I agree that volunteering is great! Currently the volunteering I'm probably involved with most is as a headspace Youth Reference Group member. I am also a Youth Ambassador for ReachOut.com. I love volunteering for mental health because it's an area of interest and passion for me due to my personal experiences.   In high school I did a bit of volunteering too at a soup kitchen and I also went on the Red Cross Soup Patrol van once. And also did Amnesty Letter Writing a couple of times and helped out a bit with St Vincent de Paul.   And I'm also volunteering again for my uni Open Day, promoting occupational therapy :) ... View more

When change is happening, which can be rather stressful, practicing self care is very important! Taking time to look after yourself and doing things that you find good for you, for example going for a bike ride, having a mug of tea, catching up with friends, having a relaxing bath. And being kind to yourself is also important and allowing yourself time to adjust and get used to the new changes and seeking support if needed. ... View more

Hi ff,   You sound like a really supportive and caring friend.   That is a very difficult position to be in, when you're worried for a friend yet they seem unwilling to accept the help or to see someone about it.    If you're worried about her safety and think that she's at risk of suicide then I think it's definitely a good idea to tell someone. This will not only ensure her safety but will help with giving you peace of mind too. And most people do understand after the crisis why their friend has chosen to seek help for them.   Otherwise if she seems to be struggling but not at risk of seriously harming herself, then I think keep showing that you're willing to be there for her and encourage her to seek help. Maybe offer to make an appointment for her with a school counsellor or GP and offer to go along with her for support? Sometimes it takes people time to come round to the idea of getting help. If she's not ready for face to face help, perhaps remind her of helplines such as Kids Help Line (1800 551 800) and eheadspace.org and of course, ReachOut.com for info and peer support.   Some good factsheets you can check out are Worried about someone feeling depressed http://au.reachout.com/find/articles/worried-about-someone-feeling-depressed and When someone pushes you away http://au.reachout.com/find/articles/when-someone-pushes-you-away. ... View more

@florenceforever wrote: My first time was a huge mistake - I regretted it for weeks and didn't talk to the guy for months afterwards! Not because it was awkward or anything, but I did it for all the wrong reasons. I did it because everyone else seemed to be doing it and I didn't want to be socially excluded.   So, my EX boyfriend and I did it in the back of his car one night. No, we hadn't done it during the six week we'd been going out as I didn't feel as though I was ready. Huge mistake, it screwed me up and I really regret it. That's a shame that your first time happened because you felt pressure with it seeming like everyone else was doing it too.   Though there's no way of knowing what's going to happen in the future, I think for me, I am most probably waiting for until I'm married. That's *if* I marry I guess, seeing as I'm turning 21 this year and have never had a boyfriend. ... View more

Hey DB,   Good on you for encouraging your friend. I think doing what you're already doing, like being supportive and open, is great. I think that your friends will likely pick up on your supportive attitude and know that you will be there for them. If you want to emphasise it even more, you could always send them a message or have a chat to them.   Also, it can be good to keep in mind resources for people who are gender diverse. This link: http://au.reachout.com/find/articles/people-you-can-talk-to has some great resources for each state. So if you notice a friend is struggling, or if they just want some info, that link can be very useful. I live in WA and I know quite a few people who attend the Freedom Centre and I have heard good stuff about it. ... View more

Hi cm,   There are many times when I've felt lonely. It can be really tough. What people can try to do though is learn to enjoy their own company.   There's a great video on YouTube called How To Be Alone http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7X7sZzSXYs which is good to watch and has some suggestions on things and activities that are good to do by yourself. Things that I like to do alone are to read or go shopping by myself. Last month I went on a holiday by myself for the first time- and found I actually quite liked going alone and doing what I wanted to do.   There are also ways to meet new people such as volunteering or joining youth groups, clubs or activities. This factsheet here on Meeting New People http://au.reachout.com/find/articles/meeting-new-people has some more suggestions. I also find that coming online and going on things like Twitter and Reach Out forums can also help me feel less lonely. ... View more

Cassie: So my uncle was in a psych ward for about a couple of months and then when discharged, found out he was fired from his job today. It sucks that companies can have lack of compassion for people who are ill :( ... View more

Cheeeese ... View more

I'm taking a mental health unit right now as part of my occupational therapy degree so I can relate to having a unit that is quite difficult due to personal reasons. Have you talked to your psychologist about ways to manage your anxiety in lectures and doing the work and stuff? Maybe you and your psych can come up with some strategies and possible solutions? Even though you're not sure what Disability Services can do for you, it may be worth it to go see them anyway. After all, they may have something to offer and if not, you don't have much to lose anyway by going. ... View more

DD: I started Uni a week ago so I know how you feel! Though seeing friends is nice :) Cassie: Thinks that the brain is way too complicated...neuroscience is hard :( ... View more

Cheekyone: Wow I've never seen mini pigs in a pet shop! DB: Yay for another person from WA! ... View more

Favourite Colour: Pink! Favourite Singer/Band: Fireflight Favourite Food: Well I do like Chinese food...and Vietnamese food, especially Viet rice noodle salad and Pho. And I like desserts such as tiramisu and Asian sweets. Favourite Movie: Not sure...I'm more of a book person. There are many favourite books I could list! Favourite TV Show: Revenge. Favourite thing to do on a lazy Sunday: Sleep.  ... View more

I'll start by saying I'm looking forward to drinking my coconut drink. Yumm! ... View more

@Atma wrote:   Also I am really excited that one of the Avatars is a pig... I collect them! I'm intrigued...as in real pigs? I've heard of people having mini pigs as pets- like they would a dog and take their pig out walking and have them in the house and everything! ... View more

Cassie: Forums hate me and won't let me log in from my Cassie account :(. So here I am with a new account! ... View more

Ball ... View more

Hey awkwardturtle,   Thanks for sharing your experiences with getting help! It's always wonderful to hear of positive help seeking experiences and will hopefully encourage other people that talking to someone can be a good thing! Though it is very scary the first time, it is worth it.   I started off with seeing my school counsellor too and like you, was terrified of other people knowing. But in fact, quite a few people have seen the schoo, counsellor too. And from there, I've also seen other people like psychologists and psychiatrists.    You're definitely right in that the first, or even secong or third person may not be the right person, but there will be the right person out there. Even if it does take a bit of a search! ... View more