Even as the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic looms large and prisons are becoming dangerous hotspots of contagion, even as the Supreme Court of India directs prisons to release undertrials and convicts on interim bail, even as the Indian nation grinds to a halt following a lockdown, even as hundreds of thousands of migrant workers are stranded and sheltered in schools, there is one thing that no virus appears to be capable of stopping the Indian states persecution of one of Indias foremost intellectuals, Dr Anand Teltumbde.

Why is Teltumbde considered so dangerous by the ruling neoliberal, Hindutva regime?

When violence first broke out at Bhima Koregaon in 2018, the police investigation concentrated on two Hindutva activists Sambhaji Bhide and Milind Ekbote. However, the rightwing forces of the Sangh parivar quickly released a report finding fault with this line of enquiry. They instead falsely accused the Elgar Parishad a collective of progressive Ambedkarite organisations and activists that held the annual mass gathering at Bhima Koregaon of having links with the Maoists.

It is common knowledge that Maoist organisations are banned in India. Why was an Ambedkarite Dalit commemorative event portrayed as a Maoist event? Anyone who has followed the events that have transpired since will clearly understand that such a far-fetched, fraudulent link was made with the sole purpose of targeting Dalits and Ambedkarites, making use of the legal apparatus in its most vicious forms.

Soon, even the word Maoist was dropped and for the sake of garnering great publicity and also to build consensus around the arrest of activists from around the country, the ruling dispensation started deploying the term urban Naxal.

This unique terminology allowed them to carry out their witch-hunt of intellectuals and activists in the cities; anyone with the remotest Leftist sympathies could be hauled into this urban naxal net if needed. This allowed them to concoct a headline grabbing plot alleging that there was a Left-wing conspiracy to assassinate the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On the basis of this fabricated plot, they have already sent to jail the respected labour lawyer Sudha Bharadwaj, English professor Shoma Sen, advocates Surendra Gadling and Vernon Gonsalves, social activist and researcher Mahesh Raut, journalist Arun Ferreira, editor Sudhir Dhawale, political prisoners rights activist Rona Wilson and celebrated octogenarian Telugu poet Varavara Rao.

Related News 601 COVID-19 Cases in 24 Hrs: India Records Biggest One-Day Spike

Two more activists were also named in the chargesheet: Anand Teltumbde and journalist-activist Gautam Navlakha, both of whom have been told to surrender to the National Investigation Agency on Tuesday, April 14.

Also read: A Letter to the People of India, on the Eve of My Arrest

The nature of the case and the absurdist fabulous plot has also allowed the police to harass anyone anywhere: a professor in Hyderabad (Dr K. Satyanarayana) and a professor in Delhi (Hany Babu) had their homes searched, their computers trawled for information. Sadly, these might not be the last arrests we see.

Why is Anand Teltumbde being targeted in this vicious manner? Why have the powers-that-be decided that he, along with Gautam Navlakha must go to jail even as the Supreme Court wants prisoners to be released so as to contain the novel coronavirus pandemic?

Prakash Ambedkar, grandson of Babasaheb Ambedkar, has already pointed out that one of the prime reasons behind this targeting is that Teltumbde is a son-in-law of Babasahebs family. The hidden agenda of the BJP-RSS and the cluster of right-wing organisations called the Sangh parivar is to attack the legacy of Babasaheb. Anand Teltumbde neither attended the Bhima Koregaon event, nor was he involved in the organising team, so why is he being singled out for this witch-hunt? This is because of the politics that he articulates, a politics that is anathema to the rightwing, neoliberal regime.

He is one of the followers of Babasaheb who has continuously highlighted the need to fight Hindutva on both the social and economic front. One the one hand, he has laid bare the Brahminical anti-social casteist nature of the Sangh parivar, while on the other he has relentlessly attacked the anti-people economic policies of Neoliberal Hindutva. One of his recent publications is titled Republic of Caste: Thinking Equality in the Time of Neoliberal Hindutva. He upholds Ambedkars radical vision of ushering social and economic democracy in India through the annihilation of caste and state socialism.

Related News 5 more deaths, Covid-19 cases in India reach 974

Teltumbde has pointed out the explicit socialist vision of Babasaheb Ambedkar:

I should have from that point of view expected the Resolution to state in most explicit terms that in order that there may be social and economic justice in the country, that there would be nationalisation of industry and nationalisation of land, I do not understand how it could be possible for any future Government which believes in doing justice socially, economically and politically, unless its economy is a socialistic economy(December 17, 1946).

In the same article, he quotes Babasaheb again to emphasise the importance of anti-caste revolution for the success of socialism,

Men will not join in a revolution for the equalisation of property unless they know that after the revolution is achieved they will be treated equally and that there will be no discrimination of caste and creed. The assurance of a socialist leading the revolution that he does not believe in caste, I am sure, will not suffice. The assurance must be the assurance proceeding from much deeper foundation, namely, the mental attitude of the compatriots towards one another in their spirit of personal equality and fraternity.

Furthermore, this programme and doctrine of annihilation of caste alongside socialism is articulated by a scholar from a Dalit background and it is the Dalit-Bahujans who form the majority of Indias de facto working class. This means challenging caste will also present the greatest challenge to untrammelled, exploitative capitalism.

This radical vision of Babasahebs anti-caste socialism is directly antithetical to the RSS-BJPs Neoliberal Hindutva, which wants to thrive on caste, class and gender inequality in society. The targeting of religious minorities is its main weapon to polarise and divide India on communal lines to achieve that regressive end.

Also read: Dont Pity Anand Teltumbde, Pity the System that Incarcerates Him

Right from its genesis, the RSS has worked as the stooge of British imperialism and upholder of Manuvad. When British colonialism was exploiting Indian resources and Indian people for their own interest, RSS chief M.S. Golwalkar had famously uttered at the peak of Indian freedom struggle, Hindus, dont waste your energy fighting the British. Save your energy to fight our internal enemies that are Muslims, Christians, and Communists.

