Reasons to wait for sex page 14 About Noah clinic page 2 FREEFREE Special Edition
We try and provide as much as we can so if you have a question please ask. We do not provide the following: Emergency Care. We are not a 24 hour on call provider. If you need assistance after hours, you may have to go to the ED. However, if it can wait, we would gladly call you the next day we are open. Pain medication like opioids or stimulant medications for ADHD. We can work with you to find alternatives treatments. Legal evaluations for disability, workmen’s compensation or other such matters. We will provide you care and will provide copies of this information when you give us permission, but we do not specialize in this service. If you become a patient: 1. Tell us your goals and expectations so that we can create treatment plan that will work for you. 2. Keep your appointment or let us know if you can not 3. Use the patient portal to send us questions or notes. We can help you set this up. 4. Let us know if you cannot afford a medication. This can be embarrassing but we want to work with you to make sure you care for yourself. 5. Follow any goals you and the provider set during the treatment plan as best you can. No one is perfect and many times we do not always follow what is decided here so let us “In the community for the community” To make an appointment , or visit the clinic call 402-933-0737. All services are free but donation are appreciated.Testing for HIV and Hepatitis C.5. Mental Health medication management.4. to prevent the spread of HIV and Aids. cations given to partners of persons with HIV 3. Pre exposure Prophylaxis which are medito somewhere else. typical clinic does. If we can’t we willrefer you we may not be able to provide every-thing a we will strive to care for all your physicalneeds, obesity, depression, asthma, and COPD. While problems like high blood pressure, diabetes, Diagnosis and treatment of common health Provider will decide what test is appropriate.2. treatment guideline and the RN or Medical are appropriate. We use a symptom-based Gonorrhea. We can test for other STI as they 1. Testing and Treatment for Chlaymidia and we do. We provide the following services problems. It is important for you to know what longer visits up to an hour for really complex tered clinic led by nurses. We tend to have Led Primary Care Clinic. This is a patient cenYou are seeking care at the NOAH Nurse The NOAH Nurse Led Primary Care Clinic. Well GroupsProgramsthrough the SHIFT and Eat Well Live • Mental Health Outreach and Support for young women. Health (YEOH) programs and TOPS program Program, year round Youth Expression of • Youth Outreach through the Summer Intern nership with My Sister’s Keeper • Breast Cancer Awareness through a partcationoutlets.through direct presentation and media tion in community health fairs and public edu• Public Health Program involving participavices including last 20 years. Currently we have several sering the North Omaha Neighborhood for the We are a neighborhood clinic primarily serv-
6. Screening and vaccination for COVID 19 7. Individualized Health Education. We help you plan how to care for yourself!
Moreover, when Black youth seek mental health treatment, data shows that their mental health concerns are often misdiagnosed.RutgersUniversity study suggests that Black Americans who have severe depression are more likely to be misdiagnosed with schizophrenia. Anothstudy Trusted shows that Black youth ranging in age from kindergarten to eighth grade are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than other races. Both studies show that racial bias and a lack of cultural competency cause misdiagnoses.
Research from 2015Trusted Source shows that interactions like five instances of discrimination per day on average.
In 2019, the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) created an emergency task force to help address unclear data involving suicide in Black youth. According to the CBC, data shows that the current generation of Black teens and children have higher rates of suicide than previous generations. And the 2021 Mental Health in American report states that this rate is increasing faster than any other ethnic group. However, historical data showed that Black youth died by suicide at low Thoughrates.Black youth experience similar mental health challenges as their non Black peers, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) named racism as one of the leading causes of the mental health concerns that Black youth face.
to a 2010 study Trusted Source, when 465 9th grade Black students were surveyed, half reported having mental health needs, but only 20% received treatment. Many factors may contribute to Black youth seeking help less often than their peers.for their mental health. are still half as likely as their white counterparts to seek help
Despite these findings, a 2016 study found that Black youth this can lead to higher rates of depression.
How Adults Can Help Improve the Mental Health of Black Youth Black youth are facing more mental health concerns than ever. As adults, it’s important to listen to them and direct them to seekBeinghelp.young can be hard enough as is grades, hormones, and life choices can impact the mental health of any child. The port44%SourceTrustedperiencesBehaviorsAdolescentandEx-Surveyshowsthatofteensre“ SourceTrustedaDespiteandfeelingspersistentofsadnesshopelessness.this,2013reviewnotedthatBlack children in the United States are not as likely to be diagnosed with mental health conditions. Also, Black teens with mental health conditions are less likely to seek treatment, though they’re more likely to experience higher rates of depressive moods, according to a 2019 study.
