Student Life - April 2018

ISSUE 15 • APRIL 2018 • SUFFOLK

Lifestyle Magazine by Students, for Students

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AWARD WINNER at the Suffolk Coastal Business & Community Awards 2018

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STUDENT Life

Editor’s

Best wishes, Rachel Gilbey

Contents...

WORD

CONTACT US 01473 35 35 12 rachel@student-life.co www.student-life.co Snapchat: studentlifesc FB: @studentlifeips Instagram: @studentlifeips

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And just like that, the Easter period has been and gone!

While I am sure many of you would have taken the opportunity to eat as much chocolate as possible, or perhaps celebrate the religious holiday by attending a service or event, here at Student Life HQ we are feeling refreshed and ready to hit the ground running!

April marks the launch of our Schools/Mental Health Workshop, which in the first instance, is to be delivered in schools around Suffolk. This is such an exciting opportunity to raise awareness and start conversations about Mental Health. By introducing this into schools and speaking with students of all ages, you begin to break down some of the barriers and stigma that can often find themselves attached to such topics. The Workshop premiers a short film (produced by Kesgrave High 6th form students), which includes a number of individuals sharing their personal stories and experiences of Mental Health. The film recognises the journey these individuals have been on, the steps they took and where they are now. There is also information included from Suffolk Mind - a fantastic charity that aids individuals who may be seeking support. We are so grateful for the all-round support we have already received for this Project and can’t wait to see it grow from strength to strength. In other news, we are looking forward to forming new friendships with several more 6th forms (so if you attend one, keep your ear to the ground!). Don’t forget, you can find out more about Student Life by visiting our website! Until next time…

STUDENT STYLE The Art of Layering ...................................................................................... 4-7 STUDENT BEAUTY ...................................................................................................................... 8-11 STUDENT TRAVEL Prague and New York ....................................................................... 12-13 WHAT THE FOOD ..................................................................................................................... 15-20 RORY’S REVIEW Black Panther ......................................................................................... 24-25 STUDENT SAFETY Cyber Safety ........................................................................................ 28-30 STUDENT HEALTH Mental Health Magazine ............................................................... 33-60 2 • A P R I L 2018 • S TUDENT LIFE

STUDENT Safety

Road SAFETY WRITTEN BY BRYONY CLARKE 2018 has seen the launch of our brandnew road safety package, referred to as #ItCanWait. Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) are delivering #ItCanWait to groups on request, across the county- to young people predominantly aged between 15-18 years old.

Our rationale for focusing on young people is statistical data, which confirmed that: • 16-24-year-old drivers are the highest age group involved in road traffic collisions in Suffolk • In 2016, 519 young drivers were involved in collisions on Suffolk roads (Suffolk Roadsafe, 2017) When delivering #ItCanWait, our aim is not to lecture young people. We know that any person, at any age can be involved in a road traffic collision. Instead, our aim is to facilitate a mature discussion with young people around driver mobile phone distraction with the overarching message being, that friends must look out for one another as well as their family on the roads.

Unlike previous road safety packages, SFRS are looking at road safety from a new perspective, acknowledging the responsibility of a passenger, from the moment they step inside of a vehicle. We discuss how to be a good passenger, and most importantly, how to avoid being another distraction for the driver. As a result, those benefiting from our package

is not restricted to car drivers, as we also cover passenger etiquette.

We currently have two versions of the #ItCanWait package. The standard version lasts approximately 1.15 minutes, and the extended version lasts approximately 2 hours and incorporates the use of our virtual reality headsets.

You might see us around the county in schools, colleges, sixth forms and more!

If you would like to book an #ItCanWait session, please contact Fire Business Support on: 01473 260588 We hope to hear from you soon.

Suffolk Roadsafe. (2017) Suffolk Road Casualty Report 2012-2016.

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WRITTEN BY PAM DAVIS

THE ART OF LAYERING I’m so excited to become the official “Fashion Editor” for Student Life magazine, each month I get to share all things fashionista style with you all.

It’s been a very busy last few months at HQ, Spring/Summer season is now coming into play, that’s when my fashion calendar starts to hot up, beginning on 22nd April at GLAM Lifestyle event at Colchester United. I am supplying models, directing and producing 2 Fashion Shows for the event.

Alongside this, I’m working as a regular model with ITV on This Morning with Phil & Holly and the lovely team at ITV. I am now a fully qualified Grandmentor with Volunteering Matters, helping young people 16-25 in care; so humbling and endearing and cannot wait to get matched and started.

This month I would like to share with you the art of layering. If the thought of layering clothes gives you flashbacks to being told to dress for school with the requisite "don't forget your coat," we promise you that piling it on has never been better.

My individual style incorporates one of my fashion mantra “Stylish Layering Works”.

For as long as I can remember, I have always loved the art of layering and the logistics behind it. Understanding layering enabled me to create the stylish chic look that I love!

The seasons are transitioning and so must our wardrobes. How do you dress when you don't know what the weather is going to do?

Keep a few different scenarios in mind when you’re dressing in the morning, that way you can adapt your look as the day goes on.

Many of us are afraid to layer our clothes for fear of looking bigger than we actually are. The logic would lead us to believe this, however nothing can be further from the truth.

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The key to a good outfit is nailing the art of layering. Achieving this will give you the ability to expand your wardrobe and create a look that will complement your body shape, whilst keeping stylish!

It’s a great way of building the outfit, whilst adding so much more interest, shape and dimension. It’s also a way to create a beautiful look out of pieces that all work together to achieve the desired effect.

LAYERING - WHAT DOES IT MEAN? There is no hard and fast rule, but think about it this way: WHY LAYER? Trans-Seasonal layering is not so much a trend as a necessity in these in-between months. As the temperature starts to drop or heat up, the days of simple dressing become obsolete and we start to layer strategically our outfits, to battle the multiple seasons that each day can bring us.

A key function of layering is the option of adding/removing items. It’s important to ensure that your layers don’t clash in both pattern and colour. You can go in either direction for this one, but remember never to mix contrasting patterns. Create the illusion without creating the bulk. The options are endless!!!

WHAT DOES IT DO? Each layer has a function and serves a purpose. Style the pieces in the right manner.

BASE LAYER

Regulation — body temperature.

MID LAYER

Insulation - Keep you warm and maintain moisture.

SHELL LAYER

Protection against the weather elements.

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KEY PIECES FOR LAYERING

HOW? 1. THINNER PIECES FIRST

Start with a basic, lightweight top.

2. DEFINE THE LAYER

A layer is essentially any item that can be worn on its own.

3. KEEP IT CASUAL

Layering is best used for casual occasions and is generally not appropriate in a more formal setting.

However, a layered combination can include one or more classy pieces, such as a tailored blazer.

4. LAYERING IS PRACTICAL

Generally you are better off wearing two or three thinner layers of clothing rather than one thick one. Pieces should be loose fitting.

5. MIX IN SOME COLOUR

In the Winter, the normal black, brown, grey and navy are great, however other colours, such as red, green, pink, purple will add spice to your look, if combined properly.

WOMEN

T-shirts/vests - cotton, chiffon, mesh Shirts/blouses Soft cardigans, sweaters Jackets/blazers/gilets Structured jackets Coats Bright printed scarves/shawls Hats Accessories (bracelets, rings, necklaces) MEN

T-shirts Jerseys Turtle/polo necks Polo style shirts Shirts - smart/casual Waistcoats Jackets/gilets Coats Scarves Hats Accessories (hats, belts, man-bags)

6. ALWAYS FEEL COMFORTABLE

Wherever your mood takes you - go with it! You should always feel comfortable when wearing your outfit. Make sure you can lift your arms. If this is not the case, your layering is too thick.

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FASHION CANDY STYLE

KEY RULES TO LAYERING

3 layers max.

Keep in proportion with balanced length/hemlines.

Each visible layer should work with the outfit and on its own.

Layer from light to heavy.

Tones - play with colours and textures.

Have fun mixing prints.

Just because the weather may be dull, it doesn’t mean your dress sense should be. Be fearless and don’t hesitate to mix & match your colours.

I would like to invite all of our readers to send me suggestions for anything you would like me to feature in future issues. Any budding fashionistas who need fashion advice, please feel free to get in touch. Follow me on social media for all the latest news.

GET IN TOUCH Facebook: Fashion Candy Style Twitter: @pammystyles Instagram: @fashion_candy_style PAM DAVIS

Fashion Candy Style E: pamela@fashioncandy.co.uk M: 07713 095355 www.fashioncandy.co.uk 7 • A P R ISL TUDENT 2018 • S TUDENT T YLE LIFE

STUDENT Beauty

High End vs.

Drug Store WRITTEN BY ROSIE MAY We all know how tempting it is to buy highend makeup purely for the brand and not the product itself, I’m a sucker for it! As soon as Anastasia Beverly Hills or Tarte release a new product, I’m bound to buy it even if I don’t know how good the product is. However, I’ve recently started finding products in the drugstore that are as good, if not better, than some of my high-end products! I am all about saving myself some pennies!

Foundations are a tricky product for cheaper brands to nail. The coverage and formula in a foundation is SO important and sometimes the cheaper brands can’t get that. However, after watching some YouTube videos and doing some investigations, I’ve found a perfect dupe for one of my favourite foundations; Estée Lauder Double Wear.

This foundation is ultimate full coverage and will hide anything you want on your face, literally! However, this foundation retails at £33.50 and that can be a hefty price. A drugstore foundation that I love is the Maybelline Superstay Foundation. This foundation retails at £9.99 in Superdrug and the coverage is equally as good as the Double Wear! The formula isn’t as thick as the Estée Lauder which is what I personally prefer, as I don’t like to feel cakey! It really is Superstay as it lasts all day even on my oily skin and

I love it! Cream contouring is something that I love including in my makeup routine.

I love creating new dimensions in my face and sometimes powder contouring just isn’t enough for me.

For ages I wanted the Anastasia Beverly Hills Cream Contour Kit and I was lucky enough to get it for Christmas last year. Recently L’Oréal launched their new Infallible foundation sticks. I worked for L’Oréal at the end of last year so I already secretly knew about this launch, so I was super excited for them to be

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20 and I just want more and more! Although most of my makeup is high-end, the majority of my highlighters are from the drugstore.

Brands such as Revolution and Sleek have managed to perfect their highlighter recipe and the results are blinding. I recently purchased the Anastasia Beverly Hills x Amrezy Highlighter after seeing it plastered all over my Twitter and Instagram and it is lush, however I have found an ‘if not’ better version in the drugstore. The Sleek Solstice highlighter palette is a favourite in the blogger community and I can see why! The gold shade in the Sleek palette is a very similar colour to the ABH one so I was intrigued to test them side-by-side. The Sleek palette retails at £9.99 in Boots and the ABH x Amrezy highlighter retails at £29 on their UK site. Strangely I actually prefer the Sleek palette! The ABH highlighter takes a bit of building up to get it as blinding as in the promotional pictures, however the Sleek palette gives you those results in one swipe.

I absolutely love both but if you’re wanting an alternative that’s cheaper than the ABH, I would 1000% recommend the Sleek Solstice Palette.

released! The coverage on them isn’t quite enough for me to use as foundation, so I opted for one of the darkest shades to use as a cream contour stick. I absolutely love it!

