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Is the pursuit of overachievement fueling a mental health crisis among students of color?

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One morning last summer, I needed to get up my son and tell him that his classmate and friend had died by suicide. It was the third such tragedy in a yr at his Los Angeles independent school.

Unfortunately, this pattern just isn’t typical of my son’s school. Across the country, youth are facing increasing mental health challenges and experiencing suicidal thoughts. According to Results of a study on dangerous behavior of young people published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2021 found that 22% of highschool students have seriously considered attempting suicide, with a noticeable spike in suicide rates and suicide attempts among Black youth.

We know that young individuals are prone to struggle with establishing a sense of identity, belonging, and purpose during adolescence, but what’s less known is that these struggles may not look as you may expect – especially among students of color in independent schools. The classmates my son lost last yr had a similar profile – outstanding students with impressive extracurricular activities under their belts, abandoning countless friends and community members to mourn them. Two of them were students of color.

Why do I keep mentioning race? Because while it’s true that teen suicide rates are skyrocketing, the problem disproportionately affects youth of color, whether or not they attend private or public schools. As a rite of passage, parents and older students often tell high-achieving students of color that they need to do twice as well to earn half as much as their white peers. This truism is well-intentioned and intended to arrange them for the systemic discrimination they may definitely face when taking jobs at prestigious institutions. However, imparting this cultural knowledge can intensify the pressure young people of color feel to do well in class, fit into their social circles, make their families proud and construct impressive résumés of extracurricular activities.

Add to this the pressures of race and young people today navigate a very different world than we did at their age. Digital and social media have immersed us in a culture of immediacy that also directly contributes to the mental health crisis. We live in a time and space where children are bombarded with images, information and opinions on the Internet. Youth of color are told that they’re the vanguard of American culture and that they need to dress in the trendiest and most costly clothes, learn to code-switch depending on their surroundings and who they’re talking to, change into well-versed in mainstream media and expectations, exude an aura of academic excellence and family. At a time when youth of color have already got to work harder than their peers to arrange for school as they navigate predominantly white institutions and depend on authority figures who don’t understand their experiences, they desperately need guidance on methods to navigate and process what they see , read and listen to about themselves on the Internet.

These challenges are usually not insurmountable, but there are not any easy solutions. They require all of us to press pause, take a deep breath and really consider what power and resources we now have to support young people. For example, how can teachers and administrators concentrate on lively listening when interacting with youth? And how can families support youth of color who spend most of their waking hours in institutions that were never intended for them? The answers to those questions will vary depending on school, geography, and student needs, but they’re all rooted in a human-centered approach to education and youth development.

Last yr my organization Private Schools Axishosted “Our Kids Are Not Okay: A Crucial Conversation on the Mental Health Needs of BIPOC Students in Independent Schools.”,” a mental health forum with students of color from Axis partner schools. One of the most typical refrains we heard from the youth who imparted their wisdom to us was that they need and should be understood by the peers and adults who navigate their school communities, and that they thrive after they have a solid sense of belonging.

Education

We must prioritize hiring more teachers, administrators, and physicians of color because of the diversity of the workforce strengthens the sense of belonging for all students. Educators of color are well-equipped to know and address the unique challenges faced by students of color, who often display signs of mental health stress otherwise than “textbook” examples based on a predominantly white population. If we wish students of color to talk openly about what is happening of their hearts and minds, we must first make them feel secure to share their deeply personal struggles. Unfortunately, too often the only help available to them is culturally incompetent clinicians, which leaves students feeling like they need to attempt to “be okay” lest they attract suspicion, anger, and ultimately punishment.

At home, as parents supporting our youngsters’s mental health, we must create an environment that normalizes open and honest conversations about emotional well-being – and that starts with talking to teens about our own emotions and the way we take care of them in healthy ways as adults People. Encourage young people to take heed to the emotions they experience each day and ask them to often share what they experience with you. As you actively take heed to them, keep in mind that encountering emotions across the spectrum is a normal part of the human experience. It’s okay to acknowledge a range of emotions without feeling the have to fix them. Instead, ask your teen how best you’ll be able to support them before you intervene.

I also want to emphasise very clearly that today’s generation of highschool students is greater than capable of proposing and implementing their very own solutions in the event that they have space to work together. That’s why I’d prefer to see more schools create spaces of commonality that concentrate on race and the myriad other ways in which students’ identities impact how systems treat them, including mental health issues and learning disabilities. These groups function integrated secure spaces that may be a lifesaver for students who need support.

As we see increasingly young people committing suicide, all of us – namely educators, parents and faculty mental health professionals – must take radically different approaches, prioritizing young people’s inherent right to mental health support. Not just for those left behind, but in honor of those we now have already lost.


