MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

1 out of 4 of us live with a mental illness and every 40 seconds someone commits suicide in the world

                                    

Do you know anyone with any of these conditions?

Autism

Bipolar Disorder

Depression

Anxiety

Eating Disorder

PTSD

Schizophrenia

What is the most common mental health disorder? Anxiety Disorders

What are some types of anxiety disorders?

·         Generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, OCD, phobias, PTSD, and eating disorders

Symptoms of a Generalized Anxiety Disorder:

·         Excessive worry for months

·         Restless or “wound-up”

·         Easily fatigued

·         Difficulty concentrating

·         Difficulty sleeping (including going to sleep, staying asleep, or restless sleep)

·         Difficulty controlling your worry

·         Tense muscles

·         Irritable

http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/infographic-life-anxiety

What differentiates “normal” stress from an anxiety disorder?

We might all feel nervous before an exam, an interview, or a big decision, but in someone who has an anxiety disorder, this feeling is more than just temporary. They cannot shake the feeling away, and this can worsen over time, ultimately interfering with functioning in daily activities, relationships, school, and work.

Know that you are NOT ALONE if you experience these symptoms. Celebrities such as Emma Stone, Elton John, and Amanda Seyfried have also been diagnosed with anxiety disorders.

To help screen for stress, take this quick questionnaire! http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/stress-screener

Treatment:

If you think a friend or a loved one is suffering from anxiety disorder or any mental health disorders, there is help available.

·         Psychotherapy: also called “talk therapy” can include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which helps teach a person different ways of thinking, behaving, and reacting to situation that produce anxiety or fear

·         Medications: can relieve symptoms but cannot cure the anxiety disorder. Please reach out to your primary care doctor or a psychiatrist for more information

·         Support groups and stress-management techniques are often helpful

Click here for recovery stories of inspiration! https://bbrfoundation.org/stories-of-recovery

References:

https://bbrfoundation.org

http://gulfnews.com/guides/health/5-most-common-mental-health-disorders-1.1825298

https://www.mentalhealth.gov/

http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/may

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/index.shtml

Written by:

Tina Hu

Drexel University College of Medicine

Tyh27@drexel.edu

May 2016

Are You Ready For Summer?

Summer is around the corner! Many of us cannot wait to enjoy the sunshine. But before we can head for the great outdoors, protecting our skin from sun damage should be a constant consideration. Actually, sun safety is extremely important to keep in mind no matter what season it is!

 

The sun has harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays that can damage the skin in as little as 15 minutes. UVA rays are present throughout the day and UVB rays are most intense from 10 am to 4 pm. UVA rays can cause premature aging and UVB rays can cause sunburns. Even when you can’t see the sun on a gloomy day, UV rays are still present! Over time, too much exposure to UV rays can lead to wrinkles and age spots, as well as increased risk for skin cancer and impaired eyesight (cataracts). There are 3.5 million new cases of skin cancer every year. Overexposure to the UV is a risk factor for skin cancer, but good news is it is the most preventable one.

 Tips for mindful sun safety:

• Apply sunscreen 15 minutes before going outside, even when it is not sunny, and reapply every couple of hours.
• Avoid being in direct sunlight for too long, especially between 10 am and 4 pm, when UV rays are the strongest.
• Wear a hat to protect areas that are often overexposed to intense sunlight, such as ears, eyes, forehead, nose, and scalp. For inexpensive additional protection, wear a large handkerchief or bandana under a baseball cap.
• Wear sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB Rays. Look for labels that say “UV absorption up to 400 nm” or “Meets ANSI UV Requirements.” Fashion sunglasses only block about 70% of UV rays and those without a label probably do not provide any UV protection.
  
  
   

 

 

 Choosing the right sunscreen is a daunting task. There are so many options that it can be overwhelming, but be sure to read the labels. Sun protection factor (SPF) is the level of protection the sunscreen provides against UVB rays. However, high SPF numbers do not necessarily mean more protection. For example, SPF of 30 does not mean it protects you twice as much as SPF 15. SPF 50 and SPF 100+ are available but do not add significantly more benefit. Also, remember, SPF mainly refers to UVB. Look for sunscreen with “broad-spectrum” labels for protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 to SPF 30 is highly recommended.

 Always protect yourself from harmful UV rays!

 

Wait, you might be asking, do tanning beds and sun lamps have UV rays? Yes, tanning lamps and sun lamps release both UVA and UVB rays. There is no such thing as a safe tan. Remember, a tan changes the color of your skin and is a sign of skin damage. As a result, tanning increases your risk of developing skin cancer.

 Go enjoy your favorite summer activities, but remember to protect your skin with these sun safety tips!  

 Test your knowledge with this sun safety quiz from the American Cancer Society: http://www.cancer.org/healthy/toolsandcalculators/quizzes/sun-safety/index

 References

 American Cancer Society. (2015, March 20). Skin Cancer Prevention and Early Detection. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/CancerCauses/SunandUVExposure/SkinCancerPreventionandEarlyDetection/skin-cancer-prevention-and-early-detection-u-v-protection

 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2006). The Burning Facts. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/documents/sunscreen.pdf

 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2015, October 26). Action Steps for Sun Safety. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/sunsafety/action-steps-sun-safety

 Written by: Angela Do

Philadelphia Ujima Graduate Student Intern
(Arcadia University)

Studies at the Women's Health Psychology Lab at Drexel University

 

 

Dr. Pamela A. Geller, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and Public Health, and Research Associate Professor in OB/GYN is conducting several studies related to health psychology and women’s health. The Geller lab is interested in looking at stressful life events, mental and physical health outcomes and the role of personal and social resources as moderators of stress, within the context of women’s reproductive life events. Recruitment is ongoing for the following studies:

 

Pregnancy Loss Study

The Pregnancy Loss Project is interested in how women cope with pregnancy loss and how pregnancy loss affects them. We are looking for women of color, Spanish or English speakers, ages 18-50, who have had an involuntary pregnancy loss, such as a miscarriage, stillbirth, or therapeutic abortion, to participate in a project about pregnancy loss, visit: tinyurl.com/pregnancylossstudy.

 NICU Study

The NICU Infants, Parental Stress, Couple and Family Impact study is interested in how a NICU infant impacts parental and family outcomes. This project is a Student Research Study being conducted through Drexel University in partial fulfillment of curriculum requirements. We are looking for biological mothers and their partners’ or spouses’ who had an infant admitted to a NICU 6 months to 3 years ago, who are in an intimate relationship with partner from NICU admission and have been cohabitating together and with infant since discharge from the NICU. If your infant is currently alive and born a singleton, if are currently 18 years or older and live in the United States we invite you to participate in your research study.  

Please visit: http://drexel.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_bBL3WQgREYmGp7L

 

Muslim Fertility Project

The Muslim Fertility Project is a new study on the impact of faith on the mental health and coping of Muslim women struggling with infertility and living in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, or Australia. Participants must be Muslim women who are at least 18 years old, not pregnant, and currently experiencing difficulty conceiving or carrying a pregnancy to live birth. Participation involves filling out a 20-minute online survey that includes demographic questions (e.g., age, education, race/ethnicity), followed by questions about pregnancy and fertility history, recent mood, religiosity, and spirituality. Learn more by watching the 3-min video at this link bit.ly/mfpvideo and/or take the survey here: bit.ly/MuslimFertility.

 

 

For further information. please contact

Emily Stasko at ecs74@drexel.edu