Related News Coronavirus latest update, April 3: Global death toll past 54,000; world economy takes massive hit

It is another matter that patriotic Indians, including Hindus, never listened to anti-national Hindutva and fought British colonialism tooth and nail till the country got independence. In another instance, Golwalkar, praising Manu wrote,

It is this fact which made the first and greatest law giver of the world Manu, to lay down in his code, directing all the peoples of the world to come to learn their duties at the holy feet of the Eldestborn Brahmans of this land.

However, much to the Sanghs discomfort, the constitution of India Article 15, clearly laid out prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.

Also read: Why We Must Defend Anand Teltumbde

Teltumbde belongs to that league of Ambedkarites who stands like a progressive intellectual wall against the neoliberal Hindutva of the RSS-BJP. It is important for the anti-people, RSS-guided Central government to breach this progressive intellectual wall for their forward march towards an unequal, regressive society of Hindutva ridden with caste discrimination, class inequality and patriarchal domination. They want to accelerate this time machine which will take us into the dark ages. For this reason, they have concocted a fake story of Maoist instigated violence and save the Hindutva activists who were behind the Bhima Koregaon violence and falsely implicate the Ambedkarite-led Elgar Parishad.

However, the truth will eventually prevail. For this reason, it is important that all patriotic Indians must refute this nefarious attempt of the Sangh, using the Modi-Shah led Central government machinery to discredit progressive and egalitarian Ambedkarite intellectuals like Teltumbde.

His planned arrest on Ambedkar Jayanti is a blot on our nation. We demand his immediate release, and we demand the release of all the activists, thinkers and advocates who have been jailed in the Bhima Koregaon case.

Jignesh Mevani is MLA for Vadgam, Gujarat. Meena Kandaswamy is a poet and writer. Her most recent book is Exquisite Cadavers.

See the rest here:
Why Is Anand Teltumbde So Dangerous for the Narendra Modi Government? - India Gone Viral

Study group

The study group was differentiated by several sociodemographic factors, most importantly age of the participants, as it ranged from 45 to 65years. Obviously, it was due to the inclusion criteria adopted in this study, which referred not to the chronological age, but to the time which lapsed since the last menstrual period, and also due to quite large time span (between 2 and 10years of the menopause) accepted for the study. Participants of this study went through menopause between the age of 40 and 60. This is consistent with population studies concerning Poland [26] and other highly developed countries [27, 28].

The diversity concerning the place of living provides, according to some authors, the possibility of identifying beneficial as well as adverse aspects of living in urban and rural areas [29, 30]. It is worth emphasizing that the differences between these areas are becoming less and less noticeable. In this study the number rural residents was significant (40.4%). The vast majority of the respondents (75.5%) declared to have completed secondary education. Study groups in similar studies conducted by other authors also comprised women with similar educational background [31], however some other authors noted a higher percentage of participants with basic vocational education [32]. According to broad population studies, middle aged women are characterized by a lower level of education than the study group in the presented material [33].

Hormone replacement therapy was used by 10.6% of respondents at the time of the study. In the light of reports from literature, this percentage should be considered as relatively low, because, as some authors claim, climacteric syndrome symptoms appear in 75% of perimenopausal women, and 25% of them require treatment [34]. Hormone replacement therapy is effective in relieving menopausal symptoms, i.e. hot flushes, night sweats, dyspareunia, sexual dysfunction and insomnia, as well as in the prevention of osteoporosis [34, 35]. However, there are some contraindications to the use of this therapy [36].

In the presented material, an attempt was made to define the concept of being healthy as understood by the postmenopausal women. The obtained results proved that the respondents perceived health primarily as a feature (to have all parts of the body functioning well and not to feel any physical discomfort) and/or condition (to experience happiness most of the time). These results are similar to the results obtained in other studies which were carried out on groups of elderly people [37, 38]. There are also studies showing that health is perceived as a feature also by younger people, i.e. over 40years of age [39], and by chronic patients [40].

The analysis of the presented results showed that the definition of health was related to the self-assessment of health. The study proved that women with low self-assessment of their health more frequently understood health instrumentally. Interestingly, these participants selected the statements which defined health as a feature of a body (to take medications only occasionally, not be sick or only suffer from flu, cold or indigestion, not need to make appointments with a doctor and/or hardly ever go to the doctor). On the other hand, those who assessed their own health better were more likely to choose claims that corresponded to the definition values of the result (to eat properly) or purpose (to accept oneself, to know your capabilities and deficiencies). In his study, Juczyski noted that low self-assessment of health was associated with attaching greater importance to the physical criteria of health [25]. Moreover, there are differences in the way health is understood in the case of loss of health or the occurrence of chronic illness [3]. Thus, health self-assessment is gaining popularity in the field of epidemiological research where is employed to assess the health condition of entire populations [41]. Additionally, some authors notice a correlation between health self-assessment and the results of laboratory tests and the prevalence of various civilization diseases [42]. In this study self-assessment of health proved to be surprisingly high. It was rated as good by more than half of the respondents, even though they were undergoingcontinuous treatment for various chronic diseases. The literature review shows that hypertension, coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis are the main medical problems in the postmenopausal period [43, 44].

The overall rate of health behaviours of the women in the studied group was average (M=86.18, SD=13.08). The results proved to be comparable with the normalized results of Juczyski (M=85.98, SD=12.70) who observed that the postmenopausal women exhibit more behaviours that have a positive effect on health than younger women. Juczyski claims that the only exception to this observation are the younger women who are affected by some chronic diseases [25]. Recent years indicate a fairly constant tendency among older women to improve their health behaviours. According to some authors, seniors may even show above-average results [45]. However, the study by Kurowska and Kierzenkowska [32] shows the opposite trend women over 60 have worse results in the area of pro-health behaviours. The results of the present study indicate that prevailing pro-health activities encompass prophylactic behaviours. Postmenopausal women should be under a regular care of a gynaecological clinic, just like younger women, and the frequency and type of appointments should be agreed individually, depending on the needs [46]. Nevertheless, gynaecological check-ups should take place at least once a year [14].

