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Kids Are Not Okay: Addressing the Mental Health Crisis Affecting Our Youth

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Jamal Clay was the form of kid who at all times desired to help people. He was an intuitive soul, and his mother, Rafiah Maxie of Chicago, called him her “right hand.” Jamal often woke his mother up early so she could drop him off in school before the morning bell and help the teachers prepare the classrooms. At home, he helped Maxie handle her younger sister. “I think there were a lot of times he thought we were both parents,” she recalled. “He was very responsible.” He also had mental health issues – and had for years.

On May 27, 2020, Jamal took his own life of their family home. He was 19 years old. My sister found it hanging in the garage. At age 12, he used the same karate belt he utilized in his suicide attempt. During this time, Maxie and the doctors attributed Jamal’s mental state and low self-esteem to being bullied, and he was diagnosed with single-stage depression.

Attempts to proceed treatment with therapy were unsuccessful because Jamal’s providers weren’t making the agreed-upon home visits, had retired, or weren’t contacting him or Maxie. “There was definitely a sequence of events that let us down,” Maxie says. “We were left to deal with it ourselves and find a way to deal with it, even though we didn’t really have the resources or the ability.”

Kids Are Not Okay: Addressing the Mental Health Crisis Affecting Our Youth
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Maxie believes that when the pandemic began, months of isolation resulting from quarantine pushed her son to a dark place. He also believes that the murder of George Floyd, which occurred two days before Jamal’s suicide, caused psychological trauma. “And social media itself has an impact,” Maxie says. “It can almost take away your entire self-esteem and tear it to pieces.”

In recent years, social media has develop into a dominant force amongst young people ages 13 to 17, who divide their time between Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok, based on data from the Pew Research Center. The latter is currently the most often used application by teenagers – they spend a mean of 105 minutes on it a day. Research conducted in 2018 showed that 95 percent teenagers had access to a smartphone, and 45 percent admitted that they’re online almost continuously. Research has shown the negative impact of viewing racially-related traumatic events online on the mental health of teenagers of color. Social media has also been found to be particularly harmful to young people who find themselves vulnerable to or suffer from mental disorders. Maxie believes this had a negative impact on her son. Because of this, “I don’t think he would be able to say, ‘It’s OK. Everything will be alright. “Life will be okay,” Maxie says.

Ongoing crisis

Dr. Kamala Uzzell, a psychotherapist based in Durham, North Carolina, began her practice in 2009 with the goal of normalizing counseling for people of color. “If patients see a therapist who looks like them, they may think,” Uzzell says. “Even before I opened my practice, I heard a standard belief that African Americans didn’t go to therapy. We go to church and pray about it. Or we deny it and say, “It’s not really happening.”

Maya Williams, a 26-year-old nonbinary person from Portland, Maine, grew up coping with the consequences of this denial. “My family was talking about mental health and the conversation turned to ‘growing pains’ or ‘God is not providing you with greater than you’ll be able to handle’ or ‘Are you sure you are praying hard enough?’ says. “Prayer has been helping Black people for years, but at the same time it’s like telling us, ‘Talk to God about it so that you haven’t got to consult with me about it.’ I didn’t feel comfortable talking to my parents and unpacking it until I used to be older.”

Maya saw a college counselor for a yr in eighth grade – around the same time she expressed suicidal thoughts to her mother and two years before her suicide attempt at age 15. Her family didn’t know that she had attempted to take her own life until she was 19 and published an essay about her experiences.

According to the American Psychological Association, African-American teenagers outperform their white and Latino counterparts in suicide attempts. Additionally, between 2001 and 2017, suicide rates amongst African-American adolescent girls increased by 182 percent. Some organizations, reminiscent of the National Alliance on Mental Illness in California, point to untreated mental health conditions as one possible reason for the increase. At the age of 5, the yr her parents divorced, Maya began showing signs of dermatillomania, a repeated urge to choose at her skin – sometimes related to obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, she wasn’t diagnosed with the condition until she was 19, at the same time she was diagnosed with anxiety. And she began taking medications to treat any of her diagnoses until July 2020. “I’ve struggled with mental health issues for a really long time, but now I have to work through new fears,” she says. “So I wanted to try medication to feel the way I want.”