According to a Yale University research brief, teachers may keep a more watchful eye on Black students, even when the student is preschool age. A 2018 report states that Black children are also more likely to be punished more harshly for the same behaviors as their white classmates. This perpetuates the school to prison pipeline or the instance that youth are more likely to be incarcerated after consistently experiencing harsh school punishments.
According to a 2020 study, Black teens may experience up to
The global COVID 19 pandemic has both helped and hindered this Whilestatistic.thestate of Black youth and their mental health seem discouraging, there are ways you can help. The Black youth mental health crisis
Why aren’t Black youth seeking treatment? Although Black youth aren’t as likely to get mental health treatment as their non Black peers, it’s not because they don’t need Accordingit.
School to prison pipeline Discrimination that Black teens may face daily often comes in bullying from peers, but sometimes it may come from either conscious or unconscious bias from adults.
Cultural stigmas
But a 2021 study Trusted Source showed that some Black youth experienced negative emotions toward their social lives being impacted and the need to switch to virtual school environments amidst the pandemic. Black youth also expressed discomfort in leaving their homes and risking the potential of getting themselves or their loved ones sick.
Racial health disparities during COVID-19
According to the CBC task force report, Black youth may not always vocalize their mental health concerns like their white peers do, leading to a lack of proper treatInment.many cases, Black youth will express symptoms of depression by having behavioral or conduct issues. In other cases, Black youth may show somatic symptoms or physical symptoms such as a stomachache. Keep in mind
A 2021 study though focused largely on Hispanic youth showed evidence that better family functioning contributed to lower mental health symptoms in youth, especially for youth who experienced significant mental health challenges before the pandemic. How can adults help? Black children can encounter a high amount of mental stress, so it’s important to let them know they’re not alone and that someone is willing to step in and help them. Talk with your children Try to speak with your children regularly, giving them a safe space to express themselves and validate their feelings and experiences. This will also give you time to watch for any signs of Accordingdistress.to Mental Health America, some signs to look out
In addition to the change in social environments that Black youth have been experiencing during the pandemic, they also encounter the added health disparities that many Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) experience.
The pandemic forced businesses and schools to close or operate virtually for an extended period of time. This allowed people especially youth to spend more time with their families.
Also, research from 2022 shows that Indigenous, Pacific Islander, and Black Americans have the highest mortality rates for COVID 19. Black Americans account for 14.3% of COVID 19 deaths nationwide, although Black people account for only 12.9% of the population. Mandates have been helpful Despite the change in social environments and the disproportionate rates at which BIPOC have been affected by COVID 19, some research suggests that stay at home mandates during the pandemic may have been helpful for some youth.
Seeking help for your mental health is important. If you want to know more about therapy and how it can help you, you can check out Psych Central’s hub for finding mental health support How COVID-19 has affected the mental health of Black youth COVID 19 has added complex layers to the daily lives of individuals across the world.
The same report also states a cultural mistrust in healthcare systems that keeps Black youth from seeking help for their mental health. The report calls for the need for culturally competent therapists and mental health professionals to better assist their patients who are in underrepresented groups.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source, inequities that may have contributed to increased rates of coronavirus infections in BIPOC communities included: discrimination inaccessibility to healthcare gaps in education and wealth housing inequities
The CBC task force report notes that Black youth, especially Black boys, tend to seek mental health help as a last resort treatment, as they fear they may be ridiculed by their friends and loved ones. The report states that Black youth may fear that their friends will tease them for having mental health concerns, and family will encourage them to keep their problems hidden from outsiders. Distrust in healthcare systems
A difference in expressing symptoms
• obsession with the subject of death • increased use of drugs and alcohol or other risky behaviors
• Is this therapist familiar with your child’s culture, beliefs, and values? Are they willing to learn more about your child’s culture, beliefs, and values?
• lost interest in hobbies or activities
• Have they had cultural competency training?
Look out for signs of mental health concerns in the classroom. Children spend a large portion of their lives in school. It may be helpful for teachers and other adults to monitor children for signs of negative mental health symptoms and alert caregivers and a school counselor if possible and when necessary. For youth: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. You can call Lifeline at 800 273 8255 for English or 888 628 9454 for Spanish, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Let’s recap Ensuring Black youth are heard and properly helped when needed can help prevent them from carrying mental health concerns into adulthood. If you’re looking for more resources on how to help, you can check out Psych Central’s Mental Health Resources for People of color, or call NOAH free clinic and ask for the mental health outreach coordinator.
• restlessness or change in sleeping habits
Conversations could be about mental health itself, or they may be about factors that cause mental health challenges, such as racism. And try not to be afraid to ask your child the hard questions, such as if they’re having thoughts of suicide.
• Do they have experience treating patients with your child’s cultural background?
