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How to feel better
Sometimes life can get pretty difficult to deal with, but it's important to always get back on the right track. When it gets the hardest, that's when you need to work on yourself the most. No matter how old you are, everyday tasks can start to seem impossible; even a simple "getting out of bed" can become a daily struggle. That's when you know that something's wrong with you. When I say "wrong" I don't mean that you're bad, unhealthy or broken. To me it simply means that you need a break to collect yourself and there's nothing wrong with taking a step back. Today's generation has to deal with...
Burnout in the Age of Hustle Culture - A World Mental Health Day Tribute
Good mental health? I hold it hostage. Guardians of my mindset attempt reconcile – But remain limp in bondage. I know I’ve got this. Breathing in deep oxygen I haven’t earned – With nothing in return? I don’t deserve it. It’ll be worth it. Just a few more months running on hope A vision of the future a utopia wrote – I want it. No other option but to keep on slugging. Running on 1%, struggling, Too anxious to stop my mind from whirring, It’s hurting, I’m burning - Out. I’m running away from the dream as if hot coals scold my feet, Looking back at what I have achieved that I can no longer reach...
Mind of a Teen!
Mind of a Teen! Sometimes Happy, Sometimes Sad, Sometimes a bit Furious, Sometimes Okay! But, still filling the surroundings, with happiness! Finding new ways, creating new ways, for the new world! Having the most busiest minds, In the world! Ideas flourishing, Around and Around! Ideas implementing, Around and Around! This is the, Mind of a Teen! Which everyone needs to understand! They aren't mad, Indeed they are the revolutionaries of this world! This is the, 'Mind of a Teen!'
Mental health awareness
I dream of the day in which we are educated enough as a society to see a physical illness just as important as a mental one. I hope we create a safe space where people don’t second guess seeking help, therapy or treatment due to the stigma, of being fake or weak. Mental health awareness is something that needs to be widespread in order to create a healthier society. Please let the pain be felt, give yourself time to heal, practice self-nourishment and self-love, meditate, use art as therapy, express yourself, vent with someone, take out the negative thoughts in a way that helps you grow-...
Fighting for a healthy future for Ukraine’s children
The UPSHIFT programme has helped a team of doctors to distribute healthy food boxes to internally displaced children in Ukraine. My name is Ivan Panasko, I am the initiator of the Health-BOX project. My teammates are Vladyslav Tokariev and Catherine Penia. We are all intern doctors in Kharkiv (a neurologist, a traumatologist and a surgeon, respectively). I participated in the first wave of UPSHIFT, an opportunity to support youth and adolescents to become a force for positive social and economic change, contributing to a competitive labour force, sustained economic growth, improved governance...
Stemming the tide of junk food
Hi. My name is Dev Sharma. I’m 17, I live in Leicester and I am Co-Chair of the Bite Back 2030 National Youth Board. Bite Back is a youth-led movement campaigning to improve child health in the United Kingdom, and transform a food system that is rigged against us. I led BiteBack's campaign to ban junk food advertising online – which was highlighted in the Queen's speech. I started campaigning with BiteBack because I was tired. Tired of profits being put before my generation's health. Young people already face hurdles to just getting a good job, going to university, or climbing the social...
Insulin & Purple Hearts
On July 29, Netflix began streaming the movie “Purple Hearts” with Sofia Carson and Nicholas Galitzine as main leads. Recently, I decided to watch the movie, the story takes place at the bar in Oceanside, California, where main character Cassie Salazar (Sofia Carson) works. There she meets Marine Luke Morrow, who is about to go into war for the first time. After fighting about a misogynist comment made by one of Luke’s fellow Marines. Despite disliking each other, they end up getting married spontaneously to each solve their money worries. Since Luke is a Marine, they can split the additional...
Rural poverty American Midwest
Rural poverty in America is an issue that's very close to my heart. While I never had to live in such situations, my family has. I have seen how poverty has shaped them as people and how their struggles effect our lives to this day. I particularly care about the effect of rural poverty on women and people with mental illness, through lack of access to health care, mental health resources, education, and so on. I just came here to say it's a problem. I am going to work to fix it. From watching my family, I know rural women have to work so hard, it's incredible. I imagine it is like that all...
Four legged therapists
The simple wag of my dog's tail has the ability to give me a certain joy that can't be felt through anything else. The day I brought my first dog home has remained a life changing moment and is a memory that I will cherish forever. Pets possess an inherent quality that makes you feel loved and wanted all the time. Not only are they our loyal companions, but they are also our best friends. Whether we realize it or not, pets act as our own, personal therapists. They immediately light up our day when we get home from school or work. Despite the numerous emotions we might have, coming home to our...
A good thought a day keeps the doctor away
Why cultural competence is crucial in healthcare
American healthcare is full of challenges for patients and medical professionals alike. With affordability concerns, interference from insurance companies, and healthcare staffing shortages, it can be hard to access treatment. An often neglected concern, however, is when doctors and patients have a communication breakdown, failing to realize that they’re on the same team. With health and lives at stake, communication and cultural competence is essential in healthcare. Cultural competence increases empathy and the necessary trust between medical professionals and the patients that rely on them...
A journey to sobriety and recovery after alcohol addiction
Struggling with alcohol addiction is a horrible experience because it can have health, social, and economic consequences in one’s life. Alcoholism is a very serious issue that needs to be treated with professional help before it leads to tremendous consequences that can’t be fixed anymore. It can make you put yourself in many dangerous situations and experience poor overall health, but it can also make you hurt your loved ones. When you are struggling with substance abuse, you are rarely able to realize how much alcohol hurts your body, mind, and soul. You keep letting your loved ones down...
Young people and mental health in a changing world: WMH Day message (2018)
This is a re-published post, originally published in 2018.
The deadly spread of the Anti-Vaccination Movement
In the dawn of the 21st century, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) declared that measles had been eliminated from the United States. This meant that there were no cases of measles transmitted by patients within the US. All measles cases were “imported” from infected non-US patients. This was amazing news made possible by the 97% effective MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. It was a triumphant medical achievement and a true testament to the power of science and research. This was 19 years ago. This year, the CDC announced 695 reported cases from measles in April 2019...
I had a conversation with your heart
I had a conversation with your heart Beautiful and strong it looked, I went closer and saw that it was bruised all over. I knew it was a strong fighter, fighting in spite of injury But I couldn't see happiness in spite of everyday victory I asked it why it wasn't smiling "Because dissatisfaction is overpowering I am a slave to my master, he thrashes me, he's a bit colder He is ungracious for my presence And looks for happiness in the world's leftover Failing every time, he blames me yet another time, takes no pride in his inner exposure." "How can someone give hate to such a beautiful thing!"...
Better sitting posture, better future: Part 1
I am a student from Fudan University, China. When I was sixteen years old, a friend of mine had serious back pain due to being sedentary and holding harmful postures, and eventually he stayed at home for half a year, which not only delayed his studies, but also prevented him from participating in strenuous activities. Many other students and I also thought that the school seats were contributing to this and inappropriate, so in 2017, some of my classmates and I formed an interest group to study the student seat problem and to propose solutions. This blog wants to warn people to pay attention...
Mind
My mind…works like a cave Dark, mildew with ancient treasures marked across the Musky slippery floors. The rumble in my head almost as hollow As the wind that passes through the Tunnels, unmarked by men. Sometimes the wind could chatter and echo through And the voices could grow louder. As darkness engulfs Little creatures scamper away They’ve made a home in there... My mind With statues of a past life With stories left behind as memories With decay, and stones crumpling from age. My mind As the words to this Slowly diminish to a silent buzz As I live through the day.