Increasing Awareness of Domestic Violence

Increasing Awareness of Domestic Violence

Lynn Schlossberger, LPC

Increasing awareness of domestic abuse is like aiming your camera at a bird in flight.  It keeps changing, as stress increases.  According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 36% of Louisiana women experience abuse from an intimate partner in their lifetimes, and so do 35% of Louisiana men.  Most who are severely injured or murdered are women.   East Baton Rouge Parish has had 25 domestic violence murders so far in 2021, compared to 19 in all of 2020.   In vulnerable populations – anyone marginalized by race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability – the national rate of intimate partner violence over a lifetime may be closer to 50%, according to the director of the Center for Survivor Agency and Justice.  Between 2016 and 2018, rates across the US increased significantly.  During the first year of the pandemic, with reduced social contact and fewer resources, some cities reported a 20% jump in frequency.  It’s another form of pandemic, hidden in plain sight.  

Domestic violence, according to NCADV, is the willful intimidation, assault, or abuse that is part of a pattern of power and control by one intimate partner against another.  Abusers feel entitled to be in control of their partner at all times.  No group is immune.  Stereotypes are useless: abusers can look like normal, friendly, productive members of society.  We don’t know what goes on behind closed doors, and so we have to wake up to the warning signs.

Abuse is more obvious when it leaves visible bruises, but words can do profound damage too.  Abusers blame, shame, and intimidate their partners with threats of violence if they displease their abuser.  They often accuse their partners of wrongdoing, as if that somehow justified the violence.  They might punch the wall, hide the car keys, break the partner’s cellphone, or use it to check up on them a hundred times a day, control their credit card, isolate them from loved ones, threaten to hurt the dog, or threaten to seek custody of the kids if the abused partner complains.  Survivors of abuse – the term “victim” is stigmatizing – have good reason to hesitate to leave.  The time when the risk of violence is most severe is during the process of leaving an abusive relationship. 

Leaving an abusive relationship is hard.  Beyond fear of being assaulted, many survivors struggle because they lack resources.  They worry about supporting themselves or their kids.  They worry they will not be believed, particularly by law enforcement, but often by family or faith community as well.  And of course, they reminisce about the good times.  When the perpetrator of violence calms down, they often apologize, buy flowers, and promise it will never happen again.  The truth is that the psychopathology behind domestic violence does not go away on its own, and the next time is usually worse.  Treatment of perpetrators is available, and it is a long process.

Might someone you care about be at risk? Here are some warning signs.  Do they have injuries for which the explanation sounds fishy?  Do they manifest a decline in self-esteem?  Are they preoccupied by checking in with their partner?  Missing appointments without a clear reason? Ask them if something is wrong at home.  Be somebody it is safe to tell.  Choose a moment when they feel safe.  Avoid lecturing.  If you are a mandated reporter, include the person in a conversation about how to keep them safe.  Model calm in the midst of a storm.  Above all, be safe yourself.

For help 24/7, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-7233.

Suicide Prevention & Awareness

Suicide Prevention & Awareness

Victoria Young, MS, LPC, NCC

Victoria Young, MS, LPC, NCC

The month of September is dedicated to preventing suicide and instilling hope in communities across the nation. A large focus for Suicide Prevention Month pivots education. Suicide is preventable and one way to prevent suicide is to educate individuals on risk factors, warning signs, how to have conversations with loved ones when they are struggling with suicidal ideation or other somatic features, and provide resources that are available.

Untitled design (22).png

 Though it might seem improbable , suicide affects all people. Within the past year, about 41,000 individuals died by suicide, 1.3 million adults have attempted suicide, 2.7 million adults have had a plan to attempt suicide and 9.3 million adults have had suicidal thoughts. Also, according to the  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Data & Statistics Fatal Injury Report for 2019; retrieved February 9, 2021, suicide is the 10th leading causes of death. Figuratively, when conceptualizing the stereotypes within the realm of mental health the current statistics could reflect a substantial increase due to the contemporary mental health stigma which prevents many people from reaching out and asking for help. Being aware of the warning signs could reduce both suicide attempts and deaths. Also, using verbiage free of jargon by asking the simple question, “Are you having thoughts of suicide?” could ultimately save a life.

