Safe Communities Corner

There is a very wide spectrum when it comes to mental health issues. Under the umbrella of mental health you can see anything from schizophrenia to seasonal depression. We are by no means medical professionals, so let me say, first and foremost, that if you or someone you love is dealing with a severe mental illness, please seek professional help.That said, many of us, at some point in our lives, deal with things like depression or anxiety. We all deal with it in a variety of ways, some healthy and some, not so much. How we chose to cope when…

Did you know that half of the global population will experience mental illness at some point in their lives? May is dedicated to mental health awareness in the hopes of overcoming the stigma and to encourage those who suffer with it to step forward and get the help they need.The vast majority of mental health issues are anxiety and depression, accounting for 66% of illnesses. 1 in 20 adults in the United States suffer from serious mental illnesses. These are defined as severe mental behavioral, or emotional disorders that significantly impair a person's ability to function in daily life. While…

If you have children, think back to the first time you held your little bundle. Most likely, you remember very well the moment your eyes met and you realized that this little person was yours. If you were like me, the overwhelming joy was quickly dashed by a moment of panic. "I'm totally responsible for this little person's life!"That feeling is completely normal, but sometimes that panic comes from a place of valid concern. If you didn't have a great example of what parenthood should look like in your own life you might be worried that you are destined to…

Hindsight is always 20/20. Any person who has walked this heartbreaking journey with a child can tell you that this is a phrase that haunts them. Once the abuse is brought to light, phrases like "I knew something wasn't right," "It all makes sense now," "How did I miss that," "If I would have said something sooner..." all become the self-talk that adds to the hurdles they must overcome to find healing for everyone involved. Physical abuse accounts for just over 18% of all the maltreated children in the U.S. 8.6% of those children are sexually abused. Of the children who…

Substance abuse is on the rise all across  America and beyond. The opioid epidemic, in particular, has seen a dramatic increase over the past 10 years. Drug abuse has many devastating effects, but none more than the impact it has on children.When it comes to classifying abuse involving substances, there are two categories. The first occurs when illegal drugs are found in a child's body. This can happen at birth from a mother ingesting drugs during the pregnancy or in young children having been exposed to the narcotics enough for them to get into their system. The second classification involves…

Abuse in the form of neglect is defined as the failure of a parent or caretaker to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care or supervision when no physical injury to the child has occurred. Neglect is also considered the form of abuse when substances are found in a child's system. Across the nation, Iowa is no exception, this is by far the most common form of child abuse, accounting for over 75% of confirmed cases. Sadly, is it the children whose very survival depends on the care they receive who are most at risk, children under 3 years old.When…

April was first observed as Child Abuse Prevention Month in 1983 after a proclamation by then president Ronald Regan. The road to that point, however, was long. While the topic of child abuse had been discussed by the medical field as early as 1850, it wasn't until 1962 that how child abuse was addressed finally started to change.It was an article written by Henry Kempe, published in the Journal of American Medical Association, that got the attention of the medical community and lawmakers. This publication became a turning point for battered children. When presenting his article to  the medical community,…

It's ok to be a quitter! You won't hear that often in your life, but when it comes to vaping, we won't just say it's ok to quit, we will encourage a quitter's attitude! Let's deal with the elephant in the room first: withdraw. Yes, once you decide to quit, this is a reality you've got to deal with. Headaches, mood swings, and irritability are all an inevitable part of the body's response to nicotine withdraw. BUT, consider this, by the time you start feeling the symptoms of withdraw, your body has already begun to heal itself. Within just 20…

Wouldn't it be nice if the foods with the best flavor provided the best health benefits? Parents would no longer have to try to come up with clever ways to get vegetables into their children's bellies if a candy bar provided all the nutrients they need. No more turning up their noses at a healthy dinner. No more counting down the spoonsful of vegetables. If only it were that simple. Many young vapers incorrectly believe that vaping is simply breathing flavored air. With flavors like mango and raspberry, its easy to believe that this "air" can't hurt them. The truth…

In an earlier blog we mentioned that e-cigarettes were touted as a safe alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes. Sure, they eliminated the need to burn tobacco, which meant a smoker wasn't ingesting things like carbon monoxide and tar but is it really safer, or are you just trading one harmful habit for another?So what exactly are you ingesting through e-cigs? The American Lung Association has provided a break down of the chemicals found in these products:Nicotine – a highly addictive substance that negatively affects adolescent brain developmentPropylene glycol – a common additive in food; also used to make things like antifreeze, paint…