Self-care in uncertain times

A good form of self-care for teenagers would be to encourage them to talk and share their feelings. Studies have shown that, talking about feelings can help a person to stay in a good mental health, in other to deal with times they feel troubled. However, being that the average teen’s brain is not fully developed, they may respond to the stress this pandemic has caused very differently. In the year of 2001, 50% of adolescent with mental health issues kept their struggles from their parents and friends hoping it would go away because they feel embarrassed or they simply do not trust anyone, which are things that can lead to depression and anxiety in teenagers. Mental health has become a great side effect of this pandemic, and while teenagers cannot go out and have a social life, it is time for siblings, parents and adult guardians to step in and help by simply; planning cook outs, a bike ride where everyone cannot be that close to each other, or a socially distant bonfire and having fun conversations with their teenage loved ones that could be struggling mentally. Also, teens may be anxious about their family’s economic situation during a time when businesses are closing, and employees are being furloughed. Parents should not just brush off the anxiety because that may not work for all teenagers. Rather, they should acknowledge the anxiety teens and young adults are feeling and have an open and honest discussion about the struggles they could be facing. But, in that process parents should be able to balance the facts with a level of reassurance and talk about coming up with plans to help the situation. Therefore, discussing family economics with teens can also be a good way of communication to teens just to relief them of the stress and anxiety they could be facing to promote proper self-care, doing this is especially important for those who require mental health and psychosocial support. Because the stigma associated with mental health problems may cause teenagers to be reluctance in seeking support for both COVID-19 and mental health conditions.

Teenagers are young and have noticeably big dreams for their future but now, in place of their dreams, stress and anxiety loom large for some. At the beginning of this pandemic, when schools shut down, teenagers  saw that as a great opportunity to just stay home all day, play video games and for the extroverts an opportunity to hang out with their peers more often but for others, at the time they didn’t think it was forever. However, as news came out in the media it became nerve-wracking because they knew there was less and less of a chance of going back to school. So then, the disappointment and disruption from the coronavirus has been especially hard for teenagers, caught in limbo at a time when they are ready to launch. Many teens are wading through complicated emotions right now. They have had to adjust to online learning, isolate from their friends and erase meaningful events from their calendars, which has significantly decreased the ability to provide self-care for themselves. Many with the new mentality of just being home all day, with nothing to do or no one to visit have gradually become living zombies with zero ideas of proper self-care. Therefore, Parents and adult siblings who may be equally balancing work and remote learning schedules, should try to find ways to help their teenagers cope with the stress and mental health fallout resulting from the pandemic.

Negative Effects of Infodemic during COVID-19

Social media has become one of the main channels to receive new information but exposing oneself to it can also increase the chance of having anxiety and depression. Nowadays, the fastest and most convenient way for people to receive new information and health guidelines is through social media because of its speed of news updating and the huge variety of sources it has. Although social media does help us to receive information about the pandemic more rapidly, there are also negative effects of using social media such as increasing the prevalence of mental illness. Also, due to the large variety of sources that social media has, it had made fake news and misinformation spread faster and even further. According to a study about mental health and social media exposure, “82.0% of participants frequently expose them to social media, and frequently social media exposure associated high odds of anxiety and combination of depression and anxiety, which is consistent with previous studies” (Gao et al. 7). This study also has shown that there is a high prevalence of mental disorders during the outbreak of coronavirus and such high prevalence is related to exposing oneself to social media frequently. Other than the aforementioned, there are many studies that were done to prove the association between social media and mental disorders during different times of humanitarian crises.

Undoubtedly, during the outbreak of COVID-19, misinformation and false statements have flooded social media and aroused groundless fears among lots of netizens, which have caused them to be more confused about the current situation and also do damage to their mental health. In addition to that, many users had revealed and disclosed their thoughts and opinions about the virus with negative feelings, such as fear, worry, and anxiety on social media where emotions are contagious and can be spread. The study about overloaded information and infodemic had suggested that “searching the internet for COVID-19 related news which may result in confusion, disappointment, and frustration” (Rathore 164), makes the fact that infodemic does harm to our mental health more explicit. Besides that, the study also suggested that “reading about infection and death rates regularly can adversely affect morale and mental health during this time of lockdown and isolation” (Rathore 165), indicating that viewing a considerable amount of information about the pandemic does impact our mental health negatively.

Temporary Dental Clinic Closures

Visualize yourself as a local dental assistant  during a threatening global pandemic. Well being a dental assistant isn't easy, especially since you have people, other than yourself, to take care of and ensure their safety. Dentistry departments should close until after the Coronavirus is contained, because the virus negatively impacts the occupation. Being a dental assistant is very risky, and the ways they provide care to their patients, can and may increase the transmission of the Coronavirus to others.

Consequently, a dental assistant's role is to clean their patients' teeth, which means they have to pry into people's mouths. "The practice of dentistry involves the use of rotary dental and surgical instruments...These instruments create a visible spray that can contain particle droplets of water, saliva, blood, microorganisms, and other debris." (CDC). This can cause a very unsanitary environment, which can cause the spread of Coronavirus. If dentist clinics were closed during this troubling time, less people would be susceptible to COVID-19 through dentistry. This shows one way how closing dental clinics can prevent exposure to the virus.