 Remembering that there is no single reason why someone might contemplate suicide. Suicide does not discriminate by age, gender, wealth, race, religious preference or sexuality. Someone thinking about suicide may be experiencing symptoms of a mental illness or they may NOT. Someone thinking about suicide may have a variety of life stressors that could include but may not be limited to: grief ( anticipatory, sudden, complicated) financial destitution or lack of economic support, relationship complexities, losing a job, changes in health, or another significant life change.

 What are some warning signs of suicide?

Most common warning signs that someone may be thinking about suicide include:

  • Changes in mood

  • Giving away prized possessions

  • Putting final affairs in order

  • Withdrawing

  • Changes in physical appearance

  • Prior suicide attempts

  • Alcohol or drug use

  • High-risk behaviors

  • Making statements with themes of hopelessness, helplessness, and fear of becoming a burden

  • Making verbal suicide threats, such as “I want to die” or “I’m going to kill myself”

  • Feeling like a burden

  • Being isolated

  • Increased anxiety

  • Feeling trapped or in unbearable pain

  • Expressing hopelessness

  • Sleeping too little or too much

  • Talking or posting about wanting to die

  • Making plans for suicide

 How can you help someone who might be suicidal?

 If you are concerned about someone, ask them: “Are you having thoughts of suicide?” Or ask, “Are you having thoughts of killing yourself?” Simply asking one of these questions can save a life.

Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions  regarding  suicide. One of them is that if you ask a person if they are having thoughts of suicide, you are planting the seed for that individual to engage with self injurious behavior that will contribute to them carrying out their plans for suicide. This is not true. Actually, asking the question opens the door for that person to share personal thoughts, feelings and experiences. If a person is thinking about suicide, STOP, LISTEN, and REACT.  Help that individual access resources. 

Confidential crisis help is available 24/7 by phone:

For more specific resources for those struggling with suicide within the Baton Rouge metropolitan area. 

  • The Bridge Center Baton Rouge
    Website

  • THE PHONE Baton Rouge (225-924-3900)
    24-hour crisis counseling and emotional support line serving the Greater Baton Rouge Area.

  • THE PHONE LSU (225-924-LSU1)
    24-hour crisis counseling and emotional support line serving the students of Louisiana State University (LSU).

  • KIDLINE (1-800-CHILDREN)
    Kidline is an anonymous, toll-free, statewide telephone service offering crisis intervention, support, parenting information and referrals to community resources within the state of Louisiana. KIDLINE counselors are available 24 hours per day – 7 days per week.

  • VIA LINK Call Center (211)
    Capital area, Greater New Orleans Area, and Northshore Website

The signs of crisis is all around us. Society depicts  that someone who is suicidal is a person who is in  a permanent situation.  We must work together to debunk and banish that stigma and stereotype. We must work as a team to help society realize the importance of helping others seek treatment and show individuals the importance of addressing their mental health challenges so suicide is not an option. Eliminating the stigma starts by understanding why suicide occurs, being aware of the warning signs, assisting ones with accessing specific resources for those struggling with suicide, and advocating for mental health awareness within our communities. 

References

 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Preventing Suicide. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 

https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/pdf/preventing-suicide-factsheet-2021-508.pdf

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Suicide rising across the U.S. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/suicide/


Victoria Young, MS, LPC, NCC

Men's Mental Health:  Why Talking About it is Still Taboo

Men’s Mental Health

Six million American men suffer from depression every year. Many men attempt to treat mental illness themselves, and in the process, 1 in 5 men eventually develop alcohol or drug abuse.  Some try to cut out difficult emotions by attaching their self-worth to the successes in their work and social lives.  According to the National Institute of Mental Health, men are 4-times more likely to commit suicide than women.

Stigma about mental health is deadly.  Men deny their symptoms because they learn that acknowledging emotional pain is a sign of weakness, and asking for help is shameful.  However, depression does not disappear just because we ignore it; when it goes untreated, male depression may appear as insomnia, irritability, needless conflict, somatic complaints, or anger. This is "toxic masculinity": a portrayal of manhood that requires a guy to always be tough, in control, to resist change, and never to be vulnerable.  Those who are bound by a toxic masculine self-image often repress their emotions, even pleasant ones.  They are more likely to disrespect women, distrust others, be homophobic, and refuse to eat vegetables.