It is so creamy and blendable, whereas I do find that the ABH contour kit can be quite dry and appear muddy on my face. The ABH Kit retails at £42.00 on Beauty Bay, compared to the £8.99 price tag of the L’Oréal stick in Superdrug.

Highlighters are one of my favourite makeup products to buy. I think I already own around

These are just a few products that I’ve found excellent dupes for in the drugstore.

Makeup can be way overpriced and I think people are starting to utilise the drugstore now and a lot of these brands are upping their game! Makeup Revolution have started bringing out amazing concealers and highlighters, Maybelline upping their game on the coverage and L’Oréal working on their formula to give us a creamy and blendable result. This is fantastic as it really is giving the high end brands a run for their money!

One of our student writers, Cara, has done an article for us on some of her favourite drugstore products too in this edition if you’re interested in more money-saving purchases!

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STUDENT Beauty

Favourites:

DRUGSTORE MAKEUP WRITTEN BY CARA FOLLON I love doing my makeup, it just makes me feel more me. Once I have my face on I feel like I can take on the world. I’ve found that high quality makeup that stays on all day and isn’t a ridiculous price is hard to come by. Luckily, in the last few years I have found some wonderful drugstore makeup that really does the trick. Here are my top three!

MAKEUP REVOLUTION ICONIC PALET TE Makeup Revolution has become increasingly popular in the last year or so, it is honestly such a good bargain! Their simple

eyeshadow palettes are only £4, and you can get so much wear out of them. I bought my first Revolution palette a few years ago and I’ve only just had to replace it. These palettes seem to be dupes of the Urban Decay palettes, which go on the sale for £39+. The colours of these palettes are wonderful, a beautiful Smokey eye can be created easily.

These palettes can be found in Superdrug stores or online, so definitely go grab yourself one!

PRIMARK FALSE EYELASHES For many people like myself, having short eyelashes isn’t great. And sometimes a mascara just won’t do so we turn to false eyelashes. Recently, Primark makeup range has become increasingly popular. Primark lashes range from £1-£3 per pair and these are amazing! With these lashes, you can at least get a fair few wears out of them and they are such good quality. Although a very low price, these don’t feel tacky or cheap. And they make your eyes pop, so what more could you ask for?

MAKEUP REVOLUTION CONCEAL & DEFINE CONCEALER Now I know I’ve already mentioned Makeup Revolution, but I couldn’t not mention the concealer this brand has recently released.

This concealer is on sale for only £4 and comes in 18 different shades. I’ve always had trouble with dark circles under my eyes, but this concealer literally saved me. It has a brilliant consistency as it isn’t too thick, but you get a good amount in the bottle. Finding the right shade concealer is a problem we all face, but with 18 different shades you’re bound to find the right one. These concealer’s can also be used as contour, all you need to do is a buy a darker shade.

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THE COST OF

BEAUTY WRITTEN BY JENNIFER MEREDITH

Let’s talk about how much your makeup costs – and I’m not talking about money…

With April comes that exciting spring feeling – daffodils are sprouting, trees are returning to their leafy green splendour, and plenty of adorable little animals are being born.

However, spring is also a time for reflection.

In particular, on the very real moral cost of the contents of our makeup bags, and the fatal impact on those same animals that we find so adorable.

According to Cruelty Free International CEO Michelle Thew, testing just one new ingredient could lead to the deaths of at least 1,400 animals. Adding up the ingredients list on the back of any moisturiser, shampoo or foundation produces a shocking result. How many animals have died so that we can look good?

Despite the fact that cosmetic testing on animals is banned in the UK, this does not stop companies testing their products in other countries without a ban, before proceeding to sell them in our country.

The worst culprits are large multi-national corporations who form an umbrella over many individual brands, such as Estée Lauder, who own Bobbi Brown, Clinique, MAC, and many more.

These companies usually have a choice whether to test on animals, however, where there is money to be made, moral responsibility is often last on the list of concerns.

Cruelty Free

STUDENT EDIT Despite the picture I’ve just painted, there are fantastic brands who are certified crueltyfree. To find them, I advise looking for the Leaping Bunny logo - the only internationally recognised certification for cruelty-free brands.

Leaping Bunny brands are required to agree to independent audits, which verify that their products and the ingredients within them are in no way used in animal testing.

MILANI Milani Retouch and Erase Light Lifting Concealer, £9 from Beauty Bay

OFRA Ofra Blush, £8 from Beauty Bay

YES TO Yes To Coconut Ultra Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner, both £5.99 from Boots

NEAL’S YARD Bee Lovely Beautiful Lips, £6.50 from Neal’s Yard

THE BODY SHOP Lash Hero Mascara, £11 from The Body Shop

SCHMIDT’S Schmidt’s Bergamot & Lime Deodorant Jar, £10 from Naturisimo

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LILY LOLO Eyebrow Duo, £9 from Lily Lolo

STUDENT Travel

CZECH in to BOHEMIA WRITTEN BY DANIELLE ROBERTS

There aren’t many places you can visit in the world where you can combine luxury, penthousestyle living, and stepping out into a cobbled street dating back to the 9th century. Prague is one such place.

When I first visited this beautiful destination back in 2014, I knew that a long weekend wasn’t enough to satisfy my desire to explore the cobbles and town squares littering the medieval city. So, when the opportunity arose for me to return, I knew exactly what my plan would be: a whole week, in an AirBnB. I scoured the property listings for weeks, until I found the perfect apartment – right in the city centre, modern, cosy, and with Netflix available (hey, I was living there for a week, I wanted to maintain my home routine…). The best part? Prague is astonishingly cheap, so the entire week cost less than a term’s worth of textbooks.

Having a proper ‘home’ as a base instead of a hotel was so refreshing; we woke up and had breakfast at our leisure (pastries galore – the local Tesco has a bakery section to rival Greggs!) wandered out of our door and straight into Wenceslas

Square – named after Saint Wenceslaus, the patron saint of Bohemia, and the subject of the popular Christmas carol – and explored the vast city at our leisure. Each day brings a new itinerary: with so many sights to see; including the oldest European University, the architecturally fascinating Charles Bridge, and the iconic ‘Dancing House’; you’ll never have a day of wondering ‘what to do?’

Czech food is as much of a draw to Prague as its history. Expect warming, hearty comfort food in the form of goulash, dumplings, and deep-fried cheese…a local delicacy! Pork knuckle/knee also features heavily on local menus, but bring your appetite: this feast is often served for two people (which I took as a challenge…and won) and can lead to serious meat sweats! Once you’ve sampled enough savoury to satisfy your tastebuds, on practically every street corner you’ll find the delicious trdelník; a sweet dough cooked on a spit, sprinkled in sugar, with a variety of fillings (my favourite? Obviously Nutella.)

One thing is for sure; once you’ve fallen in love with this incredible city, you’ll be planning your return before you’ve left Vaclav Airport!

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NEW YORK k r o Y w e N WRITTEN BY ROSIE MAY

New York was always a place I’d seen in films and on the TV. I never thought I’d be lucky enough to have the opportunity to visit the city of dreams and it is still one of my most treasured holidays to date!

I went with my Dad and Step-Mum and we decided to go for 3 nights. It is an expensive place to visit (as you can imagine) but it was definitely something we had to do!

We originally had our flights booked and a hurricane hit so we had to reschedule for the following Easter holidays. This was more a blessing in disguise because it would have been freezing if we had gone in the November as originally planned!

We flew with Virgin Airways. They are my favourite airline for long-haul journeys, due to their professionalism and care and I’ve never found myself bored even on a 10 hour flight! Once we landed it was magical right

from the tarmac. It’s a cliché and I’m sure everyone says it but the city is just like the films! Hectic Times Square, blooming Central Park and the main lady herself, the Statue of Liberty. There was no way to describe the feeling of being in the taxi on the way to Manhattan and seeing the skyline of the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Centre and Times Square on the horizon.

We stayed at the Affinia Manhattan hotel which is opposite Maddison Square Gardens.

It was a beautiful hotel and was in a perfect location to access all of our touristy areas!

We had a huge balcony on the 12th floor overlooking the busy streets, it didn’t help that my Dad is scared of heights!

We spent the entirety of our 3 days exploring every little part of the city that we could, and I think that is the only way to do it! A boat trip round the Statue of Liberty, Hop on Hop off bus round the whole city, paying our respects at Ground Zero, taking in the breathtaking views from The Top Of The Rock, visiting the museum where Night In The Museum was filmed and even standing in the lobby of The Empire State Building (just because that is where Elf was filmed!).

This trip is still one that keeps a special place in my heart and I can’t wait to return!

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that are relatable to the job you are applying for – even better!

WRITTEN BY SIAN ROBERTSON

Student Life is delighted to have joined forces with Career Ready UK. The organisation helps raise young people’s aspirations and bridge the gap between education and work, by providing access to real experience of the world of work. Here Career Ready’s Regional Manager for Cambridge and Ipswich, Sian Robertson, introduces the charity to readers.

When you are applying for a job the best advice I can give is to make sure you read the job description and that you understand the roles and requirements of the job. If you do not, or you need some clarification, it is good practice to get in touch with the organisation offering the job to find out more.

Employers greatly value an application that has been written in response to the job description they make available, and doing just this can make your application stand out in the first instance.

An application will stand out even more if the skills and attributes that you highlight you posses are backed up by examples experiences or scenarios. Demonstrating your selling points rather than just saying them will help an employer to understand how you work and how you might fit into their organization, if you can use examples

In addition, if you have unique examples of how you have developed or demonstrated certain skills or attributes then try to use these to stand out further. Think about all the extra-curricular activities you might take/ have taken part in, roles of responsibility that you hold or have held within the last two years, trips you may have been on, work experience or internships opportunities, part time jobs you hold/have held within the last two years, summer schools or NCS weeks that you may have been on. Any of these will make you stand out from other applicants.

A FEW USEFUL TIPS1. Avoid using your letter of application to discuss your grades or what you enjoy doing outside of work – unless it is in reference to the point above. This information will be present in your CV and it is best to use your letter to focus on why you want, and are the best candidate for the job.

2. Remain positive and confident in your abilities throughout your application.

3. Use professional language and correct grammar.

4. Really think about why you do want the job, and try to be honest in your response to this.

YOU CAN CONTACT US AS FOLLOWS:

Career Ready UK National Office 25 Canada Square Canary Wharf London E14 5LB Tel: 020 7986 5494 www.careerready.org.uk https://twitter.com/CareerReadyUK https://www.facebook.com/CareerReadyUK https://www.linkedin.com/school/954160/

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WTF W H AT T H E F OO D

Cover photo by WILLIAM JONES using an iPHONE 8 15 • A P R I L 2018 • S TUDENT LIFE

WHAT THE Food

HOW TO STAY

HEALTHY ON A BUDGET WRITTEN BY ROSIE MAY

Entering student life and cooking your own meals can be a shock to the system. University life is a whole different world, and sometimes staying healthy can be the last thing on your mind! However, there are many ways you can stay healthy and sneak healthy ingredients into your meals whilst not breaking the bank.

I’ve always been a big lover of vegetables, weirdly especially all green coloured ones!

However when I started to become a proper adult and make my own meals, it made me realise how expensive healthy ingredients can be! Some are on the cheaper side, but once you start adding it all up for a recipe it seems so much cheaper and easier to get a pizza or ready meal.

A huge thing that has helped me is looking at recipes. They show you exactly what you need and some even add it up for you according to your chosen supermarket!