I have two minutes to tell you that Dental Clinics should be closed until post-pandemic times. This is for the safety of the dentists & dental assistants who work there, and their patients. This may help "to reduce the risk for transmitting and acquiring infection," (CDC). With less people at dental clinics, where the environment can become unsanitary, less people can be exposed to the Coronavirus. Though some may say that closing the dentistry occupation isn't important, being a dentist is an essential job to postpone during a global pandemic such as the Coronavirus, for the reasons of good health for everybody. And now fellow peers and scholars, I invite you to take care of your teeth and use floss, this is very important. Let your children clean their teeth twice a day, and do not let them drink a lot of juices. That will raise awareness of the importance of dental clinics. Thank you!!!   

     

The Silent Pandemic

    With this pandemic, people are in isolation in their homes. While this may be perfect for certain individuals with perfect households, there are some individuals who have to constantly fight an emotional battle in their households. They specifically have to deal with issues with mental health. Mental health is a topic that is slightly gaining traction in today's age. However, there are still households that do not show any support to those with mental health. It is often seen as taboo and not real. With this, there needs to an emphasized effort in educating all generation about mental health.

    As you may know, ideologies differ among all generations. In regards to mental health, there is a split in belief with mental health. It is often not mentioned in group conversation due to fear of ridicule. Many believe that it does not require physician assisted help. While this is dangerous for teens who are under guidance by these older generations, there may be older generations that suffer from mental health issues, but are forced to confine to their generations ideologies. There can not be a relaxed perspective upon this issue. There needs to be urgency to tackle this pandemic.

American Teenager’s Health Issues in During Pandemic

American Teenager’s Health Issues in During Pandemic 

    During pandemic teenagers have stayed all day in shelter and they have been spending most of their time on social media. It gives them social stress and depression. There are many social stresses going on social media, one of them fake information. In the article, “Teens and Social Media during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Staying Socially Connected While Physically Distant.”, Jessica Hamilton, she states “One of the clearest ways that social media can harm teens is through the spread of misinformation and “fake news”about COVID-19”( Hamilton 13). They believe fake information easily, and they also share it on their facebook, instagram and twitter that help to spread the fake information very fast. It brings them more stress and fear. Since teenagers can not meet their friends and do not go out anytime they want, they want to spend more time on social media and chatting with their friends. Many statistics show teens spend more time on social media than other people because  they do not want to feel loneliness. While children and adults all of ages are experiencing feelings of loneliness during this time of physical distancing, the effects of being isolated from peers may be especially pronounced for teens (Hamilton 5). It shows they may affect mental health issues more than others. That is why parents need to pay attention to their teens. If they help them, they can be more healthy and safe. 
    Though some people may say social media has many benefits that teenagers can connect to each other from any place, and they can make friends easily. Therefore, it is educational which provides many kinds of educational benefits. In the article, the author mentions ”Social media provides unique benefits for teens during the COVID-19 pandemic, including access to resources, social connection, and the ability to explore and express themselves. However, social media also can negatively affect teen’s anxiety, mood, body image, and sleep, and contribute to the spread of false information about coronavirus”(Hamilton 2). It shows  social media has advantages and disadvantages. Teens are very active on social media and they are comparing themselves to others. It makes them anxious because they see unbelievably beautiful people and perfectly shaped bodies. Social media is very addictive and they want to scroll a few minutes before sleep and it ends mostly endless scrolling. It means they sleep late and It lead them to poor sleep. Sleeping poor might  end up destroying their immune system. That is why teenagers use social media less. It helps them to be healthy.

Uplifting African American boys

Hello fellow classmates

I have two minutes to tell you that inside our hostile world we need more youth mentoring programs 

to help prevent gun violence, police brutality and education discrimination in our African American 

communities. Considering mentors provide guidance, mind development and protect souls from the 

world racial abuse.  According to the article Mentoring plays integral role in reducing gun violence 

in one of Americas most violent cities by: Justin Preston stated “you grow up with that experience, 

“he says” and it create a great deal of hostility, anger and untreated vicious trauma in your life”  That 

statement gave awareness on how a fatherless kid is exposed to negative activity and behavior in his 

African American community that could effect and direct them down the wrong path; to life.  Black 

boys are known for being bad and troubled but, their hurting and crying out for help.  Their 

misbehaviors are them acting out in pain and wanting to be included, loved, welcomed, respected 

and wanted. Though some may say youth mentoring programs would not prevent gun violence, 

police brutality and education discrimination.  This is evidence that mentoring can inspire black boys 

and young men to make healthier and safer choices.  Given these points fellow scholars, I invite you 

to share some of your thoughts or observations on the challenges that African American boys and 

men face growing and living in America

 

Offering The Needed Mental Support

                                                                        

The global pandemic known as COVID-19 has had detrimental effects on many lives as the population has to adopt new practices to ensure safety for themselves and those around them. The virus has imposed an ample amount of issues for people all over the world to deal with, and to deal with said issues in an extremely hasty and timely matter. While the world is taking drastic measures to battle the virus COVID-19, remembering to offer help to the elderly in nursing homes that suffer from the effects of mental illness is of utmost importance; the faculty of resident nursing homes should be supporting and teaching the tools of online social communication such as FaceTime and Zoom, offering mental health support groups, and promoting outside activities so that elders will receive the help that is vital for maintaining positive mental health. Even though it will take extra time for the healthcare workers to give these tools to elders, it is imperative that they are offered for the longterm effects on residents’ positive mental state. Offering this mental support to elders is a pressing issue that must be addressed and changed to help those who are suffering greatly in this stressful pandemic.

