Fifteen technology companies have been selected to take part in a new accelerator programme to drive healthcare innovation in the north west of England.

The businesses will take part in the Greater Manchester Future of Health Challenge, an initiative set up in June this year that aims to support entrepreneurs working in the digital health space.

The 15 companies were selected based on their potential to transform lives through the application of innovative technology.

They include Cheshire-based Gendius, a platform that uses machine learning to calculate risks relating to diabetes, as well as Manchester-based Mind Moose, an app that helps children develop self-awareness and self-esteem.

The Greater Manchester Future of Health Challenge seeks to foster health-tech companies with technologies that can support people with long-term health conditions such as dementia and diabetes, as well as those designed to improve public health through prevention.

The programme is run by UP Ventures and delivered in partnership with Novartis, Push Doctor, Google, The Landing, MediaCityUK, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Salford Digital, Health Innovation Manchester and Apadmi.

Founder and CEO of UP Ventures, Danny Meaney, said:We received and reviewed hundreds of applications for the GM Future of Health Challenge and have been hugely impressed.

The response is a testament to both UPs reputation and connections in the early stage tech ecosystem, and Greater Manchesters international reputation as a great place to grow early stage tech businesses.

The selected companies will be based within the Landing, a dedicated technology work space for digital start-ups and SMEs that is run by MediaCityUK.

There they will receive support in commercialising their products, attracting investors and creating new business opportunities..

Dan Sodergren, head of business services at the Landing, said:The Landing has developed a specialism in digital health and we are fully geared up to help drive this programme.Were excited to welcome these businesses from all over the UK and particularly pleased to see a number of North West-based companies in this cohort.

As a region we continue to lead the way with the outstanding technology firms who either start-up here or choose to move here and were confident all the companies in this Greater Manchester Future of Health accelerator will benefit hugely from this experience.

The Greater Manchester Future of Health Challenge follows on from a number of successful accelerator programmes, including DigitalHealth.London, which recently launched its fourth cohort.

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15 digital health enterprises selected for Manchester accelerator - Digital Health

Confessions of a Departing Drug Dealer is a fictional, dramatized account of the rise and fall of a notorious campus drug dealer who rose to fame in 2015 after publishing the details of his exploits in an anonymous Spectator op-ed of the same name. His arrest shortly followed publication and, according to the movie, his extensive operation left the campus community craving illicit substances ever since.

The film is one of a long line of projects written, directed, and produced by recent graduate and film student Edwin DeJesus Jr., CC 19, and stars Soren Shade, CC 19, in the lead role along with a host of undergrad actors and actresses. DeJesus last film, Kulafobie, won second prize at the Columbia Undergraduate Film Productions 2019 film festival.

The movie itself is narrated from the perspective of the drug kingpins girlfriend, Elma. The man himself, Maximillian Woolworth (a name dripping with entitled upper-middle-class chauvinism), is introduced to the story as a bright-eyed, nave young economics introvert who likely wouldnt consider a night without brushing his teeth, let alone spearheading a sprawling criminal drug network. Before his downfall, Max was the picture of dignity and trustworthiness.

Max, however, quickly casts off his life of type-A study habits and academic dedication when his uncle proposes he take up selling hard drugs. With the promise of everything you could ever want and the flash of a few keys of coke, Max is forever transformed into a hard-partying, Adderall-blowing, vodka-chugging madman. He dedicates himself to an elevated philosophy of drug-dealing in which only capable students can do businessall in an apparent effort to preserve the overall health and safety of the undergraduate community.

Naturally, this foolproof plan falls apart when the New York Police Department invades the dorms and arrests the bourgeoise of Kings University (Max and his compatriots) in the middle of a rager awash with coke-blowing and twerking. Not to worry, however, for were told Maxs family has money.

The parallels between the original op-ed and the movie are strong. The film drips with the same haughty lack of self-awareness that the op-ed reflects. In the op-ed, Michael Getzler, the infamous former Columbia undergrad whom the character Max is based on, describes the hundreds of products he sold as fun-assisting substances when referring to MDMA, cocaine, and Xanax.

Getzler claims that the liquor store clerk who doesnt check IDs generates much more risk than I ever do, and says that MDMA gets a bad rap because street dealers cut the product, something Max would never even think of doing in 1,000,000 years. In an odd paradox, he even issues an aside directly to the parents of Columbias young and impressionable undergrad academics, saying, Dont worry, parents, your kids drug dealer is looking out for them! The entire piece is stunning due to the bluntness of Getzlers admission and the way in which Getzler ultimately saw himself as some sort of shepherd for innocent students.

