In this Season 2 episode of ARU's Talking about podcast, ARU Counsellor, Julie Webb, is joined by Peer Wellbeing Katina Ward, Dr Claire Gilvray to talk about how lifestyle impacts our sleep.

This episodes covers the impacts of sleep on mental and physical health, improving the quality of sleep, early risers vs night owls, chronic fatigue, sleep routines and the effects of stimulants on sleep.

You can get involved with the activities and services mentioned in this episode here:

⁠⁠Peer Wellbeing Mentor activities⁠⁠ (⁠⁠https://www.angliastudent.com/whatson/online/⁠⁠).  

⁠Counselling and wellbeing service⁠ (⁠https://www.aru.ac.uk/wellbeing⁠)

For an accessible version of the podcast please visit: Youtube (https://youtu.be/Rh-bM3O13Yc)

Welcome to the first ARU Reads Reddit: Festive Edition. 

Our presenter: Ellen, Student Engagement and Development 

Guests: Sheryl, Student Money Advice Service and Ben, iCentre Team Leader 

We read four reddit posts and help the OP asking the forum asking for advice. We’ll also highlight some support available at ARU, whilst deciphering what a peppermint candle is. 

If you have any thoughts or advice for the posters, please leave a comment below! 

Timestamps: 

0:00: Intro 

01:42: r/am I wrong? Not gifting a gift in return? 

Link: ⁠https://arul.ink/reddit-1⁠  

13:17: r/Ask UK: Alone in The UK - places to go, things to do? Seems it's all closed down for the week 

Link: ⁠https://arul.ink/reddit-2⁠  

25:09: r/Uni UK: Good Christmas presents for broke uni student? 

Link: ⁠https://arul.ink/reddit-3⁠  

35:50: r/Uni UK: Planning a Christmas part at my flat with my uni friends – tips? 

Link: ⁠https://arul.ink/reddit-4⁠  

47:50: Summary

Support: 

If you’re an ARU student needing support over the Christmas closure, find all the information here: ⁠Helpful links - Landing Page⁠ (⁠https://arul.ink/m/support-over-holidays⁠)

For any students remaining on campus looking for things to do over the holiday period, here’s a list of activities happening: 

NHS advice for loneliness: ⁠Loneliness - Every Mind Matters - NHS⁠ (⁠https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/lifes-challenges/loneliness/⁠)

During the break, the libraries at Chelmsford and Cambridge are only closed on Bank Holidays (Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day). Before visiting, please check exact ⁠opening times on the library web pages⁠. (⁠https://library.aru.ac.uk/about/openhours.html⁠)   

For an accessible version of this episode watch on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ (⁠https://youtu.be/voVTpXF-rDc⁠)

In this episode of ARU's Talking about podcast, ARU Counsellor, Julie Webb, is joined by ARU Student Shell Meads and El Newton Team ARU's Sports Participation Officer to talk about keeping active in our daily lives.

This episodes covers: What physical activity is? Sports Clubs and Campus Sport Sessions, using sport to socialise, mental benefits of physical activity and where to find support if you have anxiety about getting involved in sport at ARU.

You can the services mentioned in this episode here:

Team ARU (https://www.aru.ac.uk/sport)

⁠⁠Peer Wellbeing Mentor activities⁠⁠⁠ (⁠⁠⁠https://www.angliastudent.com/whatson/online/⁠⁠⁠).  

⁠⁠Counselling and wellbeing service⁠⁠ (⁠⁠https://www.aru.ac.uk/wellbeing⁠⁠)

For an accessible version of the podcast please visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYYDrq64zvBDMhgETPUuD6QpRcL72MZha

In this episode of ARU's Talking about podcast, ARU Counsellor, Julie Webb, is joined by ARU Student Jayna Janki Mistry and ARU student Money Advisor Sheryl Kemp to talk about all things money matters.

This episodes covers: why money is important, how to budget with Student Finance payments, needs vs wants, planning for rainy days, money saving tips and tricks to make your money go further and maximising your income.

You can the services mentioned in this episode here:

⁠Student Money Advice⁠ (⁠https://arul.ink/moneyadvice⁠)

⁠⁠⁠Peer Wellbeing Mentor activities⁠⁠⁠ (⁠⁠⁠https://www.angliastudent.com/whatson/online/⁠⁠⁠).  

⁠⁠Counselling and wellbeing service⁠⁠ (⁠⁠https://www.aru.ac.uk/wellbeing⁠⁠)

For an accessible version of the podcast please visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYYDrq64zvBDMhgETPUuD6QpRcL72MZha

In this episode of ARU's Talking about podcast, ARU Counsellor, Julie Webb, is joined by ARU Student Shell Meads and ARU Counsellor Dave Barr to talk how to be mindful of your social media use.  

This episodes covers: what mindfulness is, how to apply mindfulness to your social media use, why we use social media, how to notice the positive and negative effects of social media on yourself, what you can do to help break habitual social media use and where to go to seek help if you are struggling with your social media use.

You can the services mentioned in this episode here:

⁠⁠Peer Wellbeing Mentor activities⁠⁠ (⁠⁠https://www.angliastudent.com/whatson/online/⁠⁠).  