We’ve decided to create this section in Student Life, as it can unite us foodies and find out yummy recipes and tips and tricks!

Each month we will be bringing you recipes that are super yummy but will stick to the student budget. You can send in your photos to media@student-life.co if you recreate any recipes and you could be in the chance of being featured on the bottom of these pages!

I’ve picked this particular recipe this month because I absolutely love sweet potatoes!

They’re a great way for swapping out normal potatoes as they’re healthier but you’re still getting that carbohydrate intake. The beef adds a bit of protein without costing a bomb and it looks super tasty! This is such a quick and easy meal to make, as sticking a potato in the oven doesn’t take much effort if you’re not up for being in the kitchen for ages! The recipe also sneaks in some vegetables which is equally as great. Even if you’re a beginner in the kitchen, this recipe will be perfect for you! From the Tesco Groceries website, this meal only costs £4.43, and that’ll give you plenty of leftovers!

Cheap, quick and still delicious!

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RECIPE OF THE MONTH

Beefy Stuffed Sweet Potatoes SUBMITTED BY VICKI SIEMENS Ingredients 1 or 2 sweet potatoes (depending on how hungry you are)! ½ medium onion ½ tin of chopped tomatoes Herbs for seasoning Salt and pepper 2 tablespoons olive oil Pack of beef mince Grated cheese (optional) 1. Poke each sweet potato a few times and microwave until tender (about 10 minutes), rotating them halfway through. Set aside and keep warm.

2. Combine the tinned tomatoes with the onion, herbs, salt and pepper and mix.

3. Heat oil in a large pan/wok on a medium/high heat and add this mixture in, stirring it constantly, for around 3 to 4 minutes.

4. Add ¼ cup of water if the sauce has evaporated by this point.

5. Add in the mince and stir continuously, breaking apart the mince and combining the whole mixture.

6. Once the mince is cooked through, cut the sweet potatoes in half and scoop out the insides.

7. Mix the scooped out potato with the mince mix and then fill the potatoes back up.

8. Sprinkle with cheese and place on a baking tray in the oven until the cheese is melted.

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WHAT THE Food

SUPERMARKET Secrets WRITTEN BY JOSH PETERS Supermarkets have their secret ways of fooling us into buying certain things and going to specific aisles that we don’t need to. This definitely doesn’t help when you’re trying to save money on a student budget!

These supermarkets have their tactics and a lot more time goes into it than we first think!

The layout of the store is a huge concept for each brand. They place certain aisles and products in certain places in order to catch your eye and get you buying things that you don’t need! Very cheeky! Factors that these supermarkets put into place to lure us in can be things such as; playing slow music to make you feel more relaxed and not as if you’re rushing through, putting eggs in strange places in the store to send you on an egg hunt (not the fun Easter kind!), putting

healthier foods such as fruit and veg near the front of the store so that you don’t feel as guilty putting chocolate and sweets in your basket later on, and even stacking more ‘expensive’ items at eye level and the cheaper alternatives on the bottom shelves!

One sneaky thing that these superstores can be especially bad at is keeping outdated promotions still on the shelves. BBC did an investigation into Tesco for this and found that 33 out of 50 stores that they visited had been overcharging them for their purchases!

This is just to draw you into a product you don’t necessarily need but have picked up because it’s on offer, as most of us will just buy it anyway once we’re at the till!

All these deceptions are in-store however similar deceptions can be made online!

Supermarkets will deliberately put up sidebars to bring up similar items to the ones in your basket to try and get you to part with more cash! Unfortunately for me this tends to work!

Sticking to a student budget whilst shopping in supermarkets can be tricky when they’re putting all of these secret barriers in the way. Reading into these and becoming more informative of their tricks can help you to save money and not end up with tons of food you don’t need!

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BUDGET BITES If you think healthy eating is expensive, then for the most part you’re right! There are however ways to make healthy eating affordable if you’re on a budget. The problem with healthy eating is that it requires more effort than just grabbing things on the go and most people don’t make time for this, but if you want to take your health seriously so you get the most out of life, it’s worth investing the time in to your food.

Start by buying your ingredients in bulk rather than picking up one meal on the go, as you go. Things like oats and brown rice aren’t that expensive and one bag could last you 1-2 weeks depending on how much and how often you eat them.

Next, you need to prepare in advance. Most people eat unhealthy food because they’re in a rush or can’t be bothered to cook, but if the food is already there ready to eat or be heated up then you have no excuses! Even if you prepare the longest/hardest part of the meal and cook off some pasta when you’re ready to eat it you’re still saving yourself time and money.

If you have the storage space, you can also start cooking in batches. When you prepare a meal don’t just cook for that one meal, make a big batch of the food and then you have 3-4 meals done for you when you want them.

WRITTEN BY OUR NUTRITION EXPERT BEN STEWART

1 WEEK UNDER £20 These are pretty basic ideas which can help, but what healthy food is affordable? Here is a week’s worth of food shopping for less than £20*, along with what you can do with the ingredients for an average day of meals: PORRIDGE Oats £0.75 Honey £0.99 Tap Water £0.00 VEGETABLE EGG FRIED RICE Brown Rice £1.50 Frozen Mixed Veg £1.10 Eggs £1.95 Soy Sauce £0.65 FRUIT SNACK Bananas £0.90 Apples £0.98 Oranges £1.30 FISH, SWEET POTATO & VEG Frozen Salmon £5.00 Frozen Sweet Potato £2.30 Frozen Broccoli £1.00 Frozen Carrots £1.00 *£19.42, source: Tesco.com 12/03/18

19 • A P RWHAT I L 2018THE • S F OOD TUDENT LIFE

Fancy having your photo on the WTF front cover?

Send in your food related image to rosie@student-life.co and you could see it on our front page Please supply us with a high resolution photo in portrait orientation with your name and the camera used

WTF WHAT THE FOOD

20 • A P R I L 2018 • S TUDENT LIFE

STUDENT Music

PLEASE DON’T STOP THE

Music

WRITTEN BY CHANEL McKENZIE

So this is my first article for Student Life, so what better way to begin than introducing myself... I’m Chanel and I’m an 18 year old music blogger from Ipswich. I am currently studying Music Business at Access Creative College in Norwich.

I’m sure many of you may agree that the music scene in the UK has continued to grow and surpass everybody’s expectations in recent years. Personally, I feel that the talent that we have coming out of this country is phenomenal. With the likes of artists such as Stormzy, Ed Sheeran, Anne Marie and Dua Lipa, 2018 is set to be a great year for us Brits! But in this article, I wanted to focus on talent in and around my local area. I am a big fan of Urban music and have always supported this genre from a young age. So I wanted to give you my top two Urban ‘Ones To Watch’ in Ipswich this year!

BROTHERHOOD A Grime duo from Ipswich, consisting of two brothers Menace and Blaze. The siblings have been creating music for many years and accomplished many things during this time period. Brotherhood have worked alongside platforms such as Wireless Festival, SBTV and Link Up TV, as well as their tracks gaining air time on radio stations such as Radio 1Xtra. The two brothers, continue to climb their way to the top and I feel that 2018 could be the breakthrough year for them.

DJ YOUNG DIRTS Tevan Allen is a 21 year old DJ from Ipswich.

In the last year Tevan has been the DJ that everyone is talking about! From birthday parties to performing at venues such as Bowmans Nightclub and Degeroes, Young Dirts is gaining more and more popularity.

With his versatility and always pleasing the crowd, big things are expected from the Ipswich DJ this year. Not only is Tevan a DJ; he is also a vocal artist who has performed alongside artists such as Martell McKenzie and Lewis Huggins.

There you have it, my two current urban favourites in Ipswich. Who are yours?!

Email me via info@student-life.co

21 • A P RSI TUDENT L 2018 •MUSIC S TUDENT LIFE

Study Time WRITTEN BY ROSIE WEDGE

Our monthly feature offering advice on study techniques & tips. If you have any tips or tricks that you want to share, simply let Rosie know at info@student-life.co Quite possibly the only thing worse than worrying about revision is worrying about when to start. Procrastination is not exactly great, and only provides us with immediate gratification, as soon the awareness that we could be further ahead with our revision had we not binge-watched Netflix all day seeps in. On the flip side of this, some of us start revising really early in the year, feeling motivated to succeed, and burn out about a month before exams, realising we have covered everything and are now just killing time. Having survived several exam seasons, I have a few bits of advice on how to work out when is best to revise for you!

Firstly, you need to remember that your revision pattern is unique to you, and should be tailored to fit your lifestyle. This means that just because someone else has started revising, or hasn’t yet, doesn’t mean that you should be doing what they do. There is a rising trend on YouTube this year in “Study With Me” videos, which are created by students, and film their day of studying.

Whilst this is beneficial in learning new ways to revise, and getting an idea of when it is good to start, they have one toxic drawback.

These videos are often accompanied by an hourly-time frame such as “12 hour study with me”, which gives people the impression that someone out there has done a solid 12 hours of revision in one day. Cue slow shattering of self confidence as you sit there at 11am, still in your dressing gown on a Saturday morning, finding out someone has been revising since 6am that same day. In an age of social media and importance in social status, we tend to compare ourselves to one

22 • A P R I L 2018 • S TUDENT LIFE

quick. What you should focus on is being productive in a small amount of time and the depth of your work. Doing 2 or 3 hours a day in real depth, taking everything in, making detailed notes and testing yourself will do you much better favours than re-reading the same textbook passage on a loop for an hour.

If you want to quantify your work, do it by how many tasks you get done, not how long you did them for. What feels better; doing 2 essays in a day, an hour each, really focusing and thinking about what you are writing and getting top marks, or sifting through your folder of notes all day, re-reading and re-reading, then doing a paper where you get half-marks because nothing went in? Well, if your answer is “Option 2” then my mission is a failure, please turn the page to the next article. Here’s hoping your answer was option one! Learning information productively in a short space of time and applying it effectively is far more impressive than doing 10 shallow hours of revision, I guarantee you.

another, and this can be dangerous. If you are someone who only does 4 or 5 hours of revision a day, these videos can make you feel like you are lazy or not working hard enough, due to some irrelevant number. The number of hours you do is irrelevant.

This brings me on to the my next point, which I’m sure we have all heard about 100+ times in our lives; quality not quantity.

Spending your weekend doing over 20 hours of work, whereby you drag all your tasks out just trying to feel like you spent more time doing revision is not beneficial. This will burn you out quickly, like super-duper

As for when to start, I can’t tell you. Purely because my work pattern will not suit everyone else. However, I suggest making a list of everything you need to cover, maybe just after your mocks. Try and split all tasks down into the same sized chunks, maybe 30-40 minute goals. Then, decide on how many to do a day. Start slowly, just one a day and gradually build it up to perhaps 6-7 tasks a day. If it’s too much for you, don’t push it, because otherwise you jeopardise everything else. If you feel you are getting behind and time is running short, prioritise the most important bits. If you are too ahead of schedule and are sitting around with everything covered, help a friend revise; teaching others is an incredibly beneficial way of learning and applying knowledge!

Remember, it’s YOUR revision for YOUR tests in exchange for YOUR grades, no one else’s!