Our study revealed that slightly more than a half of the respondents regularly had a prophylactic gynaecological examination, and only 32.0% of them did so in line with the above-mentioned recommendations. In addition, the study confirmed that some women (11.7%) had never had a prophylactic gynaecological examination performed. It is probable they would never see a doctor without a serious reason, which could be considered a risky behaviour once they reached the postmenopausal period. According to literature, the frequency of women reporting for gynaecological examinations decreases with age, and women between 41 and 60 report to the gynaecologist less frequently than every 20months [47]. This situation should be considered as both worrying and requiring improvement. This study shows that in many cases (37.3%) the only reason for making an appointment with a gynaecologist was the appearance of disturbing symptoms. Such appointments do not have a prophylactic character. Some authors claim that such appointments are perceived by many women as a compulsion or an indispensable duty. They feel exempt from this duty if there are no disturbing symptoms [14]. Sometimes even when symptoms do show up (including the climacteric syndrome), it does not increase the regularity of gynaecological check-ups [48]. Breast self-examination is the first step in the secondary prophylactics of breast cancer. It is a simple, inexpensive, fast and non-invasive examination and all women should be encouraged to be more actively responsible for their own health [49]. It is the self-examination of breast that increases the number of early detections of breast cancers and therefore women should be encouraged to perform this self-check on a regular basis [14]. Our study indicated that 72.4% of women perform breast self-examination, although only a few (13.8%) did it regularly on a monthly basis. Similar trend was observed by other researchers [50]. One of the possible manifestations of womens concerns for their own health is taking advantage of free prophylactic examinations. According to the National Health Fund (NFZ), in 2015 only one in five women took part in the Population-Based Breast Cancer Early Detection Program, and in 2018 nearly two times more women participated. The Population-Based Cervical Cancer Screening Program attracted even fewer women-9.34 and 17.89%, respectively [51]. Our study indicated that 72.4% of the respondents declared undergoing regular mammography examinations and 69.4% confirmed they undergo regular smear tests of the cervix. However, it is not known to what extent this was a participation in a population-based screening programme. Perhaps some of them decided to undergo these examinations on their own initiative, i.e. without an invitation. What is more, some women sign up for test in private clinics. Anyway, the attendance rate is still unsatisfactory [52]. The reasons for such low attendance rate may be numerous and include a lack of faith in their effectiveness, ignoring the problem of cancer, the fear of pain and nudity associated with the examination, as well as fear of detecting the disease [53].

As regards health behaviours concerning positive mental attitude (PMA), the following categories were taken into account: avoidance of upsetting and depressing situations, avoidance of excessive emotions and tensions, and social life. The analysed material showed quite high psychometric properties of this factor (M=3.60; SD=0.70), which can be considered beneficial for the mental health of postmenopausal women. This is good news, as in this age group the incidence of various mental disorders, especially depression and anxiety, is generally on the increase [9]. These women, when compared to younger women, feel more negative emotions, such as anxiety, sadness and exhaustion [49].

Proper eating habits (PEH) are the third important health criterion and a number of factors were taken into account including the frequency of consumption of fruit, vegetables and wholegrain bread, and decrease in the consumption of animal fats, sugar, salt and heavily salted foods. The literature emphasizes the importance of following the principles of healthy nutrition and proper diet in the prophylaxis of diseases typical for the postmenopausal period (metabolic syndrome, ischemic heart disease, diabetes, malignant tumors, osteoporosis and depressive disorders) [14, 54].

It is worth noting that Juczyski [25] presented an identical distribution of results for all categories of health behaviours in his study. It is undeniable, however, that the results obtained by the authors of this study as well as the results obtained by other authors show that women are not sufficiently concerned about their own health. The average results which were obtained in reference to health-related behaviours cannot be considered satisfactory, due to the fact that women in this period are more susceptible to various psychophysical disorders [9, 14, 55, 56].

Choosing pro-health behaviours is usually characteristic of people who are satisfied with their health [57]. In the presented material higher self-assessment of health was significantly associated with a higher general indicator of health-related behaviours. In addition, in both age groups women who regularly performed prophylactic gynaecological examinations obtained higher score of the general indicator of health-related behaviours, proper eating habits (PEH), prophylactic behaviours (PBs) and health activities (HA). Moreover, women over 55years of age, who achieved higher scores in prophylactic behaviours (PBs) had mammography screening and preformed self-examination of breasts more regularly.

The obtained results concerning the concept of health, health self-assessment and the type of health behaviours undertaken by postmenopausal women may be further used in broadly defined health promotion programs, including new prophylactic programs. Most of these programs are aimed at convincing women that the proposed health-related behaviours will not only improve their lives but also they will be beneficial for their families and society. However, the programs need to be constantly improved and adapted to changing needs.

This study has several important limitations that may affect the obtained results. First and foremost, the selection of the study sample using convenience sampling methodology. Next, the broad age range of women included in the study. Therefore, for the purpose of statistical analysis, the study group was divided into two age groups. This way it was possible to show in more detail any possible differences in health behaviours and in the undertaken prophylactic activities. Another limitation is connected with the inclusion of women who had reported that they were undergoing continuous treatment for chronic diseases at the time of the study, which could have modified their health behaviours. However, due to the age of the participants, it is difficult, if at all possible, to include only women without any ongoing health problems. Therefore, to minimize this limitation, a statistical analysis was performed to check any potential differences in health behaviours presented by women in these two groups (with and without chronic diseases). The analysis showed that there is no statistically significant difference between these women in terms of health behaviours. It has to be noted that the claim of an undergoing treatment for a chronic disease was made subjectively by the participants. Their health history was not examined to objectify the results, neither were their former health behaviours investigated. Therefore, it was impossible to compare and analyse any changes, which could have occurred in this regard. It would be advisable to carry out such analyses in the future using a mix-method methodology, supplementing the collected material with qualitative research, which would allow for a more in-depth analysis of the issue.

