Monday, January 20, 2020

Contracting Essay examples -- essays research papers

Entering and contracting Entering and contracting are the initial steps taken in the OD process, and is considered by many as one the most important steps of the process. The entering and contracting step will be utilized to set the pace and lay the foundation for the practitioner client relationship. They involve a preliminary evaluation of the organization’s opportunities for development, while establishing a collaborative relationship between the OD practitioner and the members of the client system. A major component of entering and contracting is to make a good decision about how to carry out the OD process. The contract allows the parties involved to explicitly set the direction of the project and how the process will take place. The OD contract will generally address three key areas: setting mutual expectation or what each party expects to gain from the OD process; the time and resources that will be devoted to it; and the ground rules for working together and the stating of what are the proper roles of all the parties involved including the practitioner.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In this process, a mutual agreement is established between the OD practitioner and the members of the client system in how the OD consultant will work on the problems within the organization. Hence, during entering and contracting, the organization’s problems and opportunities for growth and improvement are discussed between these two parties. During this process, the limitations are set on how the consultant can execute the different phases of the OD process. The entering and contracting step is extremely significant because it constitutes the initial activities of the OD process. It sets the parameters for the phases of planned changed that follow: diagnosing, planning and implementing change and evaluating and institutionalizing it. Developing the OD contract focuses on making sound decisions that establish the groundwork for the future success of the project. Data collection Data Collection is the process of collecting information that will be utilized in the diagnostic process and eventually used to make business recommendation. In this data collection process, it is critical to ensure the highest quality of data possible. In the data collection component, the information is gathered on the specific department or organization such as inputs, design components, an... ....m. instead of 5.00 p.m.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Output went up  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  They were dismissed at 4.00 p.m.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Output remained the same  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Finally, all the improvements were taken away, and the girls went back to the physical conditions of the beginning of the experiment: work on Saturday, 48 hour week, no rest pauses, no piece work and no free meal. This state of affairs lasted for a period of 12 weeks.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Output was the highest ever recorded averaging 3000 relays a week. What happened was that six individuals became a team and the team gave itself wholeheartedly and spontaneously to co-operation in the experiment. The consequence was that they felt themselves to be participating freely and without afterthought and were happy in the knowledge that they were working without coercion from above or limitation from below. They were themselves satisfied at the consequence for they felt that they were working under less pressure than ever before. In fact regular medical checks showed no signs of cumulative fatigue and absence from work declined by 80 per cent.

Sunday, January 12, 2020

Chapter 5 Martin Outline

Chapter 5 Martin Walker – The Cold War Pages 112-135 Spies in the Skies: Sputnik to U-2 1. Link between Hungarian crackdown and Soviet relations with Poland and Yugoslavia: 2. Examples of Soviet economic boom of the 50’s and 60’s 3. U. S. Reactions to Sputnik’s launch 4. Gaither Report a. Its findings b. Its recommendations c. Eisenhower’s reactions 5. National Defense Act of 1958 and its results 6. Anglo-American relations warm sults tSoviet relations with Poland and Yugoslaviaand ensuing agreements 7. French intransigence following the Suez humiliation 8. De Gaulle . Algeria and the 4th Republic e. Meeting with General Norstad f. Consequences g. ICBM worries 9. Dulles, Adenauer and France 10. French and British begin divesting their countries of empires 11. Iraq presents a problem in 1958 and how the U. S. and British dealt with it 12. British hardballing in the Middle East 13. Roots of the growing British-French mistrust 14. Coup against Khrushch ev and the aftermath 15. China h. Growing discontent with Russia i. Mao’s West vs. East wind speech j. Mao’s Nuclear war stance k. Hundred Flowers Campaign l. Great Leap Forward m.Soviet response to Chinese appeal for nuclear aid against the U. S. 16. Examples of brinkmanship by both the Soviet and the U. S. 17. Why the need to display brinkmanship 18. Maintaining a nuclear balance and the unpredictable weights 19. Berlin n. Khrushchev’s proposal o. Why the U. S. found it difficult to agree to p. Khrushchev – Adenauer meeting 20. U-2 planes and their capabilities 21. Sino-Soviet split as reason for Soviet intransigence following the Paris Summit 22. Khrushchev, Soviet conventional armed forces, and the Strategic Rocket Forces 23. Cuba, sugar, and the Soviets

