Heart Month

Heart disease and mental health are often thought of as two separate disorders. However, evidence-based research has linked the two with a common thread called STRESS.

How does stress affect your body?

Stress shows up often in our lives through work, financial struggles, childrearing, relationships, and thoughts of past experiences, and sometimes it can be genetically encoded into our DNA. When you feel stressed, your body reacts by increasing your heart rate. Your blood vessels begin to narrow, and this sets the stage for the development of heart disease over time. Ongoing stress acts on more than just your heart. Stress affects your arteries, leading to strokes, the nervous system, hormones that cause metabolic disorders such as diabetes, and mental health. Unfortunately, the mental health aspect is often overlooked when dealing with chronic stress.

Mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD have all been linked to stressful physiologic effects on the body, such as increasing the risk for heart disease. The stress of living with a mental health disorder also increases the chances of adopting coping skills such as smoking, drinking excessive caffeine or alcohol, and having an inactive lifestyle. The adopted behaviors all place you at risk for cardiovascular complications and impact your overall mental health.

Medication such as antipsychotics to treat some mental health disorders can increase obesity and heart attacks. Thus, anyone currently taking antipsychotics should seek additional treatment from a licensed therapist to decrease overall stress while receiving treatment.

When to seek help?

Stress happens; you can’t always prevent or avoid it. If you’re feeling stressed, overwhelmed, unable to cope, having suicidal thoughts, or using substances to manage, seek professional help right away. Improving your mental health can decrease your heart risk.

How can I lead a heart-healthy life?

This looks different for everyone because we all have different situations, but you can change how you respond to them. First, look within and assess if you have stress that negatively impacts you. If so, reach out to one of our therapists to help you decrease your stress levels. You will feel better and have a healthier heart, too!

Author: Ebony Peterson, Nurse Practitioner

Black History Month-America’s First African American Psychologists

February is National Black History Month. Restorative Health and Life would like to pay tribute to the first African American man and woman psychologists in the United States of America. They paved the way for African American mental health clinicians such as me, and they deserve to be recognized. But, honestly, I don't ever recall learning about any famous African American psychologists at any point in school. Hence, I diversified my knowledge base and began receiving mentorship from Nevada's first African American woman psychologist. I was incredibly impressed and am thrilled to share what I've learned with others.

Dr. Francis Summer

Dr. Francis Summer is the first African American person to receive a Ph.D. degree in the field of Psychology. Early in his career, he became known as the "Father of Black Psychology." Dr. Summers is credited for his work as one of the founders of the psychology department at Howard University. Dr. Summers sat as a chairman in the Psychology Department at Howard University from 1928 until he died in 1954. Dr. Summers's work mainly consisted of research around understanding racial bias and supporting educational justice.

Dr. Summer uniquely entered formal college education. He did not receive a high school education; therefore, his requirement to attend college came through passing an entrance examination. Dr. Summers attended Lincoln University, a Historically Black College and University located in Lincoln University, Pennsylvania. Dr. Summers excelled in his studies and graduated as Magna Cum Laude with honors. Dr. Summers later applied, was accepted, and enrolled in Clark University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. He graduated in 1916; he returned to Lincoln University as a graduate student. Unfortunately, as an approved Ph.D. candidate, Dr. Summers could not begin his doctoral dissertation due to being drafted into the army during World War I.

Dr. Summers reenrolled in the doctoral program at Clark after returning from the war. Dr. Summers titled his dissertation "Psychoanalysis of Freud and Adler" and completed his studies in 1920.

Dr. Summers's career consisted of research and teaching. He was a professor at several universities. He published several articles despite the many obstacles he faced as an African American male working in Psychology. The most prominent obstacle he faced was the refusal of research agencies to provide funding to conduct his studies because of his color. Dr. Summer's perseverance and determination to overcome struggles are commendable. I greatly value his efforts that made way for African American mental health professionals.

Inez Beverly Prosser, PhD

Dr. Inez Beverly Prosser was the first African American woman to obtain a doctoral degree in Psychology. Dr. Prosser is credited for her work that influenced the Supreme Court's decision for Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. Her work explored the impact of black students attending segregated schools versus integrated schools on their academic and social interactions. Soon after receiving her master's degree, Dr. Prosser also pursued a career as a faculty and administrator before obtaining her doctoral degree in Psychology.