Kids Are Not Okay: Addressing the Mental Health Crisis Affecting Our Youth
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A parent’s nightmare

Although rates of mental illness in African Americans are just like rates in the general population, based on the American Psychiatric Association, just one in three Blacks who need mental health care receive it.

“There are a lot of different resources that didn’t exist three or four years ago,” says Dr. Tia Dole, executive director of the Steve Fund, a corporation that supports the mental health of young people of color. “It takes some persistence, and too often parents wait until their child has an actual crisis. You may notice their withdrawal over the course of months, after which suddenly you see self-harm. The sooner you get in, the faster they’ll improve.

For parents of youngsters over 18, securing treatment for them generally is a Herculean task. This was the case of Atlanta resident Bridget Gipson, whose son, Steven A. Gipson, a University of Pennsylvania graduate, was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder in 2015. Even before his diagnosis, he began to exhibit manic behavior, which is why his mother sought skilled help. But considering Steven was an adult, she needed his cooperation. In September 2014, he left Atlanta and stopped contacting her. She filed a missing individuals report; he was found just a few days later in Miami Beach and brought to a close-by hospital.

“The doctor told me, ‘Your son is here and we’re going to let him go,'” he says. “I begged the hospital to put him in a center where he could receive additional help. They wouldn’t do that. But when Gipson went to Florida to pick up Steven, the hospital wouldn’t release him. “I was devastated,” she says. “They released him back onto the streets of Miami. He went missing again for nearly three months.

In December, Steven returned to Atlanta together with his mother. After being hospitalized, he began taking medication, attending therapy sessions and living in an apartment near Gipson’s home. She even managed to achieve custody of Steven in early 2015, but with restrictions. She couldn’t admit him to hospital unless he posed a danger to himself, and she or he couldn’t force him to take his medications, which he stopped taking in February 2015. A month later, on March 19, 2015, Steven committed suicide. He was 26 years old.

Changing the dialogue

People of color are increasingly discussing mental health and its challenges, but many parents still don’t understand why their child is struggling. “I see a lot of guilt among parents of color,” Dole says. “They think, .”

However, he notes that oldsters have to do away with this sort of pondering. “The underlying causes of mental illness in children and young adults can be the result of a myriad of factors, from environmental to genetic,” he notes. And because each child is exclusive and has a distinct set of circumstances, the signs that they could be struggling present in another way. The neatest thing parents can do is talk, listen, pay close attention and be open to learning.

“Because the therapy wasn’t as accessible and acceptable in Africa
There are many parents and grandparents in the American community who do not believe in their pain,” Uzzell says. “One in four people will experience some type of mental health problem. Maybe it’s not a long-term condition, maybe it’s short-term, but one in four people will experience it. This means that experiencing mental and emotional suffering is normal and we need to start talking about it normally with someone.”

  • Steve’s Fund created a special keyword, STEVE, that young POC can text to 741741 to be connected to a trained crisis counselor.
  • Souls of Chicago survivorsfounded by Rafiah Maxie, donates the shoes of deceased family members to organizations and other people in need and hosts educational workshops on the importance of mental health assessments.

Chloe Castleberry is a author and editor based in New York. Her works have appeared in , and .

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Health and Wellness

You don’t have to add sugar to your cranberry sauce this holiday season – a food scientist explains how to cook with less sweeteners

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Holidays are stuffed with tasty and filling dishes and drinks. It’s hard to resist dreams of cookies, special cakes, wealthy meats and exceptionally spicy additions.

Many of the healthy ingredients utilized in holiday dishes could be overshadowed by sugar and starch. While adding extra sugar could also be tasty, it isn’t necessarily good for your metabolism. Understanding the food and cuisine science behind what you cook means you may make a few changes to a recipe and still have a delicious dish that won’t loaded with sugar.