⁠Counselling and wellbeing service⁠ (⁠https://www.aru.ac.uk/wellbeing⁠)

For an accessible version of the podcast please visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYYDrq64zvBDMhgETPUuD6QpRcL72MZha

In the Season 2 premiere of ARU's Talking about podcast, ARU Counsellor, Julie Webb, is joined by Peer Wellbeing Katina Ward, Dr Claire Gilvray to talk about how to have a healthy lifestyle whilst at university.  

This episodes covers the six pillars of lifestyle medicine, making connections whilst at university, the affects of alcohol and substance use on wellbeing, nutrition at university, and the stresses of starting university.

You can get involved with the activities and services mentioned in this episode here:

⁠Peer Wellbeing Mentor activities⁠ (⁠https://www.angliastudent.com/whatson/online/⁠).  

Counselling and wellbeing service (https://www.aru.ac.uk/wellbeing)

For an accessible version of the podcast please visit: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYYDrq64zvBDMhgETPUuD6QpRcL72MZha

In this trimester's final episode of 'Talking about', ARU Counsellor, Julie Webb, is joined by Postgraduate Researcher and Peer Wellbeing Mentor, Rachel Ownsworth, and Consultant Psychologist, Jorge Zimbron to talk about managing unstable emotions.  

This episodes covers what unstable emotions are, how to become self-aware and recognise when unstable emotions become a problem in our day to day life and coping mechanisms for managing our emotions, including getting involved with ARU's mindfulness workshops (https://www.aru.ac.uk/current-students/health-and-wellbeing/look-after-yourself/workshops), counselling drop-ins (https://www.aru.ac.uk/student-life/support-and-facilities/health-and-wellbeing/counselling-and-wellbeing-service), and Peer Wellbeing Mentor activities (https://www.angliastudent.com/whatson/online/).  

For an accessible version of the podcast please visit: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYYDrq64zvBDMhgETPUuD6QpRcL72MZha

The latest episode of ‘Talking about’ takes an in-depth look into drugs and alcohol and their effects on the student population. Podcast regular and ARU Counsellor, Lucas Oliver, is joined by Postgraduate Researcher and Peer Wellbeing Mentor, Amy Wright, and Cambridge Team Leader from Change, Grow, Live, Rak Singh, to talk about recognising when someone is using drugs and alcohol excessively, the misconceptions of what an addict looks like and how to signpost people to support, should they need it.  

Resources mentioned in this podcast: 

CAGE Questionnaire webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/whats-the-cage-assessment)

TEDx Talk – Johann Hari: Everything you think you know about addiction is wrong (ted.com/talks/johann_hari_everything_you_think_you_know_about_addiction_is_wrong)

Alcoholics Anonymous (alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/aa-meetings/find-a-meeting)

Narcotics Anonymous (ukna.org)

Talk to Frank (talktofrank.com)

Change, Grow, Live (changegrowlive.org)

The Edge Cafe - Home (theedgecafecambridge.org)

For an accessible version of the podcast please visit: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYYDrq64zvBDMhgETPUuD6QpRcL72MZha

In this episode of 'Talking about', ARU Counsellor, Julie Webb, is joined by Billie and Crystal, two of ARU's Student Sexual Violence Consultants, as they define what sexual violence is, discuss the impact of being subjected to sexual violence at university, dispel rape myths and talk about how victims and survivors of sexual violence can self-refer to ARU's Student Sexual Violence Advocacy for practical and emotional support.

Resources mentioned in this podcast: 

Sexual Violence Support - ARU (https://www.aru.ac.uk/current-students/health-and-wellbeing/report-an-incident/sexual-violence-support)

Students Against Sexual Violence Instagram: https://instagram.com/studentsagainst_sexualviolence?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma: Amazon.co.uk: Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.: 9780143127741: Books (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Body-Keeps-Score-Healing-Trauma/dp/0143127748)

My Body Keeps Your Secrets: Dispatches on Shame and Reclamation: Amazon.co.uk: Lucia Osborne-Crowley: 9781911648130: Books (https://www.amazon.co.uk/My-Body-Keeps-Your-Secrets/dp/1911648136)

Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre (https://cambridgerapecrisis.org.uk)

Peterborough Rape Crisis Care Group (https://www.prccg.org.uk)

Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse in Essex (https://caraessex.org.uk)

Women's Aid (https://www.womensaid.org.uk)

Nightline Association - We’ll Listen, Not Lecture (https://nightline.ac.uk)

SurvivorsUK | We challenge the silence to support sexually abused men (https://www.survivorsuk.org)

Male Survivors Partnership (https://malesurvivor.co.uk)

For an accessible version of the podcast please visit: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYYDrq64zvBDMhgETPUuD6QpRcL72MZha

Using proven Cognitive Hypnotherapy techniques, Julie Webb (ARU Counsellor), guides you to a place of pure relaxation and calm before guiding you through a real-life scenario, where you can experience yourself in positive, empowered light. You’ll focus on breathing and positive affirmations - something that you can take with you and practice in the real world. 

Whether you do this before, during or after a stressful event, the meditation session will set in motion your body’s relaxation response, helping to reduce feelings of stress and taking you to a place of calmness and confidence. 

For an accessible version of the podcast please visit: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYYDrq64zvBDMhgETPUuD6QpRcL72MZha