July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month |
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A Spiritually Based Health Education Organization |
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July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month |
Overall, mental health conditions occur in Black and African American (B/AA) people in America at about the same or less frequency than in White Americans. However, the historical Black and African American experience in America has and continues to be characterized by trauma and violence more often than for their White counterparts and impacts emotional and mental health of both youth and adults.
Historical dehumanization, oppression, and violence against Black and African American people has evolved into present day racism - structural, institutional, and individual – and cultivates a uniquely mistrustful and less affluent community experience, characterized by a myriad of disparities including inadequate access to and delivery of care in the health system. Processing and dealing with layers of individual trauma on top of new mass traumas from COVID-19 (uncertainty, isolation, grief from financial or human losses), police brutality and its fetishization in news media, and divisive political rhetoric adds compounding layers of complexity for individuals to responsibly manage.
Help-seeking behavior is affected by mistrust of the medical system and often begins with faith-based outreach. However, MHA screening data shows that Black and African American people who screen positive for depression self-identify as planning to seek help at higher rates than the general population says they will seek help. Unfortunately, Black and African American providers, who are known to give more appropriate and effective care to Black and African American help-seekers, make up a very small portion of the behavioral health provider workforce (see treatment statistics below). Because of these factors and more, Black and African American people are more likely to experience chronic and persistent, rather than episodic, mental health conditions. Yet, hope for recovery should remain, as light is shed on these issues - and the general public holds accountable policymakers and health systems to evolve better systems which eliminate inequities in mental health services. Read more
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There are still many harmful attitudes and misunderstandings around mental illness, which may make people ignore their mental health, fuel stigma, and make it harder to reach out for help. Take the following quiz and see if you can separate the myths from the facts.
Poor mental health increases the risk for long-lasting (chronic) physical conditions like:
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Video:
7 Steps to Good Self-Esteem
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July is Minority Mental Health Month. Bladensburg, Maryland’s Councilwoman Jocelyn Route was a panelist about at Taking Effective Action, Inc.’s (TEA) Virtual Mental Health Forum. She spoke on “Seven Steps to Good Self Esteem.”
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Healthy Recipe
Fruit and Nut Slaw
5 cups thinly sliced cabbage (about 1 1/2 pounds or 1/2 small head
1/2 cup dried fruit (raisins or cranberries)
1 carrot, grated
1/3 cup vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 1/4 cups thinly sliced apple (about 1 1/3 medium apples)
1/4 cup chopped nuts, toasted
Wash hands with soap and water. In a large bowl, stir together cabbage, dried fruit and carrot. In small bowl, mix vinegar, sugar, oil, salt and pepper. Pour vinegar mixture over cabbage mixture. Add apple and nuts just before serving. Mix well. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours. Serves 8.
Notes:
Try thinly sliced bell pepper instead of grated carrot and/or a mix of red and green
No nuts? Use roasted pumpkin or sunflower seeds.
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Fitness Tips
How 10 Minutes Can Be a Workout
Experts recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity five or more days a week. But finding an extra 30 minutes a day for exercise in a busy life can be difficult.
Being physically active has many important health benefits. Exercise can strengthen your bones and muscles, reduce your risk of some diseases and cancers, improve your mental health and mood, and more. Any exercise can help you become healthier. Even some exercise is better than none at all. But how can you make time for enough physical activity?
Take 10
When time is limited, you might try a different way to exercise: Take 10. Getting at least 10 minutes of continuous moderate activity three times a day can give the same health benefits as 30 minutes of nonstop exercise. Here are some activities to help you get the most out of 10 minutes.
10 Minutes of Cardio
Cardio, short for cardiovascular exercise, is any movement that increases your heart rate and blood circulation. Any form of cardio burns off calories.
- Use 10 minutes of your lunch hour to go for a brisk walk.
- Walk up and down the stairs at work for 10 minutes.
- Work off some of the stress of the day by exercising to your favorite music for 10 minutes (about three songs).
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Get Vaccinated!
