LIVE UNITED Y’All!

By Kerri Cokeley

Today, I had lunch with a friend who is a mental health provider. We had a specific agenda to discuss, but ended up having the kind of conversation I wish more people were having.

The purpose of our meeting was to talk about the huge need for mental wellness services in our community and what we could do about it. We talked about three-week-long waiting lists for people who finally decided to seek help, the exorbitant cost of treatment (both on providers and patients), and the fact that there are still many people who could benefit from counseling services but don’t realize or admit it.

A little later, we got on the topic of data. Did you know that in the 2009 Attitudes & Behaviors survey, over 80% of Clark County 10^th graders reported that they had felt sad or depressed in the past month? And that 19% admitted to trying to kill themselves at least once in their life?!?

It’s disturbing. Very disturbing.

We then discussed next steps and the leaders we would make appointments with to ask for their partnership to make more services available. We committed to making this happen. But, what followed was the conversation that everyday people, here in our hometown, need to have more often.

We shared our own experience. Acknowledged the rollercoaster of life, its many ups and downs. The points in life when we didn’t know how to handle the grief, trauma, and stress that’s inherent in just being human. The fact that we tend to suppress our feelings, until things spin out of control. And how hard it is to reach out for help when things seem dark. Thankfully, we have both found the strength at different points in life to reach out when we needed support to make it through. We understand the concept of mental wellness, that it’s about trying to find and maintain balance.

After the check was paid and hugs were exchanged, we went on about our afternoon. But hours later, I sit here with the topic heavy on my heart. How is it that we so often gloss over the darkness, the depression we all experience in life? Why does being melancholy have to be taboo? Why don’t we talk about it and help each other work through pain more often?

I wonder what it would be like if we didn’t suppress our feelings so much? And if people recognized a problem with someone they would extend a caring hand? And if we all could work through painful feelings with support and without judgment?

What if, when we greet our acquaintances by saying, “How are you?” we really meant it?

Health Health, mental health, Mental Wellness

I’m currently taking two classes at IUS: the first is a writing class, requiring a research paper, and also a Women’s Health class, requiring a 10-minute presentation on any topic with connection to the health of women. Being lazy (and resourceful) I have connived a way to use one topic for both assignments. Fitness.

During my time-consuming (and interesting) research, I thought I’d focus on diet and the myriad of ways you can incorporate exercise into your life. My research has reminded me how far-reaching the effects of obesity are and how lack of fitness shapes our lives. I thought I’d talk about how I have become interested in fitness as an attempt to slow the effects of aging and how much better I feel since I’ve been exercising regularly. I have also been emboldened to share the message of how quality and length of life are very directly related to obesity and fitness.

Effects of Obesity- Why do we care?
The Surgeon General has declared obesity responsible for 300,000 deaths every year — a toll surpassed only by tobacco, to which 400,000 deaths are attributed. So why is tobacco getting so much more attention – obesity is KILLING us.
Diabetes- Obesity is the major cause of Type 2 diabetes. Even moderate obesity dramatically increases the risk of diabetes.
Cancer- Being overweight contributes to an increased risk for a variety of cancers including breast, colon, gallbladder, and uterus.
Heart Disease- Hardening of the arteries is present 10 times more often in obese people compared to those who are not obese.
Blood Pressure- Increases the workload of the heart because it must pump more blood through additional blood vessels.
Joint problems, including osteoarthritis - Obesity can affect the knees and hips because of the stress placed on the joints by extra weight.
Sleep apnea and respiratory problems - Sleep apnea, which causes people to stop breathing for brief periods, interrupts sleep throughout the night and causes sleepiness during the day. Respiratory problems associated with obesity occur when added weight of the chest wall squeezes the lungs and causes restricted breathing.
Brain Function- Exercise increases energy levels and increases serotonin in the brain, which leads to improved mental clarity.
Psychosocial effects - People who are overweight or obese frequently suffer disadvantages.
Psychological effects- Regular physical activity can improve your mood and the way you feel about yourself. Researchers have also found that exercise is likely to reduce depression and anxiety and help you to better manage stress.

And on and on and on with the effects…

So along with the jillions of dollars worth of medical care and prescriptions, we need to spend a few more dollars for some good sneakers and USE THEM. There are all kinds of studies out about why obesity is increasing but the only magic fix is to Eat Less and Move More. I’ve found that if you begin with the ‘move more’ – it motivates you to eat less. You think a little harder about those fries after working so hard to burn calories. Wouldn’t it be great to feel great!? Strap those sneakers on and get moving!