Originally posted here:
Perception of health, health behaviours and the use of prophylactic examinations in postmenopausal women - BMC Blogs Network

Editors note: Alina Hernandez is the co-founder of the First 1,000 Days of Wellness and vice chair of the Mental Wellness Initiative of the Global Wellness Institute. She considers herself a peaceful Wellness warrior and is passionate about supporting people to live their best lives. She has lived internationally for half of her life and happily now calls Houston home.

Here, she writes about wellness in the time of a pandemic, from an insiders perspective for PaperCity.

We are, undoubtedly, at Houstons best time of the year spring. The months of April and May are just beautiful in our green city, but Spring 2020 is not like any other spring in post-modern memory.

Normally this time of year sees us gearing up for Round Top, hosting friends, or simply out and about before the unbearable summer heat sets in. But this spring has us staying in and not doing much socializing at all.

Besieged daily by news cycles of our world in tumult and uncertainty, people everywhere are finding common ground in an experience that has many of us wondering whats next and when well get our lives back. Its the presence of a common foe a pathogen invisible to the eye that has brought our lives to a halt and shaken us to our core.

Everywhere we turn, we read and hear words like quarantine, isolation, infection, fatality, fear and crisis. These messages and other constant statistics on the virus lead to great uncertainty and stress, highlighting things that are out of our control.

One thing that does remain within our control is our ability to respond and one area where we can control is how we care for ourselves and those we love during this time. Its time to focus on our wellness, on what we can manage and change.

One of our most important reframes has to do with our wellness and self-care physically, mentally, and spiritually all part of a strategy or daily practice to maintain our health and our well-being as we navigate through Quarantine 2020 and beyond.

According to Dr. Gerry Bodeker (renowned Harvard/Oxford-trained clinical psychologist, epidemiologist and chair of the Mental Wellness Initiative of the Global Wellness Institute): Regular daily wellness practices ensure that this becomes a state of being rather than a rescue strategy, and this in turn becomes a new way of living in the post-COVID era a true opportunity and benefit from crisis.

After thinking about all the recommendations I could make, following on Dr. Bodekers wise words, here are a curated four that I believe are worth noting. Try these on for size:

1). Choose a Positive attitude instead of ruminating on everything thats wrong. Refocus on things that are positive, and practice gratitude for what we do have. Science tells us that people who are grateful are in better mental and physical health.

Take needed breaks from constant news and social media negativity and connect with your family and the people with whom youre at home. This is an opportunity to get to know each other better.

One of the added benefits of having to stay in place is that it has slowed us down, providing time for reflection and perhaps for the re-evaluation of our priorities.

Our new situation is an opportunity to build stronger bonds, create new traditions, and rejoice in our daily grounding rituals. Check out the Global Wellness Institutes PositivelyWellcampaign for a great source of learning why this is so important.

2). Think physical distancing instead of social distancing. Connection and our ability for connectivity is a basic human need and a source of happiness for most of us. People are wired to be social creatures, and we thrive on connectedness the pleasure of sharing our lives with family, friends, co-workers, and our communities at large.

Social life is central to who we are, and normally we organize our lives accordingly just like the seasons. Although we need to physically distance, our technology provides us with the ability to be more connected than ever before.

Rethink what being social means now and what it requires. If we cant be there physically, lets be there virtually.

Think virtual dinner party with friends. Organize a dance session with your besties, or simply enjoy a conversation with a family member or friend. Being in touch can make a big difference to your day and someone elses.

3). Think Green. Nature is one of our greatest sources for healing and one of the most important resources we have to build a strong immune system.

Biophilia, a fancy term that pacts a lot of punch, refers to the idea that humans possess an innate biological tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life.

One of the latest wellness trends, something called forest bathing, is part of this phenomenon.

Scientists have found that plants and trees emit phytoncides, the airborne chemicals that plants produce into the environment and which seem to benefit humans. What is most interesting is that our human scale is designed to easily access these beneficial chemicals, as plants and trees are all around us.

The science tells us that nature offers one of the most reliable boosts to our mental and physical well-being, improving memory, mood, ADHD symptoms, and relief from inflammation and stress.

We are privileged to live in a city filled with green spaces, and many Houston neighborhoods are filled with tree-lined streets that provide us with shade, beauty and natures own medicine.

We can combine these benefits with a brisk walk for fitness (while we practice safe distancing) or a leisurely one to calm the mind and move our bodies. For those of us who have gardens, there has never been a better time to just sit and enjoy the relaxing splendor and healing qualities of what is just outside our door.

4). Get serious about your mental wellness while focusing on your physical, nutritional and spiritual health. Mental wellness is the foundation of all health and wellness. Engaging in self-care practices to boost your immune system, elevate your mood, and create resiliency is especially important now.

Dr. Bodeker further comments: Keeping inner balance and perspective is our best way to navigate through these difficult time, and pathways such as meditation, yoga and yoga breathing, music, and dancing all can help. . . The idea is to find a settled place within and stay there for a while. Mood, emotions, the chemistry of well-being all readjust. From there, we can come out with perspective and clarity and calm.

While most of us are familiar with the basics, the following are worth noting as foundational elements to optimize our mental health and well-being:

Movement that includes daily activities such as walking, biking, yoga and dancing. Movement and exercise are powerful medicine for many commonmental healthchallenges.

Regular exercise can have a profoundly positive impact on depression, anxiety, ADHD and more.It also relieves stress, improves memory, helps you sleep better, and boosts your overall mood.

Nutritional practices which include reducing the consumption of processed foods, especially in times of acute and chronic stress are very important. Eating a balanced, colorful diet rich in lean proteins, healthy fats (omega-3s/DHA), complex carbs and vegetables is a must, as the key nutrients present in these foods are essential to support our health.