Most people in the twenty-first century have a strong need and desire to uphold close relations with friends and family members that they care immensely about; but with the COVID-19 pandemic causing the urgent need for the population to keep socially distant from other people, that has proven to be somewhat difficult to do in many cases. One of the largest demographics of people that struggle to find a way to connect with family and friends are the large amount of elderly in nursing homes that suffer from mental illness. According to an article published by The Lancet “Santini and colleagues recently demonstrated that social disconnection puts older adults at greater risk of depression and anxiety.”(Richard Armitage, and  Laura B Nellums, 2020) Meaning that many people in nursing homes that are suffering from mental illness need the help and support of healthcare workers more than during COVID-19. A fantastic way to battle the negative effects of elders self-isolating is with the aid of healthcare workers and nursing home faculty showing residents how to use social communication apps such as FaceTime and Zoom to communicate with loved ones. In an article published by the US National Library of Medicine, it was found that patients that were taught how to use social communication apps by the nursing home employees, had a huge improvement in their behavior and mental health.( Sanjana P Padala. et al, 2020) By using services such as Zoom and FaceTime, it can help elders residing in nursing homes a chance to connect with family and friends and help many in retaining their social connections that they rely on for their own positive mental health. These apps could also open up options for mental health resources such as online therapy for elders to utilize and benefit from. If the employees working at nursing home residencies took the time to show elders the tools for social communication via online applications, it would help immensely in boosting their mental health and would give them outlets for social communication while maintaining a social distance.

    Offering an outdoor exercise schedule to elders in nursing homes could also give elders something to look forward to every week. Many elders have had many plans ruined by the COVID-19 pandemic such as weddings, family reunions, or graduations. After having all of these important life events changed, offering weekly outside activities may give them something to look forward to once more. By healthcare providers encouraging elders to exercise outside, it can help in reducing the anxiety caused by COVID-19 in elders suffering from poor mental health, and give their bodies and minds healthy outlets to move in a time of stress.

Hello, my name is Giovanna Tognoli and I have two minutes to tell you that while the world is taking drastic measures to battle the virus

COVID-19, remembering to offer help to the elderly in nursing homes that suffer from the effects of mental illness is of utmost importance; the faculty of resident nursing homes should be supporting and teaching the tools of online social communication such as FaceTime and Zoom, offering mental health support groups, and promoting outside activities so that elders will receive the help that is vital for maintaining positive mental health. Some may say that the essential workers that are employed in nursing homes are already over taxed and overbooked; they simply do not have time to focus on something as insignificant as mental health for their patients. However, there is evidence that by supporting mental health for residents that suffer from mental illness will actually show positive growths in their mental and physical health. As seen in many articles that residents who maintained their positive mindset also resulted in changes in their appetites, more mobility, and had such a vast behavioral improvement that they were able to take care of most of their own needs. And now fellow scholars, I invite you to try and support those residing in nursing homes as much as you can with the current pandemic. Remember to offer as many resources as you can if you know anyone in a nursing home such as a family or friend by giving your time and an ear to listen and support them in anyway you can.

Universal Healthcare is Not a Commodity​: ​A Look Into the Health Coverage System in the United States

As the United States continues to avoid the push for change, there are many other countries that have implemented universal or national health coverage. One of those countries is Denmark, where national health care was implemented since 1973. In comparison to the United States, Denmark spends less by providing national health coverage that is partially covered by taxes paid by the public. In 2017, in the United States, out-of-pocket costs were $1,125 per capita, while in Denmark it was $690 of out-of-pocket costs per capita[5]. In their system, Danes have two options given to them, one which covers almost all health care costs and one that provides access to specialty clinics but requires copays. Even with copays, the spending is still less than what Americans are paying for health care.

Because health care is unattainable for about 27 million Americans[6], they’re unable to seek preventative care which leads to minor health issues becoming severe or even chronic health issues. The importance of preventative care such as physician check-ups, x-rays, tests, and screenings is not taken into consideration with the current health care system in the United States. For example, someone who works part-time without benefits cannot afford to pay for private healthcare. If this person is injured or feeling ill, they will likely avoid seeking treatment because the costs are outrageous. The effect of avoiding care can often lead to serious illness which for many can mean a visit to the emergency room. In 2017, the average cost of an emergency room was $1,138 which is 176% more than it was 10 years prior [7]. For someone who is unemployed or underemployed, this isn’t feasible. The costs pile up leading to issues such as medical bankruptcy.

Self Care During Uncertain Times: Mental and Physical Health

            Working out will greatly increase your mental health. “Mental disorders include emotional and behavioral symptoms defined by The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and the International Classification of Disease (ICD). These include schizophrenia, depression, anxiety disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder, and substance abuse and dependence.” (Dunn) As I applied exercise to my own life, I came to realize that other areas of my life became much more promising such as improvement in school, diet, water consumption, decreased stress and anxiety, and my ability to emphasize and focus on the important things in life. Many people in the world already have a good habit of exercising regularly, and that is great! I feel as if people with some of the above listed mental conditions are much more likely to not exercise.

In Andrea Dunn’s article The Effects of Exercise on Mental Health, she mentions Section 8 of the Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory report published in 2008 which concludes with the following statement. “Based on cross-sectional and prospective epidemiological data, are that physical activity can protect against feelings of distress, enhance psychological well-being, protect against symptoms of anxiety and development of anxiety disorders, protect against depressive symptoms and development of major depressive disorder, and delay the effects of dementia and the cognitive decline associated with aging. (Dunn) There are so many people who waste what little time they are given on this earth. If you want to better your life mentally, get up and get after it! Nothing is going to change if you don’t!