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

Health matters: WNBA star Napheesa Collier on her commitment to women’s reproductive health

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Minnesota lynx

Napheesa Collier will not be only a WNBA superstar for the Minnesota Lynx and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, but additionally the mother of her daughter Mila and an advocate for women’s reproductive health rights.

It recently decided to partner with Opill®, the primary and only every day contraceptive pill available over-the-counter within the United States. This breakthrough represents a major step forward in women’s health care by providing a convenient and accessible contraceptive option. With Opill, women not need to visit health care facilities for prescriptions, making it easier than ever to take control of their reproductive health.

The collaboration relies on Opill®’s long-standing partnership with the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). “One of the reasons Opill® partnered with the WNBA is the great passion of players who use their platform to support causes they believe in,” said Leila Bahbah, leading women’s health brand at Perrigo within the US. “Napheesa exudes this passion, and together we plan to educate and empower people to take control of their reproductive health.”

Collier advocates for girls and says she is willing to have conversations, even in the event that they are difficult. “I just truly believe in everything they do at Opill®. I believe it’s important to talk to people who may become pregnant and to women about the reproductive health and contraceptive options available to them,” Collier tells ESSENCE.

He continues: “I want people to know that if they want contraception, Opill® is a great option. It is the first over-the-counter drug approved by the FDA. It is inexpensive, available. You don’t need a prescription to get it. I think that’s a key thing in today’s climate.”

Collier notes that within the off-season, he tries to travel to various colleges to talk to students about their reproductive freedoms. “Talking about this topic is essential to remove the stigma as it should not be considered a shameful topic or something that should not be discussed openly. My mother was a nurse, so it was casual to talk about it in our house, and I want to pass it on to other people too, so I’m very excited about it,” she says.

In the present political climate, many ladies with daughters are concerned about their future and reproductive health. Collier, included. “Especially because I am the mother of a young girl, it is very important to me to be able to raise her in an atmosphere where she knows her reproductive rights and health, that she has access to affordable health care and contraception if she wants it and that she can ask me these questions and have open conversations.”

Collier continues: “It’s back to education. Again, I think it’s harmful that we can’t have open conversations about birth control and other issues that are usually taboo. I think it’s harmful. I think this does a lot of harm to women. It hurts. This is harmful to our society. Being able to talk about these issues and empowering women to learn about their rights and bodies creates a safer and healthier society.”

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

Yes, despite what you’ve heard on TikTok, you still need to use sunscreen

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Summer is nearly here. But as an alternative of using sunscreen, some TikTokers just do that encouraging followers throw it away and forgo sunscreen.

They argue that it’s healthier to forgo sunscreen to get the complete advantages of the sun.

Here’s what the science really says.

How does sunscreen work?

Due to the acute UV environment in Australia, most individuals with pale to olive skin or other risk aspects for skin cancer must accomplish that protect yourself. Applying sunscreen is a key approach to protecting areas that aren’t easily covered by clothing.

Sunscreens work by absorbing or scattering UV rays before they reach the skin and damage DNA or supporting structures corresponding to collagen.

In this photo I (Katie) apply sunscreen only to the appropriate side of my face. Sunscreens absorb and scatter UV light (right side), although it can’t be seen with the naked eye (left side). The photo on the appropriate also shows where sun spots (dark spots) accumulate on my skin and where I do not care to apply sunscreen evenly – under the attention, on the cheek and completely missing the ear.
The creator provided/UQ

When UV molecules hit DNA, the surplus energy can damage our DNA. This damage might be repaired, but when the cell divides before the error is repaired, it causes a mutation that may lead to skin cancer.

The energy of the UV particle (photon) causes the DNA strands to break and reconnect incorrectly. This causes a tumor within the DNA strand, which makes accurate copying difficult and might introduce mutations.
NASA/David Herring

The most typical skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Melanoma is less common but most definitely spreads throughout the body; this process known as metastasis.

Two against three At least the Australians will one skin cancer during their lives they usually reconcile 80% all cancers in Australia.

About 99% of skin cancers in Australia are attributable to overexposure to UV radiation.

Excessive exposure to UV radiation also affects the looks of the skin. UVA rays are able to penetrate deep into the skin, where they break down supporting structures corresponding to elastin and collagen.

This causes signs premature agingcorresponding to deep wrinkles, brown or white spots and broken capillaries.

Sunscreen may also help prevent skin cancer

Consistently used sunscreen reduces the danger of skin cancer and slows skin aging.

In Queensland studyparticipants either used sunscreen day by day for nearly five years or continued their usual use.

After five years, the danger of squamous cell cancer was reduced within the day by day group 40% compared to the second group.

Ten years later, the danger of developing invasive melanoma was reduced within the group of individuals taking the drug day by day 73%

Do sunscreens block the health-promoting properties of sunlight?

The answer is a little more complicated and involves a personalised risk-benefit trade-off.

First, the excellent news: spending time within the sun has many health advantages don’t rely under the influence of UV radiation and aren’t affected by the use of sunscreens.

