|
Welcome to the January edition of the TeenHelp Newsletter! Join our mailing list to receive community announcements and events, and our quarterly Newsletter.
|
|
|
Catch up on what's been happening on TeenHelp below.
|
|
TeenHelp's holiday roundup
We enjoyed celebrating the holidays with you on TeenHelp. Every year goes by faster and has a lot of changes. 2023 can be considered the year of Artificial Intelligence (AI). While many organisations have adapted to the use of AI, TeenHelp wants to emphasise the importance of the connection between individuals in developing a sense of community and support in providing meaning and positive interactions. In 2024, consider learning about the new technology in your lives but also enjoy human connection.
TeenHelp had many activities and resources for the holidays. We continued to provide support throughout the season and created a resource to help people survive the holidays. We also played games, both on the website and in Chat, and enjoyed a holiday music playlist. We hope you continue to enjoy spending time on TeenHelp in 2024!
Volunteer of the Year 2023
We are pleased to announce that the TeenHelp Volunteer of the Year Award for 2023 goes to Sue (Silvan). Sue works hard as our Design Officer, creating wonderful graphics for various areas of the site. You can also find her giving support on the Forums or being friendly to individuals in Chat. Sue's dedication to TeenHelp makes it a better place.
|
|
Did you know that the month of January was named after the Roman god Janus, the god of transitions and new beginnings? With the new year, we have a brand new set of themed calendars. Check out our calendar each month for new activities and ideas. Here's a sneak peek of all the themes.
January - New beginnings
February - Setting realistic expectations, goals and boundaries
March - Connecting to nature
April - Challenge yourself
May - Healthy relationships (with ourselves and others)
June - Be true to yourself
July - Self-care
August - Ways to seek support
September - Staying grounded and present
October - Looking after your health (mental and physical)
November - Expressing your feelings healthily
December - Reflect on your experiences
|
|
|
|
Select the calendar to open a full-size version.
|
|
Using the new year to try out new things
by Emmie (Arabesque- golfing girl.)
The new year is often the time when many people want to change something about themselves or try something new, but find themselves stuck. What can you do when you feel this way?
You could try to find something new and fun to do. If you are shy or have a hard time making friends, then joining clubs or group activities is the perfect way to go. Google what clubs or group activities are near you and attend them. Depending on what's available in your area, you can join a variety of activities including photography, dancing, a coffee club, drawing, painting, ceramics, walking, etc. By joining, you will not only have fun but also have the opportunity to make new friends. Sometimes it can be difficult to do this, but the more you go, the easier it will become for you to socialize, and then you will have so much fun. If there isn't a club or group you're interested in, you could look into starting one yourself!
If you are nervous about talking to other people, there are ways to overcome this. The first thing to do is always be yourself and let others see what kind of an amazing person you are. No matter what activities you choose, try your best at it, have fun no matter what is happening, and do your best to talk to other people. Remember to be patient and kind to yourself as you try new things. Give it some time before deciding if you don't like something, but if you find that you're not enjoying yourself, it's okay to stop and find something different.
|
|
Letting go of the past
by Haley (Halcyon)
It can be difficult to move on to new beginnings if you haven't made peace with the past. Here are some ways to help you start the process. Remember, it can be a very personal, soul-searching journey, so be patient and gentle with yourself as you navigate through the process.
- Acknowledge and process emotions. Give yourself permission to feel any emotions associated with the past and find healthy ways to process them, such as journalling, talking to a trusted friend or finding a support group. Challenge limiting beliefs and replace them with more balanced, realistic thoughts. Processing your emotions can help you start the healing process.
- Reflect and learn. Take the time to reflect on how your experiences have shaped you as an individual, the lessons it has taught you and the personal growth you have achieved as a result. Consider how you can apply the lessons learnt to move forward and make positive changes.
- Accept and find closure. This could be through having an honest and respectful conversation with someone or through something more symbolic such as writing a letter and then burning it as a way of letting to. Accept that in some situations it may not be possible to find closure from an external source. There may be questions that remain unanswered and wounds that may never fully heal. Depending on the situation, closure may need to be sought from within.
- Be present and mindful. Shifting your focus can help reduce the power the past has over you. Practise mindfulness and bring your attention to the here and now. Explore activities that uplift and inspire you, and channel your energy towards personal growth.
|
|
Book: Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa
Genre: Manga, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Young Adult
Trigger warnings: Blood/gore, death, murder
Target audience: Late teen/young adult
TeenHelp member review: The series tells the tale of two brothers, Edward Elric and Alphonse Elric, who live in a world where alchemy is a mystical power. Upon dabbling in alchemy, one of them lost an arm and a leg and now has mechanical replacements (hence the "fullmetal alchemist") and the other became a soul locked in a suit of armour. They now work as government agents that utilise their powers to obey orders, even if it means danger. However, their pursuit of the treasure, the Philosopher's Stone, leads them into trouble with other, more evil alchemists.
This series, as I've read so far, is an awesome, heart-pounding, and surprisingly hilarious read. Although I'm only on volume 3, I can tell why it's so popular. If you like cool powers, thrilling action scenes, and some comedy, you might love Fullmetal Alchemist!
|
|
|
TeenHelp's self-love week and falling hearts coming soon in February!
|
|
Would you like to get involved?
TeenHelp is run entirely by volunteers who give their time and experience to make everything we do happen! We are always looking for new volunteers to help out, in roles ranging from mentoring to writing. If you have a few hours a week to spare then why not give it a go, your contribution could make a massive difference to TeenHelp and the young people we support on a daily basis.
http://www.teenhelp.org/volunteer/
|
|
|
|
|