Working out will drastically improve your physical health. “Exercise is one of the most frequently prescribed therapies both in health and disease. There is irrefutable evidence showing the beneficial effects of exercise both to prevent and to treat several diseases.” (Vina) In this quote, Jose Vina, the author of the article Exercise Acts as a Drug; the Pharmacological Benefits of Exercise shows us how exercise is especially important in fighting disease. While Covid-19 is the popular topic these days, the death count as of July 13, 2020 in the United States is approximately 140,000. Meanwhile, about 650,000 people die annually in the United States from heart disease. So, which is the real pandemic?

Imagine if the news and media outlets emphasized the importance of exercise and good health, would anyone listen? The answer is no. Unfortunately, the average American does not get enough exercise or eat well. “Recent research suggests that modest increments in energy expenditure due to physical activity (∼100 kcal per week) or an increase in physical fitness of 1 MET (metabolic equivalent) is associated with lowering mortality by about 20%.” (Vina) Jose Vina suggests “modest increments in energy expenditure.” Modest; that is it. I am not asking you to go run a marathon, join a basketball team, or take up interpretive dance, I am merely suggesting that we as a country start exercising more and start becoming better people. It does not take much to start, just a bit of motivation.

                                             

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    Within the hispanosphere & lusosphere of what's currently known as “Latin America” the prioritisation of foreign colonial languages such as, Spanish and Portuguese is a direct consequence of colonialism. According to a 2019 report from the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL International), approximately “880 Indigenous languages are spoken across 20 Latin American countries” and for the mass majority of these ethno-linguistic communities, little to no resources pertaining to COVID-19 have been translated to their maternal languages. An accessible solution that was executed within the settler colonial nation of Guatemala was accomplished via la Academia de Lenguas Mayas de Guatemala (ALMG); an Indigenous Maya lead organisation that regulates the use of the 22 nationally recognized Maya languages within the colonial borders of Guatemala. Amidst the pandemic ALMG not only created resources in the 22 Maya languages but additionally extended these translation services to the other 2 nationally recognised spoken Indigenous languages, Garifuna & Xinka. These resources were then not only spread online, where you can still find videos on their YouTube channel (TV Maya Guatemala ALMG), but additionally spread these resources in physicality in the capital, Indigenous pueblos + settlements. While navigating the complex structure that is the healthcare system, it is vital to offer interpretation services in people’s original tongue for ease of navigation and for these patients to have free, prior & informed consent. Additionally we mustn't ignore the inherent power dynamic that these sites (i.e. hospitals, test centres, quarantine sites, etc.) are all on occupied Indigenous land and to not offer these resources in Indigenous languages perpetuates colonialism & forced assimilation in a direct manner. 

While travelling can be a great escape from whatever we may be dealing with at home, we must be conscientious travellers and keep in mind the impact we have & bring as foreigners and guests on someone else’s land. As stated by The San Pedro Sun news source, “according to government figures, the tourism industry is the second largest revenue earner for [Belize]” however, Belize just like many other Caribbean nations will be experiencing a major decline in economic activity due to COVID-19 puncturing travel opportunities and financial investments into the tourism industry. While Belize has decided to close its borders amidst the ongoing pandemic, Dean Barrow, the current prime minister has “announced that the Philip Goldson International Airport (BZE) will be reopened on August 15th, 2020 to allow travel to Belize” (Belize COVID-19 Updates for Travellers). In future months, to recuperate from the loss of revenue due to COVID-19, Belize will be heavily promoting travel tourism in hopes to revamp their economy, bringing in folx from countries with financial & healthcare privileges as “Americans account for Belize’s largest tourism market” (BTB Mid Year Tourism Report). With this influx of tourists that will be travelling to these “vacation getaway hotspot destination” when it is deemed “safe” to travel again, these exact people will be risking exposure to Indigenous pueblos & settlements, namely Maya pueblos & Garinagu settlements that are typically already impoverished and neglected + exploited by settler-colonial governments. This expression of neo-colonial violence has the potentiality to mirror the horrific atrocities of early colonizers’ first contact that decimated Indigenous populations due to foreign diseases they brought with them. While already facing discrimination within the healthcare system, monolingual Maya & Garifuna speakers will have an even harder time navigating these systems to obtain help when it can be prevented via keeping colonial borders closed. Although this life & culture threatening reality is not secular to just the colonial nation of Belize, but every colonial nation occupying Indigenous land. However, it is exacerbated for colonial countries that are deemed “travel destinations”, that obtain a “tourist location destination” and colonial nations that are largely dependent upon the tourism industry. The premature choice of travel & reopening of colonial borders will have detrimental long-lasting effects upon Indigenous sovereignty, cultures, communities & peoples as forms of countless cases of preventable sickness & deaths.