Stress response is critical to feeling better and being resilient. While we could name many stress relief techniques, the following are impactful yet easy to practice at home:

Good sleep hygiene: This means going to sleep at a regular time nightly, in darkness, with electronic devices at least five feet away, for an uninterrupted seven to eight hours of sleep. This is especially important during stressful times. Sleep is anti-inflammatory and calms the nervous system and mind. Keeping a regular sleep cycle and exposing yourself to natural light in the morning keeps your natural daily rhythms strong and is greatly beneficial to a balanced mind and vitality, which strengthens the immune system function.

Meditation: While meditation might seem difficult at first, there are many user-friendly apps and techniques available, and you dont have to be a yogi to reap the benefits from this great wellness modality. This practice can reverse yourstress response, thereby shielding you from the effects of chronicstress. Studies have shown that heart rate and breathing slow down and blood pressure normalizes, while oxygen is used more efficiently by the body.

Dancing: While we may not be able to go out dancing, dancing in your living room or kitchen will do.

Research showsthat dancing can improve your mental health by boosting your overall happiness and its also a great cardio workout. It can improve cardiovascular health, increase stamina, strengthen bones and muscles, and stave off illnesses.

Music: Humans arehardwiredfor music. We carry this in our ancestral DNA in the form of vibration; no other stimulus positively activates so many brain regions; and indisputable research shows its dramatic positive impact on mood, anxiety and pain. For more information on this, click here.

Enjoy the visual world around us: The visual and performing arts are uplifting and bring us happiness and joy. With galleries and our performing arts venues closed to the public during this time, consider experiencing them through the many online portals set up and/or making an online art acquisition to support Texas artists and their galleries.

As we move into nearly three weeks of this unprecedented time, with indications that we will be in it for months to come, we in the international wellness community have held many global conversations with hundreds of people from all over the world. It has given me cause to pause and reflect, and perhaps it will do the same for you. T

he word crisis points to a deeper meaning of opportunity and comes from the Greek to separate, to sift, which means to pass judgment, to keep only what is worthwhile. Theres an opportunity in every crisis, and the deeper the crisis, the better the opportunity can be.

Perhaps the experience of Quarantine 2020, will bring us to a new way of thinking about our health and well-being and a new state of being.

One that is not just about avoiding a pathogen, but about making important changes that will improve the quality of our lives and help us be more resilient and thrive beyond our limitations. A new wellness.

Were all in this together, and each of us has a response-ability to ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities to be in our best health and well-being. This is our unique opportunity.

For more on wellness in the weeks and months ahead, come back to PaperCitys new Wellness section

More here:
Wellness in Coronavirus Times Real Strategies and Mental Health Best Practices for Coping With the World in Duress - PaperCity Magazine

Its been a full week since the hammer came down on the spring sports season, and to many athletes, coaches, parents and fans, it may have seemed like months.

For sports reporters, its the same way.

But while we wont be able to bring you game coverage of your favorite sports and teams this spring, we have you covered in a little different sort of way.

In January, The Republic published its All-Decade Boys and Girls Basketball teams from the 2010s. On Wednesday, we began a series of 18 more All-Decade teams in the other 18 IHSAA sports when we ran our All-Decade Wrestling team.

Over the next three weeks, well have the rest of the winter sports girls and boys swimming and gymnastics. Then in May, its on to the spring sports, and this summer, well bring you the All-Decade teams for fall sports.

That will lead into what most of us hope will be the return of high school sports action in August.

But thats not all. Beginning next week, well be spotlighting some of the top seniors from Columbus East, Columbus North and Hauser whose final sports seasons were wiped out because of the coronavirus pandemic. Since those seniors wont have a senior night, well give you sort of a senior night feel to these features.

We hope that along with our coverage of other interesting people and news will help get you through these days of uncertainty.

Barker named North MVP

Junior Blake Barker, who led Columbus North to an 18-6 record, has been selected MVP of the Bull Dogs boys basketball team.

Junior Reese Harmon won the Bull Dog Award. Senior Nick Schiavello won the John Carmichael Memorial Award, senior Casper Clark received the Behrman Big Dog Scholarship, senior Will King won the McDonald Mental Attitude Award and senior Cam Wischmeyer won the teams Scholar-Athlete Award.

Stogsdill headed to Hanover

Brown County senior Allison Stogsdill has decided to continue her basketball career at Hanover College.

Stogsdill led the Eagles with 16.3 points and added 3.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.6 steals a game this season in earning honorable mention All-State honors by The Associated Press. She also was an Academic All-State selection by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association.

More here:
No spring sports; we've still got you covered - The Republic

ITHACA, N.Y. With thousands of Ithaca residents joining millions of Americans in self-quarantining during the COVID-19 pandemic, national, state and local mental health professionals are asking everyone to be aware of the potential negative impact of self-quarantine and social distancing can have on mental health.

To help people cope and better handle the struggle of being stuck mostly indoors during a viral pandemic that has killed thousands in New York State alone, Governor Andrew Cuomo has established a mental health hotline free and available to anyone in the state.

Social isolation contributes to depression, and hotlines can be a good first defense for dealing with any negative thoughts that are coming about as a result of the current situation, said Kevin Field, a clinical psychologist who practices in the Ithaca area.

Social isolation is often a clear indication that a person is suffering from depression, that is not the case anymore so during current times you have to go with more obvious things like losing pleasure in things you previously enjoyed doing, thats an early sign. Other signs include insomnia or irregular sleep and active suicidal thoughts, Field said.

Field added it is important for people to realize that clinically there is a difference between active and passive suicidal thoughts.

Thoughts like, I dont want to be here anymore, are passive, active suicidal thoughts involve thinking about the means and fantasizing enacting it, Field said.

If you or someone in your household are experiencing suicidal thoughts or urges, it is incredibly important to remove access to means of suicide, especially firearms,particularly for rural communities there tends to be access to firearms in households, said Field.

Field added that, despite the fact that many of the young-adults in Ithaca tend to be college-educated, that age group is still prone to rash decision making.

"A lot of attempts, especially for younger men between the ages of 18 and 25, tend to be impulsive acts where they arent depressed but instead just upset. But the most lethal demographic is men over 65, so really self-restricting access to firearms is very important, Field said.

