Wellness Wednesday | Detroit Federation of Teachers

Mental Health Awareness May 8, 2024

You are not alone, proirtize mental health and stay connected

Wellness Wednesdays is one of the ways we are promoting well-being, which is the ability of individuals to address normal stresses, work productively, and realize one’s highest potential. We have to be aware of our mental health.

Some facts you may not know about mental health:

Fast Facts about Mental Health Awareness

Resources are available. Phone Numbers are at the bottom of this document:

"Take the Moment" Programs for Free

or you can reach out by using this link: "Take the Moment" Programs with NAMI

Drinking Water: March 20, 2024

Drinking water is essential to a healthy lifestyle. --Stephen Curry

Here is why water is a key factor in self-care: Drinking Water is Part of Good Mental Health Care. To learn more about this initiative from the United Nations, scroll down on the page from Share My Lesson: World Water Day.

We are stronger together when we hydrate ourselves.

Gratitude Journal November 8, 2023

"Find gratitude in the little things and your well of gratitude will never run dry." Antonia Montoya

One way to relieve stress is to maintain a gratitude journal.

https://www.verywellmind.com/writing-in-a-gratitude-journal-for-stress-relief-3144887

Diabetes Risk Factors and Healthy Habits November 1, 2023

“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” – Jim Ryun, Olympic track star

Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body turns food into energy. There are three main types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant). More than 133 million Americans are living with diabetes (37.3 million) or prediabetes (96 million).

Breast Cancer Awareness (October 25, 2023)

October Breast Cancer Awareness pink ribbon

“Trauma may happen to you, but it can never define you.” ― Melinda Longtin

We would like to recognize that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Signs,Symptons, Risks of Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer Awareness for Men

Trees 4/23/2025

Celebrated on the last Friday of April in Michigan, Arbor Day is a nationwide tradition that encourages people to plant trees. Humans have relied on trees for their very survival so you could say they are woven into the very fabric of who we are. We find nourishment in their nutrient-rich fruits, shelter in their limbs, healing in their medicinal compounds, protection as they absorb harmful pollutants, and wonder in their presence.

# 1 Trees clean the air so we can breathe more easily.

In the contiguous United States, urban trees remove an estimated 711,000 metric tons of air pollution every

Measles 3/26/2025

There has been much talk of measles in the news. Here is the latest information from the US Department of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html.) They will be updating this page every Friday.

Transmission:

The virus spreads through respiratory droplets from an infected person coughing, sneezing, or talking. It can also be transmitted through contact with contaminated surfaces or objects. Measles is not a seasonal virus. However, measles is often spread over times of high travel (like spring break) or in situations where unvaccinated persons are in close quarters (like summer camp).

Progression:

Early Stage: 4-7 days: fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, red eyes (conjunctivitis), and Koplik's spots (small white spots inside the mouth)
Rash Stags: (3-7 days): A red, blotchy rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body
Other Symptoms: Diarrhea, vomiting, headache, muscle ache

Treatment:

There is no specific treatment for measles. The infection typically resolves on its own within 7-10 days. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms, such as rest, fluids, fever reducers, and cough suppressants

Prevention:

The best way to prevent measles is through vaccination. The measles vaccine (MMR) is highly effective and provides long-lasting immunity. It is recommended for children and adults who have not been previously vaccinated.

Why is there more measles activity now?

Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000. This was due to a very high percentage of people receiving the safe and effective measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. In recent years, however

U.S. MMR coverage among kindergarteners is now below the 95% coverage target—much lower in some communities—and is decreasing.
Global measles activity is increasing, meaning more chances of an unvaccinated person infected with measles abroad returning to the United States.

2/26/2025 Eating Disorders

Eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge-eating disorder are serious, life-threatening conditions that affect people and their families every day.

Did you know that in the United States, approximately 30 million Americans will suffer from some type of eating disorder in their lifetime, which has the highest death rate of any mental illness? Yet, only one-third of individuals suffering do so in silence and choose to never receive treatment. Unfortunately, it can sometimes be challenging to receive an accurate diagnosis of an eating disorder. This is because the symptoms that occur do not always present themselves the same. These deadly diseases don’t discriminate, and therefore, sufferers could be of any age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and have any body type.

For more in-depth information, please check out this PowerPoint which lists 9 truths about eating disorders, along with warning signs, symptoms, health consequences and resources.

Eating Disorders 101 PowerPoint

12/11/2024 Holiday Stress

The holidays are a busy time. They can demand extra attention for cooking, cleaning, party planning, hosting, and talking with family members we might not always agree with. It's no wonder that stress during the holidays is common. By learning to reduce this stress, you might find that you enjoy the holidays more.

Share holiday tasks.

