Daily Healthy: mental health

Diversity, Culture, and Mental Health

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July is the American Psychiatric Association’s Diversity Mental Health Month, a time to appreciate the diversity among us and to focus on the unique mental health issues of diverse populations and efforts to reduce mental health disparities.  It’s clear we live in an increasingly diverse society, but how does that diversity relate to mental health and receiving quality mental health services?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Practice/Diversity/Diversity%20Month/DMHM-Infographic.pdf" target="_blank"><img alt="Diversity, Culture, and Mental Health   " border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkL_OjrDyabEjTk4EXiYAU_WdntuFFCiwz5TowgGhjRusrnpmogybfMzOGTtE8DkiNRUE21R3PpYmsDgRiMW0hQtqX9qwMYU_EgqeY8sL329k8AF2Yozeo5JCxNUmE8nvHfyBHtmVd34U/s200/DMHM+Infographic+small+DC.jpg" title="Diversity, Culture, and Mental Health   " width="121" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Practice/Diversity/Diversity%20Month/DMHM-Infographic.pdf" target="_blank">Diverse Populations and Mental Health</a></td></tr>
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Cultural background, including race/ethnicity and other aspects, can greatly influence how we think and feel about mental health and illness, how we experience symptoms, how we communicate about mental illness, and how and where we seek help.  Some people may be reluctant to talk about mental health concerns out of fear or shame, some people may seek help from faith leaders, while others may turn to a family doctor or a mental health professional.  (See the infographic from APA:  <a href="http://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Practice/Diversity/Diversity%20Month/DMHM-Infographic.pdf" target="_blank">Mental Health and Diverse Populations.</a>)<br />
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Extensive research tells us that ethnic and racial disparities in mental health care exist. A new report from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) notes that among adults with mental illness, whites, American Indian/Alaska Natives, and adults reporting two or more races reported higher mental health service use than black, Asian, and Hispanic adults. (See chart.) <br />
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Being aware of differences in the use of mental health services among different ethnic/racial population groups is critical for mental health professionals. That is part of what Diversity Mental Health Month is about – increasing understanding among psychiatrists about the influences of cultural diversity in their practices.<br />
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The SAMHSA report also looked at why people don’t use mental health services.  Adults across all racial/ethnic groups cited the same reason most frequently for not using mental health services:  the cost of services cost or lack of insurance.  Other reasons included:  low perceived need; stigma; and structural barriers. Concern about whether mental health services would help was the least cited reason by all racial/ethnic groups.<br />
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The top barrier to care, cost, may at least be partly addressed as more people gain access to mental health care with the Affordable Care Act and the Mental Health Parity Act. Many organizations, including the APA, are working to improve cultural sensitivity and to reduce the stigma of mental health, particularly among racial and ethnic minority populations.<br />
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By Ranna Parekh, M.D., M.P.H., Director<br />
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APA Division of Diversity and Health Equity<br />
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<i>This post is part of an ongoing series spotlighting diversity from APA’s Division of Diversity and Health Equity.</i></div>

July is the American Psychiatric Association’s Diversity Mental Health Month, a time to appreciate the diversity among us and to focus on t...

Health Care and Short Term Memory Loss

8:56 PM Meme Art Studio 0 Comment

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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">There’s a long standing joke about people who can’t remember where they put their keys, or what they were supposed to buy at the grocery store, or where they parked their car at the shopping mall, or what instructions to follow:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Two men met on the city street in the evening, and had a number of drinks together. The one who lived in the suburbs became confidential, and exhibited a string tied around a finger.<br /><br />"I don't dare to go home," he explained. "There's something my wife told me to do, without fail, and to make sure I wouldn't forget, she tied that string around my finger. But for the life of me I can't remember what the thing was I am to do. And I don't dare to go home!"<br /><br />A few days later the two men met again, this time in the afternoon. "Well," the one asked, "did you finally remember what that string was to remind you of?" The other showed great gloom in his expression, as he replied:<br /><br />"I didn't go home until the next night, just because I was scared, and then my wife told me what the string was for all right--she certainly did!" There was a note of pain in his voice. "The string was to remind me to be sure to come home early."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">You might laugh at such a silly story, but the actual truth is that short term memory loss, beyond just being an inconvenience or temporarily embarrassing, can be a problem for many people—especially if it persists or gets worse. It can be dangerous, and may be a precursor of more problematic health issues such as alzheimer’s or dementia.</span><span style="color: #545454; font-size: 14.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Short-term memory loss can be a natural side effect of aging, or can be caused by disease, injury, stress, or as a side effect of drug use.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">You have difficulty concentrating or it feels like your short-term memory isn’t as good as it used to be. You may also notice that normal tasks seem hard to focus on, you are more forgetful, you forget things that you normally wouldn’t, or you have difficulty forming thoughts or carrying on conversations. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">You may also start something and uncharacteristically forget what you were doing soon after. You may also have difficulty remembering where you placed things, who you just called, what you just talked about, or what you were looking for or thinking about. You uncharacteristically may have difficulty remembering what you just ate, phone numbers, names, or things you recently did. Things that you would normally not forget, you now do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">According to a report issued by Rutgers University, short-term memory refers to memories which last for a few minutes. Unlike sensory memory, which is stored in the exact form it was experienced, short-term memory has received some processing; thus, "A" is stored not as a visual stimulus, but as an abstract concept of the letter "A". Short-term memory is of limited capacity, usually 5-9 items ("7-plus-or-minus-two"). Beyond this capacity, new information can "bump" out other items from short-term memory. This is one form of forgetting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Objects in short-term memory can be of indefinite complexity: thus short-term memory can hold several numbers, or several words, or several complex concepts simultaneously. Thus, while an individual may only be able to remember seven random digits, it may be possible to remember more digits if they are "chunked" into meaningful objects: thus, "1776-2001-1941" represents twelve separate digits -- well beyond most people's capacity -- but only three easily-remembered chunks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Items can be maintained indefinitely in short-term memory by rehearsal: e.g. by repeating the information over and over again. An example would be a seven-digit phone number, which is maintained in short-term memory by repetition until the number is dialed, and then fades from short-term memory once the conversation starts. Repetition may also increase the probability that items in short-term memory will enter permanent storage in long-term memory. More details about how your memory works can be found at this website: </span><a href="http://www.memorylossonline.com/glossary/memory.html"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #015692;">http://www.memorylossonline.com/glossary/memory.html</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> .</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">When testing for any type of memory loss, a doctor will take a medical history and perhaps ask a few questions to test a patient's memory. Other exams may include cognitive testing to check the patient's mental status and ability to think. The doctor may also order blood tests to check for various conditions including vitamin B-12 deficiency and thyroid disease, according to LiveScience.com.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Depending on the results, other tests may include an MRI or CT scan of the head and an EEG to measure electrical activity in the brain. A cerebral angiography may also be ordered to examine blood flow to the brain. If the cause of the short-term memory is related to a psychological trauma, a therapist or psychologist may be consulted. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">One of the most common suggestions for a better short-term memory is to use mnemonics. Mnemonics is the technique of attaching a word, phrase or image to an object. One example of a mnemonic is the trick many people learned in school to remember how many days are in a month. “Thirty days hath September, April, June and November …” You can also use the trick to remember things such as a name, such as "Rob wore a red shirt."</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Another trick is to have someone put a number of objects out on a table. Give yourself 30 seconds to memorize them. Then take the objects away and try to write down as many as you can in 30 seconds. Doing activities that engage your brain, such as Sudoku and crossword puzzles, and reading in general can also help improve your memory. More material on this subject can be found at this site: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.livescience.com/42891-short-term-memory-loss.html"><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #015692;">http://www.livescience.com/42891-short-term-memory-loss.html</span></span></a>. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">And did you know chewing gum<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>impairs short term memory? According to Prevention Magazine, a study out of Cardiff University in the UK found that not only does chewing gum <em><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">not</span></em> help your short term memory: It impairs it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a series of three experiments, 97 university students were asked to recall either a short sequence of letters or identify the missing item in a list. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">They performed significantly worse when chewing gum, no matter how vigorously or how lazily they chomped. Researchers speculate that the tongue, mouth, and jaw movements of gum chewing disrupt short-term memory. More info on this topic can be found at this site: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.prevention.com/health/brain-games/chewing-gum-hurts-short-term-memory-study"><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #015692;">http://www.prevention.com/health/brain-games/chewing-gum-hurts-short-term-memory-study</span></span></a></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Much more detail on memory loss in general can be found at the National Institutes for Health (NIH) website: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003257.htm"><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #015692;">http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003257.htm</span></span></a>.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Short term memory loss may be just a sign of being distracted or some other issues that are not really problematic. However, it could be a signal that more serious mental health problems are developing. If you are seeing this condition develop more and more in yourself or someone you know, see your doctor for testing. Don’t excuse it away, or you might forget why.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Until next time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Alzheimer's Disease health mental health Health Care and Short Term Memory Loss