Many therapists and mental health professionals are also staging sessions on the phone or using programs such as Facetime or Zoom. Field added that insurance companies and many therapists are in the process of figuring out the logistics, but it is always good for clients to ask if that option is available.

As it stands, all New Yorkers can call (844) 863-9314 to schedule a free mental health appointment with a certified mental health professional volunteering their time. According to Cuomo, over 6,000 mental health professionals across the state have volunteered to man the lines and help New Yorkers get through the pandemic.

Cuomo, who has frequently drawn attention to the hotline during his daily press briefings, has also announced that New York State has partnered with the company Headspace to offer free mediation and mindfulness content for both children and adults.

People are struggling with the emotions as much as they are struggling with the economics, said Cuomo during a previous press conference.

Along with the increased possibility for depression during social isolation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that stress caused due to the pandemic and self-isolation can also create increased reliance on drugs such as alcohol, nicotine and marijuana.

Along with using the resources that are being made available, such as Headspace, Field said that there are things people can do to try to maintain a healthy mindset during the pandemic.

Regular exercise is very important and can go a long way in helping you keep a positive attitude. Another idea is using social media to replace the social interactions lost during the pandemic.

Generally speaking we want kids off social media as there have been studies showing a correlation between increased screen time and depression. But right now we want people, especially the elderly on it. For elderly people it seems that they benefit from increased screen time, Field said.

Along with the New York State mental health hotline at (844) 863-9314, the CDCs disaster distress helpline can be reached at 1-800-985-5990. Instances of domestic violence can also increase during times of self isolation. The National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached at 1800-799-7233 or TTY 1800-787-3224. New York State has also set up a domestic violence hotline that can be reached at (800) 942-6906.

Programs available through Headspace can be accessed through http://www.headspace.com/ny.

Featured image Courtesy of Jacob Mroczek

Go here to see the original:
How to avoid the mental health impacts of social distancing - The Ithaca Voice

Now more than ever, mental health is extremely important. Weve all got a combination of cabin fever, a fear of the outside world and how its affecting our friends and family, and much more. On top of staying physically fit to ensure our mental health stays intact, weve been doing a deep dive into the world of meditation. Having a calming practice like this is key for staying sane in a time like this. Adding meditation into your routine brings you so much mindfulness. For this reason, we interviewed Luke McLeod, founder of Soul Alive, a company dedicated to teaching the wonders of adding mindfulness into your routine. He gave us tips for beginners and busted some myths about meditation for us. Keep reading below for more! 1) What are some of the reasons why people need to start adding some more calming practices into their routines?

Well, right now almost every human life has been affected in some way due to the COVID-19 virus and although we might now know what we need to do to stop the spreading of it, what we need to start focusing on is the ripple effect it is having on our mental health.Introducing easy & quick exercises to your daily routine will do a long way to helping you maintain a clean and healthy mindset throughout this difficult time.

Im constantly researching for new exercises I can implement into my daily schedule. But what I really try to look for is how easy and quick can it be implemented, yet also have the most impact.The following would be my top suggestions that can be done at any time from anywhere and truly do have a strong positive impact on ones mental state:

Keeping a gratitude journal

Sending a text each day to a loved one/friend

15 20 minutes of meditation

Small breaks in nature

Image: Luke McLeod

Meditation opens the door to the present moment and this is where calmness resides. Because when we are truly present we realize that everything isnt so bad. Were still breathing, the sun is still shinning. The simple realization that is true and happening right now. Not the fictional stories that are playing out in your head.Even just small amounts of meditation can do a lot. 5-10 minutes a day can calm your mind and pull you into a clear state of mind to take-on those challenges/work that lay before you.

I think the big one would be letting go of what youre wanting meditation to do for you. Meditation almost works best if you can approach it in the complete opposite way we approach most things in our life. What I mean by that is that we when often go into learning a new skill or exercise, we put objectives/goals around it. This works great for achieving things in work, fitness and even other mental exercises. But progression with meditation comes the more willing you are to surrender and just let yourself open up. Dropping the expectations of what you are wanting it to do for you and simply trusting the process.

Another common misunderstanding with meditation is when you catch yourself wandering off, most people think at that point theyre doing it wrong. Which then snowballs and leads them to feel quite frustrated. Whereas that moment when you catch your mind drifting off is actually an essential part of meditation. Thats you becoming more self-aware and something to be celebrated. So when this happens, and it certainly will, its just a process of simply acknowledging it and bringing your focus back to whatever you were concentrating on.

A myth I often hear is that meditation is about getting your mind to switch-off. Ive never understood that because if the mind switched off you wouldnt be around for much longer. Its just like if the heart stopped beating. Its a major organ of the body and thats its job. Instead, I like to see mediation as a way of switching on your mind. This simple shift in perspective about it can really help, particularly for those people that say I could never meditate because I wouldnt be able to get my mind to switch off.

The last myth worth addressing is around the typical meditation position. You certainly dont have to sit in the lotus position with hands resting on your knees, thumbs touching your index fingers. This most important factor when it comes to your meditation position is that youre comfortable. For me, this is simply sitting in a chair with my feet flat on the ground and hands resting in my lap.

I originally found meditation about 10 years ago as a tool to help me with my work as I remember reading an article that one of the most common habits of successful people was that they all meditated. Since then it has evolved enormously for me and now filters into every area of my life.

Ive experienced so many ah-ha moments with meditation and still continue to do so. But one of the biggest ones was when I almost gave it up because I felt like it wasnt progressing with it. I decided to give it one last chance and went into it with this almost care-free attitude and thats when I realized a big secret that meditation works the best when you drop all the expectations of what you want it to do for you. The more willing you are to surrender to it, the more it will work its magic.

Image: Luke McLeod

Read the rest here:
Why Mental Health And Meditation Are Important Now More Than Ever - Sporteluxe

All lifes niceties seem to have been taken away. Things we took for grantedgoing out to dinner, meeting friends for drinks, going to the theatreall gone. Gone, it seems, like that old axiom, in the blink of an eye.