In the movie, Max conveys a similar self-aggrandizing image. Elma provides a voice of reason after Maxs enterprise begins to unravel. She pleads for Max to quit acting like a psychopath, and his first response is, Honestly, what dealer actually looks out for his clients the way that I do? Narration from the film also explains that Max would exclude customers he deemed physically vulnerable, seemingly as some misguided attempt to shield the impressionable youngsters on campus from sin. It seems clear that the movie makes a pointed effort to depict Max from the perspective that the audience saw him from in the op-ed, not necessarily from the one Max might have imagined himself: as a conceited, nave, and surprisingly stupid Ivy League student, not an icon.

Though this portrayal is nuanced and unique, some other aspects of the film play on standard Columbia tropes. Wall Street is implied to be the enemy, as usual. The film includes a number of shots of an economics class in Havemeyer 309 in which Max learns the basics of supply and demand. The message here seems to be that market greed compelled this mans transformation from saint to sinner.

The devilish activity of partyingportrayed in its most gratuitous and exaggerated sense in the filmis ultimately the downfall of Maxs budding academic career. Though there may be some Project X-style truth to that, the zero-to-100 nature of Maxs downfall seems hyperbolic at best. There are plenty of students on campus who have tried drugs at a party and didnt subsequently skip all their finals and head straight to jail.

Overall, Confessions of a Departing Drug Dealer is a spotlight on a particularly prevalent Columbia story; one in which the forces of power and ambition push a student to test the limits of his own entitlement. It may be true that these factors come together here on campus better than at most places. However, to the student who may find the interplay of these subjects well-trodden and tiresome territory, Confessions of a Departing Drug Dealer is no confession at allits just campus.

DeJesus plans to release Confessions of a Departing Drug Dealer later this month on his YouTube channel.

Staff writer Lee Alexander can be contacted at lee.alexander@columbiaspectator.com. Follow Spectator on Twitter @ColumbiaSpec.

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Film review: Confessions of a Departing Drug Dealer (2019) - CU Columbia Spectator

USC sports psychologist Lani Lawrence spoke to students at a Residential Education event on Sept. 10. Residential Education took over planning programming this year to lessen the work load for resident assistants. (Ally Wei | Daily Trojan)

Residential Education has implemented extensive changes to this Falls residential curriculum. It will now create the programs hosted by resident assistants to offload the RAs stress of creating their own weekly events.

Some of the [resident assistants] would be over-programming and running the risk of not taking time for themselves to slow down and to focus on their academics, just to breathe and be a student, said Emily Sandoval, the senior director for Residential Education.

According to Natalia Wurst, a second-year RA at Trojan Hall, the majority of her free time during her first year as a resident assistant was used for extensive planning, coordinating and hosting events. Now, Wurst, a junior majoring in public policy and psychology, says she has a much smaller input on the programs.

You get to pick the theme of your event I could have done pizza instead of an ice cream social [for my event], but for the most part, the core components of the program are the same for all the RAs, Wurst said. I think thats just so [Residential Education] can standardize what is being presented to residents.

Bulletin boards are another large responsibility that was offloaded from the residential advisors. In the previous curriculum, advisors were expected to decorate bulletin boards in their residential college under certain guidelines.

I know [the bulletin boards] were something that took a lot of time and I dont really think [they were] that important, said Maya Hildebrand, a past residential advisor at Cowlings and Ilium and a senior majoring in mechanical engineering. I know, for example, RAs would put up bulletin boards and then they would get torn down by the end of the day.

A primary goal of offloading programming and activities like bulletin boards was to encourage the resident assistants to have genuine and intentional interactions with their residents.

RAs wanted to be involved with our program because they wanted to help their fellow Trojans, one of the number one priorities for RAs becoming RAs, said Erin Hunter, the Residential Education Associate Director for the University Park Campus. We were hoping that reducing the programmatic effort would allow them to have Trojan Talks with intentional interactions, relationship-building opportunities and tough conversations more frequently.

Hunter created a committee of staff to pilot the new residential curriculum model in March 2019. Dr. Keith Edwards, a national keynote speaker on topics like sexual violence prevention, student affairs leadership and the residential experience, attended a two-day intensive training with Hunters staff, allowing the committee to organize its pivot to the new curriculum.

Dr. Keith Edwards worked really closely with us He said to launch the curriculum at 40%, Sandoval said. Were not 100 percent% done planning it out Part of the beauty of this is that we adjust and evolve to what the residents need.

The curriculum focuses on four goals: equity and inclusion, self-awareness, well-being and community engagement. Each goal has intended outcomes that Residential Education hopes will meaningfully contribute to global communities as a result of their residence on campus at USC, the educational priority of the new programming.

Hildebrand said she hopes Residential Education continues making changes based on the well-being of the resident assistants, citing that tough conversations often magnified their levels of stress.

The biggest stress doesnt come from the programming itself, but it comes from feeling like you are this resource for your floor, youre this therapist for your floor, youre also a police for your floor and all of the above, Hildebrand said. Another good step would be having more resources for an RA, such as a counselor at Engemann specifically for RAs to go see.