There’s a long standing joke about people who can’t remember where they put their keys, or what they were supposed to buy at the grocery ...

Health Care and Bullying

6:35 AM Meme Art Studio 0 Comment

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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Have you ever been bullied by someone? If so, you likely have never forgotten the experience. Dealing with bullies is something that almost everyone goes through at some point or another during their lifetime—school, playground, job. Sometimes, it seems like it never ends for certain individuals. Most of the time, the situation is uncomfortable or irritating to you, but over time the bully goes away or finds another person to bother. Occasionally, however, the results can be catastrophic for the victim.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">According to Dr. Cindy Haines with HealthDay TV, being bullied in elementary school and high school can have a long-term negative impact on health. New research in support of this published in the journal <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pediatrics</i> is based on an analysis involving nearly 4,300 children. Starting in 2004, 5th graders were asked to describe any bullying they had experienced at the hands of their classmates. The same kids were surveyed again in both the 7th and 10th grades.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">More than 30% reported having been frequently bullied during at least one survey. And investigators found that, regardless of age, being bullied was associated with having a worse quality of life, both physically and psychologically. Children who experienced repeated bullying both in the past and the present were the most vulnerable. They fared the worst in terms of overall health, and carried the highest risk for having feelings of low self-worth and depression.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Children whose bullying was exclusively in the past seemed to be healthier than those whose bullying was a current event, the study team noted. Perhaps unsurprisingly, those who had no history of bullying whatsoever were found to be the healthiest of the bunch supporting early intervention to prevent bullying altogether. Related info can be found at this site: </span><a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/videos/news/Childhood_Bullying_021714-1.html"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/videos/news/Childhood_Bullying_021714-1.html</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There are three types of bullying, according <a href="http://www.stopbullying.gov/">www.StopBullying.gov</a> .</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Verbal bullying is saying or writing mean things. Verbal bullying includes: <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Teasing<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Name-calling<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Inappropriate sexual comments<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Taunting<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Threatening to cause harm<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Social bullying, sometimes referred to as relational bullying, involves hurting someone’s reputation or relationships. Social bullying includes: <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Leaving someone out on purpose<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Telling other children not to be friends with someone<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Spreading rumors about someone<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Embarrassing someone in public<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Physical bullying involves hurting a person’s body or possessions. Physical bullying includes: <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hitting/kicking/pinching<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Spitting<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tripping/pushing<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Taking or breaking someone’s things<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Making mean or rude hand gestures<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There are two sources of federally collected data on youth bullying:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The 2011 </span><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/yrbs/index.htm"><span style="color: #003e7a; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; text-decoration: none;">Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) indicates that, nationwide, 20% of students in grades 9–12 experienced bullying.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The 2008–2009 </span><a href="http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2012/2012314.pdf"><span style="color: #003e7a; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; text-decoration: none;">School Crime Supplement</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Justice Statistics) indicates that, nationwide, 28% of students in grades 6–12 experienced bullying.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Much more info on bullying can be found at this site: <a href="http://www.stopbullying.gov/what-is-bullying/definition/index.html"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.stopbullying.gov/what-is-bullying/definition/index.html</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Having to deal with a bully is hard for kids — especially at school, according to <a href="http://www.kidshealth.org/">www.KidsHealth.org</a>. Listen to your child's worries and convey that they're perfectly understandable and that it's OK for him or her to feel that way. Offer assurance without making him feel like you're trying to talk him out of feeling that way or dismissing his feelings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As your kid tells you how he feels, be sure to repeat back his thoughts and feelings using phrases like, "I know you're feeling worried." When he feels understood by you, he'll be more receptive to your help and any advice on coping that you offer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let him know that everyone worries, even adults, at one time or another. But also make sure he knows that there are ways he can feel better and less fearful. Go over some strategies that he can use if someone teases him. Ignoring the bully and simply walking away or using humor to combat aggressiveness might get the bully to stop. Bullies often give up when they don't get a response from their target.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Try to get your child to talk about what has been going on at school — just listening can be helpful. Although kids can resolve many incidents of bullying on their own, do keep an eye on the situation. If it persists, get involved by talking to your child's teacher or school counselor. Much more info on bullying can be found at this website: <a href="http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/bullies.html"><span style="color: blue;">http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/bullies.html</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bullying also takes place at worksite locations, according to <a href="http://www.workplacebullying.org/faq/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.workplacebullying.org/faq/</span></a>. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">It is mistreatment severe enough to compromise a targeted worker's health, jeopardize her or his job and career, and strain relationships with friends and family. It is a laser-focused, systematic campaign of interpersonal destruction. It has nothing to do with work itself. It is driven by the bully's personal agenda and actually prevents work from getting done. It begins with one person singling out the target. Before long, the bully easily and swiftly recruits others to gang up on the target, which increases the sense of isolation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">You are miserable. You are harassed. Your work is sabotaged, blocked, or stolen. Perhaps, you didn't think of calling it bullying because that's what happens to kids in school, not to adults. Wrong! Workplace Bullying is experienced by more than one third of the U.S. workforce.</span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Much more detail can be found at the website. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A workplace bully may be your boss or your co-worker. No one should ever make you feel uncomfortable at work. If you are a victim of bullying in your workplace consider speaking to someone in the human resources department for help in dealing with it, according to About.com Career Planning.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">If you would like to try to deal with this situation before you report it, here are some tips. If you are being physically threatened don't waste a minute before you report it to both your employer and the police. If you are dealing with a workplace bully:</span><br />
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Seek      the advice of a trusted mentor who may have dealt with this situation      before.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">If      you can, confront the bully in a professional manner, but only if your      physical safety isn't threatened. Don't sink to his or her level. Stay as      calm as possible. Don't yell or threaten. Often bullies are looking for      this type of confrontation and it will encourage them to come back for      more. Don't cry or show weakness either. That's usually what the bully is      after in the first place.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Don't      try to win over other people to your side. The way in which you handle the      situation will allow them to make their own judgments.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Don't      allow the bully to intimidate you or make you feel bad about yourself. You      know your true worth. Don't forget what that is.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Do      your job and do it well. The workplace bully wants you to fail and when      you don't he or she will be defeated.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Make      sure your superiors are aware of your work. Workplace bullies often try to      spread the word that you are not doing your job well and will even go as      far as to report the smallest infractions to your boss. Your actions will      carry more weight than his or her words.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Don't      allow the bully to isolate you from your colleagues. Keep up your      workplace friendships.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bullying is wrong, and the behavior of bullies should not be tolerated. If you or a loved one or friend is a victim of a bully, report it to an authority who is empowered to take action to stop the offenses. If you feel that you have little to no recourse, then seek professional help. Remember, a bully is someone who feels they can beat you up, in more ways than one. If you take that power away, then you have an opportunity to seek renewal and relief in your daily life.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Until next time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>