Friday, January 3, 2020

These Quotas Made It Very Clear On Who Was And Was Not

These quotas made it very clear on who was and was not wanted in the United States. Certain countries had a quota number that was much lower than others. That difference in number was a game changer in how easy or how hard it was for distinct immigrants to come over. The 1920s exposed many fears for Americans already settled in the United States. Some people felt threatened by other religious groups, â€Å"Booker T. Washington, also wanted restrictions because they saw the new comers as added competitions for jobs† and there was obviously lingering bias that still existed in the country. All realms of society had worries that overflowed the government with the obligation to protect against those fears. The quotas allowed for those†¦show more content†¦The passage of the 1965 Hart-Celler Act helped to establish the possibility of illegal immigration within the Western Hemisphere, most notably for Mexicans traveling to the United States. The relationship between Mexic an migrants and the United States had been relatively untouched throughout the restrictionist movement, until 1965. With the Hart-Celler Act, â€Å"Congress coupled their erosion with new restrictive measures, a new ceiling on Western Hemisphere immigration and a labor certification requirement.† The quotas that were set in place, set Latin American nations at the same number of immigrants coming from all around the world. For countries such as Mexico, this number was not equipped to deal with the constant flow of immigrants who came to the United States. However, law was not necessarily a deterrent in this matter. The legal process of crossing the border from Mexico to the United States became far too difficult for the multitude of immigrants who wanted to do so. It can be inferred that this led many immigrants to choose illegal measures in the hopes of creating a better life in the United States, rather than stay in Mexico to continue their lives there. For many, the ille gal measure appeared as the only effort they could make that would possibly work for them to make a better life for themselves. It can be inferred that the Hart-Celler Act, which wasShow MoreRelatedThe Problem Of Current Immigrant Influx1136 Words   |  5 Pagesaudiences with the root causes of current immigrant influx in Europe. I will present them with my views in opposition of the proposed â€Å"quota plan† by European Union European Commission to resolve the migrant crises. I will highlight them the other available mechanisms to contain this issue. My audiences are those who support European Commission President Junkers’ proposed â€Å"Quota Plan† to resolve European Union current migrant influx. Their stance is that the immigrants are good for Europe’s labor force,Read MoreEqual Outcomes vs. Equal Opportunities Essay978 Words   |  4 Pagesmakers fight every day concerning a persons ability to receive the same equal opportunities and equal results (or outcomes) as everyone else. It is important to distinguish the difference between equal opportunity and equal outcomes. An employer who offers equal opportunity does not discriminate based on a persons race, creed, or disability. That employer makes sure that everyone has a chance to achieve a certain outcome. Equal outcomes is making sure that everyone ends up at the same placeRead MoreEthnic Groups in Pakistan1187 Words   |  5 PagesAccording to the 1981 census, the Sindhis made up 55% of the total population of Sindh and mohajirs were second with a share of 24% (Pakistan,1981). In 1973 more than 30% of the top bureaucracy belonged to the mohajir origin in pakistan (Government Of Pakistan,1973). The above information shows that the Mohajirs were very much taking over the province of Sindh, in natural reaction to that, the Sindhis worked as a strong ethnic group to safeguard their rights and very much their existence in their own provinceRead MoreIllegal Immigration And The United States1593 Words   |  7 Pagescontribute to the diversity of the country. With such a large population of foreigners, the immigrants also influence America’s economy and the workforce. Immigration has been a prevalent aspect of civilization in the United States for centuries, and it is clear that allowing these illegal aliens to remain in the country will k eep the economy and workforce secure. Since the immigrants have immensely escalated since the 1920s, it would drastically affect the nation to deploy all of these people. The deploymentRead MoreTravels of a T-Shirt Book Report Essay1335 Words   |  6 Pagescotton boom in the United States and why we have reigned supreme as the leading cotton producer. She even meets with a Texan farmer who warms your heart from the very beginning of the chapter. Next, the cotton goes on to textile mills and factories, and Rivoli explains the history of the textile industry. With this lesson, she demonstrates how the textile industry boom was a leading contributor of the Industrial Revolution in many countries. From this point, we see the t-shirt waiting to be stitchedRead MoreCase Analysis : Wells Fargo1652 Words   |  7 PagesForget About Ethics I Have a Quota to Make Those who act ethical finish last, or at least according to Wells Fargo they do. After Wells Fargo came clean and admitted to creating approximately 2 million fake accounts without their customers’ consent employees are now coming forward claiming they were retaliated against. Wells Fargo employees were given unrealistic sales targets and the only way to meet them was by engaging in improper sales practices. The objective was called the â€Å"gr-eight initiative†Read MoreThe Universal Declaration Of Human Rights1619 Words   |  7 PagesNation’s General Assembly adopted what is known as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This document was drafted by several representatives with legal and cultural backgrounds from areas all over the world. Containing 30 articles, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights addresses, what then came to be, the basic rights that all humans are inherently entitled to. Prior to the UDHR, there was no fine line of law between na tions, in relations to crimes against humanity. Now, with this document,Read MoreFamine in the Ukraine1192 Words   |  5 Pagesmillion. The famine was also known as the â€Å"Holodomor† which means death by starvation. This famine was not like any other, not caused by natural disaster or war. The Holodomor was an artificial and self inflicted famine caused by Joseph Stalin and the Soviet regime. Dekulakization and collectivization was Stalin’s theory in which he had high expectations and goals for and his arrogance in not letting these process go, ended in the mass murder of many innocent Ukrainians. The holodomor was undebated or questionedRead MoreEthics Essay1613 Words   |  7 PagesSocrates(469-399 BC), already questioned this with the result of being trailed and sentenced to death. Looking back on the early history of philosophy, later philosophers traced to Socrates a major turn in its development. As Cicero puts it: Socrates was the first to call philosophy down from the heavens... and compel it to ask questions about life and morality (Tusculan Disputations V 10-11). Previously it had been concerned with the origins and nature of the physical world and the explanation ofRead MoreThe Potention Of The Fishing Industry840 Words   |  4 Pagesfollowing the implementation of the discard ban in 2015 and other commitments made by the EU to sustain fish stocks. Many are optimistic about these reforms, while others are cautious since the CFP has a reputation for sounding brilliant and proving to be catastrophic in the long-run. Rather than trying to fix a fault-ridden system where the interests of Member States involve the short-term goals of mainly their own fishing industry, it may be more beneficial for the EU to implement a system of control

