Episode 23: E.G THE URBAN SCHOLAR SHOW-PRESENTS A SPECIAL OPEN FROUM SERIES, AND TALKS ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS+MENTAL DISORDERS AND HOW THE WORLD UNDERSTANDS IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(A MUST HEAR)!!!!!!!!!!(P.T 1)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

According to a separate survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, 40% of Americans reported symptoms of anxiety and depression in 2020 compared to just 11% in 2019. The uncertainty and fear surrounding the pandemic undoubtedly played an enormous role in this increase. 

However, it isn’t just symptoms of anxiety and depression that have skyrocketed. In this year’s survey, more than 12 million adults reported serious thoughts of suicide. People have understandably struggled when removed from the stability of friends and family and subjected to new and unusual stressors and we’re seeing that in the data.

Untreated Substance Use Disorders. In the absence of care, many people turned to substances like alcohol and drugs as a coping mechanism if they could not or would not access treatment. In this year’s survey, almost 11% of adults reported abusing alcohol, while 6.82% reported abusing illicit drugs. Of this combined number, less than 7% are seeking treatment for their substance use disorder.

 There are many factors that have contributed to the rise in untreated substance use disorders. These include:

• Interruptions in harm reduction programs
• Isolation
• Worsening economic conditions
• Growing mental health concerns

 
Unfortunately, the rise in untreated substance use disorders has also contributed to an increase in overdose risk factors, with more than 93,300 overdose deathsoccurring in the United States in 2020. 

Difficulties in Accessing Care. One of the most concerning findings from this year’s survey was that while more people are reporting mental health concerns, only 28% were able to find the care they needed. Some of the most common barriers to finding and getting mental health care services include the following:

• No affordable options, reported by 42% of respondents
• Lack of awareness about where to go for services, according to 27% of respondents
• No time to get treatment, cited by 19% of respondents

 
Nationally, that leaves more than 14 million individuals who recognize that they need help, but cannot find the right behavioral healthcare provider or agency.

While access to care is challenging across the entirety of the United States, it is much more difficult in Indiana, Nevada, and Arizona, which reported that between 36% and 39% of their population cannot access care. 

• 
  
• Worldwide: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of anxiety and depressive disorders grew. Depressive symptoms grew from a base of about 193 million people worldwide to 246 million, which is about 28%. Anxiety disorders grew from about 298 million people affected to 374 million, which is about a 25% increase.
• Age group: Young adults ages 18 to 25 in the U.S have the highest rate of experiencing mental health conditions (30.6%), followed by those ages 26 to 49 (25.3%) and adults ages 50 and over (14.5%)

Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of.Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed:- End quote The family is the heart and soul of any country. Respectfully

“The most powerful thing to me right now that’s been helping me keep pushing me like I’ve been doing is hope,” said Tanner, 38.

Tanner was accused of leading the Renegades, a local gang that trafficked thousands of pounds of crack cocaine and marijuana, and was convicted in 2006 of conspiracy to distribute. When he was arrested, Tanner was an undefeated light heavyweight boxer from Gary who had been in a televised fight on ESPN.

It’s been almost 27 years since Tupac Shakur was murdered in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas on September 7, 1996, but the mystery surrounding his death has remained a hot topic among his fans. There’s finally been some movement in the case as Las Vegas Police recently served a search warrant “looking for laptops and other electronic devices at the home of” Duane Keith Davis, a.k.a. “Keefe D.” Davis was allegedly in the car that perpetrated the drive-by. During the initial investigation by Las Vegas and Los Angeles Police, he claimed he was involved in the shooting, “but later gave police details about the case under a limited non-prosecution agreement.” His nephew Orlando Anderson, who is suspected of pulling the trigger, was killed in 1998.

There are a lot of questions about why the case has suddenly hit headlines again, but one close friend of Tupac’s thinks it’s not necessarily about finding the answers. Allen Hughes, who directed FX’s Emmy nominated docuseries Dear Mama, told ABC News, “In the community, as we know, and in the streets, there was never a mystery to who killed Tupac. It was always about Las Vegas law enforcement closing the case on this. What happened that night at the MGM Grand Casino and that violent incident that Tupac and gang had with that individual—again, that guy, everyone knows, came back and shot Tupac.” The investigation also revealed footage of the Poetic Justice actor just before he was shot. In what could be his last public moments, Pac is seen talking with friends.