adult bullying bullying health health care mental health Health Care and Bullying

Have you ever been bullied by someone? If so, you likely have never forgotten the experience. Dealing with bullies is something that almo...

Health Care and Gray Hair

9:21 PM Meme Art Studio 0 Comment

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If you have ever looked into the mirror and found one day that you had a gray hair, then join the club. It may be a sudden shock to see your first one, but sooner or later, if you live long enough, those locks of auburn, red, blonde, brown, or black will start to turn to a silver or gray colored tint. One of the most successful industries in the world is the hair color business—providing an answer to those who feel that vanity must outweigh the truth of time. <br />
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Getting gray, silver, or white hair is a natural part of growing older, and here's why, according to The Nemours Foundation. Each hair on your head is made up of two parts:<br />
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1. a shaft — the colored part you see growing out of your head<br />
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2. a root — the bottom part, which keeps the hair anchored under the scalp<br />
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The root of every strand of hair is surrounded by a tube of tissue under the skin that is called the hair follicle. Each hair follicle contains a certain number of pigment cells. These pigment cells continuously produce a chemical called melanin that gives the growing shaft of hair its color. Melanin is the same natural chemical that makes your skin's color fair or darker. It also helps determine whether a person burns or tans in the sun. The dark or light color of someone's hair depends on how much melanin each hair contains.<br />
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As you get older, the pigment cells in your hair follicles gradually die. When there are fewer pigment cells in a hair follicle, that strand of hair no longer contains as much melanin and becomes a more transparent color — like gray, silver, or white — as it grows. As people continue to get older, fewer pigment cells are around to produce melanin. Eventually, the hair looks completely gray.<br />
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People can get gray hair at any age, according to The Nemours Foundation. Some people go gray at a young age — as early as when they are in high school or college — whereas others may be in their 30s or 40s before they see that first gray hair. How early you get gray hair is determined by your genes. This means that most people start having gray hairs around the same age that their parents or grandparents first did.<br />
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Gray hair is more noticeable in people with darker hair because it stands out, but people with naturally lighter hair are just as likely to go gray. From the time a person notices a few gray hairs, it may take more than 10 years for all of that person's hair to turn gray. Some people think that a big shock or trauma can turn a person's hair white or gray overnight, but scientists don't really believe that this happens. <br />
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Even the seemingly accelerated speed at which certain sections go gray (temples first for some, the crown area for others) and the exact shade of gray you get (white, charcoal, or any of the other variations) are genetically predetermined. Your head has roughly 100,000 hair follicles, and each functions autonomously. If one runs out of melanin, even if you pluck the resulting gray hair, there is no impact on surrounding follicles, according to Prevention Magazine.<br />
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While going gray is a normal and unavoidable part of the aging process and is not of itself associated with disease, some autoimmune diseases can cause premature graying. However, some people start going gray in their 20s or earlier and are perfectly healthy. Also, according to About.com, smoking is known to increase the rate of graying. Anemia, generally poor nutrition, insufficient B vitamins, and untreated thyroid conditions can also speed the rate of graying. And, your hair will also change texture, so it is a good idea to switch to products especially formulated for graying hair. And, don't forget to deep condition your hair on a regular basis.<br />
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According to YouBeauty Magazine, researchers have also found that hydrogen peroxide (a powerful bleaching agent) is produced naturally in the hair follicle, but it's broken down by enzymes. As you age, those enzymes dwindle, letting the hydrogen peroxide bleach hair from the inside out. Most people will have some gray hair by their 50th birthdays. Different ethnicities tend to go gray at different ages. Speaking in broad generalities, the average is mid-30s for Caucasians, late 30s for Asians and mid-40s for people of African descent. But, others hold onto their hair color until they’re 80.<br />
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According to Dr. Oz’s Blog, whether you are seeing your first grays, or are already into the salt-and-pepper zone, dealing with gray hair can be frustrating. Fortunately, there are plenty of tricks to make emerging grays look stylish and chic. Here are a few:<br />
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Whatever You Do, Do NOT Pluck! -- Sure, when it’s just a stray strand or two, grabbing the tweezers can feel super tempting – but you may live to regret the shortcut. Plucking can damage the hair follicle and the strand may never grow back – and as you age and your hair naturally thins, you’ll need every strand of hair you can get. Gray hair is perfectly good hair – it just needs pigment.<br />
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Play With Your Part Line--For many women especially, grays often grow in more heavily on one side of the head than the other. If grays are more prominent on one side, try switching your part to the other side. A zigzag or diagonal part may also help conceal grays that are growing in more scattered around the head.<br />
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Cut Hair So It Falls Forward--For those who have grays are around the face or on the sides of their head, ask your stylist to cut layers shorter in the back and longer in the front so that hair falls forward. A blowout with a brush that accentuates the forward-falling motion can help cement the clever style.<br />
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Although gray hair is often seen as a stigma in society, there is something to be said about a man or woman who wears their silver locks with dignity. Gray hair has as far back as ancient times been regarded as a sign of wisdom. Even the Bible talks about the stateliness of gray hair in the Book of Proverbs:<br />
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Proverbs 16:31—“Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.” <br />
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Proverbs 20:29--The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.<br />
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So, although in modern society gray hair may be discounted and frowned upon by a majority of people, those with gray hair, when combined with wisdom, have something to offer. You may wish to listen to them, especially when you need advice on life changing decisions or even the small choices, such as what hair color should you use to keep looking young. <br />
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Until next time.<br />
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health health care mental health psychotherapy Health Care and Gray Hair