As for Residential Education, they will continue altering the new curriculum as they receive feedback from resident assistants, residents and residential college coordinators.

I think that no matter what a first-year student chooses to do what academic college they are in, what student organizations they decide to join, if theyre a student-athlete or a part of student government where their head hits the pillow has to be home, Sandoval said.

Residential Education encourages residents and resident assistants to submit their feedback on the residential experience in a survey that will be sent to students in October.

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Residential Education centralizes program curriculums - Daily Trojan Online

Very few successful businesses are built by a single person; they are built by teams. This is why leaders need to be brilliant communicators: they need to motivate staff to execute their vision, and listen to them in order to help shape that vision.

Emotional intelligence (EQ) is crucial to the art of communication. By understanding those around you, and having self-awareness, you are better able to relate to people, and to cater your leadership style to their needs.

Research by Steve Langhorn on hospitality firm Whitbread found that 9 per cent of the variance in profit growth between different restaurants could be attributed to the emotional intelligence of the manager. Meanwhile, a study by TalentSmart, which specialises in EQ testing, found that: "Emotional intelligence is the strongest predictor of [individual] performance, explaining a full 58 per cent of success in all types of jobs."

Fortunately, EQ isnt an immutable quality like height or eye colour. Here are six things you can do to can supercharge your EQ in the workplace.

By keeping a watchful eye out for negative emotions in the workplace, you can nip problems in the bud before they negatively impact the business, says Joanna Swash, global CEO of Moneypenny, an outsourced communications provider that employs 750 people.

"Positive emotions create a positive culture and positive client experience," she explains. "Being able to spot when someone may not be in a great place quickly is crucial so you can give them a shoulder, or an ear and support them in a positive way. It prevents things festering, spreading and infecting others."

According to Lydia Amoah, a business coach, EQ starts from understanding the self. She recommends various strategies for getting to grips with your own feelings, to better lead others.

"There is a wide choice of apps, such as Calm or Headspace," she says. "They are great tools to help unwind and which can benefit your mental and emotional wellbeing. Journaling is also a great way to understand your own thought processes. Finally, controlled breathing is amazing for regulating hormone levels, reducing palpitations and creating clarity."

The old adage that leaders must never show weakness is no longer relevant to the modern workplace, says Swash. "As leaders, we have got to remain in control, but similarly its good for others to see that were real people too," she says.

"By remaining human, the team can see that issues make us as happy or sad too. As long as theyre channelled effectively and dont create a negative environment, emotions within teams can be used in a really positive way, especially in roles that involve customer contact."

Leaders are used to making decisions and providing direction, but youre much more likely to make the wrong decisions and head in the wrong direction if you dont listen to your team, whose collective insight, ideas and knowledge of the business will be greater than any one persons - even yours.

Listening well is easier said than done. "Body language tells you everything you need to know. Being conscious of the cues and simply listening helps a lot," says Felix Staeritz, CEO and co-founder of FoundersLane.

"Active listening is an important skill for EQ," adds Amoah. "Practise tuning into what a person is trying to communicate. Learn how to hold a quiet space and allow a flow of conversation without interruption to create even more awareness."

In high-pressure situations, it can be tempting to bark orders but a more collaborative approach may get better results. "Ask open questions," says Amoah. "Such as: What support do you need to do this? Enquiry can lower defences and bring out the best in others."

There will always be moments when you experience stress, anger or frustration. However, its how you choose to react to those emotions that defines you as a leader. "We are only ever experiencing our own thinking in that moment," says Sarah Matthew, founder of The Vibrant Company.

"Our experience of anything works inside out not outside in. The more you see this, the less you react and the more you can choose your response."

They key, according to Moneypennys Swash, is to take a breath, count to 10, and try and find perspective. "Take a moment and put yourself in other peoples shoes," she advises.

Carl Castledine, managing director of Away Resorts, the holiday business, adds: "Always think around corners. I consider multiple possible outcomes to what is happening now and prepare for problems mentally. We can then react with controlled pace, not panic under pressure if something negative occurs. I encourage my colleagues to do the same."

By giving your staff enough holidays and respecting their evenings and weekends, you are giving them time to recharge. This will help them be their best self at work.

Angel investor Inbal Shenfield says, "Let them have time off. Vacation, time with their families or just time for their hobby is super important."

Image credit:Bruce Mars/Pexels

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How to improve your people skills (and why you desperately need to) - Management Today

The Swedish CS:GO juggernaut has been sputtering as of late, and the recent benching of Xizt and Twist indicated that a roster shakeup was imminent in a bid to return to former glories. In the end, Fnatic opted to re-create most of the lineup theyve won their last two events with over two years ago by bringing back flusha and GoldeN.

