American Heart Month
Focusing on your heart health has never been more important.
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Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. But you can do a lot to protect your heart. Learn more about heart-healthy living.
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Prioritizing your heart can help you avoid severe illness. People with poor cardiovascular health are also at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Learn how COVID-19 affects your heart.
- Self-care is heart-health care. Practicing self-care can keep our hearts healthy. Being physically active, eating healthier foods, getting enough sleep, not smoking, and finding healthy ways to reduce stress can help prevent heart disease. And, when we take care of our hearts, we set an example for those around us to do the same.
International Boost Self-Esteem Month
Self-esteem, simply put, is how you feel about yourself. And while our self-esteem begins to develop in early childhood, it is not set in stone. In fact, self-esteem is ever-changing throughout your life. There may be times when your self-esteem is at an all time high, and others when it has taken an undesirable dip, perhaps due to a stressful life event or mental health struggle, like clinical depression. Everyone has the power to develop their self-esteem independent of help from others, and the benefits are significant.
- Stop the negative talk
- Accept your "flaws"
- Celebrate your strengths
- Practice self-care
TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, a national effort in the United States to raise awareness about abuse in teen and 20-something relationships and promote programs that prevent it. Because everyone deserves a safe and healthy relationship.
DID YOU KNOW:
Girls and young women between the ages of 16 and 24 experience the highest rate of intimate partner violence — almost triple the national average.
10 signs of an unhealthy relationship
- Intensity
- Possessiveness
- Manipulation
- Isolation
- Sabotage
- Belittling
- Guilting
- Volatility
- Deflecting responsibility
- Betrayal
Black History Month
Established on September 9, 1915 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson
The U.S. Congress, in a joint resolution of the House and Senate, designated the month of February as “National Black History Month.” The resolution authorized and requested President Ronald Reagan to issue a proclamation in observance. In 1986, the Presidential Proclamation 5443 noted that “the foremost purpose of Black History Month is to make all Americans aware of this struggle for freedom and equal opportunity.”
National School Counseling Week 2022 (#NSCW22) is Feb. 7-11, 2022, to focus public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems. National School Counseling Week, sponsored by ASCA, highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. National School Counseling Week is always celebrated the first full week in February.
Be Kinds to others!
National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (NEDAwareness Week) is an annual campaign to educate the public about the realities of eating disorders and to provide hope, support, and visibility to individuals and families affected by eating disorders. NEDAwareness Week 2022 will take place during the week of February 21 - February 27, 2022.
Emotional and behavioral
- In general, behaviors and attitudes that indicate that weight loss, dieting, and control of food are becoming primary concerns
- Preoccupation with weight, food, calories, carbohydrates, fat grams, and dieting
- Refusal to eat certain foods, progressing to restrictions against whole categories of food (e.g., no carbohydrates, etc.)
- Appears uncomfortable eating around others
- Food rituals (e.g. eats only a particular food or food group [e.g. condiments], excessive chewing, doesn’t allow foods to touch)
- Skipping meals or taking small portions of food at regular meals
- Any new practices with food or fad diets, including cutting out entire food groups (no sugar, no carbs, no dairy, vegetarianism/veganism)
- Withdrawal from usual friends and activities
- Frequent dieting
- Extreme concern with body size and shape
- Frequent checking in the mirror for perceived flaws in appearance
- Extreme mood swings
Physical
- Noticeable fluctuations in weight, both up and down
- Stomach cramps, other non-specific gastrointestinal complaints (constipation, acid reflux, etc.)
- Menstrual irregularities — missing periods or only having a period while on hormonal contraceptives (this is not considered a “true” period)
- Difficulties concentrating
- Abnormal laboratory findings (anemia, low thyroid and hormone levels, low potassium, low white and red blood cell counts)
- Dizziness, especially upon standing
- Fainting/syncope
- Feeling cold all the time
- Sleep problems
- Cuts and calluses across the top of finger joints (a result of inducing vomiting)
- Dental problems, such as enamel erosion, cavities, and tooth sensitivity
- Dry skin and hair, and brittle nails
- Swelling around area of salivary glands
- Fine hair on body (lanugo)
- Cavities, or discoloration of teeth, from vomiting
- Muscle weakness
- Yellow skin (in context of eating large amounts of carrots)
- Cold, mottled hands and feet or swelling of feet
- Poor wound healing
- Impaired immune functioning
Cancer is a disease which occurs when changes in a group of normal cells within the body lead to uncontrolled, abnormal growth forming a lump called a tumor; this is true of all cancers except leukemia (cancer of the blood). If left untreated, tumors can grow and spread into the surrounding normal tissue, or to other parts of the body via the bloodstream and lymphatic systems, and can affect the digestive, nervous and circulatory systems or release hormones that may affect body function.