If you have ever looked into the mirror and found one day that you had a gray hair, then join the club. It may be a sudden shock to see y...

Health Care and Head Trauma

8:33 PM Meme Art Studio 0 Comment

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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">From a simple bump to a concussion to death, getting a quick diagnosis for head trauma is critical. </span><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Brain dysfunction can be caused by an outside force, usually a violent blow to the head, and can result in many serious side effects. Brain injury or trauma often occurs as a result of a severe sports injury or car accident. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br />According to the Merck Manuals, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">in the United States, about 13 in 10,000 people sustain minor head injury, and about 3 in 10,000 sustain severe head injury each year. In the United States, from 2002 to 2006, about 1.7 million civilians had traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year. About 1.4 million were treated and released from emergency departments. About 275,000 were hospitalized and discharged alive, and 52,000 died. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">TBI (traumatic brain injury) is responsible for about 33% of all deaths caused by injuries of any kind. About 5.3 million people have permanent disabilities due to head injury. About 25% to 33% of people in the United States who have a severe head injury die. More information is located at this site: <a href="http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/injuries-and-poisoning/head-injuries/overview-of-head-injuries">http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/injuries-and-poisoning/head-injuries/overview-of-head-injuries</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">About half of head injuries result from motor vehicle crashes, and head injuries occur in more than 70% of severe motor vehicle crashes. Other common causes are falls (especially in older adults and young children), assaults, and mishaps during sports or recreational activities. Mishaps in the workplace (for example, while operating machinery) and firearms also cause head injuries. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Often, injury is caused by direct impact. However, the brain can be damaged even if the head has not been hit. For example, violent shaking or sudden deceleration can damage the soft brain as it collides with the rigid skull. In such cases there may be no visible injuries to the head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">According to the Mayo Clinic, </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Most head trauma involves injuries that are minor and don't require specialized attention or hospitalization. However, even minor injuries may cause persistent chronic symptoms, such as headache or difficulty concentrating, and you may need to take some time away from many normal activities to get enough rest to ensure complete recovery. </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Call 911 or your local emergency number if any of the following signs or symptoms are apparent, because they may indicate a more serious head injury.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Adults:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">         </span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Severe head or facial bleeding<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">         </span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bleeding or fluid leakage from the nose or ears<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">         </span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Severe headache<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">         </span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Change in level of consciousness for more than a few seconds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">         </span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Black-and-blue discoloration below the eyes or behind the ears<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">         </span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cessation of breathing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">         </span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Confusion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">         </span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Loss of balance<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">         </span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Weakness or an inability to use an arm or leg<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">         </span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Unequal pupil size<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">         </span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Slurred speech<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">         </span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Seizures<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Children:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">         </span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Persistent crying<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">         </span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Refusal to eat<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">         </span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bulging in the soft spot on the front of the head (infants)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">         </span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Repeated vomiting<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #111111; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Keep in mind that even a minor head bump can cause a large swelling. And the speed, momentum and size of the people (full-grown adolescents versus young children), and the forces involved (such as impact with a concrete floor or other hard surface) may increase the possibility of serious injury. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">More information about head trauma is found at this website: <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-head-trauma/basics/art-20056626">http://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-head-trauma/basics/art-20056626</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">There are several types of brain trauma, according to Family Doctor. The following categories should be treated immediately by medical professionals:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">A concussion is a jarring injury to the brain. Most of the time it doesn't involve a loss of consciousness. A person who has a concussion may feel dazed and may lose vision or balance for a while after the injury.</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">      </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">A brain contusion is a bruise of the brain. This means there is some bleeding in the brain, causing swelling.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">      A skull fracture is when the skull cracks. Sometimes the edges of broken skull bones cut into the brain and cause bleeding or other injury.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">      A hematoma is bleeding in the brain that collects and clots, forming a bump. A hematoma may not be apparent for a day or even as long as several weeks. So it's important to tell your doctor if someone with a head injury feels or acts oddly. Watch out for headaches, listlessness, balance problems or throwing up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">It's normal to have a headache and nausea, and feel dizzy right after a head injury. Other symptoms include ringing in the ears, neck pain, and feeling anxious, upset, irritable, depressed or tired. The person who has had a head injury may also have problems concentrating, remembering things, putting thoughts together or doing more than one thing at a time. These symptoms usually go away in a few weeks, but may go on for more than a year if the injury was severe. More details are available at this site: <a href="http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/diseases-conditions/head-injuries.html">http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/diseases-conditions/head-injuries.html</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sport’s professional participants sustain severe brain injuries at far higher rates than the general population, according to the New York Times. They also appear to confirm what scientists have said for years: that playing football increases the risk of developing neurological conditions like chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease that can be identified only in an autopsy. An article reporting the link between concussions and long term health problems is found at this site: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/13/sports/football/actuarial-reports-in-nfl-concussion-deal-are-released.html?_r=0">http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/13/sports/football/actuarial-reports-in-nfl-concussion-deal-are-released.html?_r=0</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Head trauma, or </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">traumatic brain injuries (TBI), result in permanent neurobiological damage that can produce lifelong deficits to varying degrees.</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The impact on a person and his or her family can be devastating.   More info is available at this website: <a href="http://www.traumaticbraininjury.com/">http://www.traumaticbraininjury.com/</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Head trauma should be treated without delay. Always check with your doctor or a health care professional if you or a loved one suffers an injury or accident to the head. Although many blows to the head may not cause any difficulties, it’s always best to take an extra measure of preventive medical care to rule out the possibilities of any long term problems. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Until next time.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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mental health trauma Health Care and Head Trauma

