Laurie struggled with anxiety for most of her life. She was frightened in school, felt pressured to get high grades and go to college, and began drinking and using drugs while in high school. She attempted suicide her first year in college, at a time when she felt especially alone.
Each and every day across the world, between 800,000 and 1 million people die by suicide—one every 40 seconds. In the United States, that number is approximately 45,000—one every 12 minutes.… Read more »
Now more than ever, it is critical for all individuals to stand up and advocate for women and the environment. Imagine a world where the earth is cared for and there are no toxic chemicals in our homes, communities, or our environment. This vision is possible to achieve. We must act now if we are to create a planet where it is safe to live, work, and play and where all beings have a chance to thrive.
Women play a critical role in managing the resources of their family and their community.… Read more »
Ecological grief describes individuals who experience deep emotions related to loss of the environment and nonhuman life, loss related to the degradation of landscapes and ecosystems, and loss of cultures, livelihoods, and ways of life. Ecological grief also involves the experience of anticipatory grief for what is likely to come with continued climatic and environmental changes (Cunsolo & Landman, 2017).
Last October, the United Nations released its report on climate change. In it, the U. N. warned that without “unprecedented action,” catastrophic conditions could arrive by 2040 or earlier.… Read more »
“…There never seems to be enough time to do the things you want to do once you find them…”
–From “Time in a Bottle” by Jim Croce
Many of us think that material possessions and symbols of affluence (such as designer clothes, expensive cars, etc.) are great predictors of well-being and happiness. There is, however, another type of affluence that is a much better predictor of how happy and content we are. It is called time affluence. Time affluence is the feeling that we have enough time to pursue activities that are personally meaningful, to reflect, and to engage in leisure activities that we enjoy.… Read more »
All human societies have had to adapt to challenges created by climate change. No matter where people live, how they earn a living, what they eat, or how they access food and water, human health and well-being has been intricately connected to climate. The connection between protecting the natural environment and safeguarding human health has been recognized for a long time.
While shifts in climate have occurred throughout history, these changes have occurred very slowly and gradually, allowing humans and other life on earth to adapt.… Read more »
We all experience anxiety at some time or another in our lives. It can keep us alert and cautious when we need to be and it’s normal to have occasional bouts of anxiety as a response to stress, life challenges, or major decisions. Most anxiety tends to resolve as you work through the issues you are struggling with. However, if you have anxiety disorders, the worries don’t go away so easily and you may experience frequent, intense, excessive, and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations.… Read more »
Sexual assault can happen to any one of us, regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status. These forms of sexual violence are among the most underreported and/or unreported crimes in both the United States and the world due to the intensely difficult nature of the crimes.
Sexual violence is defined as any sexual act committed against someone without that person’s freely given consent. The act can be completed or attempted and can involve actions such as grabbing, fondling, verbal threats, and rape.… Read more »
Have you ever been bullied? Have you ever stood by and watched someone else get bullied? What did you do? How did it make you feel?
If you have ever been bullied or witnessed bullying, you are not alone. In the United States, more than 25% of students say they have been bullied at school while 30% of students admit to bullying others. More than 70% of students and staff have witnessed bullying at schools.
Human relationships are at the core of the human experience.… Read more »
World Hepatitis Day is July 28th. It provides an opportunity to learn the global burden of this disease, understand the different types of hepatitis, and the actions individuals can take to prevent the spread of it.
Hepatitis is a general term meaning inflammation of the liver. Viral hepatitis is a group of infectious diseases that include hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E and it affects millions of people worldwide, causing both acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) liver disease. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 325 million people worldwide are living with chronic hepatitis B or chronic hepatitis C.… Read more »
In 2010, Congress named June 27th PTSD Awareness Day and in 2014, the Senate designated the full month of June for National PTSD Awareness. The purpose of this designation is to encourage everyone to raise public awareness of PTSD and effective treatments. We can all help those affected by PTSD.
When someone is in danger, it is natural and normal to feel afraid. This fear triggers the fight-or-flight response, causing split-second changes in the body to help it prepare against danger or to avoid it.… Read more »