May Wellness Newsletter. May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Transcription

1 May 2018 Wellness Newsletter May is Mental Health Awareness Month

2

3

4

5

6 Insurance Open Enrollment May 1 June 1 Open Enrollment packets will be distributed the first week of May. Make sure to check out for more information on our new medical plan designs and other benefit related information. Q & A Sessions North High: Monday, May 7 4 pm 5 pm East High: Tuesday, May 8 4 pm 5 pm West High: Thursday, May 10 4 pm 5 pm

7

8

9

10

11

12 Helping Friends and Family Identify and Address Mental Health Concerns Mental illness can strike at any time. It can be hard to know whether a friend or relative s behavior is just a result of a difficult emotional phase, or a signal of mental illness. Stigma can also make talking about these issues difficult. However, turning a blind eye to a mental health concern could deprive someone you care about of the support and care they might want but are unable to ask for. Warning Signs Spotting the signs of mental illness is not always easy, but common signs of distress can include: Obvious personality changes Unprovoked emotional outbursts Problems coping with daily activities and challenges Major changes in sleeping and eating patterns Difficulty making decisions, concentrating or remembering things Extreme anxiety Reaching Out to a Loved One You ve noticed something is wrong but are uneasy and unsure of how to talk about it. Remember that early intervention speeds the recovery process. Here are some ideas about approaching this delicate subject: Showing Concern Your loved one may feel shame, guilt, fear or confusion. Pick a calm, quiet time to broach the topic and gently express your concern. I m worried about you and want to help, or, I ve noticed that you seem anxious, are you alright? are possible ways in to the conversation. Actively listen to any response without interrupting or making any judgmental comments. Letting loved ones know you ve got their best interest at heart creates a more caring and secure environment. Suggesting Resources Investigate services in the area that may be able to help. Providing relevant information can help ease anxiety over finding support services. Advocate groups and government initiatives have helped to remove much of the stigma of mental illness and there are now more employee assistance programs, hotlines, and online information sites than ever. It s also a non-threatening way to leave the decision in loved ones hands, encouraging them to explore mental health support options when they re ready to do so. Offering Help While you may not have the expertise to directly help others cope with mental health issues, your emotional and physical presence can be invaluable. From drives to the doctor, to a shoulder to cry on, to making a favorite dish the little things you do to support your loved one can go a long way on the road to recovery. Talking about the issues of mental health with someone you suspect may be at risk can be difficult, but there are more resources available and greater public understanding than ever before. It s up to all of us to actively play a role in reducing the stigma associated with mental illness. Take the time to stop and think about your own attitude and behavior in relation to mental illness, and encourage others to do the same. Tread carefully, offer information and support, and let the person know that you re there to help, not judge.

13 As babies, our parents, guardians and caregivers make the majority of our decisions for us what we wear, what we eat, how we spend our day. Each year, humans generally gain the ability to make more decisions about their needs, wants and desires. In the month of April as we observe Oral Cancer Month, Delta Dental of Iowa wants to encourage Iowans young and old to make the right decision for themselves about using smokeless tobacco. Smokeless tobacco = deadly decision Smokeless tobacco sometimes called chew or dip is a bad habit often picked up by young adults, especially young men. Teens may believe that it is more easily concealed than smoking cigarettes or using e- cigarettes (vaping). Regardless of why a person chooses to start using smokeless tobacco, the fact is that it is just as, or more, dangerous than smoking. Do you think smoking 3 ½ packs of cigarettes a week seems excessive? Would you be surprised to know that dipping two cans a week gives you as much nicotine? According to Smokefree.gov, smokeless tobacco has at least 30 chemicals that are linked to cancer, including lead, uranium and arsenic. In addition, the nicotine from dip enters your bloodstream faster and stays in your system longer. These facts mean it may be harder to quit smokeless tobacco than smoking. Using smokeless tobacco is a dental disaster. If smokeless tobacco doesn t give you cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach, pancreas or lungs, you could still lose your teeth as smokeless tobacco may cause the roots of your teeth to weaken. Smokeless tobacco products contain sugar and other chemicals that can cause cavities, stained teeth, bad breath, gum disease and more. All in all, using tobacco products doesn t give any of us a reason to smile. Don t start; but if you have started, you can quit Obviously it s easier to not start using tobacco products at all. But if you have started and want to quit, talk to your healthcare providers, like you doctor or your dentist to help you quit. Your dentist should perform a visual exam at each appointment to check for lesions or other symptoms caused by tobacco use that may lead to cancer, said Dr. Jeffrey Chaffin, dental director at Delta Dental of Iowa. If you want to quit using tobacco, there are a variety of cessation treatments that can be used to increase the rate of success of quitting. Ask your dentist or physician for more information. Decide on a healthy smile for life People of all ages have to make healthy choices every day. Keep your smile as healthy as possible for a lifetime by not using tobacco products, brushing and flossing as directed and visiting your dentist regularly. For more information on quitting smokeless tobacco, visit Delta Dental of Iowa s website and the American Cancer Society.

14 Creamy Avocado & White Bean Wrap From: Eatingwell.com 1. Whisk vinegar, oil, chipotle chile and salt in a medium bowl. Add cabbage, carrot and cilantro; toss to combine. 2. Mash beans and avocado in another medium bowl with a potato masher or fork. Stir in cheese and onion. 3. To assemble the wraps, spread about ½ cup of the bean-avocado mixture onto a wrap (or tortilla) and top with about ⅔ cup of the cabbage-carrot slaw. Roll up. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Cut the wraps in half to serve, if desired. Tip: Chipotle chiles in adobo sauce are smoked jalapeños packed in a flavorful sauce. Look for the small cans with the Mexican foods in large supermarkets. Once opened, they'll keep at least 2 weeks in the refrigerator or 6 months in the freezer. Eat neat: Keeping the filling inside a wrap or burrito can be a challenge, especially if you're on the go. That's why we recommend wrapping your burrito in foil so you can pick it up and eat it without losing the filling, peeling back the foil as you go. Ingredients 2 tablespoons cider vinegar 1 tablespoon canola oil 2 teaspoons finely chopped canned chipotle chile in adobo sauce ¼ teaspoon salt 2 cups shredded red cabbage 1 medium carrot, shredded ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro 1 15-ounce can white beans, rinsed 1 ripe avocado ½ cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese 2 tablespoons minced red onion 4 8- to 10-inch whole-wheat wraps, or tortillas Nutrition Information: Serving size: 1 wrap, ½ cup bean-avocado mixture & ⅔ cup cabbage carrot slaw Per serving: 346 calories; 17 g fat(4 g sat); 13 g fiber; 44 g carbohydrates; 12 g protein; 55 mcg folate; 14 mg cholesterol; 3 g sugars; 0 g added sugars; 3,220 IU vitamin A; 27 mg vitamin C; 135 mg calcium; 1 mg iron; 465 mg sodium; 488 mg potassium Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin A (64% daily value), Vitamin C (45% dv) Carbohydrate Servings: 3 Exchanges: 2½ starch, 1 vegetable, 1 lean meat, 2 fat For questions or concerns regarding your benefits and insurance please contact Kim Smith, Benefits Manager at or smithk@live.siouxcityschools.com. Nondiscrimination Statement The Sioux City Community School District is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. It is an unfair or discriminatory practice for any educational institution to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, age (for employment), disability, socioeconomic status (for programs), marital status (for programs), or veteran status in its educational programs and its employment practices. Inquiries or grievances may be directed to Jen Gomez, Director of Student Services & Equity Education at 627 4th Street, Sioux City, IA 51101, (712) , gomezj2@live.siouxcityschools.com.