Thursday, December 26, 2019

Essay about Fair Tax Avoidance of Taxes - 1696 Words

PA 8720 - â€Å"Fair Tax† Policy Analysis John Maynard Keynes stated that â€Å"the avoidance of taxes is the only intellectual pursuit that carries any reward,† (Waters, 2011). In Missouri, while seeking to avoid an income tax, advocates for the â€Å"Fair Tax† have seemingly presented a proposal that is the antithesis of the pursuit Keynes deems worthy. They are proposing a constitutional amendment that would impose a sales tax that no Missourian could avoid. The â€Å"Fair Tax† would cost everyone, no matter their income level and even have its greatest impact on the most vulnerable among us. Even as a tax of this type would expand the tax base, the repercussions to the taxpayers, the state budget, and the state economy would present hurdles too high to†¦show more content†¦The initiative petition however, caps the state sales tax at seven percent (Constitutional amendment to, 2012); leaving no mechanism for recovering such a substantial loss in revenue. James Moody, a former budget director, called the proposal â€Å"fiscally untenable,† stating that it would â€Å"either bankrupt the state, or in the alternative, bankrupt the poor and working lower and middle income classes.† (Moody, 2011). This dilemma is furthered when exemptions are taken into account. Just as Irene Rubin noted in The Politics of Public Budgeting (2010), â€Å"as the burden on a group increases, the demand for exceptions for that group is likely to increase.† Moody applies this notion to the â€Å"Fair Tax† when stating that â€Å"the simple math is that exemptions from taxation lower the taxable base,† and that â€Å"the more tax exemptions assumed, the lower the tax base, and the higher the tax rate has to be,† (2011). In a Columbia Daily Tribune editorial, Henry Waters stated â€Å"the new sales tax would instantly become riddled with exemptions,† and that â€Å"for every exemption, the rate must go up,† (2011). Under the proposal, cities and counties would have the ability to levy an additional sales tax on top of the tax imposed by the state, but the total is not to exceed ten percent. If current local rates stood, those shopping in St. Louis city would need to pay up to 11.275 percent on most purchases, with those in St. Louis County paying up toShow MoreRelatedA Tax Avoidance Case Study Essay1340 Words   |  6 PagesThe idea that morally dubious goals may be legitimate inside capitalism will be discussed in light of a tax avoidance case study. Apple, a multinational technology company, has avoided paying its fair amount of income tax for years. This paper will consider the structural embeddedness of Apple’s legitimised goal—the maximisation of profit—through the ‘Double Irish Dutch sandwich’ tax haven model. Durkheim’s theory of collective conscience was used in explaining the legitimisation of the company’sRead MoreThe Tax Laws And The U nited States Constitution1097 Words   |  5 Pagesof federal income taxes. Income taxes were first proposed as a better way of gathering revenue, as well as an effective measure to manipulate economic spending. However, the current tax code bears very little resemblance to the relatively simple codes that were originally written into law. Today’s tax laws have grown astonishingly complex and unequally distributes the burden of tax liabilities. Our country should confront the issues derived from the increasing complexity of the tax laws and equallyRead MoreTax Reform : Stimulate Economic Growth1326 Words   |  6 PagesTax reform to stimulate economic growth in America There is an ominous shadow hanging over America consuming its wealth, and dividing its people over the promise of fair and equal treatment. American debt has no rival in the modern world, and it continues to spiral out of control as politicians’ debate solutions that would bring it under control. To manage this debt citizens are burdened with a federal income tax system that is inefficient, discriminatory and cumbersome