Which brings me to my final point in this essay, the dire necessity for a genuine deeper discussion on the reallocation of resources & funding centring Indigenous voices as we are the original stewards of this land. As colonisation and westward expansion has greatly impacted Indigenous populations, colonial anti-Indigenous governments have continued to not only terrorize our communities, settlements, reserves, aldeas, pueblos & povos but additional our homeland, the Earth herself. The largest, most vital “resource” there is, land. Due to colonialism & capitalism, there is a common thread among Indigenous peoples throughout the entire world. Which is the exilitation or displacement of Indigenous peoples of their homelands in order for colonial governments to move in and steal the wealth of “resources”, whether that be the land herself, water, gemstones//minerals, oil, etc. By denying us access to the land we come from and the part of us we are meant to protect as original stewards of this land, this is further perpetuating genocide in hopes to eradicate us. As stated prior, Indigenous peoples are incredibly underrepresented within colonial governments and even when colonial governments do create change on a governmental level for our communities, these legislative changes are “rather tepid and too generally formulated to be effective” additionally, “they have not yet transformed the conflicting nature of the relationships between Indigenous peoples and other segments of [colonial] societies” (De La Peña 309). This is the exact reason for the crucial need for an honest conversation about Land Back, the restoration process of the land to the original stewards and Indigenous + tribal sovereignty. These discussions need not only be had in relation to autonomous zones or predominantly Indigenous populated areas, but within colossal colonial city-states as well, for example, what’s currently known as “New York City”, Lenapehoking. Indigenous peoples are actively being barred from joining colonial governments, while being under attack from these same colonial structures. 

Some may argue that language accessibility isn’t important, that people should be able to travel whenever + wherever they want, that there is proper Indigenous representation in colonial governments. Yet all these claims are colonial violence, anti-Indigenous racism and quite frankly, blatantly false + uninformed. 

How are we supposed to exist within a colonial structure of oppression set in place to eradicate us? How are we supposed to navigate and turn this structure to work for us when we are actively being excluded? How are we supposed to survive if these structures are destroying our homelands for capitalistic gain + greed? How are we supposed to communicate with a structure that refuses to learn our languages? How are we supposed to survive during this global pandemic that has the potentiality to decemate countless cultures when colonial governments refuse to even acknowledge our existence, pre-existing struggles & struggles due to these violent colonial governments’ existences?

A Double Crisis: Global Pandemic and Domestic violence Against Women

(Source:https://thewellproject.org/sites/default/files/article_images/violenceagainstwomen.jpg)

Domestic violence refers to the violence committed by an intimate partner or family member. It can be either physically, mentally, or economically. Women usually have a higher chance to be the victim of domestic violence, according to the national domestic violence hotline. 3 in 10 women (29%) in the US have experienced some kind of domestic violence as compared to 1 in 10 men(10%) in general. The government also realized this problem, so they passed a Violence Against Women Act in 1994. The goal of this law is to set up a hotline that allows women to report any domestic abuse cases. However, during COVID-19, the increased amount of domestic violence prevents the hotline worker from being able to take care of all of the cases. Therefore, women who are experiencing domestic violence need community care because domestic violence affects women both mentally and physically. Although we are encouraging social distancing during COVID-19, women who are afraid to speak out need in-person community support providing them a safe environment to talk about their story which could prevent women from getting mental illness at the same time leading to a healthy environment for children.

(Source:https://www.uowblogs.com/iedf714/files/2017/03/End-Violence-web-tile-1or5m3f.jpg)

Though some may say that during the COVID-19, people should stay at the house to avoid the spread of the pandemic, there is evidence that showed that with the shelter-in-place order, the abuser isolates the victims from the outer world. A research conducted by Indiana state says that abusers can take advantage of this pandemic to isolate their victims to reduce their opportunity for disclosure of abuse and restrict their usage of cell phones or internets. The research suggested that community support is critical. It helps women break from their abusive home environment. Therefore, even during this difficult time, the in-person community still needs to remain operating. Also, in-person support does not have to be in a room to provide women a safe environment. It can be in a wide area. Park could be a good choice. People should keep a close connection with your family and report any domestic violence cases when you see one. People can also think of volunteering to help out those victims of domestic violence. For community organizations, it is highly encouraged to expand the community partnership with the existing community organization. Each organization can focus on a specific area that can increase their proficiency in these services. Also, the community organization can work with the hotline. The hotline can take some action first. Then in-person community support can follow up. As long as the community is united, community service can help women who are experiencing domestic violence better and faster, which will reduce the possibility of domestic violence.

The Hidden Pandemic: COVID-19 in Native Communities

    While the world faces one pandemic, the United States (US) is facing two. Since the founding of the country the US has wrestled with racism against Native Americans and COVID-19 has brought to light the effects this has had on the community. Currently the Navajo Nation and other reservations have the highest rates of COVID-19 despite having significantly lower population density than big cities such as New York City. This is happening due to a lack of infrastructure and funding as a result of genocidal policies passed by the US government for generations. Which is a direct continuation of the attempts to take lands from native reservations to gain mineral and resource rights demonstrating a reason to refuse aid to native communities. So while it is true that the USA has failed to take action to protect their own people against COVID-19; they have actively made it worse for native communities through a history of anti-native policy that prevented development resulting in the structural and funding issues that have led to the high rates of COVID-19.

The US has also been violating Native Land treaties by trying to gain mineral and land rights to these reservations. The motive for this is that according to The US Department of Energy said these lands are estimated to contain “approximately 30 percent of the coal reserves in the Western U.S., 50 percent of potential uranium reserves, and 20 percent of the known oil and gas reserves in the U.S. ...worth approximately $1.5 trillion;” (Lhamon, et al, 177). Then more recently with the development of the Dakota Access pipeline, and Trump's administration threatening to take lands for oil drilling and resource extraction, these issues of lands have become emboldened. The recent US want for land is important to understand because it provides a reason for why the US has abandoned the people in the reservations during this pandemic. COVID-19’s destruction of these communities is directly beneficial to the US since if these communities weaken it becomes easier for them to take more land and gain access to the resources. Similarly to the establishment of the US, disease is once again being used as a weapon against Native communities to further the taking of land.