23 • A P R I L 2018 MY • LIFE S TUDENT LIFE

RORY’S WRITTEN BY RORY BATHGATE

Rory’s Rating: 24 • A P R I L 2018 • S TUDENT LIFE

Director: Ryan Coogler

Runtime: 135 mins

Certificate: PG

One of the joys of Black Panther, at least in its first half, is how fresh its structure feels. Having been introduced in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, Prince T’Challa aka ‘Black Panther’ is presented fully-formed - no tiresome origin story to be found here. By the end, sadly, the film has returned to safer, cookie-cutter ground for superhero films, with the T’Challa and friends facing off a horde of poorly rendered CGI foes. This is, frankly, bizarre - for all the claims of this film’s uniqueness and cinematic bravery, its reliance on tired tropes such as this prove that Marvel isn’t quite ready to take risks yet. Additionally, the quippy humour so characteristic of the genre is present again here, in some places wearing thin - a throwback to a 3 year old meme had this reviewer rolling his eyes.

Boseman does a fine job as the titular hero, comfortable in the role that he’s sure to reprise several more times in coming years. As villain, Michael B. Jordan performs well. His character ‘Killmonger’ seems to be be following in the wake of Michael Keaton’s ‘Vulture’ in last year’s Spiderman: Homecoming - a somewhat complex, understandable character, with motivations more interesting than the usual ‘world domination’ plot.

Released just over two months prior to Avengers: Infinity War - which Marvel has been building up to for a decade - one would expect the film to spend considerable screen time tying itself in with the wider Marvel Cinematic Universe. For the most part, this isn’t the case; although the film picks up plot threads established in the last few Captain America films, director Coogler manages to keep the focus on Wakanda, the hyper-advanced African nation in which the majority of the film takes place. Despite this, visually Wakanda remains surprisingly underutilised throughout.

Beyond the sweeping landscapes, glittering skyline and singular bustling street we’re treated to, much of the action in Wakanda is relegated to the same few indoor sets.

The result is that one leaves the cinema having heard a great deal about the wonders of Wakanda, but lacking a proper feel for the place.

For the visual presentation, strange choices have been made. Although for the most part interesting to look at, with vibrant colours and inventive camerawork, the lacklustre visual effects cannot be ignored - as previously touched upon, the final fight looks hokey and lacks gravity, and earlier scenes such as the first ritual utilise poor greenscreen work. Additionally, though Black Panther is markedly more violent than other Marvel films, it appears Disney still refuse to show blood on-screen. This would be fine if the violence didn’t involve so many edged weapons; one sequence in which a character’s throat is clearly slit remains blood-free against even comic book logic.

Overall, Black Panther is a fun, action-packed addition to the ever expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe. It’s not a groundbreaking film - but it is a fun one, and will no doubt entertain audiences looking for their latest superhero fix.Certificate: PG

25 • A P R I L 2018 • S TUDENT LIFE

SEXUAL Health

Sexual Health &

CONTRACEPTION in Suffolk

WRITTEN BY ANDY TURNER

For anyone wanting to look after their sexual health and make informed decisions around their contraception choices, iCaSH Suffolk is the place to go. Clinics are located in Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds, and Lowestoft. iCaSH (Integrated Contraception and Sexual Health) services are available without needing a letter from your GP and are free, confidential and non-judgemental. There’s no need to be embarrassed, as clinic staff are used to talking about sensitive issues and have most likely heard or seen it all before. The last thing they’d want is for any embarrassment to get in the way of you attending one of their clinics.

For attending a clinic, you have two choices.

You can either phone iCaSH Suffolk on 0300 123 3650, to book an appointment, or you could visit www.icash.nhs.uk, pick the clinic you’d like to go to and make a note of their walk-in times.

The walk-in clinic can be busy though, and although the aim is to see you within two hours, sometimes this can be longer. For those booking an appointment, you’ll be asked to attend five minutes before your appointment time to complete registration.

Whichever option you choose, a full check up may take up to an hour and a half so please give yourself enough time! During your appointment, you’ll be asked a few questions – some will be personal, and some may not apply to you. They will also ask about current and previous partners. All questions are designed so that appropriate advice can be given, tests can be carried out, and treatment given.

Chlamydia and gonorrhoea are routinely tested for. For women this would usually mean a painless swab being taken and for men, a urine sample. Men would be advised not to wee for two hours before they are seen.

Blood testing for syphilis and HIV would be recommended for new patients and those at risk. You will not be tested for HIV without your knowledge or consent.

Physical examinations on men are not routine, unless there’s anything you’re concerned about. Again don’t be embarrassed if there’s anything you are worried about – this is your chance to get these things checked out and get treated for if needed. For women there may be a need to carry out an internal examination to check for pelvic inflammation, and for those who have never had this done before, the procedure will be explained to you with staff doing their best to put you at ease.

Results are usually given by text if you’ve supplied a mobile number. If positive for an infection, information about treatment will be given. Partner notification is also available so that any partners can also be tested and treated if appropriate – your name or any other details are never shared.

Aside from the sexual health screening on offer, contraception services are also available. From first contraception method,

26 • A P R I L 2018 • S TUDENT LIFE

TERRY HIGGINS

to changes to current contraception choice, all contraception options are discussed as to what best suits you.

UNDER 25?

As well as the three main clinics, there is also another option open to those under the age of 25. The staff from the Orwell Clinic in Ipswich also run a walk in clinic from the Terrence Higgins Trust office at 3-9 Arcade Street every Thursday between 4pm and 7pm, offering sexual health screening, contraception advice and supply of reversible contraception (coil and implant fitting require an appointment at one of the main clinics), advice and information.

This clinic gets very busy though, and although staff will endeavour to see everyone who attends, it may be necessary to offer a booked appointment for another time.

Unfortunately anyone who arrives at the Terrence Higgins Trust office outside of these times will be asked to contact iCaSH, as we are unable to arrange appointments on their behalf.

NO TIME FOR AN APPOINTMENT? You’re in luck! The new iCaSH Express Test is a kit which can be ordered online and is posted out to the address you supply.

You then send back your sample when complete. It’s an easy, convenient option for those who don’t have time to attend a clinic appointment, although if a test comes back positive you would need to attend for treatment. Also if there is anything you would like to discuss with someone without judgement, but with the knowledge and experience to help you, then attending a clinic would still be the best option for you.

Email: sexualhealthsuffolk@tht.org.uk Website: www.tht.org.uk

27 • A P RSEXUAL I L 2018 • HEALTH S TUDENT LIFE

STUDENT Safety

ONLINE &

SOCIAL MEDIA

ENVIRONMENTS CO-WRITTEN BY PROFESSOR EMMA BOND & KATIE TYRRELL

Professor Emma Bond is Director of Research at the University of Suffolk. She is Professor of SocioTechnical Research and also Director of the Suffolk Institute of Social and Economic Research (SISER).

Katie Tyrrell joined the University of Suffolk in 2017 after graduating with an MSc in Mental Health Research with distinction from the University of Nottingham. Katie is a member of the Suffolk Institute of Social and Economic Research (SISER).

Whilst this is not a topic students may want to think about, the University of Suffolk is supporting a recent government campaign to raise awareness that taking, making, sharing and possessing indecent images and pseudo-

photographs of people under 18 is illegal.

It is important to remember that young people know the law and understand that looking at indecent images of under 18s is illegal regardless of how old they look; these images are of real children and young people, and viewing them causes further harm. If you come across indecent images of children under 18 online, you should report them to the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) so that they can be safely removed. The law is very clear about this and if you are caught looking at sexual images of under 18s, you could be arrested, prosecuted and placed on the sex offenders register.

This was one of the key messages from Fred Langford, Deputy CEO of the IWF, who spoke to students, staff and multi-agency practitioners at the University of Suffolk on 21st March. The IWF is an international hotline for reporting and removing online criminal child sexual abuse images and videos and they provide an online service to securely and anonymously report such content. The IWF work to minimise the availability of online child sexual abuse content hosted anywhere in the world.

The IWF is a not-for-profit organisation and is supported by the global internet industry

28 • A P R I L 2018 • S TUDENT LIFE

in the UK is removed quickly – usually in less than two hours and as a direct result of their work, child sexual abuse content hosted in the UK has reduced from 18% in 1996 to below 1% today.

The IWF is currently working with the Home Office and other partner organisations including the Marie Collins Foundation and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) to ensure young people know the law. The message of the campaign is clear:

and the European Commission. By working internationally to make the internet a safer place, the IWF helps victims of child sexual abuse worldwide by identifying and removing online images and videos of their abuse. In his talk, Fred discussed how important it is for people to report such content as often they may come across it online, don’t know that they should report it and then just close their browser.

Reporting to the IWF is vitally important as the children in these images are real victims who are victimised every time an image is viewed. Fred explained that the majority of images reported to or found by the IWF are of girls aged ten and younger and two per cent of these are of children under the age of two.

Using a unique algorithm like a digital fingerprint to identity an image, the IWF is able to seek out images and remove them from the internet thus, if content is reported anonymously to the IWF, it can still be safely removed. Each week, they assess and remove more than 1,000 webpages worldwide and each webpage may contain thousands of images. In the last 20 years the IWF have assessed 700,000 reports. Of these, 281,781 depicted child sexual abuse. Content hosted

Sexual images or videos of under 18s are illegal. It doesn’t matter how old the person looks, this is the law. No ifs, no buts.

You can be prosecuted for taking, making, sharing and possessing sexual images of under 18s, even if you thought that they looked older.

The University of Suffolk has been supporting the No if’s, no buts campaign by raising students’ awareness of the law and how to report indecent images. Fred said: “I applaud Suffolk University for taking the initiative and inviting the IWF to present to students and staff about the work we do. The fact Suffolk University are willing to lead the way in discussing topics such as child sexual abuse material in an open manner is testament to their blossoming reputation for discussing difficult subject matters.”

Josh, a final year student at the University of Suffolk attended the event and said “I think a lot of young men don’t realise the implications of having an indecent image and as a consequence they may shrug it off or normalise it. This event really highlighted the importance of thinking critically about images, and it is great that the university is raising awareness of this topic.”

For further information visit https:// stoponlinechildsexualabuse.campaign.gov.uk

29 • A P R S ITUDENT L 2018 •SAFET S TUDENT Y LIFE

TRIED & TESTED

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Steve rson wanted to be view , ensuring that the cut reflected th took the time to get to ed as. The conver e in sa and interests to di tion flowed and we dividual I was and scuss. There were found mutual gr n’t any awkward though my treatm silences and I didn ound ent was being ru sh ’t feel as me through some ed through. In fa ct, different styles an d made sure I wa Steve took the time to talk final! s happy before th e cut was 30 • A P R I L 2018 • S TUDENT LIFE

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W W W. J O H N O L I V E R S . C O M / 0 1 4 7 3 2 3 3 3 2 7 31 LIFE I P S W I C H , I P 4 1 B F 1 •C OA PLR ILL 2018 E G E• SS TUDENT T R E E T,

tackle all those jobs we’ve been putting off in home and garden...

The garden in particular is bursting into life. Too much life, some of us will say!

Hedges need cutting, bushes pruned, lawns mowed. After their long wintry sleep, our gardens are back with a bang.

Springing

TO LIFE WRITTEN BY REV. TOM ROUT

Tom Rout is vicar of the Ipswich Waterfront Churches (St Helen’s, Holy Trinity and St Luke’s) and Anglican Chaplain to the University of Suffolk and Suffolk New College. He is married to Nicola and father of 3 young children.

