Tag: Health

Mental Health Month

Thursday, May 1

“Speak Up for Kids” #ISpeakUp Selfie Project

APA is partnering with the Child Mind Institute for the third year of the “Speak Up for Kids” campaign. APA staff and the association’s followers on Twitter and Facebook will be encouraged to take pictures of themselves holding a sign (PDF, 163KB) completing the sentence “I speak up because…” with why they care about children’s mental health. Supporters can share their photos on their own personal networks using the #ISpeakUp hashtag. APA followers’ messages will be shared on APA social networks throughout the month of May.

Sunday, May 4

“How to Tell When a Kid is Struggling” Webinar, 7-8 p.m. (EDT)

APA and the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) are hosting a webinar for PTA members entitled “How to Tell When a Kid is Struggling Emotionally.” APA Executive Director for Professional Practice Katherine Nordal, PhD, will open the discussion. Rockville, Md.-based clinical psychologist Mary Alvord, PhD, will talk with parents, educators and youth-serving professionals about how to recognize when a youth is struggling and what to do when you know a child or teen needs help.

Tuesday, May 13

Finding Answers #EquityChat, 2-3 p.m. (EDT)

APA will co-host a Twitter #EquityChat on health disparities affecting boys and men in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Finding Answers initiative. Wizdom Powell, PhD, an APA member and expert on African-American men’s mental health, will lead the discussion. Powell is chair of the APA Working Group on Health Disparities in Boys and Men.

Wednesday, May 14

Blogging for Mental Health

Psychologists writing for APA’s public education blog, Your Mind, Your Body, invite people to share their stories related to mental health and emotional wellness.

Thursday, May 15

Community Forum on Substance Abuse and Mental Health, Chicago School of Professional Psychology, 901 15th St., NW, Washington, D.C., 5:30-7:30 p.m. (EDT)

The APA Office of Ethnic Minority Affairs will sponsor a community forum through its Ethnicity and Health in America Series to raise awareness about the physiological impact of substance abuse and addiction among Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders. Hosted in partnership with the Chicago Professional School of Psychology, the D.C. Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs, the National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse and faculty members from nearby institutions, the event will focus on mental health, substance abuse/addiction and barriers to treatment.

Wednesday, May 21

Mind the Gap: Integrating Physical & Mental Health Care, Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, 3-5 p.m. (CDT)

Panelists will discuss improving mental health care for youth and families, benefits of collaborative care for mental and physical health and actions to address the challenges of integrated care. APA member Cathy Mavrolas, PhD, chief psychologist and director of training in psychology, LaRabida Children’s Hospital in Chicago, will be among the panelists. The Child Mind Institute is sponsor of the event.

The American Psychological Association, in Washington, D.C., is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. APA’s membership includes nearly 130,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people’s lives.

Fitness For Busy Professionals

By Helen Troncoso

RENEW. REFOCUS. REINVENT.

Let’s face it, not everyone has a few hours everyday to spend at the gym. To top it off, our obesity epidemic continues to rise despite the increasing number of gyms available each year. Lucky for you, fitness doesn’t only happen at the gym. Here are three tips to get healthy and fit for even the busiest professional. Thirty Minutes To A New You Anytime you can do less work, and still get great results is a deal in my book. A 2012 study published in the American Journal of Physiology found that thirty minutes of daily exercise is just as effective for losing weight as sixty minutes. Get in there, and get it done! If you can read a magazine, text or play on Facebook while exercising, all you’re doing is wasting your precious time. Look for exercise plans that combine interval training, strength training, core exercises and stretching. Don’t forget to mix it up so you’re body doesn’t get used to a particular routine. If you’re strength training, change your routine every two weeks. Like to run? Add in some crosstraining and circuits to see a boost in your running time and performance. The best thing you can do is to be consistent, and emphasize quality over quantity.

Schedule your success

In a perfect world we would have all the time in the day to exercise. Then reality hits and you need to get the kids out the door, and fix yourself so you’re not doing your makeup while driving, once again. Schedule the time to workout. Lay out your clothes the night before. As a matter of fact, sleep in your gym clothes if it will help strike one more excuse why you can’t workout. You don’t need to plan a routine that’s overly complicated, but you also don’t want to “wing it” either. Go for something in-between. Write out short term and long-term goals so you know if you’re progressing or not. Use technology to help keep you on track and in shape. Apps like MyFitnessPal, GymPact, Nexercise and Nike Training Club are just some of the great tools you can use to save time and automate your schedule..