Quarantine in relation to Sleep Deprivation

From the closure of schools to heightened media coverage, COVID-19 posed an even greater threat to the mental health of youths and the need to get a maximum amount of rest. We are more connected than ever before, showing how a public health threat can extend further than their point of origin. The nonstop daily media exposure during a global pandemic does not help in the endeavor to give an accurate depiction of how bad it might get. An example is the pandemic of the Ebola Virus and how it was quite low during the 2014 outbreak. A sample was taken during that time from the US population that showed frequent media exposure causes more stress and impaired functioning (Thompson). Due to the fear of uncertainty, youths always have questions such as “When is the quarantine over?” or “When can we go back to school?”. These are called existential fear. Existentialism is the philosophy created to highlight the effects of citizens during World War II (Bramann). It explains that individuals have a unique freedom to determine his or her behavior. During that time, it was helpful in the development back to a non-hostile society. However, the feeling during the pandemic is different in the younger generation as isolation and the unknown creates existential fear. This in turn deprives them of passion as they no longer see a future where they can succeed. If they are not pursuing anything they deem worthy, this will cause them not to do anything. Doctor Diana says ‘When you’re lacking any sort of physical activity, and your body spends most of its time in the same position, whether that be sitting or lying down for long periods of time, its ability to take in oxygen decreases and you will notice a huge drop in energy levels and motivation,’(Morris). The youths need active stimulus to give them a new perspective on their own future and the solution would be to try something new. They need to see that by focusing on their future, they can not only improve on themselves but distract themselves from quarantine. This is one of many possible solutions to staying calm and focused during the pandemic. However, others have opened many of the same discussions about potential fixes.

Many people have said the solution for depression and sleep deprivation is to let them reopen public places. This would include reopening schools for all students while the pandemic is still going on. President Donald Trump wants to reopen schools in the fall. He and Secretary Betsy DeVos have threatened to withhold school fundings if the schools are not opened (Kumar and Gaudiano). During a white house briefing, Devos stated that “... kids need to be back in school and school leaders across the country need to be making plans,”. She also adds that the CDC never recommended schools close down in response to the pandemic (Voytko). As much as education and reintegration are important for the lives of our young generation, using threats and forcing a switchback will only cause more stress and anxiety for youths. As stated above, stress and anxiety likely cause sleep deprivation. California Governor Newsom indicated that we need to first get familiar with the current situation and make sure we can safely transition to a better future (Gardiner). While he may have downplayed parts of the reopening situation, he also cautioned about safety concerns to the public. By allowing youths to slowly integrate back, we will minimize stress by ensuring the lives of everyone resulting in better sleep quality. Although the changes are minimal, the effects in total will guide youths back to a routine and further push away the effects of the disruption.

Most Effective Treatment During COVID-19: Self-Care Education

(Image Credits: https://medium.com/@annu17/self-care-562b4083f997)

One of the advantages of self-care education is its direct impact on individuals with underlying health conditions. A 2007 study expresses the idea of implementing self-care in general practice in the UK’s health care system. They indicate that self-care plays a great responsibility in the quality of life and health conditions experienced by individuals; such areas that are affected by self-care include “physical health, mental health, being aware of symptoms and illnesses, and social interactions.” (Greaves, Colin, Campbell). Individuals can experience several health benefits even with the most general form of the treatment; for instance, “better self-monitoring and disease control, reduced symptoms, improved psychosocial outcomes (including patient satisfaction, health-related quality of life, and self-efficacy), and reduced healthcare use.” During a time of a global pandemic, leaving the house and a lack of social distancing is major concern for being exposed to the disease; and hospitals are no different but rather is a location with a higher risk. By treating health conditions with self-care, individuals can reduce and avoid the usage of their healthcare and find alternative solutions that do not require professional medical assistance. Not only will self-care help the affected individuals, but this can contribute to a decline in hospitalization rates, thus reducing the risk of disease exposure.

Another way that self-care is more advantageous that the typical standard care is its cost-effectiveness. In a study conducted at Emory University, researchers attempted to analyze the effectiveness and economic impacts of self-care programs on individuals with heart failure and diabetes. The strategy was to track the number hospitalization days and the associated costs of everyone in the study between self and standard care (Reilly et al.). Observing over a hundred individuals in a six-month period, the study concluded a strong correlation between the two types of care. Individuals who participated in the self-care program spent less time in the hospital and money compared to those who received standard care, differing approximately $7647 per individual during the time of the study (Reilly et al.). In addition to a smaller spending, the study indicated a slight improvement among individuals with heart failure and diabetes, as their quality of adjusted life years (QALYs) either remained the same or increased. Understanding that hospitals are filled with COVID-19 patients, the practice of self-care is highly recommended in these situations. By implementing self-care on individuals with health conditions, individuals can experience health improvements while spending less time and money in hospitals. In addition to the direct impact on medically condition individuals, this can indirectly impact health care professionals, by reducing the number of hospitalized patients which can overall help reduce the number of infections.  