After attending a Mike Tyson fight, the legendary rapper, Suge Knight and other members of their entourage were seen on camera assaulting a rival in the lobby of the MGM Grand. Later that evening, at 11:15 p.m. PT, while waiting at a stoplight, Tupac was hit four times by gunshots from a white Cadillac. His death sent shockwaves through the music world and the Black community. Widely considered the voice of a generation, his loss is still deeply felt by fans and fellow artists.

PICKENS, S.C. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump marked a return to the large-scale rallies of his previous presidential campaigns, speaking to a massive crowd gathered in the streets of a small South Carolina city on a blazing summer weekend.

“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be to kick off the Fourth of July weekend than right here on Main Street, with thousands of hardworking South Carolina patriots who believe in God, family and country,” Trump said Saturday to a roaring crowd in downtown Pickens as temperatures climbed into the 90s.

Randal J. Beach, the police chief in the conservative Upstate community of about 3,400 residents, told The Associated Press on Sunday that his estimates of the crowd “were somewhere between 50-55,000.”

The heavily Republican area is a popular one for GOP hopefuls as they aim to attract support for South Carolina’s first-in-the-South presidential primary. In recent months, other candidates including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy have all held events in the Upstate, as well as the two South Carolinians in the race: former Gov. Nikki Haley and Sen. Tim Scott.

Some people may think that because I’m a divorce attorney I do not mind when a marriage fails. Nothing could be further from the truth! As I sit across the desk from many heartbroken clients and listen to their reason(s) for the failure of their marriage, my first question to him/her is whether I can help save the marriage. Perhaps counseling is what I recommend or sessions with a trusted other, like a priest, rabbi or minister to explore remedies for salvaging the relationship. I pride myself on having saved some marriages during my 25 years in practice and would very much like to see people work things out, if they can. I also have come to realize that had they tried one or more of the following ten suggestions, some may be able to keep their marriage from hitting the rocks in the first place.

Facebook has greatly reduced the distribution of our Radio Podcast Shows in our readers’ newsfeeds and is instead promoting mainstream media sources. When you share to your friends, however, you greatly help distribute our content. Please take a moment and consider sharing this article with your friends and family. Thank you.

Mental illnesses are medical conditions that disrupt a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others, and daily functioning. Mental Health Awareness Month is an opportunity for us to let everyone know that mental illnesses can affect people of any age, race, religion, or income. They are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character or poor upbringing and cannot be overcome through willpower. But they are treatable. Most people diagnosed with a serious mental illness can experience relief from their symptoms by actively participating in an individual treatment plan.

Without treatment, the consequences of mental illness for the individual and society are staggering. Untreated mental health conditions can result in unnecessary disability, unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness, inappropriate incarceration, suicide, and poor quality of life. The economic cost of untreated mental illness is more than 100 billion dollars each year in the United States.

This Mental Health Awareness Month, please join with Team NAMI California to share our message of hope, empathy and solutions to #EndTheStigma.

During National Mental Health Awareness Month, we honor the absolute courage of the tens of millions of Americans living with mental health conditions, and we celebrate the loved ones and mental health professionals who are there for them every day.  Treatment works, and there is no shame in seeking it.  Together, we will keep fighting to get everyone access to the care they need to live full and happy lives.

     As Americans, we have a duty of care to reach out to one another and leave no one behind.  But so many of our friends, colleagues, and loved ones are battling mental health challenges, made worse by the isolation and trauma of COVID-19.  Two in five adults report anxiety and depression, and two in five teens describe experiencing persistent sadness or hopelessness, exacerbated by social media, bullying, and gun violence.  Drug overdose deaths are also near record highs, and suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people.  It does not have to be this way.

     The United States has long faced a shortage of mental health providers.  It takes an average of 11 years to get treatment after the onset of symptoms, and less than half of Americans struggling with mental illness ever receive the care they need.  This is especially true in rural and other underserved communities.  That is why the American Rescue Plan made our Nation’s biggest-ever investment in mental health and substance use programs — recruiting, training, and supporting more providers at the State and local levels, including in our schools.  Last year, when we passed the Nation’s first major gun safety law in nearly 30 years, it contained measures to further increase the number of school psychologists and counselors available to our kids, to make it easier for schools to use Medicaid to deliver mental health care, and to expand the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics that deliver 24/7 care.  Additionally, we have invested in training more first responders to address mental health-related issues.

