Author: TECH

January 23 is Maternal Health Awareness Day and in Mississippi, the rate of self-reported postpartum depressive symptoms is significantly higher than the national average. WXXV’s Aubrey Spears spoke with the Executive Director of the Department of Mental Health about the numbers and why it is important to highlight maternal mental health and postpartum depression. The birth of a baby is both a time of joy and a bit of struggle for new parents as they navigate new routines, new responsibilities, and new experiences, but some parents struggle in silence. According to Mississippians for Maternal Health Care, approximately 21 to 23.5…

In September 2021, I penned a post for this column entitled “How to Jump-Start Your Creativity Using Mindfulness.” The piece centered on the creative implications of mindfulness as a stimulant for both imagination and inventiveness. Since that post was published, I have discovered new research and several commanding practices that underscore the importance of mindfulness as a “spark plug” for our creative endeavors. Let’s take a look. What the Research Says A 2024 empirical study of 894 secondary school students examined how dispositional mindfulness (one’s natural tendency to be mindful) was related to several creativity measures, such as divergent thinking,…

When United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents shot and killed civilian Alex Pretti on January 24, Minneapolis’s Nicollet Avenue faced immediate chaos. Peaceful protesters — and members of the press — in the area were quickly subject to tear gas and “less lethal” bullets as federal agents attempted to get them to leave the scene.Among the crowd was local journalist Samie Solina, who was on the scene for KARE 11 News, as well as her videographer, Mitchell Yehl.Solina and Yehl quickly sought shelter in a nearby Vietnamese restaurant, My Huong Kitchen. Owner Tracy Wong immediately let them in.Tracy Wong of…

April Zeoli, an associate professor of public health and a director at the Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention at the University of Michigan, presents to the 10th Annual Suicide Prevention Education Summit in Plymouth, Mich. Jan. 23, 2026. | Photo by Katherine Dailey/Michigan Advance.Michigan’s Extreme Risk Protection Order, or ERPO, law, which allows a person’s firearms to be temporarily removed from their possession in the case of a mental health crisis, was a point of focus for the 10th Annual Suicide Prevention Education Summit, hosted last week by Kevin’s Song, a Michigan charity aiming to grow awareness on the causes…

The Gauteng Legislature’s Multiparty Women Caucus (MPWC) visited the Ezibeleni School for Physically Disabled Children in Katlehong on January 24. The visit, led by the chairperson of the Gauteng Multiparty Women Caucus, Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi, formed part of the school oversight programme. The school was identified for its critical role in society, as it caters specifically for learners with physical disabilities. Despite being one of the oldest schools in the City of Ekurhuleni, having been built and officially unveiled in 1986 by the then Honourable Willem Adriaan Cruywagen, administrator of the Transvaal (TVL), the institution has faced numerous challenges. ALSO…

Writers with experience of homelessness share tales of overcoming adversity in a new book Writers with lived experience of hardship have united for a groundbreaking new anthology aiming to reshape perceptions of homelessness and poverty. More Than One Story, curated by the arts and social justice charity Cardboard Citizens, brings together 37 emerging and established writers to share rarely-heard tales from the front line of adversity. “When we asked for the voices of More Than One Story, we weren’t sure who would answer,” said Cardboard Citizens CEO Chris Sonnex. “What we received was a chorus – voices from every corner…

Initiatives and Programs – Advancing health equity by reducing healthcare disparities CHICAGO, IL, UNITED STATES, January 12, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The Institute of Medicine of Chicago (IOMC) is highly committed to advancing health equity by reducing healthcare disparities. The Institute’s 2026 programs and initiatives focus on maternal & child health, preventive health, social determinants of health, behavioral health, pathways to lead – elevated blood lead levels in children and communities. Learn more here> Since 1915, it has changed the landscape in healthcare and public health. See highlights and history here>. The Institute of Medicine of Chicago is a dynamic, forward-looking…

– credit Getty for Unsplash+ A pharmacy chain in Sweden has started running a trial across its locations with a simple aim: can a few minutes a day of free time help reduce loneliness? Sweden’s government recently commissioned a large social study about loneliness across its citizenry, and what it found made for heavy reading. 8% of adults don’t have a single close friend. The major Swedish pharmacy chain Apotek Hjärtat is allowing its workers to have 15 minutes per day, or 1 hour per month, to walk away from the register, the counter, or the shelves, and make a…

Churning miles on treadmills in crowded gyms, following diet plans to lose weight, and keeping up with wellness app alerts that remind you to drink more water and walk a little extra – this the daily fitness routine for many. Yet, beneath this visible pursuit of physical health, it is the emotional fatigue that often goes unacknowledged. As anxiety, chronic stress, and low moods quietly settle into daily routines, they are frequently dismissed as temporary phases rather than health concerns that demand attention.Mental health today is spoken more openly than ever before. Social media reels, motivational talks and public conversations…

Two young men having a conversation. – Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock A June 2025 national survey from Beyond Finance sheds light on a growing issue: Financial distress is fueling a silent mental health crisis among men. Only 27% of men surveyed rated their mental health as “excellent,” and just 15% said the same about their financial health. More than half (57%) were in debt — most often from credit cards (62%), mortgages (34%), or auto loans (30%) — and the emotions tied to that debt included frustration (38%), anxiety (29%), and embarrassment (19%). “Men are suffering in silence when it…