Beyond Coronavirus in Thailand

Despite the low number of coronavirus cases in Thailand, the country is riddled with what is known as the second public health pandemic, mental health. The suicide rate in Thailand at 14.4 for every 100,000 people is greater than the global average of 10.6 for every 100,000 people (Almendral, 2020). Many Thais credit this high number to high unemployment rates and a lack of financial infrastructure from the government. The Thai government has exacerbated the problem of high suicide rates with no solution in sight. A longitudinal study found that over the decade of 2005-2015, there was an average suicide rate of 6.4 for every 100,000 people (Chanagul, 2018). The suicide rate almost doubled in the span of a decade. In addition, many Thai experts are comparing this current recession to the 1997 recession in Thailand. In the previous recession, the country saw an initial gradual spike in suicides, but in the following two years, suicide cases peaked in Thailand (Almendral, 2020). Extrapolating from data observed in the past, the worst of the mental health crisis may persist and even exceed the duration of coronavirus. One effective form of community care is to increase the number of national suicide hotlines that operate 24/7. There is currently only one national suicide hotline, Samaritans of Thailand (“Suicide Prevention Resource Center”). The national suicide hotline does not operate 24/7 and operates from 12pm-10pm. The limited hours are not enough to combat the increase of suicides.

Like the American government, the Thai government in March promised a stimulus check of 5000 baht to be paid every three consecutive months. Unfortunately, only 16 million Thais have received the check by mid-May out of the 29 million that applied (Almendral, 2020). The stress of not having a stable financial income is apparent in the increase of suicides across the nation. The financial strain, isolation and uncertainty are compounding into more psychological distress. It is expected that the Thai economy is one of the hardest hit among the southeast Asian countries. With over 20% of the national GDP dependent on tourism and more tourists weary of traveling to Asia, many Thais are unable to go back to the job they held before coronavirus (Yuvejwattana, 2020). Another 30% of the GDP is greatly affected by the shutdown of manufacturing plants (Almendral, 2020). Almost 16.3 million Thais work in some form of manufacturing, whether it is in automobiles, plastics or computer parts. Since workers are inclose contact and quarters so this would be an ideal place for another outbreak to occur, the Thai government has restricted access to manufacturing factories. From just tourism and manufacturing alone, there are over 24 million Thais out of work with no active source of income. The strict lockdown coupled with the lack of financial infrastructure has caused many Thais to take drastic measures to end their life. Many economists believe that the current situation is emulating the 2008 crisis but at a much worse level. While the 2008 crisis was mainly a financial problem, the coronavirus is a financial, physical and mental health crisis. While it is hard for the Thai government to solve all the consequences of coronavirus, it is imperative for the Thai government to aid their citizens financially into the foreseeable future until are able to provide for themselves.

 

   Throughout the U.S, cities with the most cases have become harder for caregivers to complete their duties to care for patients. Caregivers working with seniors during the Covid-19 pandemic have become more essential due to the fact that the elderly need more help. Caregivers caring for patients must have effective communication and be two times more aware of any symptoms the patients are showing. Covid-19 has led to an increased usage of protective gear such as masks, gowns and hazmat suits. All these supplies can cost a great amount of money that caregivers don’t have to be putting out of their own pocket. Community caregiving programs should have a larger sum of money being funded so that better trainings can be offered and they should also be given full protective equipment, free training classes and a more flexible schedule to where not as many patients are being seen in day.

    Community caregiving programs have been overlooked during this world health crisis. They seem to have in a way been pushed to the side because they aren’t directly working with covid-19 infected patients. Some patients are more vulnerable than other and community caregivers need to learn the difference of treating different patients in different age groups. The funds being provided to these programs need to increase in order to offer better training to their staff and offer free proper PPE. We must come together and fight for equal funding throughout all programs so that our essential workers and patients are staying safe and staying healthy. Better training programs must be enforced before any caregiver is allowed to care for patients. 

Remembering the Forgotten

 

It is hard to shelter in place when you do not have a shelter to call your own. This is true for our homeless population across the nation. Joe Fitzgerald Rodriquez, from NPR’s All Things Considered, told Ailisa Chang what San Francisco is doing to support their homeless population. He stated how the city has started to support their encampments by providing resources (Chang 1). San Francisco City Council understands that providing shelter is important, even if it is improving what is already existing. The National Lawyers Guild  Homeless Committee made a statement regarding their plans for supporting the homeless during COVID-19. They stated that housing needs to be considered a human right. The committee also wants other lawyers to defend people that need suspended or reduced bills and to protect encampments (1). The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) (March 27-April 15, 2020) looked into homeless shelters across the United States. The CDC found that San Francisco’s shelter had the highest percentage of COVID-19 positive residents and staff compared with cities nationally (521). This proves that the pre-existing shelters need to enforce CDC’s standards in order to reduce COVID-19 positive cases. The CDC’s report also discussed recommendations of enforcing social distancing with the resident’s beds and requiring everyone to wear masks. Supporting the homeless population through providing safer shelters will help lower their likelihood to get COVID-19. Hopefully improving the encampments will also help to reduce the risk of the homeless population contracting the virus. 

During a global pandemic it is necessary to be able to access medical care as needed. We know this is harder for our homeless population during this time. Previously, The American Journal of Public Health published an article about a mobile truck that supported San Francisco’s homeless population infected with HIV called HHOME. They were able to care for 61 people total (1). These are 61 people that would have had HIV develop into AIDS and most likely die if it wasn’t for HHOME. This is the same for COVID-19, only this virus spreads through your immune system and progresses faster.  The CNN Wire wrote about Los Angeles County sending medical teams to their homeless population at various sites in the community.  This provided testing of COVID-19 for this population as well as, regular welfare check ups, and  transportation to shelters (Karimi and Moon 1). This is an example of an effective public health practice. Our homeless population should not be left on the streets without medical attention. Since we are in a global pandemic, being able to access medical care is essential to surviving. 