Fnatic originally announced on August 21st that theyd bench Xizt and Twist with immediate effect as they look to enter a new phase off the back of their failure to reach the main stage of the major for the first time in their history. Despite back-to-back LAN final appearances earlier in the year, the team failed to establish any sort of consistency, and a string of disappointing results at DreamHack Masters Dallas, the ESL Pro League Season 9 Finals and ESL One Cologne served as a series of red flags en route to crashing out of the Europe minor.

The official announcement states:

"As such, a new era dawns, with flusha rejoining Fnatic for a second time and Golden arriving on loan until the end of 2019. Both players had spells in Los Angeles with Cloud9 since initially leaving Fnatic last year.

Golden most recently stood in for Ninjas in Pyjamas during the Berlin Major, where they fell in the Legends Stage. Flusha, meanwhile, took a break from Counter-Strike that, after interviewing him again, we believe has made him not only more determined for success with Fnatic but also has helped him grow as a human being.

With added experience, self-awareness, self-fulfilment and all good things Swedes dont usually get in the dark months of the year, we now look to the rest of 2019 as a chance for not just a return to glory but growth as players and people."

Fnatic hasn't won a single event since the departure of the two players, winning IEM Katowice and WESG 2017 last spring. Since then, both players spent some time as part of the ever-imploding Cloud9 project. GoldeN then went to NiP on loan to fill their roster for the Berlin major while flusha took some time off the game after the unfortunate passing of his mother. He was a highlight of Cloud9's run at the Katowice major.

This change means that the only difference between the title-winning Fnatic side and the current one is the addition of a promising young talent in the form of Brollan instead of Lekr0. Since that side was notably struggling with internal disagreements, it remains to be seen whether this second attempt will have a happier ending. In fact, flusha does seem to reference this in his comments given to the organization's website in the announcement, stating that "we all made some mistakes in the past that we have learned from and I believe we have all matured".

Though flusha's return is permanent, GoldeN only joins the side on loan until the end of 2019, with a permanent decision likely to be made later down the line.

The team's trial by fire takes place this afternoon as they partake in ECS Season 8.

Photo credit: HLTV

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CS:GO roster news: GoldeN and flusha return to Fnatic as they try to roll back the years again - Rivalry.com Esports News & Videos

In the early days of summer, shortly after receiving the life-changing news of my acceptance to Yale, I also received an invitation to participate in FOCUS, a pre-orientation program that occurs a week before classes begin. The excitement I felt in those early days the excitement I still feel as a new student walking through campus was very similar to the excitement I felt when I first joined the military. As an immigrant, my military service was the way I chose to claim and to earn, not just my citizenship, but the right to call myself an American.

I decided to participate in the FOCUS pre-orientation program because I wanted to learn about New Haven, Yale and the community these two entities share. When I arrived at the program, the curious and intelligent eyes of my fellow students followed me everywhere. Our discussions ranged from art to urban studies, to the economic relationship between New Haven and Yale, to the impact our actions as students have in the community. After a few days of intense discussions, my group and I met at our site CitySeed, a nonprofit dedicated toward increasing local access to healthy food through farmers markets and early-stage entrepreneur food incubators. During our briefing, the directors shared their newest program, Sanctuary Kitchen a partnership between immigrants and refugee chefs who cook foods from their home countries, sharing their stories in the process.

In that moment, I felt as if I had been struck by lightning. Upon hearing that most refugees working with Sanctuary Kitchen were from Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan, a singular thought began to race through my mind: I had once been a soldier in Afghanistan, and worked with a few villages near our base. What if my presence alone was a threat to the refugees? What if I was a reminder of the circumstances they had escaped? I became acutely aware of my existence in this space in a way I had never been before. All of a sudden, the metal bracelet I wear around my right wrist as a reminder of the two brothers I lost in combat felt like a billboard, announcing my presence.

In that moment, I removed the mental uniform that marks me as a soldier, reclaiming my identity as an immigrant. As I listened to these refugees stories, I was reminded of the struggles my family faced when we first arrived to this country and the challenges we had to overcome to pursue the American dream. I saw myself in these refugees and understood their journey we had more things in common than either one of us imagined.

Over the course of the following days, the roles I had previously experienced reversed. In Afghanistan, we were in charge, moving through spaces with purpose and mission. We showed Afghans how to soldier their troops, how to carry themselves. In this New Haven kitchen, I became the student. I spent my days learning how to chop vegetables and package hummus,how to prepare a meal with ingredients I had never seen before. The internal struggle I experienced during this reversal emerged from a fear of being seen as unwelcome in this space. This fear was quelled almost instantaneously. These refugees, mostly women, were all too happy to share their lives with us, their old family stories and their future goals.

Life is never neat, and neither was this experience. While in the peaceful trance of chopping vegetables amidst the kitchen chatter, my best friend messaged me that he had been attacked by rocket fire in Afghanistan, an attack that had taken two American casualties in the early morning light. In that instant, I froze, experiencing both ends of the spectrum of feeling. I had to make peace with the fact that my best friend was experiencing one of the most traumatic events of his life while I was experiencing the healing touch of shared a meal with refugees from that very same country. I had to wrestle with accepting that both experiences were real and valid.