What is the best way to apply sunscreen (4).png

Symptoms of male depression are hard to detect because men hide them. Other medical conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease, camouflage them, as, of course, do alcohol and other street drugs.   For older men, a drop in testosterone levels is also associated with symptoms of depression.  When men don't bring it up, caregivers may ask about emotional pain, the pain of the heart, with the same attention one might give to a question about a pain in the chest.  All pain deserves help.

The truth is that nobody is exempt from experiencing sadness, disappointment, or self-doubt.  Men and women are prone to depression and other mental illnesses, such as bipolar disorder, but men are less likely to get help.  Manic symptoms of bipolar can lead to poor decision-making and negatively affect your life.   90% of those diagnosed with Schizophrenia in early adulthood are men.  Psychosis, like depression, is a brain function, not a character flaw.  Hiding your symptoms won't make them go away, don't be ashamed to ask for help.

Lynn Schlossberger, LPC

Every Man Needs A Health Plan

Pride Month & Men’s Health Month

Allan Edmunds, FNP-C

Allan Edmunds, FNP-C

Men's health is particularly relevant in June because it's Men's Health Month and Gay Pride month. What better time than now to highlight the need for men to see a medical provider for their primary and sexual health care needs. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, Open Health's HAART Clinic offers an array of specialized services to our patients, including wellness visits, PReP/PEP, Hepatitis C treatment, HIV testing, and more.

LGBTQ+ Health

Recent studies have shown that "most LGBTQ patients want to be able to share their sexual orientation or gender identity with their healthcare provider but are often reluctant to open up because they fear they may be treated badly or even refused care." Open Health wants to change that. We aim to create an inclusive and culturally sensitive environment to reduce the stigma that LGBTQ patients experience. We strive to provide affordable, quality health care guided by our core values of commitment, compassion, diversity, integrity, and quality. We encourage all men—gay, straight, bisexual, and transgender—to see us for their annual medical visits as well as their regular sexual health care and STD screenings.

Men's Overall Health

Untitled design (5).png

Congress also feels that men’s health is of national importance, passing a bill in 1994 declaring the week before Father’s Day as men’s health week. This year in celebration of Father’s Day on Sunday, June 20, we encourage everyone to wear blue in support of their father, husband, son, or brother. For all the mothers, sisters, daughters, wives, and friends, we want you to: Encourage him to get seen! The sad truth is that statistically, men die five years earlier than women. Men are also less likely to have health insurance, impacting a man’s ability to be involved fathers, supportive partners, and engaged community members. Fortunately, most of the reasons for men’s shorter and less healthy lives are preventable! Health prevention starts with men seeing a health care provider regularly. These doctor visits help establish a patient’s baseline blood pressure, weight, and health status, plus the provider can check for issues like prostate cancer, depression, high cholesterol, and heart disease. Men can catch potentially dangerous conditions early by receiving annual check-ups and screenings, especially when they are still treatable. If you are sexually active, STD screenings are also important at any age. Statistics show men and women over the age of 65 now represent an increasingly large proportion of the STDs reported annually in the USA.

How to observe National Men’s Health Month

Tweak your Diet

Men's Health Month is an excellent opportunity to change the way you eat. Cut back on alcohol this month or up your intake of healthy fermented foods like sauerkraut and kefir. You can do anything for a month, and if you do it for a month, you can do it for life!

Set some goals

Use this month to take control of your health now and think about where you want it to be. Do you want to lose weight? Gain muscle? Eat more vegetables. Set small and achievable goals and work with your doctor to make them a reality.

Get educated

Take this opportunity to read about the common health issues specific to men and how you can prevent yourself from getting hurt! Check out the CDC for information on health issues that men face.

Allan Edmunds, FNP-C

Resources:

www.menshealthnetworks.org

www.health.org

Community Advisory Board

Join Open Health’s Community Advisory Board

Help improve the client services and patient care at Open Health. The new community advisory board (CAB) meets monthly to discuss ways to improve our health center. CAB members serve as a link between the patients, the community, and Open Health. Please call Dr. Barney at (225) 655-6422 or pick up an application at the clinic front desk.

5.png
6.png