to the American people. SinceRead MoreIn The United Kingdom (Uk), The Professional Conduct In1508 Words   |  7 PagesRelation to Tax (PCRT) is adopted to govern the conduct of tax professionals. The PCRT is a guide jointly produced by seven-leading tax and accountancy bodies which sets out the fundamental principles and standards of behaviour that tax consultants are expected to follow. These regulations include: i)fundamental principles, ii)expected standards and iii)general and specific guidance. The fundamental principles form the foundation of PCRT’s standards and guidance. It governs the ethicality of tax professionalsRead MoreTax Shelter and Tax Haven1448 Words   |  6 PagesTax Shelter I. Definition Any method of decreasing taxable income in a payments to tax collecting entities, including state and federal government. The most common type of tax shelter is an employer-sponsored 401(k)plan. a. Types of tax shelters Some tax shelters are questionable or even illegal: Offshore companies. A company which is incorporated outside the jurisdiction of its primary operations regardless of whether that jurisdiction is an offshore financial centre. Due to differing taxRead MoreReflections Of The Progressive And Flat Rate Tax Structure1377 Words   |  6 PagesFlat Rate Tax Structure Tax structures are complex and play a prevalent role in American society. Taxation is important to understand because the designed tax policies are intended to foster economic stimulation and behavior. Although economists differ on the appropriate American taxation structure, taxation promotes both incentives and disincentives in behavioral outcomes. These differing views are debated to whether the United States should adjust from its present progressive income tax structureRead MoreThe Tax Reform Act Of 19861607 Words   |  7 PagesThe main topic of this research paper is taxation. Seeing that this topic is pretty open, I’ve chosen to write about the proposed idea of Fair Tax. Along with a little bit of insight on Fair Tax and a couple highlights of history, I’ll try and explain some pros and cons as well as give my opinion on the topic. According to vocabulary.com â€Å"Taxation refers to the practice of a government collecting money from its citizens to pay for public services†. Our country was practically founded becauseRead MoreThe Current Federal Tax System1415 Words   |  6 PagesIn my opinion as to whether or not the current federal income tax structure is fair for most Americans is that it is not fair. The following information will provide support for my decision. The main federal tax brackets are for single individuals, married individuals filing separately, married individuals filing as a couple and individuals filing as a head of household. In the financial year 2014, the lowest tax bracket paid a rate of 10% on income up to $9,075 while the highest bracket paidRead MoreCorporate Tax Case Study754 Words   |  4 Pagescorporate tax rate in the United States? Yes argument. It is an undisputed fact that the United States has one of the highest corporate tax rates of Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. As a result many American multinationals resort to tax inversions or other methods to try to reduce their tax rate. Consider Apple, which has funnelled profits through Ireland for years rather than repatriate those profits to the United States and pay America’s corporate tax rate.Read MoreReforming The United States Income Tax1061 Words   |  5 PagesStates Income Tax Ryan Sauer Wayland Baptist University Abstract â€Æ' In January of 2005, President George W. Bush appointed a bipartisan committee to propose new income tax policies; they were referred to as the â€Å"President’s Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform†. The goal of the panel was to advise new options in an attempt to make filing of the United States personal income tax simpler. The made a statement about the difficulty that normal citizens have when filing their tax returns,