This same concept is the truth of our existence that in occupying various spaces, many of us can lack self-awareness. So here is the challenge: if a veteran of the Afghanistan war can share a meal with a refugee and find a moment of peace and healing, so should all of us regardless of where we fall on the political spectrum. I invite you, as the election cycle comes into full swing, to reach out and share a meal with someone who differs from you, helping bring our nation that much closer to standing together again if only here at Yale.

cristian trenco is a sophomore in Ezra Stiles College. Contact him at cristian.trenco@yale.edu.

Link:
TRENCO: A call to FOCUS - Yale Daily News

Pity the poor Canadians, because theyre now afflicted with the generations-long scourge that has plagued Newfoundlanders neither of the two leading political parties deserves to win, but one of them will.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau deserves to lose mainly because of his interference in the prosecution of SNC-Lavalin, a Quebec company dogged by scandal. (Lets leave it to linguists to determine whether Quebec company dogged by scandal is redundant.)

Devout Liberal supporters claim Trudeaus machinations were no big deal. Apparently, in the Liberals world-view, a leader attempting to pervert the course of justice and undermine the rule of law as opposed to the rule of who-you-know, or the rule of how-much-money-you-have is just dandy, as long as his campaign signs are red.

There are other reasons Trudeau deserves to lose, as did his provincial counterpart and buddy Dwight Ball, who Newfoundlanders bravely and uncharacteristically slapped down to minority-government status.

Trudeau is arrogant, condescending and a spoiled rich brat, but even more repulsive is his chosen campaign slogan: Choose forward.

Yes, Canada, go forward, move forward, to the end of the day, when choosing backward will be off the table.

Perhaps this can be blamed on all Liberals, not just Trudeau. It is the reduction of politics and public discourse to triteness, banality and clich.

That said, lets grudgingly concede, sort of, a single point to the Liberals: their main opponent, the Conservative Party of Canada, continues its years-long effort to return society to the glory days of the 19th century.

Like Newfoundlands Progressive Conservatives, the federal Conservatives endorse rule by the rich, and compliance by everyone else.

The federal Conservatives/Canadian Alliance/Reform Party/Progressive Conservatives have been touting this ideology for 35 years. They go to bed at night dreaming about bringing back child labour and the 16-hour workday.

But, like conservatives the world over, they have pushed their brutal philosophy too far.

The blatant repulsiveness of the Harper-Scheer Conservatives has spawned a Stop Scheer movement, whose proponents claim voters shouldnt cast ballots for a party, but against a party.

They almost admit as much in their moronic campaign slogan: Its time for you to get ahead.

Of course, it is aimed at the Liberals the reds have prevented you from getting ahead! but thoughtful voters will hear that Conservative slogan and wonder, Well, why have you sided all these years with the rich and powerful?

A good reason as any to vote against Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer is that he has been an MP since he was 25 years old. Like Stephen Harper, the Conservative leader before him upon whose knee he was raised, Scheer has had his snout inserted deeply into the public trough for most of his adult working life.

And yet both Harper and Scheer, without a shred of self-awareness, are cheerleaders for cruel capitalism and so-called self-reliance, and the evils of government interference in the economy and society in general.

Dont think about this while hiking on the East Coast Trail, because the Scheer hypocrisy will make you dizzy and liable to wander dangerously close to a cliff edge.

The blatant repulsiveness of the Harper-Scheer Conservatives has spawned a Stop Scheer movement, whose proponents claim voters shouldnt cast ballots for a party, but against a party, i.e., you might be revolted by the conniving Trudeau, but youd better vote for him if you dont want Prime Minister Andrew Scheer.

In this, we see the utter corruption of democracy. The Stop X campaign also evident in the U.S., today as in 2016 is proof that the democratic ideal is dead. Parties dont vie to govern for the benefit of the citizenry, they vie to govern for the benefit of their party and its ideology.

Really, it shouldnt matter much who wins the Oct. 21 election. On Oct. 22, Canadians should be able to have confidence that the winner will rule with the best interests of the entire country in mind.

Is this nave? No, it is actually how democracy is supposed to work.

The destruction of democracys ideals began with the rise of the ultra-conservatives: Margaret Thatcher in the U.K. in 1979, Ronald Reagan in the U.S. in 1980 and Brian Mulroney in Canada in 1984. If youre mystified and disgusted by the emergence of Donald Trump and right-wing populism, blame those three, not white-supremacist fascists.

Brian Jones is a desk editor at The Telegram. He can be reached at brian.jones@thetelegram.com.

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BRIAN JONES: Newfoundland disease spreads to mainland - The Telegram

John Kunkel, local businessman, enjoys time working on his farm in Evening Shade with his special helper, Max.