Cancer Facts:
- 10 million people die from cancer every year.
- At least one third of common cancers are preventable.
- Cancer is the second-leading cause of death worldwide.
- 70% of cancer deaths occur in low-to-middle income countries.
- Millions of lives could be saved each year by implementing resource appropriate strategies for prevention, early detection and treatment.
- The total annual economic cost of cancer is estimated at US$1.16 trillion.
Over the years, Safer Internet Day has become a landmark event in the online safety calendar. Starting as an initiative of the EU SafeBorders project in 2004 and taken up by the Insafe network as one of its earliest actions in 2005, Safer Internet Day has grown beyond its traditional geographic zone and is now celebrated in approximately 200 countries and territories worldwide.
From cyberbullying to social networking to digital identity, each year Safer Internet Day aims to raise awareness of emerging online issues and current concerns.
National Make a Friend Day is so important. A new friendship can open you to new experiences. Friends can help us through challenging times. They provide us with the comfort of a safe emotional space where we can be ourselves. Good friends are our biggest treasure. Make a special effort on February 11 to meet (or at least talk to) someone new. Your life could change forever.
NATIONAL MAKE A FRIEND DAY ACTIVITIES
- Flash a smile and say "Hello"
Make a friend. In fact, try for as many as you can.
Out of touch with your college buddies? Has it been too long since you talked to your childhood friend? Maybe today's the day!
- Understand that friendship is a sweet responsibility
Friendships need to be nurtured and valued. If you cherish a person, sometimes you have to work at keeping them in your life.
Community Events:
Protect Your Mental Health & Physical Health
Sat, Feb 12, 2 – 5 PM
Protect Your Mental Health & Physical Health happening at Redesigning Minds, 2735 Greenmount Ave, Baltimore, MD
BALTIMORE 2022 WELLNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH PANEL
Fri, Feb 25, 10 AM – 2 PM
The Health and Mental Wellness Forum event is a seminar focusing on mental health and health disparities within the Baltimore community. Mental Health: Stigma vs. Reality Fireside Chat.
February 8. 10–10:30 a.m. PGCMLS staff host virtual read-aloud programs for you to enjoy at home. Join us for stories, songs, and more! Recommended ages: 2 to 5. This week, for Black History Month, Ms. Marsha will read a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book!
February 10. 6 p.m. Learn about freedom seekers Stephen and Candis and other runaways from Maryland told through an interactive virtual tour of Freedom Bound that includes living history performances. For ages 6-10. Registration required for this virtual program with Anne Arundel County Public Library.
Community Resources:
WINTER SHELTER STATUS: ACTIVE
From October 15, 2021 through April 1, 2022, the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services (MOHS) will provide emergency shelter to all people experiencing homelessness on nights when the temperature with wind chill reaches freezing (32 degrees and below).
Fairfield Inn
101 S. President Street
Greenmount Recreation Center
2304 Greenmount Avenue
Hope for the Homeless Alliance Emergency Winter Shelter
Address: The Days Inn 783 W Bel Air Avenue Aberdeen, Md. 21001 and The Travelodge of Aberdeen 820 West Bel Air Avenue
Aberdeen, Md. 21001
Telephone Number: 410-340-5436 (Howard)
Contact Person(s): Howard Magness
Arundel House of Hope
514 North Crain HWY, STE K
GlenBurnie, MD 21061
410-863-4888 (Phone)
Transition Center at Prince George's House
Address
603 Addison Road South
Capitol Heights, MD - 20743
Contact
Visit FoundinFaithMD.org/get-help/apply/
to apply to the Fresh Start Furniture Program TODAY!
If you do not have computer access, please call 443-519-2464 ext. 2
ALL FURNITURE REQUESTS ARE SCHEDULED BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
