Category: Resources

It’s Suicide Prevention Month

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, which is also known as Suicide Awareness Month. The month shines a spotlight on a topic not often talked about in order to create awareness and strengthen the fight against suicide, which is now sadly one of the main causes of death all across the globe.

This year EVONA have been committed to raising money and awareness for mental health alongside our chosen charity YoungMinds, meaning recognising this month is particularly important to us. As we get ready for another fundraising event, #HelloYellow in October, we are using this month to remember why our fundraising is so important and helping those get access to the support and resources they need to tackle any mental health issues.

You can also support this fantastic cause now during suicide awareness month, helping to provide resources and support for those going through difficult times with their mental health. Any donations can be given over on our just giving page by clicking here.

Once you donate JustGiving will send your money directly to Young Minds Trust!

 

It’s Important

Raising awareness about suicide is becoming increasingly important, as said by the IASP “not only is each and every suicide devastating and has a profound impact on those around them,” but over the past 20 years Suicide rates have risen 33%between 1999 and 2019 (CDC).  However, looking to the future there is hope that “by raising awareness, reducing the stigma around suicide and encouraging well-informed action, we can reduce instances of suicide around the world”.

Prevention Matters

Suicide prevention comes in many forms and with awareness of the severity of the problem around the globe, more strategies are being implemented by countries, cities, and organisations to support those at risk.

One step of prevention is recognising the warning signs of suicidal feelings:

·      Talking or thinking about death

·      Depression and sadness

·      Losing interest in daily life

·      Increased trouble eating or sleeping

·      Feeling helpless or worthless

·      Self-harm

·      Feelings of anger at things you cannot change

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If you or someone you know is currently experiencing any of these emotions do not suffer alone. A huge step to receiving help is thinking about opening up and talking about any thoughts of suicide. Whilst there’s many places you can go for support it is worth thinking about who is in your life you feel may be able to provide support for you? Below are some ideas of people and places of support you could go to:

·       A parent

·       A partner

·       Your GP

·       A teacher or university tutor

·       A youth worker or counsellor

·       Friends or other family members

·      Support services and helplines

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Help and Hotlines:

The MOST important things to note is if you have seriously harmed yourself or feel that you may be about to call 999 or go to A&E or ask someone to call or take you there.

Other helplines that you can access in the UK:

Samaritans – call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org

Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) – call 08005858585pm to midnight everyday or visit the webchat page

Papyrus (for people under 35) – Call 0800 068 41 41 9am to midnightevery day or Text 07860 039967 or Email pat@papyrus-uk.org

Childline (for children and young people under 19) – Call 0800 1111 andnote the number will not show up on your phone bill

SOS Silence of Suicide – Call 0300 1020 505 4pm to midnight every day orEmail support@sossilenceofsuicide.org

Shout Crisis Text Line – Text “SHOUT” to 85258

YoungMinds Crisis Messenger (for people under 19) – Text “YM”to 85258

Everyone deserves to feel comfortable and respected at work, but unfortunately, LGBTQ+ people in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and maths) continue to struggle to openly be themselves. Around 40 percent of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer people in STEM decide not to be openly ‘out’ in work for a number of reasons.

In the past research has demonstrated the value of diversity and yet lesbian gay, bisexual, queer or transgender individuals in STEM continue to face barriers to professional advancement. Problems like this may also be the reason why 22 percent of LGBTQ professionals have considered leaving their STEM careers at least once in the last month. Things like this drastically need to change if we hope to have a diverse workforce ready to tackle the world’s toughest problems.

The problem does not just start in work though, as research shows it is estimated that LGBT people are approximately 20 per cent less represented in STEM fields to start with than expected. A reason for this might be that men who are Gay, Bisexual or “other”, appear to be 12% less likely to have completed a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field in comparison to heterosexual men.

