The idea of mental health awareness campaigns is not a recent event. In the late 1940′s the first National Mental Health Awareness Week was started in the United States. In the 1960’s this annual, weekly event was upgraded to a monthly designated event.

Mental health awareness is an important concept. According to a study published in 2017, which followed individuals ages 11-38 and tracked their mental health, 17% avoided mental health issues. Forty -one percent had a mental health condition that lasted for multiple years and forty-two percent had short –lived mental health conditions. Depression, anxiety and substance abuse were the most common diagnoses in the study. In addition, the leading cause of disability is not cancer or chronic pain, According to the data from the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, and has held that distinction for many years.

Unfortunately, despite increasing awareness, the rate of depression is not decreasing. In developing nations, people often did not receive treatment for symptoms of depression. Between the years of 2005-20015, the rate of depression actually increased by 18 percent.

HealthNet’s Behavioral Health and Human Services Line has licensed therapists and psychiatric providers to help work with many of these life challenges.  Our Navigators schedule appointments and assist with the program’s flow.  A  Navigator can be contacted at the centers where there is a Behavioral Health provider to schedule an appointment. Therapists are trained to help you with issues such as stress management, relationship issues, divorce, parent/child communication, sexual abuse, eating disorders, domestic violence, grief/loss, job changes, depression, anxiety and other mood disorders. Social Workers are advocates for our patients and will assist families with their basic needs. Social workers can also provide education, support and referrals to additional agencies.

Psychiatrists and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners prescribe medications and can make referrals to other specialists.   Nurses assist with your medication questions, concerns, and refills in between appointments with the psychiatrist/psychiatric nurse practitioner.

Please do not hesitate to contact the Behavioral Health program if you have any questions, or if we can be of any assistance. To learn more, please click here.

Post by Jim Jones PhD

Members of the Alliance for a Healthier Indiana coalition have invited public health advocates to express their support of an increase in Indiana’s cigarette tax. The Senate Appropriations Committee will be voting on the state’s budget, HB 1001, March 30.

Along with adequate funding for evidence-based treatment services and a comprehensive tobacco prevention program, increasing the price of tobacco is a proven strategy for reducing the burden of tobacco use at the state level.  Indiana’s adult smoking rate has remained around 25% for several years, and a relatively low tobacco tax is partially responsible.

Increasing the price of tobacco has been proven to encourage current tobacco users to use less and others—especially those with lower incomes—to quit completely.  It also has a strong effect on preventing children from starting.

According to the Alliance for a Healthier Indiana, “increasing the price of tobacco is the single most effective method for decreasing smoking rates — especially in those under age 18. A 10% increase in the real price of cigarettes would reduce the number of kids who smoke by 6-7% and the number of pregnant women who smoke pregnant women by 7% — and result in $1.4 billion in long-term health care savings, all while adding more than $200 million in new revenue that could be used for boosting Indiana’s cessation efforts and programs.

For more information about how to talk to your elected officials about this issue, visit this page from the Alliance for a Healthier Indiana.

To learn more about HealthNet’s Tobacco Cessation Program, please click here.

When adults get screened for colorectal cancer, it can be detected early at a stage when treatment is most likely to be successful, and in some cases, it can be prevented through the detection and removal of precancerous polyps.  Most health insurance plans cover this potentially lifesaving screening.  Use the health benefits you’re paying for to get screened for colon cancer.

There are several recommended screening test options, including: colonoscopy, stool tests (fecal occult blood test [FOBT] or fecal immunochemical test [FIT]) and sigmoidoscopy.  The best test is the one that gets done, so talk to your primary care provider today!

To learn more you can visit cancer.org/colon or call 1-800-227-2345.

To find a HealthNet location and provider near you, please visit www.indyhealthnet.org.

Source:
www.cancer.org/coloncancer

However, when a tobacco user adds professional counseling to their quit plan, they are significantly more likely to quit for good.  These are just a few of the benefits of working with a trained tobacco cessation coach.

1.  Learn what will help—and what won’t!

People use tobacco for different reasons, at different times, and in different ways.  They also have different experiences with quitting and starting again.  A counselor can help you discover patterns to your smoking or dipping and suggest quitting methods and healthy alternatives based on your personal relationship with tobacco.  A counselor can help you avoid wasting time on methods that may not be helpful.

2.  Get educated about quitting.

A counselor can give you current, science-based information about a number of topics related to tobacco use, such as health risks, stress management, secondhand smoke, nicotine withdrawal, and more.  Use the information you get from your counselor to design your quit plan and keep you motivated.