It’s that time of year again. Everything is waking up. After more snow than we’ve had in several years, spring is finally here.

No one can fail to notice that there’s more light. Our clocks have gone forward in recognition of the fact, allowing us to make the most of the sunshine.

Perhaps there’s more energy too. Many of us will feel that with the longer light hours, and the gradual rise in temperatures, we’ve come back to life! Finally we’re ready to

Is there a connection between the reawakening of nature that takes place each year, and the Easter season?

The Bible certainly makes a link between the workings of nature, and the great story of God. Nature is like a public screening, a premiere, proud to present the story of God in vivid technicolour, complete with sounds and smells for the full 4D experience.

What’s the story? “Out of death - new life!”

Jesus directly linked the events of Easter to what we see in nature. He said, ‘Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies it produces many seeds.’ He thought of himself as the single ‘seed’ who died on a cross and was placed in the ground. But he knew that just as winter always gives way to spring, neither would he be confined forever in the grave. He sprang to life again, just as a single seed planted in the ground comes back to life in springtime. And as a single grain of wheat sprouts up as a stalk bearing a whole head of wheat, so Jesus’ new life became the stem on which many others find their life.

So it’s no coincidence that nature dies in winter and then wakes up again in spring.

It’s a multi-sensory ‘in your face’ retelling of the ultimate new life story.

As we walk around our gardens and parks, enjoying the new life that spring brings, maybe we can reflect on the reason for the season.

32 • A P R I L 2018 MY • LIFE S TUDENT LIFE

MENTAL Health SUPPLEMENT

Mental health difficulties are like weeds in your garden.

We can spend so much time ignoring the issue that the root spreads.

Digging deeper identifies the root; removing the root, removes the problem.

33 • A P R I L 2018 • S TUDENT LIFE

“

Editor’s

We slowly made our way into our last month with icy weather and snowy conditions which mostly brought us all to a standstill, but we are hoping for more warmer weather in April! We have been working hard on bringing on new student writers from schools and the university, so please check out their beautifully written articles! If any of you are interested in writing for us here at Student Life please get in contact! Take care!

Best wishes.

Leanne Arnold Mental Health Co-editor

Contents...

WORD

CONTACT US 01473 35 35 12 leanne@student-life.co www.student-life.co Snapchat: studentlifesc FB: @studentlifeips Instagram: @studentlifeips

“

April brings us stress awareness month which has been around since 1992! During this month you have an excuse (not that we need one!) to take some time to wind down and focus on your own wellbeing. I thought it would be fitting to include some articles that, along with our self-care section, help you guys with finding ways to relax and focus on number one.

STUDYING & MENTAL HEALTH .............................................................................................35 SELF CARE ............................................................................................................................................. 36 MENTAL HEALTH IN FILM ................................................................................................ 38-41 YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED .................................................................................. 42-43 STRESS AWARENESS ......................................................................................................... 52-53 PREGNANCY & MENTAL HEALTH ............................................................................ 54-55 LGBTQ+ AND MENTAL HEALTH .................................................................................. 48-49

34 • A P R I L 2018 • S TUDENT LIFE

MENTAL Health

WRITTEN BY AYLA BLOOM

P IS FOR PERFECTION

Why being an Academic Perfectionist is a good thing Ayla is 21-years-old and is studying Screenwriting and Film Studies. Her favourite poet is Sylvia Plath. Ayla decided to get involved with Student Life to share her thoughts in a hope that they will inspire others.

Last month, I discussed the issue of academic perfectionism, especially in a university environment. While addressing the implications of academic perfectionism, I also signposted support systems and ways it can be managed. However, this month I would like to do something more lighthearted and address why we should embrace academic perfectionism. Hopefully these tips should help anyone show that academic perfectionism can be a strength, rather than a weakness.

YOU HAVE IMPECCABLE ATTENTION TO DETAIL

Heard of the scenario that you should never say that being a perfectionist is your greatest weakness in a job interview? I’m not suggesting that you should get on board with this in such a situation, but being a perfectionist can be a good thing. Think about it this way. You’re so focused on getting it right the first time that you will look at every single detail. I’m often told that my brain works differently to everyone else

because I think of things in unique ways.

While I’m looking at the small details, I’m also looking at the bigger picture. This is what makes you stand out.

YOU ARE COMMITTED TO THINGS

Commitment is something that everyone appreciates and perfectionists are extremely committed to their work. You have dedicated a lot of time to something. This is rare. It’s always been drummed into me that if you work hard, you will get results. Nonetheless, everyone has times when they don’t achieve what they want. But, the important thing is to keep trying, and that’s one of the greatest strengths that perfectionists have.

YOU ADAPT TO FAILURE

Failure is inevitable. Everyone has failed at something in their life such as an exam, or driving test, for instance. But the important thing is to not define yourself, or your abilities, by this one particular failure.

Perfectionists are good at striving to do better because they lay out enough time and effort. They are good at getting over things. Although the dangers of perfectionism are that you obsess and doubt small details, take these failures in your stride to focus on the bigger picture. Small steps

35 • A P R I L 2018 • S TUDENT LIFE

MENTAL Health

MENTAL Health

SELF CARE COLOURING WRITTEN BY RACHEL GILBEY Being creative and practicing self-expression is a great way to unwind and relax. One activity which has grown in popularity is colouring. Adult colouring books come in all different sizes, patterns and themes, and they make a great gift too. You don’t need to be naturally arty to relax by colouring and it also boasts great benefits. According to the American Art Therapy Association, art therapy is a mental health profession in which the process of making and creating artwork is used to "explore feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behaviour and addictions, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety and increase self-esteem."

It has been said that colouring calms the

part of the brain that is related to the fear/ stress response and stimulates the parts of the brain that relate to creativity and logic.

It sounds like there are a huge amount of benefits from investing in a colouring book and pens, that surely, is worth a go? There are many retail shops both on the high street and online that stock colouring books. You’ll be able to find TV and film themed books such as Harry Potter or Rick and Morty, to books which are full of patterns and shapes.

There is such a range, that it is likely you’ll find something that suits your taste. Don’t feel like this is an activity to undertake alone either- group colouring sessions can be just as relaxing. If you have children, maybe this is an activity to engage in with all the family!

IF THIS ARTICLE HAS BROUGHT UP ANY EMOTIONS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS, PLEASE REFER TOA OUR CONTACT LIST ATLIFE THE END OF THIS SECTION 36 • P R I L 2018 • S TUDENT

CO-WRITTEN BY ASHLEIGH MORTON, REBECCA HUDSON & MADELEINE NORRIS

Where’s Your Head At? is one of a number of Societies based at the University of Suffolk. With a primary focus on mental health, the Society also focuses on general wellbeing; aiding students & staff with additional issues such as stress or even loneliness - through events and socials.

Over the last month, WYHA? ran an event for the University Mental Health Day, where we held a self-care activity and a coping mechanism/tip share with the students and staff.

We will be holding our informal mindfulness sessions again from the 5th April and these sessions will be scheduled with guided

meditation from the Headspace, mindfulness colouring, and book & tip sharing. These sessions will be held every Thursday between 6-7pm until the date of our AGM (TBC) and the room number will be shown on our Facebook page. On the 27th April, we have our largest event: our Charity Dog Walk to raise money for Student Minds - a mental health charity for Students in the UK. As the academic year comes to a close, we start to look for a new committee to take over the Society and take it forward. We would like to invite students both in and out of WYHA? to get involved in our Society and provide students and staff with mental health awareness events and to continue to be the bridge to the different organisations people can go to if they are feeling stressed, or if they are having a bad time.

As we head towards the end of the academic year, more students start to become stressed about assignments for their modules and can start to feel distressed. If you ever feel that there is no one to talk to, there are many organisations and support networks that are there to help. The Student Services at the University are always there if you need to talk about anything you are worried about or feeling. There are also other support organisations such as Samaritans, Student Minds, Suffolk Mind and many others.

For more information on our society, do not hesitate to message us on our Facebook page @WYHAUOS or email us at su.admin@uos.ac.uk with any of your questions.

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The Portrayal of

MENTAL HEALTH IN FILM WRITTEN BY ABBIE GELLATLY

Undoubtedly, films, television shows, and documentaries contribute to raising awareness of mental illness, however, as many people have pointed out, the attention they bring to such conditions is not always true to life.

Perhaps the most cited issues surrounding the depiction of mental health in the media is that filmmakers not only fall into the trap of glamourising mental health but they, also, perpetuate harmful stereotypes, often by exaggerating conditions, which, in turn, contribute to the pervasive stigma attached to mental illness. This inaccurate portrayal of mental illness can be seen in a number of films which touch upon, both, psychotic and neurotic illnesses.

The majority of films that give insight into the world of someone suffering from a psychotic illness fall under the ‘thriller’ or ‘horror’ genre. Albeit, some of these films make for great entertainment, however, they are highly problematic when judging them from a representational perspective, given they dramatise the lives of those plagued by mental illness, encouraging viewers to

use offensive and antiquated terminology.

Shutter Island and The Shining are examples of such films, in that they unfairly draw the conclusion that those suffering from Schizophrenia, Dissociative Identity Disorder, and other psychotic mental illnesses, are destined to become criminals and/ or serial killers. Such films are frequently centred upon an unrealistic setting, for example, The Overlook Hotel in The Shining, which is haunted by its many victims, or Ashecliffe Hospital for the criminally insane in Shutter Island. These unrealistic settings contribute to the prejudicial portrayal of psychotic illnesses in film. Black Swan, on the other hand, which has been praised for its accurate, albeit, slightly exaggerated, representation of mental illness, is far more true to life, given it takes place within a real-life environment that gives rise to a process which, ultimately, unhinges Nina, the protagonist, causing her to develop, what is deemed by most, as psychosis.

To The Bone, is yet another example of a film showcasing the cliché tropes surrounding mental illness. Similarly to an earlier released Netflix show, 13 Reasons Why, To The Bone hugely glamorised mental illness. Although To The Bone succeeded in highlighting the range of emotions that accompany an eating disorder (ED) competitiveness with fellow ED sufferers and a resistance to treatment - its depiction of eating disorders, as a whole, was outdated and reductive. For one, it assumes that most ED patients are sufferers of anorexia and bulimia, thereby excluding those who suffer from equally as afflicting conditions such as Binge Eating Disorder or Rumination Syndrome. Moreover, excluding the single male patient, the film focuses, primarily, on

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The impact of

FILMS ON MENTAL HEALTH PERCEPTIONS WRITTEN BY CARA FOLLON

Cara is 19 years old and studying English. Cara decided to get involved with Student Life because she wanted to get some experience in writing articles and to extend the scope of themes which she writes about.

white, female sufferers of eating disorders, with some pointing to the fact that producers are likely to have included the male patient merely for the purpose of a romantic subplot.

Media is something that has a massive impact on so many aspects of our lives. Film is a great way to have representation and diversity of many issues that people face.

In recent years, mental health has become a prominent issue that people are talking about and making important in modern society. Not only by having famous faces speak out about mental health and illness, but also film.

Depicting such a delicate subject in film has never been, and will never be, easy. Naturally, some of these works will be triggering to viewers, however, I am inclined to say that this is a risk filmmakers must take if they wish is to document the realities of mental illness. Perhaps, those in the industry might attempt to find a balance between clinging onto the romantic or comedic element of the film in question, whilst promoting an educative feature that provides insight into a range of largely misunderstood and highly stigmatised issues.

