented students from approaching tutors and friends for support. It also demonstrated that extreme workloads around exam times exacerbated mental wellbeing problems. That’s why we've chosen term three to launch our mental wellbeing campaign.

We’re launching the Mind Your Head campaign from Monday 27 April to promote awareness of mental health issues and also to give you the chance to take a break from the exam stress and have some fun. It’s a student-led campaign, with the objective of breaking the taboo around talking about mental illness and starting an open conversation that everyone can join in with.

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During the week, we’ll have a number of workshops featuring mental health experts from across the University and local charities, as well as sessions exploring ways of coping at difficult times. Other guests feature the rugby league and Huffington Post journalists.

We’ve also collaborated with a range of societies to put on a programme of fun activities to help you relax.

You will also see photos popping up all over social media of students holding our #1in4 board. Throughout the campaign, we will be getting as many pictures as possible of clubs, societies and other groups of people pledging to be open to talking about mental illness without prejudice. You can join us by tweeting/facebooking #1in4.

We’ve got a number of events on every day, so check out the What’s on section, or visit BristolSU.org.uk for more info.

Outside of the campaign, there are a number of places to go for help if you are feeling stressed, anxious or down. Our Just Ask advisers are always around if you’d like to chat to someone. Alternatively, if there is something specific, such as extenuating circumstances or academic appeals, that you need help with, there is loads of information at BristolSU.org/ justask. You might also want to check out bigwhitewall.com, an online, anonymous support network.

events

An overview of what's on this Mind Your Head week.

Monday 27 April. 6pm. LR1, 3-5 Woodland Road.

An Introduction to the Truth about Mental Illness, with Dominique Thompson.

Tuesday 28 April. 12:30pm. Gromit Room, 4th floor, Bristol SU. Train Your Brain: Coping with Mental Illness, with the Student Counselling Service.

Wednesday 29 April. 1pm. Bristol SU. Society taster with Suspensions - take a break have a go at some acapella singing. All welcome.

Thursday 30 April. 6pm. Winston Theatre, Bristol SU. Mental Health Question Time. Debate your questions on all things to do with mental health Friday 1st May. 6pm. Pegg Studio Theatre, Bristol SU. What next for mental health at the University of Bristol? We’ll hear from key players at the University and Bristol SU, as well as Time To Change.

Continued from cover Our top pic picks from our reopening night.

Bristol Big Give How much waste would you guess you throw out at the end of each academic year? We bet it’s more than you think.

The Bristol Big Give is an annual student move-out collection and recycling campaign run by the universities which donates unwanted goods to charity. Last summer, we collected 88 tonnes of waste.

That’s about 176 polar bears. These donated items had a combined value of £180,000, raising vital funds for over a dozen local and national charities including British Heart Foundation This year, Big Give will run from 1st May until mid-July. Twenty temporary clothing banks will be placed in publically accessible locations across Bishopston, Redland, Cotham and Clifton agreed by Bristol City Council and local community groups.

Julie Paffett, Regional Stock Generator at the British Heart Foundation, said: “We’re grateful to the Bristol Big Give campaign once again encouraging people to have a clear out for charity. This scheme will be a huge help to BHF shops in Bristol and I’d hope as many students as possible get involved and support the scheme.

Coronary heart disease is the UK’s single biggest killer - you can join the fight for every heartbeat by having a clear out and using the BHF donation bins around the city to donate your unwanted items.”

The campaign will culminate in July when an army of conscientious volunteers will collect, sort and distribute the multitude of items left at donation points.

For more information, visit lovewhereyoulivebristol.co.uk/bristol-big-give

Bristol SU awards So we’ve had the Oscars and the BAFTAs and the Grammys and the Golden Globes and hundreds of other awards ceremonies. You probably thought awards season was over already. How wrong you were.

The Bristol SU awards are by far the swankiest, and often the most exciting, night in the Bristol University calendar. More importantly, they are a chance for students who have achieved amazing things over the past year to get the recognition they deserve.

If you have a friend who’s really impressed you this year, or know a fellow student who has done something worth celebrating, you can nominate them for an award at bristolsu.org.uk/about/awards.

WHAT'S ON FEATURED EVENT Election All Nighter. Friday May 8.

Come and see democracy in action throughout the night as we find out how all the parties have fared after all this campaigning. Stand alongside political foes who can now become friends (until the next election, of course), have a beer and watch it all unfold.

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APRIL

Buckle up folks, it's gonna be a long night!

Monday 27. 10am - 5pm. Colston Hall.

Give blood with Bristol Donors.

Appointment only.

Monday 27. 6pm - 7pm. LR1, 3-5 Woodland Road. Mind Your Head Week: An Introduction to the Truth of Mental Illness.

Tuesday 28. 3pm - 4pm. Old Council Chamber, Wills Memorial Building.

Mind Your Head Week: Studying Effectively at Times of Pressure.

Tuesday 28. 5pm - 6pm. Bristol SU. Mind Your Head Week: Society Taster with Dramsoc and Spotlights.

Wednesday 29. 1:45pm - 4:30pm.

Way to Grow! Brandon Hill Community Action Day.

Wednesday 29. 10pm - 4am. Bunker.

Take Pride Compete - Sports Night.

Friday 1. 7:30pm. The Anson Rooms, Bristol SU. Pole Fitness Charity Showcase.

Saturday 2. 7pm - 10:30pm. Wills Memorial Building. CCL Summer Formal - A Midsummer Masquerade.

Saturday 2. 7pm - 8pm. Pegg Studio Theatre, Bristol SU. Gobblefunk! An Improvised Roald Dahl Play.

Saturday 2. 7pm - 11pm. The Anson Rooms, Bristol SU. Purity Ring.

Sunday 3. 8pm. The Balloon Bar, Bristol SU. The Best Sunday Roast in Town!

Monday 4. 8pm. The Balloon Bar, Bristol SU. The Big Fat Bristol Pub Quiz.

Tuesday 5. 6pm - 8:30pm. The Balloon Bar, Bristol SU. Engage Cafe: Volunteering Abroad & Eco Tourism.

Free to attend.

Monday 11 May. 4pm - 6pm. Room 1.11, Merchant Venturers Building. Bristol Green Capital: UoB Green Mingle.

For more information on all upcoming events see bristolSU.org.uk/events