And were stressed and frustrated thats for sure.

Whats happening to us in this pandemic is nothing that people in the past havent experienced in one way or the other. For some of us its a comfort knowing that those people made it through dark times. For others its a that was then, this is now way of thinking.

Were just frustrated that our lives have been upended so swiftly and stressed that we cant get back to the way we were just a few short weeks ago. How do we deal?

Having a coping mechanism helps say mental health experts. Thats an activity we do to seek and apply solutions to stressful situations. Some people learned coping skills as a child from their parents. They saw how a stressful situation was dealt with by the adults in their lives and they carried that into their own adulthood. That can be cooking, puzzle solving, board games, etc.

There are those who use music to deal with a stressor. Listening to music, singing along to itall are proven to lower stress. The cadence of the sounds seems to calm and soothe brain waves improving your mood. So sing along loudly to your favorite music and enjoy your performance!

One of the best ways to cope with stress is movementnamely exercise. Im an avid tennis player and dancer but, truthfully, I hadnt felt much like moving when it hit week four of social distancing.

Tennis was outeven outdoor courts were closed. Dancing? Nope. Classes canceled until further notice. So I didnt move at all, choosing instead to watch movies or binge series shows for most of eight hours a day. Not a good thing and my body felt it.

Grudgingly I forced myself to get up and do some barre exercises, go for a walk, run in placeanything just to move. My muscles hurt as they went from complete couch queen mode to moving again. I hated it! But

As much as I hated it at first, I noticed that my body was actually feeling better. I didnt wince when my back hurt as I got up from a chair or curse the tired feeling in my legs going downstairs to the laundry room to wash clothes. It was a good way of coping with physical stress brought on by an objectmy bodyat way too much rest. My body in motion felt so much better.

Endorphins, your brains feel-good neurotransmitters, are released when you do a physical activity. They trigger a positive feeling in the body, similar to that of morphine but without a chemical addiction. That alone should make us want to do some form of physical activity in this stressful time.

Basically, any form of exercise or movement can decrease your stress. You dont have to suddenly become a marathon runner to gain the mental benefits of moving your body. The most important thing is to pick an activity that you can do at home and one that you enjoy.

No one likes uncertainty or living with anxiety. Its not healthy. Do something good and positive for your body and mental attitude. Include as little as fifteen minutes of movement a day into your life. It will make a huge difference in your life.

We all need this right now.

Read the original here:
How to Deal with Stress and Frustration? Move! - Thrive Global

How we choose to show up in this moment as leaders has ramifications for each of us, our people and our industry.

And retaining our creative strength and taking care of our people will be vital to our commercial survival and protecting our industry culture to continue to attract amazing talent.

Our industry had a mental health crisis before this crisis. The experience of countries ahead of us as COVID-19 has unfolded shows that mental wellbeing goes downhill from week three, so we must act with urgency or things will get worse. The usual shell be right Aussie attitude wont cut it.

Ultimately, we cannot fool ourselves into thinking were just working from home right now. The reality is that we are confined, trying to work.

ADVERTISEMENT

Data collected through polls of over 1,000 people over the past two weeks shows the negative impact this massive disruption is already having. And we have a long way to go.

Click to enlarge

Only 20% of people actually love WFH. If you dont love where you work, how do you produce your best work?

Emotionally, 83% of us are negatively impacted in ways that impact our ability to be creative and productive.

Click to enlarge

To thrive, well need to use our creative superpowers on ourselves. We are the brief. We start where all great briefs start, with real data and insights on how people are feeling right now, and what is impacting their creativity.

From there, we need to immediately implement a plan that fosters creativity and wellbeing:

Dedicate 90 minutes a week to connect, learn and practice how to be well with new skills that will help your team perform under pressure. Preferably at the same time for everyone, role modelled by the leadership team. Thats less than 4% of the working week to positively impact the remaining 96%.

Check in regularly with your people on their emotional sentiment and keep the dialogue two-way and open.

Best practice is to use a wellbeing diagnostic to understand where to prioritise for greatest impact.

Create space to be creative and do focused work. Trial a Power Hour at the same time every day across the business to give permission for time to be creative and to not be on with others constantly.

Up-skill leaders, fast, on how to lead through uncertainty by building their emotional intelligence capabilities.

Validate the toughness of this situation. Reframe challenges as opportunities and remain positive about what lies ahead whilst being authentic about not knowing whats ahead.

Create a sense of belonging. Watch your language, and change it to represent we rather than I. Overcommunicate and celebrate collaboration regularly.

Establish a transition program that fills future skills gaps and retains valuable talent.

Find a way to celebrate creativity during adversity as a collective. Maybe we assemble Team Australia to tackle the UN brief together?

As an industry, create opportunities to share our experiences and work together to protect our creative prowess.

Were in this together. Whatever steps we take now will pay dividends for the future, for creativity and for retaining our best people where they thrive, and deliver their best work in these challenging times.

We have a choice to make: Thrive, survive, or decline.

Fleur Marks is chief wellbeing officer of Well You, and was previously director of wellbeing and talent development at WPP AUNZ. Sean Hall is CEO of human performance company Energx.

Original post:
COVID-19 only adds to the mental health crisis we were already facing - MuMbrella

COVID-19 and the worldwide lock down that's come with it has had an immediate and obvious impact on consumers purchasing behaviours, with one example being the run on vitamin c supplements. But what will be some of the longer term impacts on purchasing behaviours and how can brands ensure they are doing the right things now to ensure customer loyalty once we come out the other side?

Will Cowling, marketing manager for the insights provider, points out that the population itself will have changed following this crisis, with the mortality rate for those over 60 being far higher than for those younger.

The senior demographic contributes a significant amount of revenue to the economy each year. Many of these consumers are still in employment, whilst they also often have good levels of disposable income. This is something that will have an impact on economic growth, due to less money being spent.

He adds that this older audience, once deemed to have a 'forever young' attitude -looking to break stereotypes by enjoying adventurous and fun-loving lifestyles - may be tempted to take a more cautious approach to life.