Issues LGBTQ+ people face is not limited to just the STEM sector. Workforce reports state that the common issues they face include 11% of LGBT people stating that someone had disclosed their sexual orientation to others without their permission, other unspecified inappropriate comments, or conduct (11%), and verbal harassment, insults, or other hurtful comments (9%).

How to be an LGBTQ+ Ally in the Workplace

To be an LGBT ally is easy. If you already agree with equality and fair treatment in society of people who identify as LGBT, then you can already consider yourself an ally. Starting with a few practical steps

Get Informed and Ask Questions

Inform yourself of the challenge’s LGBTQ+ people face and the history behind the movement. It is your responsibility to inform yourself rather than relying on someone else. Reliable resources for information include HRC, GLAAD, the Equality Federation, and the National LGBTQ Task Force.

Try to avoid any intrusive questions and assumptions

Make sure to try and note what words a person uses to describe themselves and their sexual orientation and/or gender identity and not to apply labels to a person if you have not heard them use those labels for themselves before. Also Try things like asking someone about their partner rather than girlfriend/boyfriend or husband/wife unless you know the answer.

You might not understand everything, and that’s ok

We don’t always know or understand everything but being open, understanding and kind is the most important. It may help to discover specific campaigns that resonate with you so you can get active and focus your support to help really make a difference.

Be there

Sometimes the best thing we can do is to listen without judgement and provide an outlet for folks to share their experiences, voice concerns, or just plain vent. Being there for each other is valuable emotional labour.

Speak up

Report hearing jokes about lesbian or gay people, 41%transgender-specific and 37% bisexual-specific jokes. When you witness this behaviour, speak up. Seek out the appropriate channels and let it be known you find this unacceptable!

Coping With the Stress of Changing Jobs

Whether you are thinking about moving jobs or currently in the process of doing so, you’ll probably be hoping it’ll be one of the best changes you decide to make within your life but that doesn’t mean the process can’t be stressful.

Are you feeling…

You are NOT alone.

Whilst the Holmes Rahe stress scale places a career change in the top 20 most stressful things you can do in your life, we know that the pressures of moving jobs can be very similar. That being said, it shouldn’t put you off making that move and it may be helpful to know that 9% of our workforce decide to do so every year.

In fact moving jobs has multiple amazing benefits:

• Incredible growth potential both personally and financially
• New challenges and opportunities which are proven to keep you motivated and engaged at work
• Learning new skills and broadening your current skill sets which strengthens your CV for the future

With all these potential benefits it can be hard to understand why moving jobs is so stressful but there is a real reason for feeling this common emotion when making the move. Fear of the unknown and uncertainty are two of the main culprits for experiencing job-moving stress. We are creatures of habit and routine and disrupting this through big life changes can be hard but there are plenty of ways to make it as stress-free as possible and allow yourself to enjoy the challenge and experience of moving jobs. It’s important to remember that as one door closes another one opens!

Ways to alleviate job changing stress

Have a Routine at Home

Tasked with job applications, interviews, moving, paperwork, and all the additional things that come with moving jobs, it can become overwhelming. Putting a solid routine in place for your personal life to get chores done, do some exercise, take time out, chat with family and friends and sleep is essential to help feeling like you don’t have too much extra pressure on your shoulders.

Not only does it make daily tasks manageable it also takes a great deal of unpredictability and uncertainty out of your life and can provide comfort when feeling stressed. Don’t worry you do not have to get up at 6 am to go to the gym every day (unless that’s what you want to do), be realistic and kind to yourself. You can either jot it down on paper, add it into a calendar on your phone or stick a whiteboard on the fridge – whatever you find works for you.

Reflect on Past Successes

What if I don’t get the job? What if I don’t fit in? What if I don’t like the job?

We are all guilty of overthinking especially when we are feeling stressed, and whilst it can be difficult to stop asking ourselves these questions, doing the opposite can be very helpful. Rather than trying to predict the future, take some time to reflect on when you’ve done some of these things successfully in the past – aced that interview, had a great first week at work, or received that you’ve got the job call. Just remember if you’ve managed to get through the things that are currently causing you stress before you can certainly do it again.