From a simple bump to a concussion to death, getting a quick diagnosis for head trauma is critical. Brain dysfunction can be caused by a...

Health Care and Java

9:39 PM Meme Art Studio 0 Comment

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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">How do you feel about coffee--that java that makes you jump, that black elixir of silky goodness, the cuppa joe for the morning wakeup call? Well, believe it or not, adding coffee to your daily diet can help with your health. If you already drink it, you’ll be glad to know that in addition to providing a boost to get you going, and the taste that may make you happy, coffee has some remarkable powers to help your body and brain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">According to this website,</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><a href="http://coffeeandhealth.org/">http://coffeeandhealth.org/</a> , a new study examined the relationships between coffee (total, caffeinated or decaffeinated) and tea consumption and risk of melanoma in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). EPIC is a multi-centre prospective study that enrolled over 500,000 participants aged 25-70 years from ten European countries in 1992-2000. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Consumption of caffeinated coffee was inversely (i.e. favorably) associated with melanoma risk among versus non-consumers, but not among women. There were no statistically significant associations between consumption of decaffeinated coffee or tea and the risk of melanoma among both men and women. The authors suggest further investigations are warranted to confirm their findings and clarify the possible role of caffeine and other coffee compounds in reducing the risk of melanoma.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">According to the Harvard School of Public Health, more than half of American adults drink coffee every day. Recent scientific studies suggest moderate consumption may help reduce some disease risks. These studies are observational, meaning that researchers draw conclusions based on differences between the number of disease cases in coffee drinkers versus non-drinkers. More information is located at this site: <a href="https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/multimedia-article/benefits/">https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/multimedia-article/benefits/</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Not only is this information good news, but this article by blogger Jenn Miller shows that there are many health care pluses for coffee consumption:  <u><span style="color: #1155cc;"><a href="https://www.jenreviews.com/coffee/">https://www.jenreviews.com/coffee/</a></span></u>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">You may wonder when you see various reports over the past few years about the efficacy of drinking coffee and its health affects on you. The verdict is thumbs up, according to CNN, with study after study extolling the merits of three to five cups of black coffee a day in reducing risk for everything from melanoma to heart disease, multiple sclerosis, type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, liver disease, prostate cancer, Alzheimer's, computer-related back pain and more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">To stay completely healthy with your coffee consumption, you'll want to avoid packing it with calorie laden creams, sugars and flavors, per the CNN article. And be aware that a cup of coffee in these studies is only 8 ounces; the standard "grande" cup at the coffee shop is double that at 16 ounces.  And how you brew it has health consequences. Unlike filter coffee makers, the French press, Turkish coffee or the boiled coffee popular in Scandinavian countries fail to catch a compound called cafestol in the oily part of coffee that can increase your bad cholesterol or LDL. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="display: none; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Read More<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Finally, people with sleep issues or uncontrolled diabetes should check with a doctor before adding caffeine to their diets, as should pregnant women, as there is some concern about caffeine's effect on fetal growth and miscarriage. And some of the latest research seems to say that our genes may be responsible for how we react to coffee, explaining why some of us need several cups to get a boost while others get the jitters on only one. For much more detailed information on this subject, visit this website: <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/14/health/coffee-health/">http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/14/health/coffee-health/</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Caffeine, the most widely consumed psychoactive substance in the world, is the best known ingredient of coffee, according to Warrior Coffee. Its beneficial effects on the human body have been researched quite well, but coffee as a whole is a complex beverage with a thousand different substances. Some studies argue that decaf and caffeinated coffee may have the same health effects and suggest that it’s not the caffeine that is responsible for most of coffee's health benefits. This company has put together a list of  Pro’s and Con’s about coffee drinking and is well worth reading to give you both sides of the story:</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> <a href="https://www.warriorcoffee.com/news/2/12-health-benefits-and-6-disadvantages-of-coffee-smashing-it">https://www.warriorcoffee.com/news/2/12-health-benefits-and-6-disadvantages-of-coffee-smashing-it</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">For those on the healthy side of coffee consumption, this website, <a href="https://www.healthambition.com/negative-effects-of-coffee/">https://www.healthambition.com/negative-effects-of-coffee/</a>, has some negative aspects listed about this liquid: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">In small, occasional cups there is possibly a case to be made for some benefits to coffee. If it’s fresh, high-quality and ideally organic (regular coffee is one of the most pesticide-intensive crops in the world) then a raft of studies have shown that it can improve alertness and long term it may reduce the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, gallstones, kidney stones and liver cirrhosis for heavy drinkers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Conversely, in the longer term it has been associated with an increased risk of high cholesterol, heart disease, and osteoporosis. Good-quality ground coffee is a source of antioxidants like chlorogenic acid that may help with weight loss and Green Coffee Bean Extract, particularly high in this antioxidant, are the latest popular supplement for body fat reduction. While there is evidence one way and another about drinking coffee, a case can be made for either side of the java wars.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Is coffee associated with the risk of death from all causes? According to a report in the New York Times, there have been two meta-analyses published within the last year or so. The first reviewed 20 studies, including almost a million people, and the second included 17 studies containing more than a million people. Both found that drinking coffee was associated with a significantly reduced chance of death. There’s possibly no other product that has this much positive epidemiologic evidence going for it. For more details on this product, read this article: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/12/upshot/more-consensus-on-coffees-benefits-than-you-might-think.html?_r=0">https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/12/upshot/more-consensus-on-coffees-benefits-than-you-might-think.html?_r=0</a>.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">But, you need to be careful about how you drink your coffee. According to the Atlantic Monthly magazine a few years ago, </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">there were no major differences in risk reduction between regular and decaf coffee suggests there's something in it, aside from its caffeine content, that could be contributing to these observed benefits. It also demonstrates that caffeine was in no way mitigating coffee's therapeutic effects. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Of course, what you choose to add to coffee can just as easily negate the benefits -- various sugar-sweetened beverages were all significantly associated with an increased risk of diabetes. A learned taste for cream and sugar (made all the more enticing when they're designed to smell like seasonal celebrations) is likely one of the reasons why we associate coffee more with decadence than prudence. More details are available at this site: <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/11/the-case-for-drinking-as-much-coffee-as-you-like/265693/">https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/11/the-case-for-drinking-as-much-coffee-as-you-like/265693/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">So, should you drink that little black cup of java that so eagerly calls your name every day, or give it up for what may be considered healthier beverages like water, fruit juices, or other non-caffeinated types of liquid? That is a personal choice, and one that needs to be evaluated by you and your family doctor if you have mitigating health circumstances. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Until next time.  <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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health health care mental health Health Care and Java