They have often looked to push the boundaries of excitement, wanting to be seen as more liberal, open-minded and adventurous than the generations before them. This is something that is often also reflected in their spending habits.

This ethos may be instead replaced with a more conservative and pessimistic outlook on long-term health.

Cowling suggests this change in attitude could lead to a greater focus on functional food and drink and a reduction in consumption of products associated with indulgence.

He adds that it is something that could also result in more baby boomers wanting to exit the workplace early as they increasingly re-prioritise what is important to them, such as spending time with loved ones.

But the shockwaves are rippling through all age groups and Cowling says consumers in the Generation X segment - the demographic cohort following the baby boomers and preceding the Millennials -will too be left with a greater feeling of vulnerability when it comes to their long-term health.

As a result of this, consumers in this segment will become more proactive towards their health, adopting a prevention over cure approach to disease and illness.

This is something that will drive demand for functional food, drinks and supplements that contain ingredients with health boosting benefits.

He adds that when it comes to Millennials (those born in the late80s and 90s)and Generation Z (those born in the late 90's and naughties), the pandemic is more likely to impact mental health especially as a recession is something that could impact on life-cycle patterns such as getting on the housing market and securing employment.

And looking at our youngsters, Generation Alpha (those born from 2010 onwards)will grow up in an era characterised not only by technology being an imperative part of life but also by the importance of hygiene and minimising the risk of disease.

During the great recession of the last decade, much attention was given to consumers turning to small moments of affordable indulgence for escapism purposes. However Cowling says that this pandemic means, at least in the short term, many consumers will be prioritising basic essentials.

Ultimately, consumer spending habits will become more considered, whilst brand loyalty will also decline as consumers shop around for the best deal.

Consumers were already concerned about levels of damage done to the environment before this pandemic, but this crisis is going to make those concerns all the more relevant, says Cowling.

Whilst many situational factors have been cited for the surge in COVID-19 cases in certain regions, the air quality in Wuhan and Lombardy the center of the outbreak and the area most impacted in Italy has come into question.

Indeed, the virus is one that can have a significant impact on the lungs and some experts have stated that the quality of the air in these regions is something that may have a direct impact on death rates.

Over the next twelve months, consumers will increasingly assess their diets and lifestyles to determine how at risk they are from complications should they catch the disease. Whilst they will feel that they can make changes to their diets, they will feel somewhat that protecting the quality of air to prevent vulnerability to disease and illness is something that is more the responsibility of the government and big businesses.

As consumers pay closer attention than ever before to the topic of sustainability and want brands to act in an ethical and environmental manner, the impact that policies and practices have on air pollution is one that will be increasingly monitored by consumers.

He points out that one emerging positive impact of the worldwide lockdown has been the benefits to the environment in a relatively short period of time and this has shown consumers that damage done to the environment is reversible if the right action is taken.

For instance, much attention has been given to the change in air quality captured via satellite pictures in areas such as Wuhan, whilst the fact that the canals in Venice are the cleanest that they have been in decades is also something that has not gone unnoticed.

In the long-term, this will result in consumers recognising the sheer impact that daily lives in the 21st century is having on natural resources such as air and water. This will further enhance concerns about the state of the environment but on a more positive note, consumers will be more inclined to think that damage done to the environment is reversible."

As well as looking for brands that display ethics and sustainable practice, consumers are also going to be drawn to brands that fall in line with their new-found priorities post pandemic.

Cowling explains: "Consumerswill look to step back from the pressures of everyday life and re-evaluate what is important to them, with a greater focus on non-material wealth Consumers will also see time as an increasingly precious commodity, especially when it comes to their health and the quality of life of loved ones.

"This is something that will also have a direct impact on the food and drink brands that consumers buy. For instance, consumers will want products that encourage them to spend time socialising face-to-face with others. Additionally, consumers will also want brands to align with these evolving need states. For instance, consumers will want brands to demonstrate traits such as kindness, compassion and empathy as consumers re-prioritise.

"This will mean it is more important than ever before that brands are seen to be helping facilitate lives in a positive manner, encouraging consumers to relax, spend time with loved ones and focus on being happy."

The mammoth behaviour change when it comes to sanitation will not be a short term trend, Cowling argues. He believes that there will be a long term demand for products that blur the boundaries of personal care and household care, as consumers increasingly recognise the importance of good overall personal hygiene.

This is something that will also drive demand for products that help boost the immune system, such as products that are high in vitamins and minerals and other functional ingredients.

Read the original post:
Consumer attitudes: The short and long term effects of an unprecedented pandemic - NutraIngredients.com

POLICE allowed a mental street party to continue on Good Friday because everyone was obeying social distancing guidelines.

DJ Chris Marshall organised the bash in Hull, East Yorkshire, after being inspired by the weekly clapping for NHS workers around the country.

Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates

5

5

The party - which took place between 6.30pm till 9pm - had been raging for over two hours when cops turned up after complaints of people congregating.

Pictures from the scene show locals enjoying a drink in their front gardens while Chris blared out dance music from his turntables set up outside his home.

However, the officers allowed the festivities to continue after they found that all the locals were staying within the boundaries of their homes while enjoying the tunes.

The DJ, who has lived on the street for 30 years, told Hull Live: People were bringing patio sets round to their front lawns, some people opened up windows and were sat inside watching.

It just went absolutely mental. Everyone stuck to the social distancing and there was no partying in the street but the atmosphere was something I've never seen before.

Live Blog

Breaking

Teacher Chris said the cops' attitude was fantastic after they asked how everyone was and enquired about how long the party was going to last.

He organised the event to give residents including families something to enjoy during the coronavirus lockdown.

Chris said he was inspired by the Clap For The Carers which takes place every Thursday at 8pm where people up and down Britain come out of their homes and show their appreciation for frontline NHS workers.

5

5

5

Go here to read the rest:
Police ALLOW mental street party because revellers were social distancing within their homes and front gar - The Sun