SEXUAL HEALTH

A short message about your sexual health:

During the Covid-19 pandemic we are encouraging you to follow Government social distancing advice to make sure you keep yourself and others safe.

Tips to keep safe: n keep your distance from people not in your household (2 metres apart where possible and at least 1 metre otherwise) n wash your hands regularly n don’t meet people outside for activities where you can’t safely socially distance, this includes for sex.

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Now is a good time to think about your sexual health. What you can do 1 Stock up on condoms You might not be able to access normal Terrence Higgins Trust services for a while but you can get free condoms posted to you at an address you choose. See links below. 2 Make sure you haven’t been passed on an infection during sex You can get tested for sexually transmitted infections for free by ordering an STI testing kit online to be sent to an address you choose OR by calling the iCaSH sexual health clinic on 0300 300 3030.

iCaSH clinics are still open but by appointment only. Don’t worry, anything we send you is delivered in discrete packaging by Royal Mail. Get more information or support: n To get free condoms by post visit tht.org.uk search for “free condoms” n For free chlamydia and gonorrhoea testing tht.org.uk search for “chlamydia” n For contraception and other STI testing icash.nhs.uk/suffolk or call 0300 300 3030. n For short videos on how to use a condom, consent and other sexual health advice - youngandfree.org.uk n HIV and sexual health – tht.org.uk CONSENT: When things start to get back to normal we understand that you might want to hook up with someone. Please remember that it’s important to make sure you have got clear consent, an enthusiastic yes. Check out our video on consent at youngandfree.org.uk

MENTAL HEALTH

CO-EDITOR MIA PATIENCE AND GLORIA DARGATZ

My name is HeatherMae (often go as Heather) and I’m a 22-yearold cis female living in Ipswich. I have 3 pet birds and was an owner of a baby corn snake (and very quickly not… but that’s a story for another time.) But anyway, I am delighted to be introducing myself to you guys as the new Mental Health Development Lead here at Student Life.

As Mental Health Development Lead you’ll be seeing me in regard to the Mental Health Ambassador programme and on-going and new mental health projects going on here. I knew I had to get involved with all the amazing charity work that Student Life do with young people, as from when I was 15, I have struggled with mental ill health such as anxiety & depression. I tell you; it hasn’t been an easy journey to recovery and I’m still learning more about myself, other people and mental health as a whole. But I feel very lucky to stand here on the other side and say it does get better and that I’m here to help.

I’m so excited to be starting this new journey with Student Life and to be working closely with you guys to spread mental health awareness; through your voice and creativity. Together I’m passionate we can break the stigma and work together to make society kinder to us and others.

If making a positive difference in mental health sounds like a bit of you, then please consider becoming a Mental Health Ambassador here at Student Life. You’ll be working in a young person’s working group with regional & national mental health organisations to steer their young people’s work. All I need from you is an email with your mobile phone number for more information and I’ll add you to the WhatsApp group to get started. Alternatively, if you have any ideas for what you’d like to see us do for mental health awareness, want to find out how I lost my pet snake Noodle or just want to say hi – please send me an email at heather@studentlife.org.uk.

For now, keep safe and thank you for reading!