Before the last ten years, the perception of mental health was not a very positive one but that has changed dramatically. I know for myself this is due to the representation in film and T.V. I remember one of the first films I watched that tackled mental health was A Beautiful Mind, which like the title implies is a truly beautiful film.

Not only is it a moving film, it depicts mental illness in a realistic and accurate way.

John Nash is a relatable character

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MENTAL Health and the ending is inspiring, demonstrating that having a mental illness doesn’t have to take over your life and you can enjoy life.

One film that had a positive representation of mental illness was The Perks of Being a Wallflower. This film depicts the life of teenage boy Charlie, who suffers mental illness due to the fact he was molested as a child. Although a very heavy subject, this film manages to present mental illness in a positive and realistic way. It is not always serious and includes many comic moments, which I found endearing. The film manages to demonstrate how dealing with a mental illness is hard, but if you have people around you who are supportive and loving, it is made easier.

Although, it hasn’t always been so positive and enlightening. Sadly, there are many films that seem to mock mental illness and use it as a comedy device. Sometimes, a character who suffers from a mental illness is depicted as ‘crazy’ or ‘violent’. They are presented as a tragic character, who can never be helped. Or the only way their ‘problems’ can be solved is by love or affection, which is not truthful to real life. These kinds of representations can distort people’s view on mental illness and give false information about the issue.

I can’t speak for anyone else, but for me if I see mental illness on screen, being represented and talked about, I rejoice. I believe that having more of an awareness about mental health has been helped by film and hopefully that will continue in the future.

Can films accurately portray

MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES? WRITTEN BY AYLA BLOOM

Ayla is 21-years-old and is studying Screenwriting & Film Studies. She likes drinking tea and her favourite poet is Sylvia Plath. Ayla decided to get involved in Student Life to share her thoughts in a hope that it will inspire others.

When we think of the terms ‘film’ and ‘mental health’, film characters come to mind. Daisy from Girl, Interrupted (1999); Charlie in The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012); Ellen from To The Bone (2017). In the latter example, the Netflix film was heavily criticised for its poor representation of the disorder especially since the actor, Lily Collins, was required to lose weight for the role. Many saw this as outlandish as Collins herself suffered from an eating disorder in her late-teens. This got me thinking.

Can films, and the media, accurately portray mental health issues? Will these representations always be negative? Or, are there positives we can take away?

In some instances, films have a positive impact on one’s perception of mental health.

The director has the ability to make us look at the issue from an outsider’s perspective.

Returning to Perks of Being a Wallflower,

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Charlie begins to alienate himself from his new-found friends when his PTSD strikes. As his mental breakdown persists, his friends support him as he finally gets the counselling he needs. This enforces a positive outlook on mental health because we are seeing it from both sides of the coin. We might not have experienced the disorder directly, but we can understand how it affects Charlie, and how his friends are dealing with it too. After the film was released, the filmmakers noted that they received letters from fans who explained that they now had a greater understanding of PTSD, and how to support someone going through it.

It would be positive to think that representations of mental health in film are improving, rather than transgressing.

However, there are still some films which fail to hit the mark. Split (2017) follows Casey Cooke, a man with Dissociative Identity Disorder who goes on crime sprees while in 23 different personalities. However, Split

feels like an insult to those suffering with the disorder. We never experience Casey’s inner distress, or his memory-loss between each personality, which are symptoms that ring true for sufferers. Because the film fails to be realistic, it may well feed into one’s presumptions about mental health issues which can be entirely inaccurate.

While I believe it is near-enough impossible to accurately display mental health disorders on film, there is more that can be done to make sure these representations enforce positive perceptions, or at least shift our understanding. While we might argue that a film, such as Split, might have enforced this through its criticisms, there is still a long way to go. Film is a powerful tool and I think people appreciate honesty much more than fiction when it comes to mental health issues in cinema.

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Tips & Advice

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED Got a burning question about mental health difficulties? Want non-professional, peer-to-peer advice? Look no further, this feature will appear every month and invites readers to send in questions regarding mental health for tips and advice*. My name is Leanne and I have both specialist training and personal experience in mental health and will aim to provide user-friendly, non-professional advice to anyone who asks for it!

Q. I FIND MYSELF BECOMING

MORE IRRITABLE AND SNAPPING AT MY FAMILY RECENTLY, EVEN THOUGH I DON’T FEEL ANGRY IN GENERAL. COULD THIS BE A SIGN OF SOMETHING DEEPER? A: This could be a sign of lots of different things. I think if you’re beginning to feel concerned then maybe reaching out to someone who has training in this department will be beneficial for you. Your GP will be able to carry out tests which can give a better indicator of what might be wrong, if anything – this could be a case of raised hormones for example. I also would advise to talk to your family, they can’t

read your mind and may be wondering and worrying about why you are behaving this way. It may also provide you with reassurance that they understand why you are irritable with them.

Q.

MY FRIEND HAS TOLD ME THEY ARE EXPERIENCING DEPRESSIVE AND SUICIDAL THOUGHTS, BUT THEY DON’T WANT ANY HELP. WHO CAN I SPEAK TO CONFIDENTIALLY TO ENSURE THEY AREN’T A DANGER TO THEMSELVES? A: In any setting you should have someone you can confide in, whether that be a personal tutor, course leader, lecturer, head of year, line manager, team leader, and student services. All of these people have a

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duty of confidentiality however when certain things are disclosed that raises concerns for a person’s welfare they have to alert the appropriate people/services. So, I am unsure how confidential your chat would be, but if you have any concerns you can always ask before you part with information to that person.

Q.

MY PARENTS CAN’T UNDERSTAND OR SUPPORT MY MENTAL HEALTH, WHAT SHOULD I DO? A: Ok this is a difficult one as there are many factors that can contribute to a situation like this. Unfortunately, some people still struggle to understand mental ill health, a good way to tackle this is to provide them with lots of information so they can learn about what they don’t understand. Your GP is a great hub for information, local mental health services will have leaflets for patient and family. You could always share with them, give them a bit more insight into what goes on in your life and what you are experiencing with your mental health, this may help them understand why.

Q.

I’VE JUST HAD MY FIRST PANIC ATTACK AND I DON’T KNOW WHAT I SHOULD DO/WHO I SHOULD CONTACT? A: Okay, breathe, take a step back and remember you are safe. When you experience a panic attack it is really important to remember that you are in control. If you can, try and step out of the situation and know that calming down your breathing and grounding yourself can help you lots. I would always advise to speak to someone about what you are/ have experienced. This will provide you with support and through this you may find

How to ask: PLEASE SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: LEANNE@STUDENT-LIFE.CO

*Please note not all questions will be answered, and all will be posted anonymously. If you are seeking urgent or professional advice, please see our contact list at the end of this sub-section. you feel less stressed and anxious about it happening again. If you feel like you want more support then you can contact your GP or see the contacts list at the end of this section, some of the services may be able to provide you with support.

Q.

I’VE JUST DISCOVERED THAT I’M A LESBIAN, HOW DO I OPEN UP TO MY PARENTS ABOUT IT? A: Oh gosh, this is difficult to answer!

Coming out can be super scary and sometimes really difficult. It would be nice to think that in this day and age coming out is easier but sometimes this isn’t always the case. I think it’s individual for everyone how they approach this, I came out in a silly way – drunk text. I wouldn’t advise that ha. I guess it all depends on how you think they will take it, it shouldn’t be a big thing, so I would try not to hype it up. Also, don’t frighten them by saying “I have something to tell you”! Just try and remember to be respectful of their opinion/thoughts about it. Good luck, maybe you can write and tell us how it goes.

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MENTAL Health

WRITTEN BY ROSIE WEDGE

REL ATIONSHIPS Welcome back to our regular feature offering advice to students on aspects of family/friend/personal relationships. In the hot-seat is Rosie, a current 6th former at Kesgrave High School and a founder member of the Student Life steering group.

Broken relationships can be a chain reaction.

A whole string of intertwined relationships, whether they be friendships, romantic or family, can easily suffer at the expense of one of those links in the chain. Whilst I am grateful to say I have many strong positive relationships of all different natures, the impact of someone close to you experiencing a failed relationship can be tricky. Whether this be your best friend ending their relationship with their significant other, to a family dispute, or your friendship group crumbling, they can all be tricky situations.

Since high school, I have found myself experiencing the effect of relationships around me not working out successfully. I have undoubtedly the most genuine friends right now in my life than at any other moment before, however when they begin to experience fall outs, break ups and such, it can leave me with a heavy weighted feeling.

We’ve all been in that situation where one of our friendships is super-duper fine, but our friend has fallen out with another of

our friends or broken up with them. I’m not necessarily referring to one relationship, but several from school, outside of school and family, and I’ve felt the tension of it.

When in these situations, it’s so fundamentally important not to take sides.

Now this can be tough. You may’ve known one person longer or felt closer to them.

You may be totally shocked at what one person said or did, and sympathise with one individual entirely, and this is not healthy. Suddenly, you are sacrificing your relationships for other people’s by cutting off one individual at the expense of your loyalty to the other. But isn’t the whole basic point of relationships loyalty?! Loyalty to support your friends, loyalty to love your family, loyalty to commit to a romantic partner; it’s all about loyalty. Many of us here can get side tracked by our moral crusade for justice

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Instagram post (believe me, I’ve witnessed this stuff), then there is absolutely no reason to end a friendship. Seriously, this isn’t nursery, people. Don’t make other people’s relationships your relationships, and most importantly, don’t feel as though you have to lose a relationship on account of the other person’s choices. If they are someone who has a healthy, respectful relationship with you, they will respect your choice to maintain your relationship with the person they no longer have a link to.

and remain loyal to the “good guy” in the severed relationship, that we realise we have completely neglected the other half of our loyalty.

The breaking relationships of other people are not your broken relationships. You should not feel as though you must sacrifice your relationships with people because their relationships have gone hay-wire. You have the right to keep your relationship strong with both parties, regardless of what happened.

Now of course, this isn’t always the case.

If your friend’s partner cheated on them, or your friend badly deceives and betrays them, showing them not to be a nice person then fair dos. But if your mates had a fall out because one didn’t contribute to a group project or didn’t like the other person’s

Your relationships, friendships and family ties are yours. You have the right to keep them, to end them, to improve them, and no one else’s relationships should impact that. *Corny analogy time here*…think of yourself as a tree (seriously, just go with it, ‘lil bit of improv acting here for you). You are the tree trunk, and all your relationships are the branches. Now, all those branches come back to you and are linked on your account.

However, those branches are not entwined, but they do have little twigs growing out of them. If a twig falls off the branch, the whole branch doesn’t have to go crashing down with it. In a similar sense, just because your friends have a petty fall out doesn’t mean you need to too. “But Rosie, what about serious disputes where you want to end your relationship with someone based on what they did, or how they treated the other person?” I hear you ask. Well, *corny analogy intensifies*… in a storm, it’s understandable for a branch to get ripped off the tree, but a little April shower is no match for the strength of a branch’s bond to the big tree trunk.

Okay, weird tree analogy time over.

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MOVIES &

MENTAL HEALTH WRITTEN BY EZRA HEWING, HEAD OF MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION, SUFFOLK MIND

killer depictions in films like Silence of The Lambs (1991) further present an association between mental ill health and psychopathic personalities and criminality.