Image from clipartheaven.com

General, Health fitness, Health

If you were to close your eyes and think about your ideal place to live, what would come to mind?  For some of us, it would be a cottage on a beach where it was warm all year long.  For others, it would be living in the mountains or on several acres out in the country.  But let’s think about living here in the Louisville area.  We’ve already got a lot of things that make living here good: museums and the arts, sports, beautiful parks, entertainment, top-notch health care, plenty of shopping and restaurants, the Ohio River, colleges and universities, and the Derby, to name a few. 

But let’s dare to dream even bigger.  What other things would we want in our ideal metropolitan area?  How about if every child was wanted and loved, kept safe, and was given every chance to develop his/her mind and talents?  What if marriages were strong and loving and couples received the coaching and guidance they needed to make their marriage healthy and vibrant?  What if every older adult was loved and given the resources he/she needed to remain as independent as possible for as long as possible?  And when that was no longer possible, that they would be assured of having people around them who cared well for them and helped them to maintain their dignity.

Wouldn’t it be great to live in a community where people who have physical and mental disabilities were accepted as equals and where their human worth would be valued?  Imagine a place where animals were cared for and wouldn’t live their lives chained or caged or neglected or abused.  How about living in a place where people took seriously their responsibility to tread lightly on the earth so that future generations would have a healthy and beautiful place to live?  Would you like to live in a place where everyone who wanted to further their education had the ability to do so?  What if we lived in a place where everyone who wanted a job had one, and that job paid a living wage so that everyone could afford decent housing and could provide a reasonable standard of living for themselves and their family?

To quote John Lennon, “You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.”  Together, we can bring this city and the surrounding area closer to our ideal vision.  But in order to build a place that better suits the needs of everyone, we need everyone’s voice and everyone’s help.  So speak up.  What does your ideal community look like?

Advocacy, Education, Health, Income Advocacy, Community, Education, Health, Income, Louisville, opportunity

Perhaps none of us are immune to the economic crisis we see unfolding before us everyday. Indeed, the Louisville area is struggling along with every other city in the nation. While we all have our own way of dealing with the implications of this terrible downturn, we must keep in mind its effects on the particularly vulnerable among us: the elderly, low-income families, the recently unemployed, the disabled, and our very young. Basic needs are more important than ever before. Investments and efforts to alleviate hunger and food insecurity, promoting housing and financial stability, and connecting people to public benefits and tax credits are all very important in providing the “safety net” we all hope is strong and stable when we need it most.

Many organizations, including Metro United Way, are coming to together to coordinate a response to the many needs we see growing in our community. Meaningful and relevant responses to immediate needs are obviously important now, but hopefully not at the expense of our long-term solutions. Our community can address critical and immediate needs without overshadowing the important work of developing long-term strategies that lead to a unique community strength, an ability to thrive, not just survive.

Everyday, each of us practice proactive measures to keep us from getting in bad situations in the first place. We can all relate to the importance of checking our engine oil before going on a big trip, brushing our teeth regularly, and the painting of the exterior of our houses. Prevention is a word we all know and understand in our everyday lives, it is no different for the life and vitality of our community. Advocating on behalf of others for greater access to public benefits like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP (formerly known as the Food Stamp program), the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Earned Income Tax Credit is equal to advocating on behalf of the whole community, that means me and you.

These public programs not only promote physical and financial health, but bring so much back into the community, especially in tough times. SNAP creates economic activity by bringing dollars into local businesses, securing jobs, and ultimately bringing more taxes into our community. EITC is equally beneficial to stimulating the local economy, but many of the families eligible do not know about this very helpful credit. Finally, what better way to invest in our future than through our kids? They must be healthy now if they have the hope of being healthy later in life. Personally, I want to know that future generations in my community are there for me when I need them most. Selfish? Maybe, but I don’t think I am alone my thinking.

Interested in EITC work?  Check out the Louisville Asset Building Coalition website on how to become a VITA site volunteer: http://www.labcservices.org/

Want to help more eligible kids get enrolled in KCHIP? Check out Kentucky Youth Advocates website and learn more about Children’s Advocacy Day at the state capital on February 12: http://www.kyyouth.org/Advocacy/

Want to learn more about the benefits of SNAP and help eliminate local barriers to access SNAP? Check out the Food Research Action Center’s webpage on food stamps: http://www.frac.org/html/federal_food_programs/programs/fsoutreachprg.html#anchor826588

Advocacy, General, Health, Income advocate, Community, Health, Income