Hannah Landon, 43, of Harahan -- who is listed in Jefferson County Parish booking records as Bunnak Landon -- was arrested on Wednesday, according to Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto. Landon was located around 2 p.m. CDT at a local hospital and was booked into the parish jail on Thursday. She is facing charges of first-degree murder and obstruction of justice.

A white Republican councilman in Indiana has sparked outrage after jokingly declaring himself a lesbian woman of color in a Facebook post made earlier this month. 

Delaware County Councilman Ryan Webb wrote that he considers himself an Indian American woman, saying he finally feels comfortable sharing his 'true authentic self' - but many have not played into the farce. 

'It is with great relief that I announce to everyone that I identify as a woman and not just any woman but as a woman of color as well. I guess this would make me gay/lesbian as well, since I am attracted to women,' he wrote in a post. 

Unfortunately, there's no specific diet that's been proven to relieve depression. Still, while certain eating plans or foods may not ease your symptoms or put you instantly in a better mood, a healthy diet may help as part of your overall treatment.

Antioxidants Prevent Cell Damage

Our bodies normally make molecules called free radicals, but these can lead to cell damage, aging, and other problems.

Studies show that your brain is particularly at risk. Although there's no way to stop free radicals completely, you can be able to lessen their destructive effect by eating foods rich in antioxidants, including:

• Beta-carotene: apricots, broccoli, cantaloupe, carrots, collards, peaches, pumpkin, spinach, sweet potato 
• Vitamin C: blueberries, broccoli, grapefruit, kiwi, oranges, peppers, potatoes, strawberries, tomato
• Vitamin E: margarine, nuts and seeds, vegetable oils, wheat germ

"Smart" Carbs Can Have a Calming Effect

Carbohydrates are linked to the mood-boosting brain chemical, serotonin. Experts aren't sure, but carb cravings sometimes may be related to low serotonin activity.

Choose your carbs wisely. Limit sugary foods and opt for smart or “complex” carbs (such as whole grains) rather than simple carbs (such as cakes and cookies). Fruits, vegetables, and legumes also have healthy carbs and fiber.

A Spanish study found that rates of depression tended to rise in men -- especially smokers -- as they got less folate. The same thing happened for women -- especially those who smoked or didn't exercise -- but when they got less vitamin B12.

This wasn't the first study to find a link between these vitamins and depression. Researchers aren't sure which way the influence goes: do poor nutrient levels lead to depression, or does depression lead people to eat poorly?

In either case, you can get both of these B vitamins from foods in a Mediterranean diet. Legumes, nuts, many fruits, and dark green vegetables have folate. Vitamin B12 can be found in all lean and low-fat animal products, such as fish and low-fat dairy products.

Vitamin D receptors are located throughout the body, including your brain.

 A recent national study found that the likelihood of having depression is higher in people with low levels of vitamin D. In another study, researchers from the University of Toronto noticed that people who had symptoms of depression, particularly those with seasonal affective disorder, tended to get better when the amount of vitamin D in their bodies went up as you'd expect it to during the spring and summer.

Researchers don't know how much vitamin D is ideal, although too much can cause problems with calcium levels and how well your kidneys work.

Select Selenium-Rich Foods

Studies have reported a link between low selenium and poor moods. The recommended amount for selenium is 55 micrograms a day for adults.

Evidence isn't clear that taking supplements can help. And it's possible to get too much selenium. So it's probably best to focus on foods:

• Beans and legumes
• Lean meat (lean pork and beef, skinless chicken and turkey)
• Low-fat dairy products
• Nuts and seeds (particularly brazil nuts - but do not eat these regularly or more than a couple at a time because they can cause selenium toxicity.
• Seafood (oysters, clams, sardines, crab, saltwater fish, and freshwater fish)
• Whole grains (whole-grain pasta, brown rice, oatmeal, etc.)

lthough clearly not identical emotional states, mental health research suggests that depression and anxiety often coexist because they can be caused by the same or similar factors. According to an article published May 2020 in the American Journal of Psychiatry, those overlapping causes can include:

