Wellness Wednesday

Wearing pink during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October can be a meaningful way to support mental health because it represents hope, love, strength, unity, and support for people affected by breast cancer. The benefits come mostly from what the gesture does socially and psychologically, not from the color itself.

💗 5 ways wearing pink can support mental health

Unity and belonging. Wearing pink signals that you’re part of a community. Feeling connected to others around a shared cause is linked to better wellbeing and lower feelings of isolation. For people who’ve been through breast cancer, seeing others visibly show support can ease the sense of facing it alone. Seeing others wear pink can remind survivors, patients, caregivers, and families that they are not alone in their journey.

Meaning and purpose. Taking a small, concrete action for something you care about, whether honoring a loved one, supporting patients, or encouraging screening, can give a sense of agency. That matters when a diagnosis or a loved one’s illness leaves people feeling helpless.

Raises awareness and encourages conversation. A pink ribbon or shirt can make it easier to talk about a topic many people avoid. Talking about fear, grief, or survival with others is generally good for coping.

Remembrance and healing. For people grieving someone lost to breast cancer, wearing pink can be a quiet way to honor them, which many find comforting.

Mood effects of group activities. Pink Out events combine social contact and shared purpose, all of which are well supported as mood boosters. Pink Outs bring people together and encourage supportive relationships.

Some caveats worth knowing:

The emotional impact of breast cancer awareness symbols, pink ribbons, and “fighter” or “survivor” language isn’t universally positive.

• Individual meaning matters: Some people find solidarity, hope, and a sense of community in these gestures; others find them uncomfortable or distressing.

• Positivity can become pressure: Messages about staying strong or fighting can unintentionally make people feel they must hide fear, grief, exhaustion, or uncertainty.

• Pinkwashing can undermine trust: When breast cancer awareness becomes overly commercialized, people may question whether the emphasis is on meaningful support or marketing.

• Metastatic breast cancer deserves particular sensitivity: The language of victory and survivorship may not reflect the reality of people living with incurable disease.

• Authenticity and autonomy are key: A gesture is more likely to feel supportive when it reflects a person's genuine values and allows them to participate—or not participate—without judgment.

As we pay tribute to our physical therapists during their appreciation month, we thought it would be good to showcase exactly what a PT does.

Anyone can benefit from seeing a physical therapist. Physical therapy is for every age, stage, and ability — whether you’re recovering from injury, managing chronic conditions, trying a new activity, enhancing mobility, or simply investing in long-term health and independence. Physical therapy supports your health span at every step. Watch the 2:30 video which explains how:  PT Future Me.

October is the month when eye specialists focus on the health of your sight. Here are some previous Wellness Wednesday topics that have dealt with the eyes:

• Cataracts
• Eye Protection
• Healthy Eye Tips
• Pink Eye

Millions of Americans rely on contact lenses for vision correction, but improper care can lead to severe eye damage or vision loss. Health officials emphasize that all contacts (including decorative and cosmetic lenses) are prescription medical devices requiring a professional fitting and prescription verification before sale. Improperly fitted, worn, or exposed lenses can cause corneal abrasions, ulcers, and serious conditions like Acanthamoeba Keratitis (AK)—a severe corneal infection linked to water exposure that can cause permanent blindness.

The best ways to avoid eye infections, including AK, when using contact lenses are to:

• Wash hands: Before handling contact lenses, wash your hands with soap and water, then rinse and dry them completely with a lint-free cloth.
• Remove contact lenses: Remove contact lenses before any activities with water, such as showering, bathing, swimming, or hot tub use.
• Do not use water: Contact lenses should never be rinsed with or stored in water (both tap or sterile water).
• Follow use and care instructions: Wear and replace contact lenses as directed by your eye doctor. Never wear someone else’s lenses.
• Use new solution: Use fresh disinfecting solution to clean, rub, and rinse your contact lenses each time you remove them. Do not re-use the old solution or “top off” the solution in your lens case.
• Clean contact lens cases: Contact lens cases should always be cleaned with fresh solution – not water. Then leave the empty case open to dry. Replace lens cases regularly (at least every three months).
• Store in a dry location: Keep your contact lenses outside the bathroom to reduce the risk of water contamination.

October brings our attention to autumn. Listed below are links to previous Wellness Wednesday articles we have published which pertain to the fall season.

• Illness Due to Weather
• Halloween Safety Tips
• Flu
• Fire Safety
• Prioritizing Mental Health
• Emotional Wellness
• Breast Cancer
• Domestic Violence
• Resources for Domestic Violence, Stress, Assault

October is National RSV Awareness Worth. RSV, which stands for Respiratory Syncytial Virus, is a common virus that presents cold-like symptoms but may lead to severe lung infections. RSV symptoms are not specific which makes it difficult to distinguish RSV from the common cold or other respiratory viruses. It generally spreads in the fall and peaks in the winter.

RSV can spread when:

• A person who has RSV coughs or sneezes near you.
• Droplets from a cough or sneeze that contain the virus get in your eyes, nose, or mouth.
• You have direct contact with someone with RSV.
• You touch a surface that has the virus on it and then touch your face before washing your hands.

People of any age can get RSV, but typically most people get RSV for the first time as an infant or toddler. Nearly all children will get RSV before their second birthday. However, repeat infections may occur throughout life.

The spread of RSV can be prevented by:

• Practice good hygiene by covering your coughs and sneezes, washing or sanitizing your hands often, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces.
• Take steps for cleaner air, such as bringing in fresh outside air, purifying indoor air, or gathering outdoors.
• Stay home and away from others when you are sick.

For more information about RSV, visit the CDC's webpage on RSV.