How do you feel about coffee--that java that makes you jump, that black elixir of silky goodness, the cuppa joe for the morning wakeup c...

1:19 AM Meme Art Studio 0 Comment

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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Don’t Over-Tax Yourself Over Tax Season!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With the April 15 tax deadline looming, it’s an anxious time<br />for many people. Try these tips to keep your financial stress under<br />control at tax time — and all year round.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl2jxsL-zj_8sVsrKyCpwCzTFjduCbR_npOlEG-38x7JsGCk634RdvZUOwjaOZpXtvkw0GMDOk62KLuoCPMMGqOwh00CLFNs1JmuZAbIwjJ-k0u-SXzvbQri7hOu49tF3nxnEokD7DvCgG/s1600/tax+couple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl2jxsL-zj_8sVsrKyCpwCzTFjduCbR_npOlEG-38x7JsGCk634RdvZUOwjaOZpXtvkw0GMDOk62KLuoCPMMGqOwh00CLFNs1JmuZAbIwjJ-k0u-SXzvbQri7hOu49tF3nxnEokD7DvCgG/s1600/tax+couple.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Break It Up. </b>A mountain of paperwork for your tax<br />return or for any other financial responsibility, like applying for a college<br />loan or mortgage, can seem overwhelming. Break up the process into smaller<br />chunks, such as gathering pay stubs, finding your home mortgage interest<br />statements, or organizing your receipts. Then tackle each task one by one. But<br />before you do so…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Make a Plan. </b>This is even more important when you’re<br />on a tight deadline (like being just a few days away from April 15). Once<br />you’ve broken down what you need to accomplish into pieces, put those steps in<br />order and write down how and when you’re going to make each one happen. This<br />will help you feel like you have control over the process. Being out of control<br />is very stressful!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Keep Mentally Fit. </b>Eat well, get a full night’s<br />sleep, find a way to exercise every day, and connect with friends and loved<br />ones. Financial deadlines may have you feeling like you need to lock yourself<br />away and pull an all-nighter with a bag of potato chips and your 1040, but<br />you’ll just raise your stress level, and you probably won’t accomplish your<br />goal anyway. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Resist Unhealthy Temptations. </b>When stress arises,<br />it’s tempting to cope in unhealthy ways such as binge eating, smoking, or drinking<br />alcohol. Avoid these negative coping strategies. Instead of a cigarette or a<br />glass of wine, take a walk or call a friend to vent. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Don’t Go It Alone. </b>It’s not too late to get help. Ask<br />for help from a spouse, a trusted friend, or ideally, a financial professional<br />like a certified public accountant. Some tax professionals will even save you<br />the step of visiting their office and will review your documents and<br />calculations online. Having too much on your shoulders and no help is a recipe<br />for anxiety.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Request an Extension. </b>If you’re utterly overwhelmed<br />and you feel like there’s no way you’ll have it all together by April 15, talk<br />to a tax professional about how to request an extension on filing. You’ll still<br />have to pay your estimated taxes on time (or pay interest), but you’ll have an<br />extra six months to get your paperwork in order. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Plan Ahead for Next Year. </b>If you’ve procrastinated<br />about your taxes this year, use the stress you’re experiencing now as you try<br />to get everything together at the last minute for a good cause: Keeping you on<br />track to plan ahead for tax time 2016. Set a realistic budget and stick to it,<br />and keep track of your finances as you go along. Having a plan and living<br />within your means makes your life much less stressful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">by <a href="http://nyulangone.org/doctors/1558358457/david-l-ginsberg">David Ginsberg,<br />M.D.,</a> clinical associate professor and vice chair for clinical affairs,<br />Department of Psychiatry, and chief of the Psychiatry Service, NYU Langone<br />Medical Center in New York City.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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finances financial health mental health money stress wellness

Don’t Over-Tax Yourself Over Tax Season! With the April 15 tax deadline looming, it’s an anxious time for many people. Try these ...

Study highlights lack of access to mental health care

11:57 PM Meme Art Studio 0 Comment

<b>By Arshya Vahabzadeh,MD </b><br /><br /> @VahabzadehMD<br /><br /><br /><br />A new study from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics once again highlights that too many people living with mental health conditions are not getting needed care.<br /><br /><br /><br />Study authors Laura A. Pratt, PhD, and Debra J. Brody, MPH, found that nearly 8% of Americans aged 12 and up had depression (moderate or severe depressive symptoms in the past 2 weeks). The rate of depression was twice as high among people living below the poverty level, 15%.<br /><br /><br /><br /> Far more alarming, the study showed yet again that people with depression are going untreated. While nearly 90%  of people with severe depressive symptoms reported difficulty with work, home, or social activities related to their symptoms, only about one-third (35.3%) had seen a mental health professional in the past year, according to the study. Among those with moderate depressive symptoms, only 1 in 5 had seen a mental health professional.<br /><br /><br /><br />While there are many reasons people don’t get needed mental health care, including mental health stigma and lack of access, discrimination in mental health coverage by insurance companies shouldn’t be among the reasons. Federal law now requires that insurers cover mental health illnesses the same as physical ailments, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYn-tUeGo322t1p3z_iySEMk26WrfuLSnsfKmQ69uBFMPs5pPszjEyf5NiSFAWcKh1JtixFt5jDiMvRYrP9VAl3PbzWOy2MDrPr_5W3QM3eBccf9MQkgDvaJGBsBkgdBUMVkTatY_mWzKk/s1600/parity+poster+image.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYn-tUeGo322t1p3z_iySEMk26WrfuLSnsfKmQ69uBFMPs5pPszjEyf5NiSFAWcKh1JtixFt5jDiMvRYrP9VAl3PbzWOy2MDrPr_5W3QM3eBccf9MQkgDvaJGBsBkgdBUMVkTatY_mWzKk/s1600/parity+poster+image.JPG" width="206" /></a><br /><br />However, many people don’t know their rights when it comes to getting mental health treatment. To address this glaring problem, the American Psychiatric Association has released a new poster -- <br /><br />available to mental health professionals -- that explains in simple terms your rights under the law and what to do if you think your rights are being denied. Download a copy at <a href="http://www.psychiatry.org/parity.">www.psychiatry.org/parity.</a> <br /><br /><br />