Never neglect nutrition

Here’s the thing, you can never, ever out train a bad diet. Eating well is often the difference between success and failure. Especially if you have one of those super busy days where you absolutely can’t do a quick workout. Think about it, this is the only body you’re going to have, so why not treat it well? Feed it food that will help you power through any boardroom meeting, and especially while you’re catching up on those late night e-mail. A general rule of thumb is to skip the nonfat, low fat, too many ingredients you can’t even pronounce trap. Feed your body real food. Planning and prepping meals for you and your entire family is healthier, will save you money and give you more time to spend on yourself. If you don’t take care of your health, it will eventually catch up to you and you won’t be around to take care of that family you sacrifice so much for. Change your perspective on exercise, and find inspiration and motivation from everything around you. It will help to keep you on track especially when your mind is screaming at you all the reasons why you can’t do this. Matter of fact, stop thinking about all the things you can’t do, and make a true commitment to living a healthier and happier life today. Disclaimer: Always consult with your medical doctor before starting any rigorous workout, especially if you have a preexisting condition. Start off slow and build from there to help avoid burnout and injury.

Source:

  1. Rosenkilde, P. L. Auerbach, M. H. Reichkendler, T. Ploug, B. M. Stallknecht, A. Sjodin. Body fat loss and compensatory mechanisms in response to different doses of aerobic exercise – a randomized controlled trial in overweight sedentary males. AJP: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 2012

Dr. Helen Troncoso is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, health expert and founder of Reinventing You, LLC where she helps busy people get healthy and fit. For more health and wellness tips, visit her website at: www.helentroncoso.com

 

Have Questions about The Health Insurance Marketplace? #Getcovered

Below is information for consumers on how to access their health plans as well as education factsheets explaining how health insurance works.

5 New Year Resolutions You DEFINITELY want to make for 2014

By Brandise Brockington

In a media driven, beauty inundated society, we are pressured to work on our outside appearances, and sometimes, our insides, the true essence of who we are, can be in serious need of T.L.C.

While pursuing a new diet, to get rid of those holiday pound cakes, or starting a new workout regime, add these tips for use in the New Year, and all year long as well.

  1. Pursue Peace:

Our lives can get very busy! Work, Relationships, Responsibilities….all of these can leave us wiped out and stressed out. What can you schedule into your list of busy life demands that fosters your peace? I say schedule, because it has to be non negotiable. Here are a few ideas: a walk on the beach, sing in the shower, get a pedicure, read a book….

  1. Love Yourself:

Sounds easier said than done, but I mean it in a balanced way. Love your strengths, be aware of your weaknesses, and celebrate whom you are and how far you have come. Don’t spend any time comparing yourself to someone else’s journey. I have always believed that true beauty radiates from the inside out, and we can’t truly love others, until we love ourselves.

  1. Forgive:

Yes I said it! When you read this, was there a certain person whose face came to mind? Is there a situation that happened last year, or before, that still boils your blood?   I read once, that forgives is like drinking poison, and expecting the other person to die. Isn’t that crazy? Forgiveness is for YOU, not them. Forgiveness means you release the offending party in your HEART, so that you can be healthy. It in no way justifies or makes acceptable whatever they have done to you. You may need to find someone to help you walk through this process, but I promise you, in the end, you will be healthy and whole inside!

  1. Laugh Loud and Laugh Often:

Did you know that laughter is good medicine? Have you ever had one of those good laughs, the ones that make you cry? I have a friend, and she is soooo funny! When she calls me, it’s usually to tell some silly thing that happened to her, and we literally are crying tears of joy on the phone! Sometimes, it’s just those moments that are so timely, and extremely effective in relieving stress.   I also remember once having an awful break up. I was so sad. I called that same friend’s mom because I needed some advice on how to cope. She told me to watch some part of my favorite funny movie everyday, even if it was just a few minutes. It helped! It got my mind off of the break up, and I felt better! Laughter is healing!

  1. Focus on the Positive:

Let’s face it; it’s much easier to focus on what’s WRONG. Turn on the news, and the reports are filled with the negative and horrible things that happened today in your neighborhood, and around the world.   We have to put forth effort to find the good, and focus on that. I am not suggesting that we live in a happy bubble, ignoring problems that arise. Make yourself write a list of the 5 things that went RIGHT today. Also, make a jar, and for every good thing that happens to you in 2014, make a note and drop it in the jar. Fill the jar with positive quotes as well. When you are having a bad day, pull something out, and remind yourself to focus on the positive.

