Adolescence is a difficult and confusing time for a child. External stressors often pressure teenagers to act out and employ unhealthy coping mechanisms. They may turn to alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD) to delay or avoid their anxieties altogether, causing them to exhibit more risky behaviors and putting them at risk for adverse health impacts later in life. Arkansas regional prevention providers deter the onset of ATOD among youth through changing perceptions, attitudes, behaviors, and local conditions that increase the risk of ATOD abuse. 

Everyone has stressful days at work. Stressors affect mental and physical health and can trickle into overall work performance. To improve employee health and enhance recruitment and retention, companies should consider wellness programs. Jayme Mayo, PA-C, PTA, with JM Wellness, discusses the overall structure of a wellness program and the benefits it can have on a business. With an employee-focused design and a reliance on wellness experts to adapt and change the program to fit the needs of the business, wellness programs can be invaluable to the financial and personnel aspects of a company.

In a high-stakes, ever-changing environment like health care, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with multiple stressors. Patients’ health is at stake, and sometimes, we are the only ones who can help put them on the right track. Regardless of how stressful our work is, we must find a way to unplug, decompress, and get back to it the next day. For the good of our patients. For the good of our own mental health. Kim Shuler, LCSW, Chief Executive Officer at the Arkansas Behavioral Health Integration Network, says that stress is a part of life, but it’s also something we can learn to manage.

May is National Stroke Awareness Month. You know the statistics, the risk factors, and the latest treatments. But how do you educate your patients and do what you can to keep them well-informed on stroke prevention? The Arkansas Minority Health Commission (AMHC) has taken initiatives to educate the public and facilitate screenings and referrals to local low-cost providers, making it easier for patients to regulate their numbers and prevent their risk of stroke.

In 2016, the CDC ranked Arkansas first in the U.S. in stroke-related deaths. The most recent rankings (2021) reveal that Arkansas has improved to 21st nationally. Much of this improvement can be attributed to renewed focus among statewide leaders over nearly a decade. The governor began focusing funding efforts on preventing stroke deaths. The Arkansas Department of Health created a division focusing on stroke prevention. The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences began partnering with hospitals across the state to identify stroke symptoms via telehealth and recommending new medications to treat stroke, including a recently FDA-approved drug called Tenecteplase.

Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) screenings have become more common in practices and hospitals as a way to identify the needs of patients so that providers can begin addressing their underlying needs and improve their health. Many times, providers screen for anxiety, depression, food insecurity, housing issues, substance abuse, family and community support, and connections. They may not realize, though, that some of these factors are also the causes and results of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). While providers may be asking the right questions, acting on patient responses to these questions is essential to fully address a patient’s needs.