• Offer support for grieving and mourning. A 2021 report showed that 1 in 500 children lost a parent to COVID 19. Coupled with the isolation that some children may have felt from stay at home orders, it’s important to allow children a way to grieve healthily.
for that a child may be having mental health challenges can include: • problems with concentration or memory • appetite changes • feelings of sadness, emptiness, or worthlessness extreme panic or worry
hearing or seeing things that others don’t or other new, repetitive Somebehaviorsbehaviors
• little or no interest in the future drastic changes in personality
may signal more serious mental health complications, such as suicidal thoughts. These can include:
Have open conversations about seeking help Having open conversations concerning mental health and leaving room for your child to ask questions about how they’re feeling is crucial.
• How do they plan to include cultural aspects in therapy sessions and plans? Are they familiar with your child’s language or dialect? What else can be done?
Parts of this article were originally published on PsychCentral.com. Parts of it reprinted and referenced here in NOAH magazine to inform our community on ways to help OUR youth.
Seek culturally competent therapists If your child needs therapy, consider seeking a culturally competent therapist equipped to address their mental health concerns about their identity. When looking for a culturally competent therapist, the National Alliance on Mental Illness recommends keeping these questions in mind:
•
When speaking with your child, try to be empathetic and reinforce that their feelings aren’t their fault and that there’s nothing wrong with experiencing negative mental health sympTrytoms.to encourage seeking outside help and, if possible, destigmatize the idea of seeking therapy and treatment.
Other resources and steps that you can try to help Black youth with mental health concerns include: For Makeadults:sure children are screened for anxiety. According to the U.S. Preventative Service Task Force, children should now be screened for anxiety by a healthcare professional as early as 8 years old. They also recommend that children 12 years old and older be screened for depression.
Laughter is the best medicine, maybe?
Never in the present Thinking about what may be Is that bad? IsMaybemyfuture what I want it to be? It may be But I should be focused on the moment I need to make it my bitch I should own it Because it is the only thing that matters It will affect my future anyway So, I must take the time to be better every day So, I shouldn't take it for granted Not saying the moment is all I will have And sound pessimistic I’m just realistic Because what I do today Will affect tomorrow And I have the power to make my tomorrow a brighter day Only if I focus On the challenges Of the present day Turn Your Fear into Power
Mental Health for the Homies” written by Love KB (aka Kris Berry) our community Mental Health Outreach Coordinator
You see the barriers that life shows you And you break them
YouAre Not Your Thoughts Pay attention to your thinking You must keep track of your daily thoughts, it's vital It might show, why you are manifesting a reality you don't want, don't front You can't run away my G There's nowhere to hide You're trapped deep inside But don't get scared Journal, write it down, be aware Take back control of your mind Thoughts can break But you must realize They are not The Isolation I was isolating myself from the world I realize I have to release me Stop being afraid and let people see me being trapped in the canhousebe a death sentence or like life in prison for sure I need some of that sunshine all on me It makes me feel whole Get out, get around people, laugh You'd be surprised what amazing feeling can come from a small chuckle One funny situation can have you using every stomach muscle Get out of your own way Experience the world and let it experience you When you get outside the box You'll be Allsurprisedtheamazing things That you can do
Turn your fear into power Looking at the broken pieces Putting me back together will be far from easy but it's a must The greatest power we have is the power to change We just have to win the ongoing battle that's in our brain Positive self talk tell yourself who you are until you become that Fuck the theory of who you could be make it astraight fact Let your spirit guide you and you, you just relax You just gotta trust, it doesn't matter into what The universe, God, use that unseen force It doesn't matter what you have faith in
This magazine iss published by North Omaha Area Health also know as NOAH Free Clinic. It is sponsored by our partner agencies and friends. If you hae any questions about the stories or articles please call the CEO of NOAH Ira Combs. That number is 402-933-0737 ext 1007
All of these are perfectly good reasons to wait. Remember - it’s OK to wait as long as you want before having sex. The decision is yours to make, and it’s going to be yours to live with, so make sure it’s the right decision. Sex is a personal issue. It’s something that you should discuss with your partner, yourself and maybe your doctor, but you don’t have to discuss it with the rest of the world. It’s your choice, and that’s all that matters. And don’t worry about what everyone else is doingindependence is a sign of maturity having sex is not.
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1.Religious beliefs (wait until marriage) 2.Concerns about reputation (being seen as “easy” ) 3.Possibility of pregnancy 4.Possibility of disease 5.Lack of trust in your partner 6.Personal belief in abstinence (not having sex) 7.Just waiting for the right guy/girl 8.Lack of trust in the future of relationship 9. You Just don’t feel ready
Reasons to wait for sex
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