Especially for those who’re someone with type 1 diabetes, the vacations can come with an additional layer of stress and soaring blood glucose levels. However, this just isn’t the time to despair – it’s the vacations in spite of everything.

Cranberries are a seasonal, tasty fruit that could be tweaked in recipes to make them more Type 1 diabetic-friendly – or friendly to anyone searching for a sweet dish without the added sugar.

I’m a food scientist and sort 1 diabetes. Understanding food composition, ingredient interactions, and metabolism literally saved my life.

Type 1 diabetes has been defined

Type 1 diabetes it lasts all day, without sleep breaks, without holidays and weekends, without remission and without cure. Type 1 diabetes don’t produce insulin, a hormone essential for all times, which promote the absorption of glucose, i.e. sugar, into cells. Glucose in your cells then provides the body with energy on the molecular level.

Therefore, people with type 1 diabetes take insulin injections using an insulin pump attached to their bodies and hopefully it really works well enough to stabilize our blood sugar levels and metabolism, minimize health complications over time, and keep us alive.

Type 1 diabetics have in mind mainly type and amount of carbohydrates in food when determining how much insulin to take, but in addition they need to understand the interactions of proteins and fats in food to use it, or bolusappropriately.

Apart from insulin, type 1 diabetics don’t produce one other hormone, amylin, which slows down gastric motility. This means food moves faster through our digestive tract and we regularly feel very hungry. Foods high in fat, protein and fiber can keep you from feeling hungry for a while.

Cranberries, a seasonal snack

Cranberries are native to North America and grow well within the northeastern and midwestern states, where they’re in season from late September through December. They dominate holiday tables everywhere in the country.

Cranberries are a classic Thanksgiving side dish, but cranberry sauce tends to be high in sugar.
bhofack2/iStock via Getty Images

One cup of whole, raw cranberries comprises 190 calories. They are composed of 87% water, trace amounts of protein and fat, 12 grams of carbohydrates and just over 4 grams of soluble fiber. Soluble fiber combines well with water, which is sweet for digestive health and might slow the rise in blood glucose levels.

Cranberries are tall IN potassiumwhich helps maintain electrolyte balance and cell signaling, in addition to other essential nutrients similar to antioxidants, beta-carotene AND vitamin C. They also contain vitamin Kwhich helps in healthy blood clotting.

The taste and aroma of cranberries comes from compounds present in fruits similar to cinnamates, which add a hint of cinnamon, vanillin for a vanilla note, benzoates AND Benzaldehydethat tastes like almonds.

Cranberries are high in pectin, a soluble starch that forms a gel and is used as a binding agent in making jams and jellies, in order that they thicken easily with minimal cooking. Their beautiful jewel tone red color belongs to a class of compounds called anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins with which they’re associated treating certain forms of infections.

They also contain phenols, that are protective compounds produced by the plant. These compounds, which appear like rings on the molecular level, interact with proteins within the saliva, causing a dry and tight feeling that causes the mouth to pucker. Similarly, the so-called benzoic acid naturally occurring in cranberries, it adds sourness to the fruit.

These chemical components make them extremely sour and bitter and difficult to eat raw. To moderate these flavors and effects, most cranberry recipes call for plenty of sugar.

All this extra sugar could make cranberry dishes difficult for type 1 diabetics to devour since the sugars cause blood glucose levels to rise quickly.

Cranberries without sugar?

Type 1 diabetics – or anyone looking to limit their sugar intake – can try some cooking tactics to reduce their sugar intake while still having fun with this holiday treat.

Don’t cook the cranberries too long once they pop. You’ll still have a sticky cranberry liquid without having to add a lot of sugar, because cooking concentrates a number of the bitter compounds, making them more visible within the dish.

A row of spoons, each filled with a pile of powdered spice.
Adding spices to cranberries can improve the flavour of the dish without the added sugar.
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The addition of cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, nutmeg and other warming spices gives the dish a depth of flavor. Adding heat with hot chili pepper it might make a cranberry dish more complex while reducing sourness and astringency. Adding salt can reduce the bitterness of cranberries, so you will not need a lot of sugar.