Be realistic

Wouldn’t we all love to say that finding, moving, and starting a new job happens overnight but it can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months from start to finish. Be realistic about this timeframe, if you are using a recruitment company like EVONA you can chat to us about the timeframe and how long the process will roughly take. However, if you are going it alone, it’s important to remember much of the process is out of your hands and relies on other individuals and companies’ schedules.

 

‍Talk to Someone

A problem shared is a problem halved…or that’s what mum’s say anyway, and we agree!

If you are feeling stressed talk to someone, whether it be a loved one, friend, family, or even a professional. This could be about what is causing the stress and how to tackle it or just small talk to take your mind of things, both are great. When it comes to changing jobs, most of us have done it before, so having a chat about your current situation with someone may give you a few options of things to do and ways they have coped with this type of stress before.

 

Use a Recruiter

Using a recruitment company is a fantastic way to relieve some of the pressure associated with changing jobs – the best part is they are completely free for you to use. Filled with immense amounts of knowledge about specific sectors and the recruitment process, who wouldn’t want an expert on hand throughout the entire process?

Not only will you receive support, feedback, and regular communications but access to the most exclusive jobs that may not be advertised anywhere else. Whilst all recruitment companies are not the same, at EVONA we will get to know you first, understand your skills and what you are looking for, and from that we will only put you forward for jobs that are right for you. A good recruiter will ensure they are providing the best candidates for each job, which includes preparing you for the job placement process, from applying to accepting an offer.

Recruiters can take a great deal of unknown and uncertainty out of the equation which helps reduce the stress associated with changing jobs.

Any questions, we’re happy to chat with you and help with any worries or queries you have about applying for a job using EVONA!

 

STEM RESOURCES

From websites to blog and vlogs, here’s an ever-growing collection of great resources in STEM. Links will open in a new window.

(Also see our collection of 25 STEM books for kids here >)

• Data Science: A Comprehensive Career Guide – discussing the skills, education, and experience needed for a career in data science.
• STEMNET – A network of ambassadors working to encourage young people who are under-represented within women in STEM subjects and careers to pursue their interests in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.
• Neon – Bringing STEM to life through real-world engineering. Neon brings together the UK’s best engineering experiences and inspiring careers resources to help teachers bring STEM to life with real-world examples of engineering.
• Vivify STEM – passionate about increasing access to quality STEM education.
• Telescope guide – Astronomy for Kids: Teaching Space Science to Young Stargazers (Free Booklet)
• Columbia Engineering Boot Camps – How coding provides skills that help children cope with distress

WOMEN IN STEM RESOURCES

• The WISE campaign – For gender balance in STEM, from the classroom to the boardroom.
• STEMettes – Showing the next generation that girls do Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths (STEM) at their free, fun, food-filled experiences.
• Women’s Engineering Society – A network of female engineers, technologists and scientists offering both support and professional development opportunities.
• Women in Technology – An information resource aimed to promote female employment within IT and technology.
• ScienceGrrl – A grassroots network who are passionate about celebrating women in science and passing on our love of science to the next generation.
• Tipalti – A financial technology business offering career resources for women in tech and finance.

• CodeFirst:Girls – Code First Girls are dedicated to transforming tech by providing the skills, space and     inspiration for women to become kick-ass developers and future leaders.
• Sparxx – As a socially focused learning technology company, Sparx has been reimagining the way maths is     taught and learnt in schools since 2010.
• BCSWomen – A specialist group aligned to the Chartered Institute for IT, providing a networking platform     for professional women in IT.

• STEM Women – A blog which aims to promote careers for women in STEM whilst highlighting issues of gender     inequality.
•  STEMinist – Featuring case studies of women within Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

• Ultimate Leadership Guide for Women In Edtech– This guide aims to help women and young girls see their potential and find the right path for them if they are considering a career in Edtech and STEM fields.