Do the films we watch and the media we consume shape the way we see people who experience mental ill health? Can film or media add to stigma surrounding mental ill health or help to address it?

Halloween costumes inspired by these kinds of films include uniforms and masks with psychiatric hospital labels and violent associations. Successful campaigns have challenged supermarkets where, until recently, these costumes were often to be found on sale in the run up to Halloween.

Studies which seek to answer these questions suggest that film and media have both a negative and positive effect. These perceptions may also reinforce widely perceived myths about mental health which are worth challenging.

Fatal Attraction (1987) is another film which has spawned imitators, and portrays a woman with borderline personality disorder who becomes obsessional, turning to violence and kidnapping a man’s daughter, when he refuses to continue their affair.

THE MY TH OF MENTAL HEALTH & VIOLENCE A common misconception is that people experiencing mental illness are violent.

Films like Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960), Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining (1980) and the raft of horror movies they have inspired have depicted people with mental ill health as violent and dangerous. Serial

The film’s star, Glenn Close, who is an advocate for mental health has since voiced her concerns that her attempts to accurately portray borderline personality in the film were minimised. Instead the film presented mental health issues in a more sensationalist light.

The derogatory term ‘bunny boiler’ is taken from a scene in the film, and promotes

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The study showed that for the first time since it began in 2008, fifty percent of articles reporting on mental health challenged stigma, while thirty-five percent still presented accounts which were stigmatising. Unfortunately, there continues to be an association between violence and mental illness, and conditions like schizophrenia still carry a stigma.

the stereotype that women with borderline personality disorder diagnosed, are prone to hysterical outbursts and are abusive towards their partners. Borderline personality disorder is a complex condition, and while sufferers do experience mood swings and consequent difficulties with relationships and employment, this does not mean that they are more violent towards their partners.

Sensationalist newspaper headlines which seek to grab our attention by using words like ‘psycho’, ‘deranged’ or ‘mental’ also reinforce the perception that people with mental ill health are violent. In fact, statistics show that people experiencing mental ill health are no more likely than members of the general public to be physically violent.

STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION? There is evidence to suggest that things are improving, although more still needs to be done. An ongoing study carried out in collaboration between the mental health charity Mind and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London, published findings last year on media reporting of mental health issues.

What about representation in film and television? A Beautiful Mind (2001) is a biopic of Professor John Nash, a Nobel laureate who suffered with paranoid schizophrenia and the TV series Homeland featured a lead character who seeks to balance her professional role with bipolar disorder. Both of these portrayals portrayed people who experience mental ill health as high functioning, and Homeland in particular showed the dayto-day challenges of making responsible decisions while struggling to manage strong emotions, feelings and thoughts.

WHERE NEXT? The increasing number of articles reporting on mental health and public figures speaking about their experiences certainly help to raise the profile and importance of addressing mental ill health, as well as the stigma which prevents people from seeking help. Realistic portrayals of mental ill health in film, television and media also have an important role to play in helping that public discussion as it moves forward.

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Quay Place brings together wellbeing and heritage by offering a range of therapies, classes and trainings. The venue is also available for room hire and wedding receptions.

Events in April/May 2018

Regular Groups at Quay Place

Charity Quiz Night Wednesday 25th April, 6.30pm – 9.30pm £10 per head - includes a light supper and prizes for the winning team. There’ll be a raffle with all proceeds going to Suffolk Mind. Call 01394 330823 to book.

Poppy Craft – free event Mondays, 10am – 12pm

What need are you feeding?

Thursday 26th April, 6pm - 7.30pm Do you find yourself comfort eating? Find out how you can make better choices around food and drink at this free talk. Call 01394 333199 to book.

Huddl Ups with Suffolk Mind: Social Media & Internet Safety Saturday 12th May, 4pm – 6pm Learn from our experts, together with your child, how to navigate safely through social media and the internet. Visit www.huddl.uk to book.

Sporting Memories – free event Mondays, 10.30am – 12pm Colouring Group – free event Mondays, 2pm – 4pm Craft Group – free event Wednesdays, 1pm – 3pm

Weddings at Quay Place Looking for a great venue to hold your wedding reception? We have a dedicated team & some wonderful wedding packages. For more details email weddings@quayplace.co.uk.

Quay Place Key Street, Ipswich, IP4 1BZ • quayplace.co.uk • 01473 569696

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Mental health charity, Suffolk Mind, has a range of opportunities to get involved; from fundraising, becoming a friend or volunteering. Visit www.suffolkmind.org.uk Volunteering Opportunities

Get Fundraising

Night Owls’ Telephone Support This role is based in Felixstowe and will include listening, emotionally supporting and assisting service users who ring the helpline in crisis for support.

Are you organising an event or taking part in a sponsored challenge and would like to raise money for Suffolk Mind? If so, we would love to hear from you - email carole. thain@suffolkmind.org.uk or call us on 01394 330823.

Ecotherapy Allotment Volunteer You will attend weekly sessions to organise an allotment project across Suffolk helping people to improve their mental wellbeing.

Fundraising Events Volunteer Based in Felixstowe, you could be part of our fundraising team helping with event planning and preparation and support at fundraising events across Suffolk.

Quay Place Steward We are looking for a friendly face to welcome visitors to Quay Place and help with enquires and other daily administrative tasks.

Become a Friend of Suffolk Mind Join our free network and receive information, help and support to make your own mental health a priority, and create a life that meets your needs. For more information visit Suffolkmind.org.uk To apply for a volunteering role, or for more information, contact Corrina Hanley on 0300 111 6000 or email Corrina.hanley@suffolkmind.org.uk

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MENTAL HEALTH people who feel out of control one of these behaviours could be their way of meeting that unmet need of feeling some form of control in their lives.

Last month our very own Leanne attended a HuddlUp with Suffolk MIND all about addictions which was held at Quay Place. The event played host to our monthly writer and worker for Suffolk MIND Ezra Hewing, who spoke to guests about addictions and how the mechanisms in our brains interact when addicted to a behaviour.

Ezra spoke of how addictive behaviours can often be associated with control and relief, and how addictions can address unmet needs. We all have needs, both physical and mental. Sometimes we cannot meet some of these needs and search for other ways of doing so. Unmet needs could be met via a behaviour such as drug or alcohol use, however this can soon become an addictive behaviour. We then turn to our addictive behaviour for a release from the cravings and the pain of withdrawal. But what we do not always realise is that the pleasure of this behaviour decreases each time and therefore we need to do it more and more to reach the level we initially experienced.

Addiction is more common than many people realise with estimations of 3 children in every classroom already experiencing addictive behaviours.

During the event a guest speaker, Clemmie, bravely spoke to everyone about her own experiences with addictions. We at Student Life have been lucky enough to have Clemmie write an article on her experiences with addiction and how she has come through the other side.

The truth is; addictions rob us of natural pleasure.

Self-harm, drinking, taking drugs, binge eating; these behaviours can provide us all with some form of control. For some

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ADDICTION

WRITTEN BY CLEMMIE HADDEN-PATON

Clemmie is 25 years old and is a Private Chef and Mental Health and Addictions Speaker based in London.

Clemmie decided to get involved with Student Life so she could spread awareness and help stamp out the stigma on Mental Health and Addictions.

I have battled with a range of Mental Health Illnesses and Addictions from a young age (approx. 10 years old) and struggled to voice my problems. My family thought that I was having a difficult time settling in to school and hormones balancing out, but it went a lot deeper than that. I didn’t know how to cope with these feelings and didn’t feel like anyone believed me when I tried to speak up.

It was my boyfriend at the time who helped me to speak up and without him I wouldn’t be where I am now.

When I was in treatment, my therapists heard me and reassured me that what I was feeling was valid. As my self confidence and self acceptance grew I decided I wanted to help other sufferers find their voice and

speak out. When I was in treatment, my love of cooking also came back so I now use that as a way of helping and inspiring fellow mental health sufferers and addicts, to use cooking as a healthy coping mechanism rather than turning to self harm, drink or drugs. Cooking has become such an instrumental part of my recovery and helps me to express how I’m feeling and turn negative feelings in to positive creations.

I felt so alone when I was drinking and using, and I would never want anyone to go through that. I was brought up with the ‘stiff-upperlip’ attitude and that you always had to put on a happy front. I want people to know and believe that it is ok to not be ok. I will forever shout my story from the rooftops for any other sufferer to feel some reassurance that they aren’t alone and that life can get better.

If you feel like you are slipping in to addictive behaviours, I would suggest getting advice from a doctor or therapist, and speak out honestly with friends and family. Speak to anyone and everyone that will listen to you. Keep speaking out until you are heard.

You are NOT alone.

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STRESS AWARENESS WRITTEN BY RACHEL GILBEY When I was struggling badly with anxiety last year, there became a point where I decided enough was enough and I needed to do something to combat how I was feeling.

One of the things I did, was self-refer to Suffolk Wellbeing and following a telephone appointment I was placed onto a stress awareness course. The course ran over a period of 6 weeks, where I attended an hour and a half session a week after work. Each session had a different focus and we were provided with work books with activities and advice in. One of the first things we are told at the course is that everyone has stress and actually stress is crucial for survival. There can be good stress and bad stress, but it’s all about understanding the stress you have, the effect it can have on you and how to cope.

Each week we explored different areas which ranged from looking at our thoughts and feelings to how we sleep.

Before I started the sessions, I was really nervous. It’s not easy putting yourself out there, being vulnerable, but week on week I felt more confident and felt I could manage my stress and emotions better. Each week you were asked to fill out a self-assessment form which was a bit like a mood tracker which enabled me to see my progression as well as identifying areas that I needed to pay more attention to. My mood tracker scores improved week on week to a point where anxiety was no longer controlling me.

It’s important to note, that this course alone didn’t ‘fix me’, but it gave me tools I could use in practice, alongside other support systems. While I found the stress awareness course helpful and I would encourage others to give it a try, it might only be the start of your journey. Don’t feel disheartened if the course isn’t for you. There are plenty of other options out there.

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Managing your

STRESS LEVELS WRITTEN BY LEANNE ARNOLD Being aware of your stress levels is important when managing all aspects of life; studies, relationships, work, childcare. It is often that we can neglect this though, whether we realise it or not. A key factor in managing our stress effectively is knowing ways to do so. There are lots of resources out there that can offer support to help you to develop ways and means of keeping stress levels at a controllable level. If you’re a frequent reader of our magazine you will have seen our “self-care” feature where our writer Rachel highlights different activities that you can do which can offer relief from stressful times.

Here are a few other ideas that you may find useful: DEEP BREATHING – take some time to focus on your breathing, the here and now.

Focus on the breaths in and breaths out. This technique is great for grounding ourselves and helps us to focus on ourselves.

DEEP MUSCLE RELAXATION – this can often give us time and space to fully relax, both mentally and physically. It is so important to remember to take time for yourself. It is easy to forget about ourselves when we are feeling stressed.

MEDITATION – find somewhere quiet and meditate. Meditation allows us to focus on what is important. Meditation can help with putting ourselves into a place where we feel calm and safe, away from worries and fears.

EXERCISE – exercising has been proven to be really beneficial for stress relief. When we exercise our brain releases ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitters known as endorphins which helps boost our mood. You also benefit from becoming physically healthier which can help with self-confidence and self-esteem.

MUSIC – many people find music to be therapeutic. Music can be a great distraction for us when we are feeling overwhelmed.