For a richer flavor and glossy quality, add butter. The butter also moisturizes the lips, which reinforces the natural tartness of the dish. Other fats, similar to cream or coconut oil, also work.

Adding chopped walnuts, almonds or hazelnuts may decelerate the absorption of glucose, so your blood glucose levels may not rise as quickly. Some recent forms of sweeteners, similar to allulosethey taste sweet but don’t raise blood sugar levels and require minimal or no insulin. Allulose has GRAS – Generally Regarded as Safe – status within the US but just isn’t approved as an additive in Europe.

During the holiday season, you may easily reduce the quantity of sugar added to cranberry dishes and revel in the health advantages without spikes in blood glucose levels.

This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
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Health and Wellness

Willow Smith’s debut collection with Moncler is now available – Essence

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Moncler

Willow Smith’s debut collection with Moncler has been launched. The capsule is a mixture of the inside of a musician, actress, writer and creator. In it, a futuristic and unbelievable world is explored through clothes. Smith’s personal style was also showcased. The lineup was originally revealed in Shanghai.

Willow Smith's debut collection with Moncler is now available
Moncler

“Minimalism and utilitarianism. Femininity and masculinity. Black and white. “Putting ideas together in an elegant way is something that really excites me and I wanted to explore that with this collection,” Willow shared.

“Willow’s magnetic energy is captured in a series of images exploring the primary themes of the collection: clashing contrasts, rebirth and renewal, yin and yang, recent beginnings – inspired by Moncler’s mountain origins and love of nature. “Willow’s creativity influences every aspect of the videos and photos accompanying the collection: she not only drives the concept, but also models her designs, narrates the short film and provides the soundtrack,” the brand said in a press release. The launch is accompanied by black and white campaign photos – the dramatization of those photos ushers in an exciting era for Smith.

Willow Smith's debut collection with Moncler is now available
Moncler

The collection is dominated by knitwear perfect for layering, a down jacket and heavy sweatshirts created in shrunken proportions. The capsule is accomplished with extensive outerwear options and a brief-sleeved T-shirt with silver eyelet. The T-shirt is also available in an extended-sleeved version. The collection includes cream and black shades. The down vest with a hood and a brief cut stands out.

Salix leather boots are characterised by an interesting design. In addition to nodding to punk influences, this footwear option is designed with a Moncler logo on the toe, elastic panels on the front and a rubber sole.

Willow Smith's debut collection with Moncler is now available
Moncler

“I am incredibly passionate about the outdoors and exploring this wonderful land. I imagine these pieces can easily transition from overnight camping to fashionable evening wear,” Willow added, emphasizing the natural duality of the collection.

Moncler X Willow Smith is currently available in chosen Moncler stores and more moncler.com .

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Women are less likely to undergo cardiopulmonary resuscitation than men. Training on breast mannequins could be helpful

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If someone’s heart suddenly stops beating, this may increasingly have happened minutes of life. Performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation may increase their probabilities of survival. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation keeps blood pumping, delivering oxygen to the brain and vital organs until specialized treatment arrives.

However, research shows that bystanders are less likely to intervene to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation if the person is a girl. AND latest Australian study analyzed 4,491 cardiac arrest cases between 2017 and 2019 and located that bystanders were more likely to perform CPR on men (74%) than on women (65%).

Could this be partly because CPR training mannequins (so-called dummies) shouldn’t have breasts? Our recent research we checked out mannequins available all over the world to train people to perform CPR and located that 95% of them were flat-chested.

Anatomically, breasts don’t change the cardiopulmonary resuscitation technique. However, they’ll influence whether people try to accomplish that – and hesitation at these key moments could mean the difference between life and death.

Differences in heart health

Cardiovascular diseases – including heart disease, stroke and cardiac arrest – are probably the most common diseases important reason behind death for ladies all over the world.