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

The Roots For The Puritan Movement - 1639 Words

The introduction of the Puritans in New England, both as a society and as a culture, was necessary as a catalyst for change in early New England, and to a larger extent, British North American government. Historical roadmap - â€Å"Help, Help, I’m Being Repressed!† The roots for the Puritan movement go further back in history than the agreed upon date of 1517. This is the point in time when Martin Luther first came on the scene with his Ninety Five Thesis, in which he detailed the grievances that were evident to Luther, and centralized around the acts that had been either ongoing or had been recent additions to the proper observance of the Anglican branch of the Catholic church. Amongst the Ninety Five items were practices like: Indulgences,†¦show more content†¦Martin Luther and his philosophy, along with the treatises from John Calvin, served as a foundational doctrine for the next generation of Protestant Reformers. This offshoot of religious thought process also produced far reaching effects that would cause dissent between the Anglican Church and the Protestants. This would provoke the Anglican Church, the state church to begin sanctions and oppression of the Protestants within the borders of England. This would be everything fro m seizure of lands and property, to withholding of wages to people showing overt approval to the protestant claims. For many Puritans, already displaced and discouraged from the state religious, this served as a polarizing stance, and the major part that would strengthen the resolve of many Puritans to risk the trip to British North America. How to create a government – on paper Out of the morass of repression arose a notion: Escape! Several journeys were attempted, with colonies in mind for the Puritans, notably the Popham Colony, who finally made a short run on North American soil in 1609. Ultimately a failure as a colony, surviving only a year before the remaining population returned to England. Even though it failed as a colony, it served as a viable concept to whet the appetites of others, and open the doors to a flood of immigrants to this land without direct English involvement or influence. The main attempts to pursue the immigration took off officially in around 1620 with the Pilgrims,

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Financial ratios Analysis of al karam and gul ahmed free essay sample

Trend for net profit margin is fluctuating. No smooth pattern can be observed. However Alkaram never made loss whereas Gul Ahmed faced the situation in 2012. Current ratios which shows the ability of the firm to pay its short term debts by current assets seems better for Alkaram as it is always above 1. Both operate in cloth market and their suppliers might not wait for a longer period for them to pay. Gul Ahmed may de-motivate its suppliers if payments are not made on time. Acid test ratio is quite low for both companies which show a major part of current assets are stock in trade. This reduces the firm’s ability to pay its debts. However Alkaram is doing better than Gul Ahmed and actual comments could be made by comparing the ratios with industry average. Inventory turnover is better for Alkaram in all years but it significantly fell in the last year. We will write a custom essay sample on Financial ratios Analysis of al karam and gul ahmed or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It might be due to excess stock piled up maybe to catch cost advantage for the period as there might be a significant expected rise in raw material prices. Alkaram usually sells its products much faster than the inventory it piles up. Gul Ahmed might have tightened up its policies for credit it offers to the market as it reflects the Day Sales Outstanding which has dropped significantly through the years. It would release the cash for Gul Ahmed but might also result in lost sales and lost customers. Alkaram on the other hand maintains the ratio through the years. Debt to Equity ratio is higher for Gul Ahmed. It is too high and shows that most of the finance is from debt which means high interest payments. But this might also be a benefit if company is earning much and company is also avoiding tax by having a large part of income distributed in interest. On the other hand alkaram also have a significant debt but much lesser than Gul Ahmed. In other terms we can say Gul Ahmed is high on risk as it has to meet interest obligations anyhow and if company ran out of cash than it might collapse and not be able to revive. Days sales outstanding is higher for gul ahmed where as it is low for al karam which means that al karam takes comparatively less time in collecting revenues after its sales and its liabilities are low and hence it can purchase new inventory more quickly. But during the last 2 years Gul ahmed’s DSO has decreased significantly which is a good sign as it is obtaining its revenues more quickly than before. Fixed Asset Turn over for Al karam is greater than that of Gul ahmed which means that it is generating greater revenue from its assets as compared to Gul ahmed and hence it is doing far better as compared to gul ahmed. But during the last 2 years gul ahmed has done significantly well and The ratio for the last two years has almost been the same which means that its performance is gradually increasing.