Outgoing, successful, community minded these are all characteristics that describe Sharp County businessman and resident, John Kunkel. He stays involved in the community as an advocate for many organizations in the area.

One thing people might not know about Kunkel is at the age of 24, he attempted suicide when living in Little Rock.

It was built up pressure from years of struggling with being different than the norm, said Kunkel, when asked about how he was feeling before the attempt. However, it was while he was in the ER at UAMS in Little Rock where he met his first therapist. For him, it was a great way to have an open conversation and really understand my root problem was depression. He had never considered therapy as an option before.

I knew that I was struggling but I didnt know what to do or who to talk to. Kunkel was adopted as an infant, and although he was blessed by God putting him in a wonderful home, he still felt alone at times.

It goes back to when I was in school. I wasnt the type that was in town on Friday nights, I was at home on the farm. I had chores. In Sharp County, we always, especially back then, lived sheltered lives. The world is so different than what we experience in our area, there is always someone who needs help. When you travel or have been to third world countries, you see the reasons why people want to live in America. We are blessed.

Mental health is centered around ones brain, and is just like any other organ, therefore mental health is just as important to receive treatment if needed.

Mental health does not discriminate. It touches everyone; socioeconomics, race, ethnicity, it doesnt care, everyone struggles at some point in their life. Some people have greater coping skills and some have people they can talk to. It depends on what the ideology is whether its anxiety, depression, ADD, ADHD, etc. that really makes it, where do I go for help, who do I talk to?, he said.

Kunkel was asked what he would say to someone contemplating suicide. The first thing I would not say is, think about all the people you are going to leave behind because that is like telling someone your opinion but have never experienced [what that person is going through] and they dont know how they would react. In that moment, you are not thinking about other people, you are thinking about yourself. If someone were to tell me they were contemplating suicide, I would talk to them and help determine what is the issue that is bothering you? Is it that youve been bullied, struggling with identity, mounting debt, health, etc., and then guiding them to a professional. But I would never tell someone to think about all the people they are going to leave behind because that is not the way to talk to someone struggling with suicidal thoughts.

He feels one of the most important things to do if you are struggling is to find someone who is a safe zone. They are not going to judge you, they want to help you. That is when you find that friend whom you know you can trust and talk about anything. If you need them to help navigate through connections or experiences, that is your best option. Kunkel said one thing which should never be done is to desensitize suicide.

He also offered words of encouragement. When you do get out of your depression, and you will, though you may need medication, and that is perfectly fine. At this point you will see the world through a clear lens and realize the importance and significance of ones self. So much is driven by what weve created as a society by wanting instant gratification, we watch peoples lives in social media, but what we see are the great times, you dont see the bad times.

If you are friends with Kunkel on social media, you will notice he likes to share lifes moments. I am an open book. I talk about it. I dont care if people agree or disagree with what I post, or if they believe I share too much. If I can touch someone to where they realize someone else is experiencing life struggles, and then see they are not alone then my goal is complete he added.

The negative stigma which is attached to mental health plays a big factor in those who need mental health treatment. Weve got to stop thinking that if someone asks for help, they are weak or that they arent capable of something. Until you experience what depression is, just like in life, until you experience an event, you cant empathize with someone else. You can sympathize but cant empathize. Being empathetic, you can relate to how that person feels.

It is important to talk to a therapist or a group of people who are suffering the same way you are. The key is getting to the right doctor, the right help, and getting the right medication if needed, said Kunkel.

One thing he has found helpful in recent years is a new technology which tests your genetics and determines which medications would or wouldnt work best for you based on your DNA markup. One of the greatest medical advancements we have today is the technology of swabbing ones mouth and identifying optimal medications, he said about the program available at White River Health System in Batesville.

Another important thing people need to talk about is family history. A lot of times we dont want to talk about the negative things in our families. Being adopted, I didnt know any medical history surrounding my birth family. I found some of my birth family in 1993, and found out three years ago that on my birth mothers side, my oldest sister committed suicide and on my birth fathers side, a brother had committed suicide. Knowing hereditary history helps you be more aware of yourself. Self-awareness and self-care are also keys in treating mental health. Families have got to break down and talk about it. There is nothing wrong with it. It is just making sure you are healthy; physically and mentally.

Death by suicide is growing in youth, a very scary statistic, in fact, according to to statistics provided by WRMC Community Education Coordinator Lindsey Bowers, suicide is the second leading cause of death for ages 10-24. More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease combined, is another statistic provided by Bowers.

Kunkel encourages parents to be involved in their childrens lives and to watch for changes in attitude or mood. There are so many things that can cause mental health issues whether it is a pet dying, family member dying, , moving to a new school, anything can trigger depression. Identifying triggers is another key when having control on suicidal thoughts/tendencies. Once you get older, at least I have experienced, you are going to know what those triggers are. Right now with my health scare, if I wasnt mentally healthy, I probably would be freaking out. It is the unknown, he said. You have to have a healthy mentality to be able to manage those potholes in life, because we are all going to have them.