But if a girl goes into cardiac arrest outside the hospital (meaning her heart stops pumping air properly), that is actually what happens. 10% less likely receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation than a person. Women too less likely survive cardiopulmonary resuscitation and are at greater risk of brain damage following cardiac arrest.

Bystanders are less likely to intervene if a girl needs cardiopulmonary resuscitation compared to a person.
Doublelee/Shutterstock

These are just among the many health inequalities experienced by women, in addition to transgender and non-binary people. Compared to men, their symptoms they are more likely to be rejected or misdiagnosed, or it could take longer to receive a diagnosis.

Reluctance of the witness

There can also be growth evidence women are less likely to start cardiopulmonary resuscitation compared to men.

This may be partly due to the concerns of those being accused of sexual harassmentworry may cause damage (in some cases based on the assumption that ladies are more “fragile”) and discomfort related to touching women’s breasts.

Bystanders may also get into trouble recognition the lady has a cardiac arrest.

Even in simulated scenarios, researchers found that interveners were less likely to remove women’s clothing prepare for resuscitationcompared to men. And there have been women less likely to receive Cardiopulmonary resuscitation or defibrillation (an electrical charge to restart the center) – even when the training was in the shape of a web based game that didn’t require touching anyone.

There is evidence of how people behave in resuscitation training scenarios reflects what they do in real emergency situations. This means it is amazingly vital to train people to recognize cardiac arrest and prepare for intervention, no matter gender or body type.

Attached to men’s bodies

Very Cardiopulmonary resuscitation training resources depict male bodies or don’t specify gender. If bodies shouldn’t have breasts, it’s a male default.

For example, the 12 months 2022 test taking a look at CPR training in North, Central, and South America, it was found that nearly all of available mannequins were white (88%), male (94%), and slim (99%).

The woman's hands press the torso of a mannequin wearing a blue jacket.
It is amazingly rare for a mannequin to have breasts or a bigger body.
M Isolation photo/Shutterstock

This research reflects what we see in our work once we train other healthcare professionals to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. We noticed that every one the mannequins available for training are flat chested. One of us (Rebecca) had difficulty finding training mannequins with breasts.

Single mannequin with breasts

Our recent research we checked what cardiopulmonary resuscitation mannequins are available and the way diverse they are. In 2023, we identified 20 cardiopulmonary resuscitation mannequins in the worldwide market. Mannequins are often torsos with no head and without arms.

Of the 20 available, five (25%) were sold as “female”, but only considered one of them had breasts. This implies that 95% of obtainable CPR training mannequins were flat-chested.

We also checked out other diversity characteristics, including skin tone and bigger bodies. We found that 65% had more than one skin tone available, but just one had a bigger body. Further research is required on the impact of those elements on bystanders when performing CPR.

Breasts don’t change cardiopulmonary resuscitation technique

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation technique doesn’t change when someone has breasts. The barriers are cultural. And although you could feel uncomfortable, starting cardiopulmonary resuscitation as soon as possible can save your life.

Signs that somebody may have cardiopulmonary resuscitation include not respiration properly or completely or not responding to you.

Perform effective cardiopulmonary resuscitationit’s best to:

  • place the heel of your hand in the middle of your chest

  • place your second hand on top of the primary and interlace your fingers (keep your arms straight)

  • press firmly to a depth of about 5 cm before releasing

  • press your chest with a frequency of 100-120 beats per minute (you may sing a song) in your head to show you how to keep time!)

An example of performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation – using a flat-chest manikin.

What a couple of defibrillator?

You haven’t got to remove someone’s bra to perform CPR. But you could need to accomplish that if a defibrillator is required.

AND defibrillator is a tool that uses an electrical charge to restart the center. An underwired bra may cause minor skin burns when the debrillator pads apply an electrical charge. However, in case you cannot take your bra off, don’t let it delay your care.

What should change?

Our research highlights the necessity for a big selection of breast CPR training mannequins, in addition to a wide range of body sizes.

Training resources need to higher prepare people to intervene and perform CPR on individuals with breasts. We also need greater education on the chance of developing and dying from heart disease in women.

This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
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