Monday, December 2, 2019

Surviving Depression at University

Surviving Depression at University Depression is a serious and recognised mental health condition, relatively common on university campuses, as well as society in general. As well as speaking you your mental health counsellor or GP, there are strategies you can use to tackle your depression, finding a positive way forward. The steps towards managing your depression can seem extremely difficult, but they're the quickest and easiest ways to complement your medication or counselling. Self help Everyone is affected by depression differently, so if you'll need to figure out your own self help strategy to work alongside any medication or counselling you're receiving. The best way to start is to ask yourself â€Å"what is the smallest change I can make that will make the most difference?† Imagination techniques Another strategy is to imagine your life depression-free. Using the following exercises will help you: Imagine your life and what it would look like on a day-to-day basis It may be painful, but write this down in lots of detail Figure out the smallest and easiest step you could make to go in this direction Try to move away from an ‘all-or-nothing' mindset, it's ok to only know the first step When you're battling depression, it may not be possible to get rid of every aspect making you feel this way, as genetic tendencies to low serotonin levels and other biological factors often play a part in depression. Breaking your cycle of isolation Your depression thrives when you're lonely and socially isolated. Reaching out to your loved ones and forming a solid support network is a powerful way to fight depression. Try and be with others Depressed thinking and the spiral of depressed behaviour can easily lead you to becoming increasingly socially withdrawn and isolated. It can be extremely difficult, but try your best not to fall into this spiral, by making sure you spend time with other people. As much as possible, keep this social contact as relaxed and low key as possible. Make as much out of opportunities for social contact as you can. Try hanging out in the kitchen with your flatmates, go to the SU bar or go to study groups after your lectures. You may not feel like doing this, but you should try making yourself go. Tell people how you're feeling Having someone around to keep you company and just listen to you is a lot easier than being isolated. If there are people who know how you're feeling, you won't have to keep up a false image of everything being okay. This in itself can help a lot. Good people to talk to include: Family- family members are good people to talk to as parents are always looking to have more contact. Friends- Whilst you'll need to be realistic in their power to change things, they can offer a lot of welcome support. Samaritans or your campus Nightline- These groups are completely confidential and anonymous. Members are trained to actively listen to you for as long as you need them to. Tutors- The vast majority of academic departments have systems for academic tutors to offer support. Professionals- If you are feeling low or have other symptoms of depression, counsellors, GPs and mental health services will be able to offer you qualified advice, as well as prescribe therapy and any suitable medication. If you have thought of self-harm or suicide, it's essential that you seek professional, medical advice from your doctor or a counsellor immediately. Taking care of yourself throughout depression When you're depressed, it's common to experience lethargy and neglect your basic self-caring tasks. An important step in managing your depression is to consciouslÐ ¸Ã ¼ y make the effort to take care of yourself. Make a checklist of basic self-care tasks- a basic checklist of things you need to do every day, such as getting up; showering, getting dressed and having breakfast will help you get out of bed. Remember that in the face of depressed lethargy, these are notable achievements in themselves. Look after your personal space- A good distraction technique is to slowly but surely tidy your room. Make it a comfortable, welcoming space with b right warm colours. Photos of family and friends will remind you of your support network, and include some photos of yourself having a good time. Get back into nature- You can find great ‘inner peace' by immersing yourself in the natural world. Whether it's watching a sunrise, listening to a babbling brook or lying in the grass, you will often feel a lot better for it. Even canal paths and urban parks can make all the difference. Find a new focus Any time you spend focusing on something or someone else, you have an amount of time where you can seek refuge from your depression. Purposeful distraction is a good way to resist negative introspection that often accompanies depression, and you can use anything from the simplest of distraction techniques to more meaningful ways to spend your time and energy. The key to purposeful distraction is to do a task without feeling motivated to do it and without the expectation to actively enjoy it. It should be something to simply fill your mind. Purposeful distractions can be anything, such as: Watching an entertaining TV programme Going shopping Playing a video game Cooking a meal You may want to channel your depression and feelings into an art project, such as music, writing or painting. Don't ask yourself whether or not it's ‘good'. just focus on the freedom or creation as a form of therapy. Resources Samaritans- You can phone and anonymously talk to someone for as long as you need to. Nightline Association-A confidential and anonymous student based active listening service. NHS GP online services- Online services, including registering with a local GP. NHS counselling services-Explains the role of counselling in the treatment of depression. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline-If you've had suicidal thoughts or are thinking about committing suicide, the NSPL can help you.