It is fitting that the week that autumn begins coincides with Falls Prevention Week. The goal of this awareness is to make us realize that there are steps we can take to prevent a fall, no matter the age.

Read this document for statistics about Michigan citizens: State of Michigan Proclamation Falls Prevention Week.
 

Use this tool to assess your likelihood of falling and access to resources: https://www.ncoa.org/tools/falls-free-checkup/

Michigan must provide bloodborne pathogens training to all workers with reasonably anticipated occupational exposure to human blood, body fluids, or other potentially infectious materials under the MIOSHA Bloodborne Infectious Diseases Standard (Mich. Admin. Code R. 325.70001 – 325.70018)

NOTE: This applies to all educators of the district. This is not to replace the mandatory training, but it is a refresher for information. For specific questions, please contact your administrator.

Book clubs can be good for mental health because they combine social connection, enjoyable activity, and mental stimulation in one place.
 

• They reduce loneliness. Meeting regularly with people who share an interest can create a sense of belonging and community.
• They provide a reason to get out and connect. Having a scheduled meeting gives you something positive to look forward to and can encourage social interaction.
• They stimulate the brain. Reading and discussing books exercises attention, memory, imagination, and critical thinking.
• They create opportunities to talk about emotions. Stories often introduce difficult experiences, relationships, and feelings, which can make it easier to reflect on your own experiences.
• They offer stress relief. Reading can provide a temporary break from everyday worries, while discussing something enjoyable can help shift your attention away from stress.
• They build routine. A regular book club can add structure to your week or month, which can be helpful for overall well-being.
• They encourage empathy. Seeing situations through different characters' perspectives—and hearing how other readers interpret them—can broaden your understanding of other people's experiences.
• They give you something to accomplish together. Finishing a book and participating in a discussion can create a small but meaningful sense of achievement.

Your AFT membership offers book clubs as another way to socialize with other union professionals. The AFT Book Club is a free, monthly virtual series presented by the AFT, Share My Lesson, and the Albert Shanker Institute. Each conversation brings together people to explore books and ideas that shape our classrooms, communities, and democracy. Featuring live discussions with leading authors, scholars, journalists, and advocates, the AFT Book Club examines timely issues such as education, history, civic engagement, social justice, and culture.

To see past book club conversations, please visit the Share My Lesson website.

One of the benefits of AFT membership is access to webcasts that provide resources and information on health and wellness. Vital Lessons: Health Chats with Dr. Vin Gupta is a free, award-winning community from the AFT Share My Lesson, where the pulmonologist and critical care physician helps educators, families, and school communities make sense of the health news that shapes their classrooms and their homes. It's where you'll find trusted health resources for educators, and clear, evidence-based answers to real questions — without the jargon.

What You'll Find

• Free town hall webinars: Timely, expert-led conversations on public health topics.
• Blogs and lessons: Practical, plain-language health resources you can use in the classroom and home.
• AFT guidance and FAQ sheets: Clear, trusted answers to the health questions facing schools and families.
• Expert insight from Dr. Vin Gupta: Evidence-based information and who breaks down the headlines into what they mean for you.
• Timely health news: Stay current as public health topics and guidance evolve.

 If you are unable to view the livestream, AFT allows members to watch all past webcasts on-demand. You can register HERE to view any previous webcast.

This is the list of all the topics that have already been covered:

• Climate Change Is a Health Issue
• Facing the Fentanyl Era: Protecting Youth and Communities from Harm of an Evolving Drug Landscape
• Medical Debt and Healthcare Affordability: Solutions You Can Use Now
• Supporting Mental Wellness Through Inclusive, Connected Workplaces
• Children's Health in a Changing World
• AI, Chatbots, and Mental Health: What Families and Communities Need to Know
• Supporting the LGBTQIA+ Community: A Chat with The Trevor Project
• Caring for Veterans, Families and Communities
• A Town Hall on the Measles Outbreak and What You Need to Know
• A Town Hall on Mental Health, ADHD and What You Need to Know
• A Town Hall on Perimenopause, Menopause and What You Need to Know
• A Town Hall on Wellness, Public Health and Taking Care of Ourselves
• A Town Hall on Autism, Education and Public Trust
• A Town Hall on Immunizations and a Healthy School Year
• Cutting through the Noise: Vaccines, Childhood Health, and Navigating the School Year

Without a doubt, financial stability is at the top of the list that causes stress for many of us. Housing, healthcare, childcare, college, even the cost of keeping up with credit cards or medical bills—it’s all going up and making it harder to get by.

AFT has partnered with Share My Lesson to create the AFT Life Literacies video series where the most prevalent types of debt are addressed. There are short how-to videos and resources to help you navigate the complex processes of medical debt, credit card debt, debt collectors, and the resources and support to which you are legally entitled but may not know.

This is a part of the AFT's initiative Fight for Affordability, a campaign whose focus is rooted in a simple, powerful truth: workers deserve to thrive. Workers deserve to be able to care for their families without being bled dry by price gouging, junk fees, surprise or unfair medical bills and predatory corporate practices. Workers deserve access to quality healthcare and workers deserve to retire with dignity.

That’s why our newest Fight for Affordability video series goes deep on credit reporting. In 4 short episodes, we cover:

• The difference between your credit score and credit report.
• How to spot errors, dispute them and freeze your credit.
• The truth about old debt and “zombie debt” collectors.
• How credit checks reach into housing, jobs and insurance.

Your credit doesn’t just affect loans. It can shape your housing, job offers, even your insurance—and most people don’t realize who’s looking or when they have the right to say no.

✅ Take advantage of what your membership in the AFT can do for you.

▶️ Watch the series here.