3.  Get advice on medication.

In addition to a personal quit plan, many tobacco users benefit from using FDA-approved medication to help them be successful in their quit attempt.

A counselor can answer questions about these medicines and help you decide which ones may be helpful for you based on your lifestyle, preference, and previous experiences with quitting.

4.  Find support and encouragement.

Everyone trying to quit tobacco should have at least one person who can encourage them when things get tough and celebrate their successes.  Many tobacco users have friends or family members who seem supportive, but when the rubber hits the road, they are not so helpful.  They hinder their loved one’s progress by nagging, enabling, or having unrealistic expectations about the process.  For these people, a tobacco cessation counselor is their main source of consistent, constructive, and compassionate support throughout their quitting journey.

If you or someone you know is interested in quitting tobacco, you can get FREE counseling by enrolling with the Quit Tobacco Program at HealthNet. To learn more, call 317-957-2007 or click here.

My name is Katie Kauffman and I am the Social Worker for PACC.

When asked to write this blog post, I was coming out of a tough week (as many of us face in our work) and hopefully can shed some light on the impact not only we as medical providers have, but also the impact our patients have on us.

I have been working as a social worker for over 12 years and have spent at least half of that time here at HealthNet in one capacity or another. I have the privilege now to provide care and support to our most vulnerable population, pediatrics and adolescents at PACC.

In my work we face varying degrees of needs and situations with our patients.  One of the many wonderful things about HealthNet is we often see people from birth, at the start of a new and exciting time in a family’s life, to the toughest of days. Among the increased needs of our patients, the increased caseloads we carry as social workers, the most important part of what I do every day, is stopping and listening.  Coming to this organization every day and checking in with patients, assisting them with referrals to community resources for the most basic of needs, to sharing a laugh or a struggle with a co-worker is a most humbling experience and one I never take for granted.

Often times the term “social worker” leaves many wondering what that title or role involves. Unfortunately, with that role comes the tough part of my job, the part that no one enjoys. My number one priority is to always be an advocate for my patient. My patients are helpless, innocent children and ensuring their safety and that their basic needs are met is always a focus of mine. Providing resources and connecting patients with outside agencies is a big part of what I do. A number of community agencies we have close working relationships with include, Catholic Charities, The YMCA, and Indiana Legal Services, to name just a few. I also work closely with Department of Children Services and have often been called to court to speak on behalf and advocate for our patient’s needs.

At the core of what we do is care. We also strive to understand where our patients are coming from and providing empathy for the road they are traveling, at whatever stage of life they are in.

Our patients face change and unpredictability on a daily basis. We as medical caregivers and providers at HealthNet can be the one stability for them. That is something I strive to be for the people I serve.

Post by Katie Kauffman

Myth 1:  I have to set a quit date.

Fact:  Some quit smoking programs require people to set a quit date—usually two to four weeks down the road—to give them time to prepare to quit.  During this time, people get support from friends, clean their houses and cars, and practice doing other activities instead of smoking.  However, this is not the only way to quit.  The Quit Tobacco Program at HealthNet does not require people to set a quit date.  Instead, many people choose to begin using medicines and practicing alternatives to smoking before quitting for good.

Myth 2:  I have to stop smoking before I can take medicine to help me stop smoking.

Fact:  New research tells us it is safe to continue to smoke a little while getting started with nicotine medicine.  Talk to your doctor or quit smoking counselor to make a personal plan that will help you reduce and then quit smoking.

Myth 3:  Using nicotine medicine is like trading one addiction for another.

Fact:  Nicotine medicine is designed to satisfy part of the brain’s craving for nicotine so it is more comfortable to go without using tobacco.  Always use nicotine medicine according to the package directions or a doctor or counselor’s advice.  It may take several weeks or even months of using nicotine medicines until you feel ready to be nicotine free.  Then you can gradually reduce the amount of nicotine you get.  Working with a doctor or counselor can help you make a plan to stop using nicotine medicines.

Myth 4:  I have tried all the medicines out there to help me quit.

Fact:  There are seven medicines approved by the FDA to help people quit smoking, and most people have not used them all.  Five medicines contain nicotine.  These are patches, gum, lozenges, inhaler, and nasal spray.  Two other medicines are pills that help reduce the urge to smoke.  Chantix and Wellbutrin work differently but they both require a prescription.  Talk to your doctor about the best option for you.