One way Kunkel has found to relax and enjoy some him time is his farm, his escape. If you allow your mind too much free time, it allows you to think about worst-case scenarios. Is there a time to think about worse case scenarios? Yes. Because you want to mentally prepare yourself so if something happens you are prepared. But we cant do it every time. If you dont make an A on that test, it is ok. If you have people who do not bring positivity into your life, it is ok to distance yourself. Loving yourself and being comfortable with who you are is important and also one of the hardest things for anyone to do.

One of the things that brings me the most joy is being able to help others and share my experiences that Ive had living away, working in corporate America and working side by side by someone from almost every country, going overseas on buying trips with Walmart. At the end of the day, we are all here with the same mission and we all bleed red. That is the common thread that links everyone on this planet.

After Kunkels suicide attempt, he received a college degree from Harding University, went up the ranks at Walmart to Senior Buyer (responsible for $1.2 billion in retail sales), moved to Scottsdale, Ariz. to be Senior Director for PetSmart Corporate. At this point in his career his dad was battling the final stages of dementia. He moved back to Bentonville and went back to Walmart as a Sr Brand Manager for all of the Apparel Division. Three months after moving back to Arkansas his dad passed. He continued to work for two more years with Walmart before making one of the toughest decisions; he chose family over career I came back to Sharp County and to me, it makes me happy to be able to help others. One of the great things about that is I get to work for a company who puts community first. When you align your values with your employer values, that allows you to do even more.

Another scary statistic is Arkansas is the ninth ranked state for suicides. One thing Kunkel has done through his involvement in the community and urge to help others is organize a group of individuals concerned with mental health issues in the state, and see what can be done to combat those issues. As a part of the group, a meeting with Arkansas First Lady, Susan Hutchison, was established.

When we went down and met with the First Lady, we had diverse people in the room: I had attempted suicide, a person whose husband died by suicide, and someone who works with people who struggle with mental illness, however the common thread was they didnt know what they didnt know and they didnt know what resources are out there. This is why it is so important that we start talking about mental health because it is ok to be depressed at times, but when it consumes you there is help. When you find that resource, you will realize just how good life can be., he said.

He ended the interview with some more words of encouragement. Whenever you get past that feeling of loneliness or helplessness, and you realize how blessed you are, your life will change. For mental health, always remember no one should ever feel inferior, threatened, belittled, or intimidated when asking for help, and if you need medication, by all means take it. Once you get to your happy place, you are going to realize how little someone elses opinion matters.

Social media, though often used for good, can sometimes be hurtful and not on purpose. We always need to remember not to compare our lives to someone elses. What you see on social media is only a depiction of what people want you to see. Just because someone is social, if you dont like it, scroll on, said Kunkel. Identifying the positive instead of negative should be everyones primary focus. Something healthy for me is making fun of myself. If I mess up or do something, I make a joke of it, and I dont mind sharing it.

You have to surround yourself with friends who accept you as you are and dont want you to be something that you are not, he added.

More here:
Local News: Local resident shares perspective on suicide (9/18/19) - Areawide News

In a recent visit to the doctor, I noticed the body mass index chart on the wall with color-coded ranges of healthy and unhealthy weights for any given height. It struck me as a metaphor for organizational health. Our actions in either domain might be intentional or mindless based on our priorities and resources at a given time. In both body weight and company revenues, a metric sought for glory, not health, could drive dangerous behaviors. In both, that motivation can appear as health-focused, so it remains hidden below the surface.

A Pattern Of Behavior, Not A Single Act

While there are various contexts in which our choices are constrained or otherwise influenced, our results in personal physical health and in organizational health are largely a function of the daily behaviors of that bodys leader. Apart from some extreme exceptions, one is typically not labeled a fantastic leader based on a single stellar act. Rather, a great leader tends to exhibit a pattern of mostly effective behaviors over time. Similarly, one is not typically called a toxic leader following a single horrific bad decision, but after a pattern of destructive behaviors over time.

For body weight, any number on the scale represents a series of acts over time of consumption and exercise. There are many combinations of behaviors that will yield a metric that is placed in the healthy zone for both body weight and for good leadership. A single bad choice doesnt plunge someone into the unhealthy zone. Nor does one great choice ensure someone stays in the healthy zone. Many people have slips in judgment and self-control in their diet and exercise routine, just as leaders have slips in decisions and interactions with their team members.

Imperfect Metric

Neither in physical nor organizational health does a single metric give a full picture of wellness. As the Harvard Business Review reported, A company can easily lose sight of its strategy and instead focus strictly on the metrics that are meant to represent it. A metric could have been achieved in unhealthy ways, which is more likely the case with individuals who or cultures that place a significant incentive on a metric or value the appearance of success more than true wellness.