• A Guide for Women in STEM: Closing the Gender Gap – This hope to help encourage women to feel confident in their desires to have careers in STEM and give them starting points for their journey.

SPACE STUDENT CAREER RESOURCES

• UKSEDS – UK Students for the Exploration and Development of Space
• Space     Spectra – EVONA’s own You Tube series to help demystify the sector for the next space entrepreneurs
• SEDS USA

• Space for Humanity – Helps cultivate the passion for space through speaking at events. Also invites SEDS to events and connects SEDS members to relative Space for     Humanity Network.
• Space Station Explorers
• Future Space Leaders – The Future Space Leaders Foundation is a non-profit dedicated to the career development of young space and satellite industry professionals.
• International Space University – The International Space University develops the future leaders of the world space community by providing interdisciplinary educational programs to students and space professionals in an international, intercultural environment.

The unsolved mystery of space has captured many of our imaginations from a young age with huge Sci-fi franchises like Star wars and Star Trek dominating the screens from 1966. Here at EVONA we know a lot about space and whilst it’s not just about astronauts and aliens, isn’t it nice to pretend for a while until we really do find life on Mars.

From fantasy sci-fi thrillers to documentaries on real life NASA missions, here’s the Top 5 Space themed shows on Netflix you need to be watching right now!

Challenger: The Final Flight

First up we have the gripping docuseries following the disaster of the challenger flight which killed five US astronauts on-board the Space Shuttle after it fell apart 73 seconds after launching. The crew selected for the mission was one of the most diverse crews in NASA’s history, including high school teacher Christa McAuliffe, who was selected to go on-board as the first private citizen in space. Retelling the story of tragedy in 1986,Challenger: The Final Flight highlights the incredible lives of all who died through heart-breaking family interviews and first-hand accounts from NASA decisionmakers.

Lost in Space

Next we have the reimagination of the 1965 series ‘Lost in Space’ based on the classic novel The Swiss Family Robinson. Set in the future, the show sees colonists on earth sent to the planet Alpha Prime to establish a new home for humanity. The Robinson family are selected for the 24th mission and the series follows the adventures the family undergo after their spaceship is veered off-course.

If you can’t get enough of Lost In Space after the first two epic seasons, you’ll be happy to know the final one is coming out in 2021 and is a must see on Netflix.

Space Force

The newest space themed programme in this list , Space Force, stars legendary funny man Steve Carell. With nowhere to go but up, this workplace comedy sees a group of people tasked with creating the sixth branch of the United States Armed Forces, the United States Space Force. After uprooting his family to Colorado General Mark R. Naird(Steve Carell) is put in charge of the mission and works to get the US Space Force back on the moon as quickly as possible.

Away

Away is another 2020 contender on the list, leaving her husband and daughter behind leading lady Emma Green embarks on a three year mission to Mars. Previously a Navy pilot, Emma has been chosen as the commander for the mission however there are technical difficulties early on in the mission. Despite this, the series main focus is to highlights the emotional turmoil of the crew due to leaving their families behind and how they maintain their connection to life on earth. Emma’s own life on earth is shown through flashbacks to happy memories with husband Matt and teenage daughter Alexis.

Mars

Set in 2033, a group of six astronauts embark on a journey to be the first people to set foot on Mars. A hybrid between drama and documentary is originally based on the 2015 book How We’ll Live on Mars by Stephen Petranek. Alternating between 2016 and 2033, the narrative through the show is supported by real interviews with to explain events happening as the story unfolds. Produced by the National Geographic the TV Show embraces the reality of a manned mission to Mars happening within our lifetime and  illuminates the incredible research and development in space technology which will enable our first attempt at a mission to Mars.

Still excited by the possibility of life on Mars? Read our article on the missions that have been shooting for Mars this year taking us a step closer to this reality. Although, you may even be so excited about the endless possibilities and excitement of space that you’d like to find a job in the sector! Luckily for you all of our current job vacancies in the space sector are listed here.