A woman applies sunscreen
Sunscreens only filter out UV rays, not all light.
Ron Lach/Pexels

Sunscreens only filter UV rays, not visible light or infrared light (which we feel as heat). Importantly, a number of the advantages of sunlight are obtained through Eyes.

Visible light improves mood and regulates and possibly reduces circadian rhythm (which influences the sleep-wake cycle). myopia (myopia) in children.

Infrared light is being researched as a treatment for several conditions skin, neurological, psychiatric AND autoimmune disorders.

So what is the good thing about exposing your skin to UV radiation?

Sun exposure produces vitamin D, which is crucial for healthy bones and muscles.

Vitamin D deficiency is surprisingly common amongst Australians, peaking in Victoria at 49% in winter and lowest in Queensland at 6% in summer.

Fortunately, individuals who deal with sun protection can avoid vitamin D deficiency taking a complement.

Skin exposure to UV radiation could have advantages independent of vitamin D production, but these haven’t been proven. It may reduce the danger of autoimmune diseases corresponding to multiple sclerosis or cause the discharge of a chemical that may lower blood pressure. However, there aren’t enough details about these advantages to say whether sunscreen can be an issue.

What does this mean for you?

Exposure of the skin to UV radiation may provide some advantages that could be blunted by sunscreens. This determines whether it’s value giving up these advantages to avoid skin cancer how susceptible you have skin cancer.

If you have pale skin or other aspects that increase your risk of skin cancer, try to use sunscreen day by day on all days when the forecast UV index reaches 3.

If you have darker skin that rarely or never burns, you might want to skip using sunscreen on daily basis – although you’ll still need protection when you’re outdoors for prolonged periods of time.

For now, the balance of evidence suggests that it is healthier for people susceptible to skin cancer to proceed using sunscreen, supplementing with vitamin D as needed.

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

Recipe for change: eliminating health disparities and economic empowerment – the essence

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Via Griffin/Getty Images

Throughout the 12 months, the Global Black Economic Forum held quite a few select conversations focused on solutions to the most pressing economic and social issues facing marginalized communities. One of those issues – too often missed – is the link between Black health and wealth. If we do not start eliminating health disparities and inequalities today, we cannot give you the chance to construct wealth for the future.

This intersection was the focus of an event we hosted in August as a part of our cooking talk series. It was held on Martha’s Vineyard, round the corner National Medical Scholarships (NMF), the Black World Economic Forum had the opportunity to satisfy with NMF’s unapologetic leader, Michellene Davis. Recognized by Modern Healthcare magazine as certainly one of the 25 most influential minority leaders in healthcare, Michellene’s profession has involved policy advocacy and social change.

Her organization is devoted to increasing the variety of Black, Indigenous and physicians of color through fellowships, service-learning programs, mentoring opportunities and clinical research leadership training.

The conversation revealed two easy and interconnected data points: In the next decade, the United States will experience:huge shortage of doctors while becoming a majority non-white nation. These two trends highlight the need for greater diversity on this field. Studies have shown that patients of color see racially and ethnically diverse physicians. Treatment results are frequently higher.

However, the percentage of black doctors in the US is growing at an alarmingly slow rate – it has only increased by 4% over the last 120 years.. In the face of conservatives’ regressive and destructive attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, there has never been a greater need for us to redouble these efforts. The more we are able to improve health outcomes, the higher we’ll give you the chance to seize and compete for economic opportunities in the future. Given the urgent need to deal with health care workforce disparities and their direct impact on Black economic outcomes, it’s equally essential to acknowledge the broader economic opportunities that may drive wealth creation in our communities.

The competition for certainly one of the best economic opportunities in the history of tourism and hospitality – the 2026 FIFA World Cup – was the focus of our other curated conversation. Organized round the corner East Point Congress and Visitors Bureau, we sat down with its president, Chantel Francois. In her position, she is responsible for the development of the tourism industry in the city of East Point, Georgia. Previously, she led economic development and tourism promotion efforts in Atlanta, Trinidad and Tobago.

Francois described how local businesses run by entrepreneurs of color can leverage global events like the FIFA World Cup to extend their brand visibility, increase sales, and even start their very own businesses. She emphasized the importance of partnerships with event organizers, teams and athletes in constructing company awareness. This cooperation can also be crucial as the city government works with many stakeholders to make sure the safety of tourists and maximum economic opportunities for the area people.

When it involves such major events, it is usually essential to instill a way of community pride in each sector wherein an organization competes. This pride translates into a robust bond with travelers that may make them proceed to interact with small businesses or spark curiosity in them to learn more about the community. The 2026 FIFA World Cup has the potential to place tens of millions of dollars into the pockets and communities of individuals of color, and it’s crucial for businesses to begin planning now in the event that they have not already.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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