Myth 5:  I have failed too many times before.  I am doomed to smoke forever.

Fact:  You may feel frustrated if you have quit tobacco and started again many times.  But there is good news!  The more times you try to quit, the more likely you are to eventually be able to quit for good.  Every time you go without tobacco, you learn more about your addiction and what does and does not help you avoid tobacco.  Most people who quit for life take at least five tries.  Working with a counselor and using medicine are two great ways to increase the chances your next quit attempt is your last!

For more information or to make a personal quitting plan, contact Linda Bundick, HealthNet’s Tobacco Cessation Counselor, at 317-957-2007. 

To learn more about HealthNet’s Quit Tobacco Program, click here. 

Plain language – or everyday living room language – is communication your audience understands the first time they read or hear it.  They don’t have to go back and try to define words they don’t understand.  Plain language helps you to:

• find what you need
• understand what you find
• and use what you find to meet your needs.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the following techniques to ensure you are using plain language:

• What’s your point – put the most important message first.
• Mind your jargon – choose words and numbers your audience knows.
• Cut it out – delete unnecessary words, sentences and paragraphs.

Below are some examples of medical jargon replaced by plain language:

Think about the last time you took your car into be fixed.  Did you understand everything the mechanic told or did they need to use plain language?  A rule of thumb is to think about how you would explain something to a friend or relative and use those words.  Everyone benefits from plain language.

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/healthliteracy/developmaterials/plainlanguage.html

Post by Jane Meyer

1. Sign up for a family 5K run/walk. Throughout summer and fall, many organizations set up 5K run/walks. Check around with local organizations to sign your family up to walk or run together.
2. Go for a hike and a picnic. Indianapolis has many beautiful parks and trails, so pack a lunch and go for a hike!
3. Visit your local Farmer’s Market. Take the kids to your local farmers market and pick up some fruits and vegetables for the week. Not only can you get some meal shopping done, but you can get in a nice walk!
   
4. Plant a garden. Gardening is a great physical activity, and it’s fun for kids too! Whether you are planting flowers or vegetables, let the kids help pick what they want to plant.
5. Go for a bike ride. Make it a tradition to go for a bike ride after dinner or bike to your favorite places around town like the library or park.

 Staying active is an important part of our health. Lead by example to show your kids that being active can be fun!

The events on this calendar are hosted by groups like Walk Urban Indy and YMCA City Walkers, and more are being added all the time!  You can join a group walking at lunch or meet fellow walkers to explore the city in the evening.

For more information about the great health benefits of walking, click here.

To learn more about WalkWays or to get involved, contact info@IndyWalkWays.org.

Post by Linda Bundick

Today is National HIV Testing Day! Join others around the United States and get tested today! 

According to AIDS.gov, 1 in 8 people living with HIV are unaware of their infection. About 1 in 4 new HIV infections are among youth ages 13-24 (1). HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus , a blood born virus.  HIV is a virus that causes AIDS, and AIDS is the advanced stage of HIV.  AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

Who should get tested?

According to the CDC, the behaviors listed below increase your chances of getting HIV. If you answer yes to any of these questions, you should get tested for HIV as soon as possible (2).

• Have you injected drugs or steroids or shared equipment (such as needles, syringes, works) with others?
• Have you had unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex with men who have sex with men, multiple partners, or anonymous partners?
• Have you exchanged sex for drugs or money?
• Have you been diagnosed with or treated for hepatitis, tuberculosis (TB), or a sexually transmitted infection (STI), like syphilis?
• Have you had unprotected sex with someone who could answer yes to any of the above questions?
• If you have had sex with someone whose history of sex partners and/or drug use is unknown to you or if you or your partner has had many sex partners, then you have more of a chance of being infected with HIV. Both you and your new partner should get tested for HIV, and learn the results, before having sex for the first time.

HealthNet’s Family Planning Title X Program offers confidential HIV testing. The Family Planning Resource Title X Program hours are as follows:

Tuesday, Thursdays, and Fridays 8:00 a.m. – Noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Wednesdays 2:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

To make an appointment to get tested, please call 317-957-2970. For more information about HealthNet’s Family Planning Title X Program and our services, please click here.

To find other HIV testing sites near you, visit gettested.cdc.gov.

Post by Holly Arnold

1. https://www.aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/hiv-aids-101/statistics/ 

2. http://www.damien.org/hiv-testing-should-i-get-tested