Dr. Prosser began her career as a teacher in Texas's segregated school systems after graduating high school and completing a teaching certification. She later attended the University of Colorado and pursued her Bachelor of Arts degree in education and subsequently her master's in educational psychology.

In 1933, Dr. Prosser received her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Cincinnati. Her dissertation was titled "The Non-Academic Development of Negro Children in Mixed and Segregated School." Her dissertation received much attention because her findings revealed that black students benefited from attending segregated schools versus integrated schools.

Dr. Prosser focused on the quality of education Black Students received. "More affection, support and a balanced curriculum in a segregated school while in integrated schools they were more likely to have problems adjusting academically, socially and accepting their identity."

One year after Dr. Prosser received her Ph.D. in Psychology, she died in a tragic car accident. However, her advocacy for African American students to pursue higher education has dramatically impacted many.

Author: Brittney Collins-Jefferson, LCSW, LCADCI

References https://www.apa.org/pi/oema/resources/ethnicity-health/psychologists/sumner-prosser Miller, J. (2006). "Prosser, Inez Beverly." African American National Biography, edited by Henry Louis Gates Jr, edited by Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham. Oxford African American Studies Center. Thomas, R. (2006). "Sumner, Francis Cecil." African American National Biography, edited by Henry Louis Gates Jr, edited by Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham. Oxford African American Studies Center.

Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month

February, every year, attempts to bring awareness to the dating violence that teenagers experience and provides knowledge on ways to prevent further or current violence from occurring. Did you know that “nearly 1.5 million high school students in the United States are physically abused” (NCADV, 2015) by their partner every year? It is essential to recognize that not only does intimate partner violence affect adults but also teenagers. Dating violence can have long-lasting effects on teens, such as a higher likelihood of risky behaviors or mental health wellness disruptions (CDC, 2021b). In addition, teenagers who experience dating violence have a higher probability of attempting or thinking about suicide (Ackard & Neumark-Sztainer, 2002). Although unfortunately, some teenagers are at greater risk for dating violence, populations such as sexual minority groups and racial/ethnic minority groups have a higher risk (CDC, 2021a).

Graphic from CDC, 2021b

Mental health professionals would like to bring higher awareness to these experiences. Bringing awareness to the entire population, including especially teenagers, will help get the knowledge out about dating violence and how to recognize it. There must be awareness of warning signs in these discussions, acknowledging that it is not okay to be treated that way. Teens should reach out for help if they are experiencing dating violence themselves or know someone. According to loveisrespect.org (n.d), “only 33% of teens who were in an abusive relationship ever told anyone about the abuse.” Some of the signs of an abusive relationship include (CDC, 2021b):

• Using verbal or non-verbal communication to harm another mentally or emotionally (using derogatory language).

• Stalking

• Repeatedly texting to keep a “close eye” on you.

• Forcing or attempting to force a partner to engage in sexual behaviors when the partner does not want to or does not consent.

• Physically harming you by slapping, hitting, kicking, etc.

Now, you may be asking how you can help or what we can do to bring awareness and prevent this from happening to teens in our community? Teaching safe and healthy relationship skills, creating protective environments, and supporting survivors are three ways we can help protect teens (CDC, 2021b). In addition, we can open up conversations that we may typically not have with family, friends, and even classmates by bringing awareness. Start conversations with teens you know and see what knowledge there is and further that knowledge on areas that may not be known or understood. As a community and fellow human beings, we must look out for others and do what we can.

Author: Hailee Collier, LMSW, Clinical Social Work Intern

References: Ackard, D. & Neumark-Sztainer, D. (2002). Date violence and date rape among adolescents: associations with disordered eating behaviors and psychological health. Child Abuse & Neglect, 26(5), 455-473. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0145-2134(02)00322-8 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021). Preventing Teen Dating Violence. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence/teendatingviolence/fastfact.html Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021). Teen Newsletter: March 2021 – Teen Dating Violence. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/museum/education/newsletter/2021/mar/ Loveisrespect.org. (n.d). Dating Abuse Statistics. https://www.loveisrespect.org/pdf/Dating_Abuse_Statistics.pdf National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (2015). Teen, campus and dating violence. Retrieved from www.ncadv.org