• Genetic Factors Genetic factors contribute to 40 percent of the predisposition to depressive and anxious symptoms, with 60 percent being attributed to environmental, noninherited factors.” "Especially with anxiety, more so than depression, there often is some family history, and so therefore we think that there may be some genetic predisposition to this," Connolly explains.
• Environmental Factors Also referred to as social factors, these include experiences like trauma or neglect in early childhood, and current stressorssuch as relationship difficulties, unemployment, social isolation, and physical illness. People who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), an anxiety disorder, are particularly likely to also develop depression, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
• Pain Chronic pain, and particularly disabling pain syndromes such as fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), low back pain, headaches, and nerve pain, are closely linked to psychological distress, including both anxiety and depression, notes Harvard Health. In fact, they say, research suggests that “pain shares some biological mechanisms with anxiety and depression.”

Ultimately, the core of the double disorder is “a cycle,” says Connolly. "When you get anxious, you tend to have this pervasive thinking about some worry or some problem and you feel bad about it. Then you feel like you've failed, and you move to depression." Similarly, she adds, “people who are depressed often feel anxious and worried, so one can trigger the other."

Today, social media has become a major part of numerous lives through countless websites and apps,  and people have been able to connect with others and share their thoughts, emotions, experiences, etc. It’s been able to provide a source of entertainment and shopping, and many businesses have even found it useful for promotion and marketing. At this point, social media has had such a huge impact on society that it seems like people couldn’t live without it. However, with these advantages, social media has also had a number of disadvantages that have affected our lives. This includes the result of major problems having to do with mental health issues, insecurities about one’s self, and addiction.


Use of social media has even allowed people who are shy to feel more comfortable expressing themselves. In 21 Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Networking, it says, “About 1 in 4 teens say that their experiences on social media have helped them to feel less shy when interacting with others in real life. Almost 30% of the young people in that group say that these encounters help them to feel more outgoing, while 1 in 5 say that their confidence got a boost.” 

Apart from comfort zones being broken, a major positive impact of social media has been its ability to save lives in desperate situations. 

• At least five people were killed in a mass shooting Monday at a bank in Louisville, Kentucky, police said. 
• The shooter, identified as a 25-year-old male, was employed at the bank, police said. The shooter's "weapon of choice" was a rifle and he was shot and killed by law enforcement, police said.
• The gunman live-streamed the attack on Instagram, police said. The video was subsequently taken down, according to the source. 
• A local hospital received nine patients following the shooting – two police officers and seven civilians, officials said. Three patients have been released and three are in critical condition, including a police officer, authorities added.

Everyone has to deal with varying levels of stress. This can be particularly difficult to manage if you also have symptoms of depression or anxiety. When you feel like your stress levels have reached their peak, it might be time to take a quick break to reset.

A mental health day is a day you take off from work or school, and minimize any commitments or responsibilities. You can use this time to focus on relieving stress, relaxing, having fun, and preventing burnout.

While one day might not solve heavy underlying problems that lead to burnout, a mental health day can provide a much-needed break to pause, regroup, and come back with greater levels of energy and a fresh, less-stressed perspective.

According to research conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO), anxiety and depressive disorders cost more than a trillion dollars globally in lost productivity each year.1

Whatever stressors you face, these tips can help you take a mental health day and make the most of it.


It's easy to feel overwhelmed by your daily roles and responsibilities. When you're constantly expected to perform your duties as an employee, a parent, a spouse, a family member, or a friend, you can find yourself exhausted.

It's important to take time for yourself to:

• Clear your mind
• Have fun and do things you enjoy
• Improve your sleep quality2
  
  
• Process your emotions
• Promote relaxation
• Reduce stress3

Knowing what you can expect to get out of a mental health day is important. It's important to remember that it isn't a day to hide from your problems. 

An effective mental health day can help you:

• Destress
• Get a handle on your emotions
• Relax
• Reset your perspective
• Rest
• Take a step back to evaluate

Problems can be harder to deal with when they seem close, overwhelming, and inescapable. Taking a mental break from work and spending some time on self-care can sometimes give you the mini-break you need to head back into things with a clear head.

Taking a mental health day is easier said than done. Some people have concerns about what their employers or families will think. Will they be supportive or judgmental? With most things, communication is key. Talk about the importance of mental health in your roles and how some time away can make you more productive, present and healthier.

Mental health days are one way to manage your mental health. There are many other resources and tools available to work through feelings of anxiety, depression and stress. Talk to your health care team if you have concerns about your mental health.