Minorities in America have unique mental health experiences. Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC), and other minority groups experience systemic barriers in daily life that are so unrelatable for white Americans that many refuse to believe they exist. Recognizing the disparities in access and experience of mental health can raise awareness and reduce stigma for vulnerable people. By nearly any measure, Black people suffer worse health outcomes in America. Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes compared to white women. Black children are more than three times more likely to die after […]
Author: Evan O'Connor
Criminalized Abortion Is Still Healthcare
Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 50-year-old precedent of Roe v. Wade that guaranteed the right to abortion based on the 14th Amendment’s Constitutional right to privacy. On June 24, 2022, people in waiting rooms in certain states were told they couldn’t go through with their appointment for abortion — regardless of the time spent in travel, money spent following strict screenings prior to terminating a pregnancy, or risk to lives of parents and their children. Some would have to drive hours out-of-state to possibly get an appointment. Some will be forced to carry their pregnancy to term, […]
The Nation Is Aware of Gun Violence
At the time of writing, there have been 230 mass shootings in the past 151 days in the United States. Just from these mass shootings (events when four or more people are shot) 256 people have died and 996 have been injured. More children have been killed with guns than on-duty police officers. The U.S. has already surpassed the number of children killed in school shootings in all of 2021. Of the 20,726 people shot to death last year only 702 died in mass murder events, signifying that guns cause even more harm than we’re often made aware of. The […]
Mental Health Awareness Month 2022
Everyone’s well-being can be tested at times, their abilities to cope challenged, times when being productive can feel impossible. Mental health is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes their own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.” Mental health is equally important to maintain as our physical health, though often goes untreated to a degree that can manifest as a mental illness. Mental illness can range from anxiety to mood […]
National Women’s Health Week 2022
This past Mother’s Day launched the 23rd annual National Women’s Health Week. Led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office on Women’s Health, the goal is to empower women to make their health a priority and raise awareness of the steps one can take to improve their health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends many common measures such as proper health screenings, staying physically active, eating healthy, and promoting other healthy behaviors. Healthy behaviors include getting enough sleep, being tobacco-free, washing your hands, not texting while driving, wearing a seatbelt, a bicycle […]