In this present paper we will dig deep into the topic of self-care. Specifically, the long term mental and physical effects of social isolation. During these times with COVID-19 and the racial injustice happening we are facing some challenging times with social distancing and shelter in place orders. This paper will discuss the negative long-term effects of social distancing and how we can take some measures to deal with this pandemic. While this is a dangerous time and social distancing needs to stay in place for the safety of everyone people are finding ways to deal with the effects of being isolated. Some ways to deal with the confinement is to engage in physical outdoor activities and using the latest technology (Teams) to stay connected with love ones to deal with the effects of isolation.

One great way that people are dealing with being confined is to stay engaged in different types of outdoor activities. Prolong isolation can have adverse impact to peoples mental and physical health. Writings from a (Gregory McNamee, p 216), states that “isolation due to circumstance and not by choice can be just as bad for your health like, smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, depression and using drugs”. In California, the shelter in place orders and social distancing has created stress and anxiety throughout our communities. Currently the schools are talking about “distant learning” which basically means online learning for our children. I have personally seen the effects on how this isolation has affected my children. This is extremely devastating to our young children who is learning social skills in these early years of school which they are missing out on. There are different degrees of isolation depending on if you are marriage or single, if you are a senior living on their own or are living with family members which can all effect the level of loneliness. Maybe you are someone that needs to go to the gym or attend religious service to have that social connection with people. Having these types of social circles and connecting with people on a regular basis is needed for mental and physical stability. For me, this isolation has been exceedingly difficult because I am a people person and a hugger. I am also an in-person learner and have not adjusted to the online world which we are living in today. Therefore, it is key that we as a community engaging in physical outdoor activities like riding your bike or walking to help deal with effects that isolation can have you.

We Need to Remember that Prisoners are People

    

30 Percent of California’s Forest Firefighters Are Prisoners

A version of U.S.A. that lives up to its founding ideals of freedom, equality, and democratic rule is one that works to re-examine and expand those concepts, while offering their protections, to all its citizens. Offering a voice to incarcerated individuals would foster  in-depth insight into causes and realities of incarceration. Similar to the Civil Rights, women’s liberation, and gay rights movements, declaring their disqualification  from negotiated participation in crucial aspects of society to be unjust. We can see that changing the status quo may lead to better understanding of the impacts prior subjugation and its removal.  Prisoners with more just compensation would be able to save money towards post-release expenses, reducing the likelihood of re-offending within a year.  Restoring the right to vote, while making it mandatory for post-release acclimation, may increase their civic pride and desire to work for societal good. Properly appropriated funds and programs allocated to those areas most affected by cycles of incarceration would be of better use towards reintegration of displaced prisoners.

    Contrasting ideals of freedom, justice, and equality, the U.S. reality of slavery, exploitation and silencing have been present since its birth. Founded by a collection of slave-owning philosophers and soldiers demanding freedom from the tyranny of “taxation without representation”; and birthed with  a system of representational democracy based on a concept of equality not inclusive to all subjects of that democracy. This contradictory flaw of U.S. democracy is old, and yet not immutable. In the face of the current pandemic, millions of citizens are not deterred from expressing their displeasure with the current state of the country. Now is the time to remember the population of citizens that have their ability to do the same restricted by policies incompatible with U. S. values. The coming elections, and every election moving forward, offer the opportunity to put in place individuals in power that will work to better recognize and protect the shared humanity of our incarcerated fellows. We can revise and update  the 13th and 14th amendments, as well ensuring census data more accurately reflects community makeup.

The Fight for Equal Mental Health Resources

Saturday Night Live

Consistent and well developed anti-racist training is crucial to dismantling the systemic racism that exists within our healthcare organizations. This, in combination with hiring more African American medical practitioners, would improve the wellbeing of many. Anti-racism education’s main goal is to incorporate the voices of the underprivileged (Abdi 473), this is important to remember as many confuse anti-racism work with the end goal to simply “not be racist”, but no, the reason it’s crucial for these training to come to fruition is to make sure everyone is heard and seen. The Multicultural Act of Canada, although based in education, sets the standard for any other implementation of anti-racist programs. Furthermore, I will be using this as an example of the benefits of an anti-racist program. This law acknowledged that diversity in student bodies brings along different needs and aspirations (James 32). The same can be said about mental health care. A white person may not have the same set of needs as an African American, in regards to mental wellbeing. Therefore, it is important to recognize that these differences exist and understand how to address them.

Equality and equity are not the same. If we give everyone the same amount of care some will actually receive less because they have started at a disadvantage. We need to recognize this and work on issuing equity within our healthcare system. We need to take advantage of the social and health movements going on and demand from our health care providers that African Americans be given fair care. We also need to denounce all people that associate with the All Lives Matter movement because it is a direct attack on African Americans, covered by superficial arguments. In closing, the current social and political climate has made it obvious that we need to demand that healthcare institutions hire more African Americans to occupy positions of power in the system, we need to demand that they give more financial assistance to access this care and we need to require that anti-racist training be mandatory for all people within the healthcare system.

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