PLANNING – some people find planning their day/weeks a great way to combat worry and stress. Heard of people making lists? This is a common coping mechanism for people who are feeling out of control, it can help to visualise and sort through upcoming tasks and/or deadlines.

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MENTAL Health

WRITTEN BY SUZANNE BROWN

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

& CHILDBIRTH

When most people think of PostTraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) they may think of soldiers who have been in battle and seen horrific scenes that have stayed with them. This is a very real issue for many soldiers, but it is not only them that can develop PTSD. In fact, anyone can if they have experienced a traumatic event.

Some women’s experiences of pregnancy and childbirth could be traumatic, and trauma could also be triggered by feelings of loss of control and/or dignity, hostility from those around, and from feelings of not being heard. Characteristics of PTSD include flashbacks, repetitive and distressing memories, nightmares, difficulty concentrating, feeling hyper vigilant (on guard at all times) and avoiding usual activities. It is common in cases of PTSD that the individual may feel anxious and distressed when exposed to certain situations that remind them of the traumatic event, which can include discussion around the topic or revisiting a specific place.

Unexpected events during childbirth may be traumatic to a woman. Everyone experiences events differently and everyone’s coping mechanisms are not the same. It is important to express how you’re feeling following birth to either your friends and family and/or to your midwife, health visitor and GP. This may help manage difficult emotions and to not feel as isolated, remember PTSD is a normal response to a traumatic event. It is easy to get frustrated with the symptoms of PTSD but recovering from trauma can take time. Putting pressure on yourself can make you feel worse, it takes time to recover and loved ones can help to remind you of this when times may feel hard.

Not every birth will be perfect. As a student midwife myself, I always try and ensure that the woman and her birthing partner feel as comfortable and supported as I can, because sometimes even when things do not go to plan, a bit of support and empathy can go a long way. Remember to be kind to others, as you do not know what they may be feeling and try to understand that even the most seemingly perfect birth could still have been traumatic for the woman involved and that the most seemingly traumatic birth may not have been perceived that way by the woman.

Every birth is different, and every woman is different.

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Coping with

POST-NATAL DEPRESSION WRITTEN BY DANIELLE STEWART

“It’s just baby blues,” my health visitor told me, “it’ll pass and you’ll be back to normal.”

To someone who had dealt with mental health issues since the age of 14; these words made my heart sink. My son was six weeks old, and I’d barely stopped crying since then long enough to make a sandwich. Having dealt with the prospect of being a single parent throughout my pregnancy (which was contrastingly easy), when the reality came around, it was a lot harder to stomach.

Despite living with my mum and stepdad at the time, I felt so alone and unsupported; both my parents worked long hours, so I spent the majority of my days indoors, coping with a colic-ridden newborn who just wouldn’t stop crying, or sleep for longer than two hours at a time. No matter how hard I tried, I just felt like I didn’t ‘get’ motherhood.

I had no maternal bone in my body prior to falling pregnant, and the instant bond I expected to have with my baby once he was born never surfaced. I felt like such a failure and even contemplated asking someone else to step in and take the responsibility away from me.

My sadness and helplessness fell on deaf ears each time the health visitor came for a check-up, and no amount of questionnaires

or tears would change her opinion that I would eventually ‘get over it’. It was only after I visited my GP on an unrelated matter – where I burst into tears after she asked me how my new baby was – that my depression was finally recognised as PND, and I was promptly prescribed anti-depressants and given the details of a local mother-and-baby massage group that would dramatically improve my son’s colic.

After a couple of months, my son was happier, I was happier, and my whole outlook on parenthood had changed. I moved in with my dad, who worked from home and was able to give me the much-needed support I craved. I was starting to see the sun through the clouds, and as each day passed my relationship with my son grew stronger and deeper, until an epiphanous moment when I realised I couldn’t live without him. Today, my 7-year-old son is my best friend and proudest achievement; and knowing I almost gave that up because I wasn’t taken seriously, breaks my heart. I would strongly encourage anybody suffering from negative feelings following the birth of their child to speak up, and don’t take no for an answer. You know yourself better than anyone, and your emotions are your biggest indicator that something inside needs deeper attention.

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MENTAL Health

MENTAL HEALTH in the WORKPLACE WRITTEN BY KATE BLACKFORD

The latest article in our series discussing mental health in the workplace and featuring some of Student Life’s business partners Dr Kate Blackford has a PhD in Quality of Working Life and international experience as a consultant in safety culture improvement. Eighteen months ago, Kate joined the Compliance team at ABP to lead on their Beyond Zero programme focusing on improving safety, health and well-being across the business. Kate also sits on the Port Skills and Safety Management Committee.

Late in 2017 I had an enquiry from a colleague about fatigue at work. When I contacted the colleague (we’ll call him John, shall we?) it turned out he was really struggling. He had been ill for weeks with various things and had a persistent cough that he just could not shake. A previously healthy individual, who had never taken a day off sick in 30 years was in a pretty poor state of health. He described feeling tired and low and unlike his usual cheerful, glass half full kind of guy. I suggested he speak to his GP about the persistent cough and feeling low, especially given the cold weather and the fact that he worked outside a lot.

John got back in touch a few days later to say that he had been to see his GP and had been signed off for a couple of weeks due to stress, which the GP suspected was the cause of his inability to shake off the cold and was contributing to his low mood. He was also referred to a psychotherapist. I was relieved

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(something his work schedule had not permitted previously) and he spoke to the psychotherapist who signed him off for a longer period to allow him get himself back on an even keel. He arranged weekends away with his wife so he could go out without feeling as though he was going to be ‘spotted’ by a colleague. He read books and rested and began to feel like himself again. While John was recovering his work schedule was also changed to better suit him.

to hear that John had taken steps to get himself well, but John was concerned.

He was worried about being off work, about who would cover his workload and about what people would think of him being off with stress. During one conversation John and I spoke about how he wanted to get out of the house, but felt unable to in case people from work saw him out and about and thought he was faking illness to get time off.

He commented that “it’s not like having a broken leg. I would feel OK going out if I had a broken leg. I feel like I can’t go out locally and relax in case I’m seen.”

I chatted with John about this and explained that part of getting well for him would appear to be about doing things he enjoyed and found relaxing to enable him to recover from the stress and fatigue. I could tell he had his doubts! Gradually John began to go to his personal training sessions again

I am pleased to say that John is now back at work and also back to his former cheerful, enthusiastic and incredibly funny self. But my conversations with John got me really thinking about perceptions of mental illhealth. It is still so far from being viewed in the same way as physical ill-health and it seems to me like this could affect people’s ability to recover. At a time when we need to be kind to ourselves, we can end up shutting ourselves away and hiding from the world.

At a time when we need to be doing things that relax and fulfil us, we end up feeling anxious about what people might think or say about us. As a society we need to challenge these perceptions, we need to ensure that mental health is given the same priority as physical health and that we support each other in the difficult times to achieve this.

So the next time you hear about a colleague, friend or fellow student who is struggling with mental ill-health, stop and think about what might be helpful to them and hold back the judgement.

Together we can start to reset how society views mental health to create a healthier, more positive tomorrow. *name has been changed to maintain the individual’s confidentiality.

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WRITTEN BY LEANNE ARNOLD

This is a monthly feature that will focus on all aspects of identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning, as well as other ways of defining our gender/sexuality. We aim to cover a variety of topics; some relating to mental health, positive and negative experiences, the reality of today’s society in accepting the LGBTQ+ community, dayto-day life, and many more. As always, we invite anyone who has a passion for writing, or who wants their voice heard, to contact us about writing an article for Student Life. I believe it is important to talk about the things that society can sometimes find uncomfortable. Hiding away encourages this behaviour, and I personally think that we are all different and there is no right or wrong. I say: “be who you truly are, be yourself, embrace yourself, and don’t let anyone get you down” – how boring would it be if we were all the same, eh? Please see our first LGBTQ+ articles which focus on the relationship between mental health and identifying within the LGBTQ+ community. If anyone has any questions regarding this topic, please feel free to contact me at Leanne@student-life.co

+ Q T LGB THE MALE GAZE AND REPRESENTATIONS OF LGBTQ+ WOMEN IN FILM WRITTEN BY ABBIE GELL ATLY From films pandering to the male gaze, to video games which sexualise female characters, the seemingly apparent objectification of women is extremely damaging and detrimental to the progress, both, men and women have made in attempting to further the fight for gender equality. The sexual objectification to which I am referring is not limited to women - in fact, men are increasingly employed for the purpose of delivering an aesthetically pleasing visual to spectators. However, this form of objectification, albeit, inherently oppressive, and which is sometimes regarded as an analogous ‘female gaze,’ is not nearly

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as widespread, nor voyeuristic in nature, as that which is projected onto women. For the sake of this article, however, the focus will be on gay women, and the how the ‘male gaze,’ a term coined by feminist film critic, Laura Mulvey, in her essay, ‘Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema,’ affects representation of LGBTQ+ women in film.

In keeping with Mulvey’s focus on cinema, attention must be drawn to the fact that the male gaze is distinctly felt in films focusing on lesbian narratives. In short, performative female sexuality sells, and, so, it follows, that lesbian performative sexuality must, too, sell, given it is, essentially, twice as arousing as the former. This being the case, directors frequently attempt to exploit a willing heterosexual male audience. In gay cinema, for example, the sexual element of a female relationship is often accentuated, whilst the other, equally as compelling, aspects of said relationship are downplayed.

Attempts to challenge the male gaze through lesbian representation have been largely disappointing. Acknowledging that Blue Is The Warmest Color is about the sensual, the film, directed by Kechiche, who, it has been remarked, was predatory towards the female cast, combined an excess of carnal, close-up camera shots and maleorientated pornographic elements, which, symptomatic of such pornography, were far from convincing. In fact, Julie Maroh, who wrote the graphic novel, on which the movie is based, spoke of audiences giggling in reaction to the film, suggesting that ‘the gay and queer people laughed because it’s not convincing, and found it ridiculous.’

Written by Patricia Highsmith, directed by Todd Haynes, Carol, is deemed one of the

few films that challenge the hegemonic male gaze. Unabashedly romantic, the camera in Carol takes on a decidedly female gaze, with its male characters presenting as an intrusive bother - a narrative which, humorously, is true to life. Naturally, however, the film contained a sex-scene, as is routine in films depicting gay female relationships. Despite its queer undertones, and the apparent vulnerability of both protagonists as they engage in a forbidden romance, the sex-scene in Carol is demonstrative of the fact that filmmakers nearly always feature graphic depictions of women having sex with other women, whereas, in films centring upon male gay relationships, the explicit sex scenes are hard to come by. Both Moonlight and Call Me By Your Name are cinematic examples of sexless queer narratives, highlighting that it is possible to articulate the gay experience, and, at the same time, receive praise from, both, spectators and film-critics, without featuring gay sex.

Recognition of LGBTQ+ narratives in cinema has been long overdue, however, the popularisation of lesbian content, much of which is fetishised for male audiences, feeds directly into the patriarchal order dictating the lives of, both, heterosexual and homosexual women. The visual works industry must be held accountable for the fact that they chiefly fail to express gay sexuality without sex. Furthermore, the male gaze, present in the aforementioned works, often translates into unwanted, overt sexual advances from men towards gay women, an altogether separate issue which shall be discussed in next month’s edition.

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