Beauty radiates from the inside out. Let’s spend 2014 working on our hearts, minds, and our spirit. Here’s to a beautiful 2014!

BOH Beauty

Brandise is a stylist working from Hawaii to New York. She is an advocate for children and health as she knows that Self-esteem is concern in the Beauty community.

Born and raised in Hawaii, Brandise has always had a passion for all things beauty. Brandise recalls, “I remember playing in my grandmother’s make up as often as I could when I was a little girl. And I have always been the family hairstylist for as long as I can remember.”

Brandise specializes in bringing excellence and simplicity to the complex beauty process. She is adept at bringing beauty to your everyday life, and enhancing that beauty for special occasions.

Por Tu Familia

George ‘Urban Jibaro’ Torres
Introducing the Latino Health Project website, a social media driven / user generated clearinghouse of health info with a special focus on Diabetes.
Contribute on your favorite social media platform by adding the ‪#‎portufamilia‬ hashtag to http://lnkd.in/EBc2T2

Music and Mood: #MusicMonday

 By Jes Sofia Valle, MA MFTI
 
What a great start to my day!  Hearing Feeling Good By Nina Simone. I always find that starting my day with what I like to call a “SUPERSONG” makes my day so much better. I am up beat and overall, I feel better.  Isn’t it interesting how one song can make your day?
 
Mood: 
Did you know that there is a thing called Music Psychology? Its where various of people who love music and research do what they love, research music and what are the effects on humans.  It has been studied that music of one’s liking has been most effective in increasing positive feelings and decreasing negative feelings. Depending on what you like, calling it designer music. The results of studies on results suggest that designer music may be useful in the treatment of tension, mental distraction, and negative moods (McCraty R, Barrios-Choplin B, Atkinson M, Tomasino D., 1998) .  
Health:
In Health, the use of music has also been shown that it helps promote a sense of well-being and to distract  from pain and other unpleasant symptoms, thoughts, and feelings, while being convenient and readily available(Kemper, K. J. MD, MPH; Danhauer, S. C. PHD, 2005). Music helps to improve mood and decrease anxiety, as well as decrease the pain associated with surgery, medical procedures, and chronic conditions; it also helps ease the dying process(Kemper, K. J., 2005). Music may help premature babies to gain weight more quickly (Kemper, K. J., 2005). Music may enhance care-giving behavior (Kemper, K. J., 2005).
Culture:
I must remind you that music with in itself has it’s own culture. It derives from our own cultures, weather you listen to Samba, Jazz, Rap, R&B, Pop, Soul, Neo-Soul…. It all come from everywhere. Some artist say it comes from the drum… I say it comes from where you come from, where you bought it, where you connect to it. Also, where you allow it to go. Music can take you places…its up to you where you let it take you.
Today, I let it take me to my happy mood…
What song gets you in a good mood?
 
References:  
Kemper, K. J. MD, MPH; Danhauer, S. C. PHD, (March 2005) Music as Therapy Southern Medical  Journal (98) 3 282-288
 McCraty R, Barrios-Choplin B, Atkinson M, Tomasino D. (1998) The effects of different types of music on mood, tension, and mental clarity. Altern Ther Health Med. 1998 Jan 4(1) 75-84.
 

I will leave you with this:  

 
Birds flyin’ high you know how I feel
Sun in the sky you know how I feel
Breeze driftin’ on by you know how I feel
Its a new dawn, its a new day, its a new life for me
yeah, its a new dawn its a new day its a new life for me ooooooooh
AND I’M FEELING GOOD
 
Fish in the sea, you know how I feel
River runnin’ free you know how I feel
Blossom on the tree you know how I feel
Its a new dawn, its a new day, its a new life for me
And I’m feelin good
 
Dragonfly out in the sun you know what i mean dont you know
Butterflies all havin’ fun you know what I mean
Sleepin’ peace when day is done that’s what I mean
And this old world is a new world and a bold world for me
 
Stars when you shine you know how I feel
Scent of the crime you know how I feel
Your freedom is mine, and I know how I feel
Its a new dawn, its a new day, its a new life for me
(Free styling)
OH I’M FEELING GOOOOOOOOOOOOOD
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/n/nina+simone/feeling+good_20100629.html
 
 
Smile (If you want)