depression health care mental health Study highlights lack of access to mental health care

By Arshya Vahabzadeh,MD @VahabzadehMD A new study from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics once again highlights that too many...

World AIDS Day

8:48 PM Meme Art Studio 0 Comment

<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.4666652679443px;">By Annelle Primm, MD, MPH</span></div><br /><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br />World AIDS Day<br /><br />December 1, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><br /><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Focus, Partner, Achieve:  An AIDS-Free Generation</span></i></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br />World AIDS Day is a key opportunity to raise awareness and to commemorate those who lost their lives to this often deadly disease. But, today, we can also be hopeful about achieving an AIDS-free generation.  Increased access to treatment, new and better prevention services and care, and <i>advances</i> in treatment are all reasons for hopefulness.  And that amounts to greater peace of mind. </span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInwp-oNuSbyl0TzzMXdYzwpqacHywxtsj7gwS5CA6IUPmDlJIpQYY_JklgTtnZJCePE4JsBbmZXK8yaWksyHp6Di4vMyiYJbneGJdEYaMjGsYcZiXoS4tgeJhPc6jAvaIwrFbC8a1NV4/s1600/20141120-WorldAidsDay-Graphic2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInwp-oNuSbyl0TzzMXdYzwpqacHywxtsj7gwS5CA6IUPmDlJIpQYY_JklgTtnZJCePE4JsBbmZXK8yaWksyHp6Di4vMyiYJbneGJdEYaMjGsYcZiXoS4tgeJhPc6jAvaIwrFbC8a1NV4/s1600/20141120-WorldAidsDay-Graphic2.jpg" width="200" /></a> </span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An estimated 35 million people worldwide have HIV and more than 39 million people have died from the virus since the first cases in 1981. <b>In the U.S., </b></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">more than 1.2 million people live with HIV, but nearly 1 in 7 of those don’t know they have the virus.</span><o:p></o:p></b></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An estimated 50,000 people in the U.S. are newly infected each year.  It’s why I continue to tell people the importance of getting tested.  There’s no shame, just a need for information.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br /><b>What is the Connection Between HIV and Mental Health? <br /><br /><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><br /><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmltRjDKwRKaR-dNx-LMkcaRWkevSW0OUzr8zDqh7tJU7CdR4RZeJBE4aHyYYzEIPlInahB-ALswvCp6KHp5rnZ7YKWyxMzAF0YwDhNfmDTOsL5MZtz4KorpSvRaWH0F5swpiJEogaEPI/s1600/20141120-WorldAidsDay-Graphic4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmltRjDKwRKaR-dNx-LMkcaRWkevSW0OUzr8zDqh7tJU7CdR4RZeJBE4aHyYYzEIPlInahB-ALswvCp6KHp5rnZ7YKWyxMzAF0YwDhNfmDTOsL5MZtz4KorpSvRaWH0F5swpiJEogaEPI/s1600/20141120-WorldAidsDay-Graphic4.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Mental and neurological disorders have an intertwined and often complex relationship with HIV and AIDS. Yet mental health issues are often overlooked in HIV interventions and treatment. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -13.5pt;"><br /></div><br /><ul><br /><li><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">About 60% of people with HIV also have depression.  Sometimes one may be tempted to “blame” depression on their HIV status, but the reality is that depression can happen to anyone and treatment works</span></span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -13.5pt;">Pre-existing mental disorders (including substance use) can complicate HIV-related illness.  It’s important for physicians to know all they need to know about your health, and for you to be comfortable sharing  </span></span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -13.5pt;">Nearly 50% of people with HIV experience impaired motor skills, trouble with memory and poor concentration.  If you experience such changes, those are important to inform your doctor about</span></span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -13.5pt;">Mental illness can make it more difficult for people to adhere to HIV-medication regimens</span></span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -13.5pt;">New antiretroviral treatments and combination therapies can affect the central nervous system and/or have psychiatric side effects</span></span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><tt style="text-indent: -13.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mental illnesses can be especially challenging to recognize and diagnose in people with HIV/AIDS.  That’s why the APA works to educate and provide tools and training to physicians.</span></span></tt></span></li><br /></ul><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpIS_4Co4SQSrz1RiMY-xqQk1DUpzDvokKuaChYgMq44se8oSJtY7eyJsmO9wMDBjwfs9_N7qmW_Ce5BNVFSaBrTzJuFtgQIZP1FTT1popYbuOCW1KHLrZtKlKfoFJxJtW7Z2_QOSVqU/s1600/20141120-WorldAidsDay-Graphic3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpIS_4Co4SQSrz1RiMY-xqQk1DUpzDvokKuaChYgMq44se8oSJtY7eyJsmO9wMDBjwfs9_N7qmW_Ce5BNVFSaBrTzJuFtgQIZP1FTT1popYbuOCW1KHLrZtKlKfoFJxJtW7Z2_QOSVqU/s1600/20141120-WorldAidsDay-Graphic3.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br /><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Unfortunately, both HIV and mental illness still carry a significant burden of stigma and discrimination.<br /><br /><br /><br />As HIV/AIDS increasingly becomes a chronic disorder with the improvement of treatments, the need for mental health care and services is rising.  World AIDS Day is also a day to recognize the many psychiatrists and other mental health clinicians working with HIV patients who also have complicated psychiatric or substance use comorbidities. <br /><br /></span><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /><br /><br /><br />Looking for ways to take action?</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">  <i>Here are a few simple, powerful, and engaging ways you can take action</i>:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; page-break-after: avoid; text-indent: -.25in;"><br /></div><br /><ul><br /><li><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Know your HIV status. Use and share the </span><a href="http://aids.gov/locator/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN">HIV Testing Sites & Care Services Locator</span></a><span lang="EN" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">  </span></li><br /><li><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Share your message on social media using #FacingAIDS or</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">  </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">in the </span><a href="http://facing.aids.gov/gallery/" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;" title="http://facing.aids.gov/gallery/">Facing AIDS gallery</a></li><br /><li><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Learn about HIV/AIDS with the </span><a href="http://aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">HIV/AIDS Basics</a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">. A</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">sk questions. Get help.</span></li><br /><li><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Take a quiz:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">  </span><a href="http://www.hivawarequiz.org.uk/quiz-3/about-you" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Are you HIV Aware?</a><b style="background-color: transparent; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></b></li><br /></ul><br /><br /><br /><div style="font-size: x-small;"><br />Annelle Primm, MD, MPH is the Deputy Medical Director of the American Psychiatric Association</div><br /><br /><br /><o:p></o:p><br /><br /><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />

AIDS HIV mental health World AIDS Day World AIDS Day

By Annelle Primm, MD, MPH World AIDS Day December 1, 2014 Focus, Partner, Achieve: An AIDS-Free Generation World AIDS Day is a key opportun...

Native Americans and Suicide

12:08 AM Meme Art Studio 0 Comment

<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">By Arshya<br />Vahabzadeh, MD & Brad Zehring, DO <o:p></o:p></span></b><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Mental illness does not discriminate - it affects every age, sex, religion, and ethnic group. <o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The Indian Health Service conducted a study in 2008 that noted that the rate of <a href="http://www.psychiatry.org/mental-health/key-topics/suicide"><span style="color: blue;">suicide</span></a> for <a href="http://www.psychiatry.org/mental-health/people/american-indians-"><span style="color: blue;">American Indians and Alaska Natives</span></a> is higher than any ethnic group within the United States. The study reported that suicide in these populations is up to 70% higher, especially in ages 10 to 24. Sadly, this statistic is not decreasing. Mental health professionals and society need to recognize the etiology of the despair that leads to suicide so that treatment and appropriate allocation of resources can be made.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The statistics are alarming, but possibly more alarming is the silence around this tragedy. Since suicide is taboo on most reservations - there are reports that a death by suicide often is not reported or legal authorities classify it as an accident. Due to the silence and misrepresentation, the numbers could be even greater. <o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It is important to break the silence on the troubling trends within Native American reservations. <a href="http://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Practice/Diversity/Diversity%20Resources/Fact-Sheet---Native-Americans.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">Native Americans</span></a> must be willing to discuss their stressors and be open to getting education necessary to cope, deal, and treat their stressors. Mental Health professionals must be willing to understand their culture and adapt. Alex Crosby, MD, MPH, medical epidemiologist of the CDC has been recorded as saying that Native American suicide is so prevalent that it has become acceptable practice when tensions build up. Suicide should never be an acceptable option.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Reasons for troubling trends among Native Americans<o:p></o:p></span></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0NgKpvr_PJochoXZyWx2GWAgARxnTTmroNlbyfMJ3F7vvrpgeP2WKH6qq2IjaXJsuKsotS2ZrzyeB_03A23lZx7iZcsVAMkIVpaZbtHZt_gsTTmhKWsifIgddgOtLJIZQsmhpcgiwLM/s1600/Native+Amer+lets+talk+facts.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0NgKpvr_PJochoXZyWx2GWAgARxnTTmroNlbyfMJ3F7vvrpgeP2WKH6qq2IjaXJsuKsotS2ZrzyeB_03A23lZx7iZcsVAMkIVpaZbtHZt_gsTTmhKWsifIgddgOtLJIZQsmhpcgiwLM/s1600/Native+Amer+lets+talk+facts.JPG" width="82" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">There are a lot of thoughts on why mental illness and suicide have increased in the <a href="http://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Mental%20IIlness/Lets%20Talk%20Facts/APA_American-Indians.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">Native American population</span></a>. There has been a lot of discussion of generational trauma due to the disempowerment and oppression of Native Americans and Alaska Natives. It has been discussed that this has caused adverse childhood experiences that lead to high rates of depression and other mental illness that are precursors to suicide. </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">While disempowerment and oppression could very well be contributing factors - poverty seems to be a growing problem on reservations. Poverty tends to put stress on educational standards decreasing the educational opportunities for those on the reservation – leading to a viscous cycle. There are few jobs on the reservation causing adolescents and young adults to leave their families and move to where there are jobs. However, parents age and get ill causing tension between the traditional Native American family structures where youth takes care of the elderly and providing for the immediate family. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">In addition to poverty, substance abuse is a big problem on the reservation. Substance abuse can affect mood, often negatively, which increases the tension and is a risk factor for suicide. Domestic violence and sexual assault are also known problems on the reservation. These stressors have led to unstable environments for children growing up. Add untreated mental illness to the mix and it is easy to see how hopelessness and despair thrive often leading to the belief that suicide is the only way out.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The Way Forward<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Recently, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention joined a Native American Mental Health panel sponsored by Congressional Native American Caucus and Center for Native American Youth. The panel focused on ways of improving mental health resources and suicide prevention. The IHS and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) collaborated on targeted suicide prevention programs. The IHS established the <span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Suicide Prevention Initiative </span>and SAMHSA provided funding to the IHS to address youth suicide and provide suicide prevention for high-risk populations. <o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6.75pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">As we move forward as Mental Health professionals, it will be important to continue to collaborate with the Native American population, especially with Mental Health professionals with experience with the population and their culture. Understanding their culture and etiology of stressors will go a long way in providing the appropriate resources and treatment.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Resources for Help<o:p></o:p></span></b><br /><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">In the US: <o:p></o:p></span></b><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">         </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><a href="http://www.helpguide.org/articles/suicide-prevention/suicide-help-dealing-with-your-suicidal-thoughts-and-feelings.htm"><span style="color: blue;">Suicide help</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">         </span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1-800-273-TALK</span><br /><br /><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Outside the US:<o:p></o:p></span></b><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">         </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><a href="http://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/"><span style="color: blue;">International Association of Suicide Prevention (IASP)</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span>

mental health Native Americans suicide suicide prevention Native Americans and Suicide

By Arshya Vahabzadeh, MD & Brad Zehring, DO Mental illness does not discriminate - it affects every age, sex, religion, and ethnic gro...

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