Let everyone help with shopping, cooking, cleaning, and event planning. If you really dislike doing dishes, help with cooking instead. Sharing tasks lets everyone be part of making the holidays special.

Reflect together.

Before you say goodbye, gather everyone to reflect. Go around the room. Let everyone share their favorite part of the holiday and what wasn't so great. Brainstorm ways to make the "not so great" things more enjoyable next time.

Have realistic expectations.

No holiday gathering is perfect. Don't let something like forgetting to defrost the turkey ruin the day. Be flexible, and let it become another holiday memory. View these experiences as chances to practice being resilient.

Keep up your healthy habits.

Staying healthy is your best defense against holiday stress. You can stay hydrated by bringing a water bottle with you to refill. Try eating a healthy snack before a party. If you don't show up hungry, you'll be less likely to fill up on sweets.

Practice gratitude.

Having gratitude means saying thank-you for what's good in your life. There are many ways you can practice gratitude. Remember the ways—good and bad—that others show you that they care. Choose to be positive. Before meals, give thanks to those who grew it and cooked it. Give thanks even if that person was you.

Take time to unwind.

You might try taking deep breaths or going for a walk. Maybe you need time to yourself after being with family. Even a little break can make a big difference to reduce stress.

Make time for joy.

This could be baking, playing games, or volunteering in your community. Maybe take a plate of cookies to a neighbor. Do what feels right for you.

Get professional help if you need it.

The holidays can be a big event. Stress leading up to them is common. Talking to a friend or family member may help. But you may also want to see a counselor as this person can help you change the way you handle stress.

12/4/24 Handwashing

Key Facts:

Washing hands prevents illnesses and spread of infections to others.
People often get sick when they make contact with germs from feces on their hands.
About 1.8 million children under the age of 5 die each year from diarrheal diseases and pneumonia, the top two killers of young children around the world. Handwashing with soap could protect about 1 out of every 3 young children who get sick with diarrhea, and almost 1 out of 5 young children with respiratory infections like pneumonia.
Handwashing helps battle the rise in antibiotic resistance.
Your hands should be as dry as possible after handwashing. Germs can be transferred more easily to and from wet hands.

Do I really need to wash my hands for 20 seconds?

Scientific studies show that you need to scrub for 20 seconds to remove harmful germs and chemicals from your hands. If you wash for a shorter time, you will not remove as many germs. Make sure to scrub all areas of your hands, including your palms, backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your fingernails.

How does handwashing with soap and water remove germs and chemicals?

Soap and water, worked into a lather, trap and remove germs and chemicals from hands. Wetting your hands with clean water before applying soap helps you get a better lather than applying soap to dry hands. A good lather forms pockets called micelles that trap and remove germs, harmful chemicals, and dirt from your hands. When you rinse your hands, you wash the germs and chemicals down the drain.

Should I use a paper towel to turn off the faucet after washing my hands?

The CDC recommends turning off the faucet after wetting your hands to reduce water use. Then, turn it on again after you have washed them for 20 seconds, to rinse off the soap. If you are concerned about getting germs on your hands after you wash them, you can use a paper towel, your elbow, or another hands-free way to turn off the faucet.

Will touching bathroom door handles make my hands dirty again after I wash them?

Scientists don't know if you would get a significant number of germs on your hands from touching a bathroom door handle. That's because it has not been specifically studied. If you're concerned about getting germs on your hands after you wash them, you can use a paper towel, your elbow, shirt, or another hands-free way to open the door.

Should I dry my hands using a paper towel or an air dryer?

There is currently not enough scientific evidence to determine if using a clean towel or an air hand dryer to dry your hands is more effective at reducing germs on your hands. Both are effective ways to dry your hands. Germs spread more easily when hands are wet, so make sure to dry your hands completely, whatever method you use.

Should I reuse a towel to dry my hands at home?

CDC recommends using a clean towel if you are using a towel to dry your hands. Reusable towels are a practical option at home. They should be changed when visibly dirty and before they develop mildew from remaining damp.

Is antibacterial soap better than plain soap?

Use plain soap and water to wash your hands. Studies have not found any added health benefit from using antibacterial soap, other than for professionals in healthcare settings.

Is bar soap better than liquid soap?

Both bar and liquid soap work well to remove germs.

Is it better to use warm water or cold water?

Use your preferred water temperature to wash your hands. Warm and cold water remove the same number of germs from your hands. Water itself does not usually kill germs; to kill germs, water would need to be hot enough to scald your hands.

Which is better, hand sanitizer or handwashing?

Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to remove all types of germs and chemicals. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers work by killing germs on your hands, while washing your hands with soap and water removes germs from your hands. Handwashing will remove all types of germs from your hands, but hand sanitizers are not able to kill all types of germs or remove harmful chemicals like pesticides and heavy metals.