For CDC's latest COVID-19 vaccines visit cdc.gov
Graphics: Courtesy of CDC
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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Awareness Update
Watch ABC COVID-19 Awareness Update Video: Tested Positive?
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Association of Black Cardiologists
2400 N Street, NW, Suite 200 • Washington, DC 20037
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Good Health Wins was launched through a partnership between the National Council of Negro Women and Vaccinate Your Family to provide reliable information about the COVID-19 vaccines to communities being devastated by the pandemic. Good Health Wins (Women’s Immunization Networks) seeks to raise awareness of the impact of timely immunizations for people of all ages and protect families and individuals from vaccine-preventable diseases. To learn more about Good Health WINs, COVID-19, and vaccinations visit https://goodhealthwins.org/
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A Message from Rev. Dr. Gertie Loretta Hurley
This is an invitation to support me as I bring the Word at Love AME Church for it’s Senior’s Worship Service on Sunday, July 24, 2022, at 10:00 am. The Rev. Krishnan Natesan, MPA, MDiv, is the Founding and Senior Pastor. The address is Love AME Church, 1450 Mercantile Lane, Suite 211, Largo, MD, 20774. If you are able to come, please let the Greeters know that you are the guest of Rev. Dr. Gertie Loretta Hurley.
To see the virtual service at the Love AME Facebook page Click Here.
or for the Love AME Church YouTube Channel: Click Here.
If you attend the Virtual service for Facebook or YouTube, please say hello in the Comment section.
I hope you will be able to join me there to cheer me on.
Sincerely,
Rev. Dr. Gertie Loretta Hurley
Director of the Health Ministry • Love AME Church
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Mix and Mingle Coffee Lounge
Coming Soon!
We pride ourselves on providing a personalized dining and social experience. In collaboration with local coffee roasters, bakeries, wineries, micro-brewers, distillers, and artists to source the highest quality offerings. M&M serves a rotation of specialty coffees and specialty goods each month.
Mix and Mingle Coffee Lounge is a story of three friends with a mission to empower communities while using coffee as their vehicle to engage.
Hospitality, Service and Family driven. We offer quality savory hand crafted beverages, food, creative community workshops and a ghost kitchen space.
MIX AND MINGLE COFFEE LOUNGE
8923 Woodyard Road
Clinton, Maryland 20735
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Word(s) for the Week:
THE POWER OF LOVE
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Help me to guard my words whenever I say something.
Psalm 141:3 CEV
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For with God nothing shall be impossible
Luke 1:37
The love of God will always heal us mind, body, spirit and soul. God's love has the power to restore us anew and reveal the absolute truth in all of us.
It is a love so grand that it will surely set us free from any addiction, afflictions and/or unclean soul-ties. For who the Son sets free has been graced with God's unconditional love therefore, is free indeed.
Today, I pray that you are encouraged, uplifted and inspired to be a light to someone else that will help guide them to walk in the fullness of the power of God's love with faith, grace and dignity. #BELIEVE
Read: Matthew 14.
Heavenly Father:
Thank you for your daily mercies, the breath of life, placing our feet 👣 on solid ground and making the impossible, possible. In Jesus name. Amen.
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—Minister Domitria Angelina Vieira
Love AME Church
Assistant Director
Health Ministry Team
Love AME Church • Largo, MD 20774
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We welcome your support. For more than 16 years Taking Effective Action, Inc. (TEA) has worked to improve health education and awareness to persons in the Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia communities and beyond. We are striving to help individuals and families live longer, healthier and more productive lives. Please partner with us by your in-kind or financial donation. We appreciate any help —no amount is too small $1.00, $5.00 and up. To donate click here. Please watch the short video below that summarizes some of the things we are doing in the communities we serve.
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"Always give the best that you have and the best will come back to you.”
– Rev. Pauline Leona White-Thurston
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The latest Tweets from Taking Effective Action (TEA) (@Teaction4health).
TEA is a 501(c)(3) organization that provides education and supportive services in order to assist community members in reducing some of the health disparities they encounter.
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Mailing Address
P.O. Box 4433
Upper Marlboro, MD 20775
240-394-8327
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