Looking at a companys Glassdoor score, for example, might appear to represent that companys employee confidence and satisfaction. However, if bright-eyed, new employees are encouraged to post in their early days of glee and unfavorable posts are removed or simply never posted, the score hardly represents true health. Similarly, a target weight alone, based on height, doesnt give the full picture of health.

What Used To Work Doesnt Anymore

In leadership and in physical wellness, some people manage to achieve decent results even if they are not particularly intentional in their choices. Over time, though, new conditions and challenges emerge. Actions that previously led to metrics in the healthy zone might no longer work. In leadership, there might be new demands by the board, the market or employees. As bodies age, your metabolism changes, allergies might develop or illnesses could be contracted.

What You Can Do With This New Metaphor To Better Yourself

One of the great gifts of leadership coaching is witnessing the beauty of humanity in breakthroughs. It is easier to offer grace to yourself and compassion for others when you understand no one is perfect, everyone has fears and everyone wants connection. Acknowledge (but dont dwell on) your missteps in the wellness of every facet of your life.

Everyone makes mistakes in personal health and in leadership. It's what you do in the aftermath of a slip-up that determines whether you are destined for a healthy or unhealthy zone. Dont pretend the slips didnt happen, justify to yourself or others why they did, or wallow in shame about your poor choices.

Own what happened and its impact. Apologize to affected parties even if that someone is you. Accept your humanity. You are not perfect, but hopefully, you can learn. Increase self-awareness about the situations or people who tend to trip you into a lesser version of yourself. Get support from a leadership coach, mentor, boss or trusted peer to think through how to own and make amends for damaging behaviors. Work to prepare yourself to better handle future potential situations.

Dont be seduced by vanity metrics. Carefully choose and use a collection of metrics that paint a holistic picture of health for both your body and the goodness of your organization. Being thoughtful, intentional and realistic can help you positively affect change.

See the rest here:
For Glory Or Health? The Importance Of Looking At Your Organization's Well-Being - Forbes

Simone Da Costa is a yoga teacher and mind-body therapist. A mind-body therapist is any trained professional who uses various tools to access both the mind and the body to move towards healing. Such tools that are incorporated with the consent of the individual are: guided meditations, imagery, mindfulness and traditional talk therapy or counselling.

How did you get started in your profession?

I got started in this profession due to an early inclination to do what I could, to reduce the suffering of others. My heart opened to the world and was often broken by the sheer pain of seeing the burdens that some people bear. From a young age, I encountered my own share of inner turmoil and pain so I spent many years pursuing different ways of finding more inner harmony, self awareness and personal growth. The more I learn, the more I want to share what I know with others. My motivation within this field is to help guide individuals towards the steps they can take to reduce their pain, suffering, confusion, anxiety or depression.

What is your philosophy on health?

My philosophy on health is that its best approached in a holistic manner; mind, body and spirit. If we make steps to improve our physical health, we shouldnt neglect our mental health. There is even our emotional well-being to consider and each one impacts the other. Our mental and emotional states are often the more difficult or uncomfortable issues for us to acknowledge and address but they are equally as important for our overall health and well-being.

Could you tell us a bit about mind-body therapy?

Mind-body therapy is my integration of all that Ive learnt over the years in the fields of yoga, mindfulness and psychology. Im currently pursuing my Masters degree in Mindfulness Based Psychotherapy which adds to my mind-body practice. Mindfulness based Psychotherapy is an integrative therapy with an emphasis on self awareness, of course, mindfulness and the relationship between the therapist and the client. This mode of therapy encourages approaching lifes difficulties with compassion; being gentle with your process and embracing acceptance of what is, en route to your solutions.

My favourite aspect of Mindfulness Based Psychotherapy is the level of awareness that the therapist is taught to greet the client with due to extensive, personal practice in mindfulness techniques. The therapist isnt there to greet a client as a broken person in need of fixing, its more about the client undergoing a journey towards healing, growth, happiness and fulfilment and the therapist being there to guide, support and walk alongside him or her on the journey.

How would someone be able to improve their mental and emotional health and where should they start?

A good starting place for improving mental and emotional health is to develop a personal practice of some sort where you can check in with yourself in a very focused, yet gentle way. Its important to sit in silence from time to time and take a break from the noise and busyness of the world.

We are on the go 24/7 and we barely take enough rest and relaxation time. Anxiety and depression are becoming ever more prevalent and many people suffer from burnout and from being overwhelmed.

What gives you the most fulfilment from this profession?

The most fulfilment I get from this profession is when I get feedback from my students or clients. When they report back to me saying that they feel more peaceful, clear, calm or have found some resolution or even just their next step forward due to the work weve done, it truly fills my heart. If Im doing work that helps someone in any small way, Im fulfilled knowing that I could help them to make that difference in their lives.

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Mind-Body Therapy - Trinidad Guardian