Wellness Wednesday

Governor Proclamation on Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), developmental disabilities are defined as impairments in physical, learning, language or behavior areas and include

• Autism spectrum disorders
• Cerebral palsy
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
• Learning or intellectual disabilities
• Hearing loss
• Vision impairment
• Other developmental delays

This is a nationwide event to raise awareness about the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and address the barriers that those with disabilities face. Inclusion is necessary since about 15% of the world’s population lives with a disability. We need to understand the relationship between the way people function and how they participate in society and making sure everybody has the same opportunities in every aspect of life to the best of their abilities.

More information about what how you can participate can be found here: National Disability Awareness Month.

It's never overreacting to ask for what you want and need--Amy Poehler

The holidays are a tough time for many people. Whether you simply don’t get along with family members, or the current political climate is causing tension, holidays are hard. You might struggle with depression or anxiety that is heightened by time spent with immediate and extended family. There are techniques to employ that can help you deal with difficult people.

For a detailed explanation of each tip listed below, check out this article: Difficult Family Holidays.

Trauma creates change you don't choose. Healing creates change you do choose.--Michele Rosenthal

This week we are informing you of a FREE benefit that is a part of your DFT membership. The details of a trauma counseling program are outlined in the flyer. If you are not signed up as a member of AFT National, scan codes and emails can be found on the members benefits tab so you can create an account. This account will allow you to access all AFT benefits offered to you as a dues-paying member, not just the trauma counseling program. To see all the benefits of being an AFT member, check out this link on our website. Go to the membership tab, then drop down to member benefits: https://dft231.mi.aft.org/member-benefits.

“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).

• Diabetes Risk Factors
• Healthy Habits

We would like to recognize that October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

If someone you know is experiencing Domestic Violence, there is a hotline available: 800-799-7233.

The State of Michigan VOICEDV hotline provides materials that assist the needs of survivors, their family, friends and allied professionals, in addition to round-the-clock phone, text and chat services.  All services are confidential and free of charge. Advocates are trained to provide immediate crisis counseling, advocacy and referral. More information can be found by clicking here.

For more information, use this resource: National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

The Mayo Clinic offers up these five tips to help people create a workout routine that fits into a busy life: 5 Simple Tips To Fit A Workout Into Any Schedule.

From the State of Michigan Proclamation:

Michigan has established the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline coverage statewide to provide an easy-to-remember way for people experiencing behavioral health-related distress to access a strengthened and expanded network of crisis call centers, which has answered 242,486 calls since July of 2022.

• In 2023, the national suicide rate was 14.1 per 100,000 and the Michigan suicide rate was 14.9 per 100,000, with 1,530 Michigan residents dying by suicide
• In 2023, Michigan firearm suicides accounted for 54.8% of suicide deaths
• In 2022, 170 Michigan veterans died by suicide, a rate of 31.9 per 100,000
• Resources are available in Michigan. Please go to the state's Health and Human Services for information: MDHHS Suicide Prevention Resources

The Center for Disease Control has on its website many resources that can be used. Be sure to check it out: CDC Suicide Prevention. It addresses suicide prevention, risk factors, health disparities, and resources.
 

Guns are the number one killer of children and teens in the United States. Almost every other day, a child gets their hands on a gun and unintentionally kills or wounds themselves or someone else in the United States. Research shows that the most effective way to prevent children from accessing firearms is by making sure all guns are stored unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition.

More than half of gun owners don’t lock all of their guns securely, and an estimated 4.6 million children live in a home with at least one unlocked and loaded gun in the US. When guns are not securely stored, tragedy can strike ― whether it’s a child finding a firearm and wounding or killing themselves or someone else, or someone accessing it and using it to commit a crime.
 

There are steps we can all take, gun owners and non-gun owners alike, to make sure kids cannot access guns and put themselves and others in danger. State lawmakers passed the Secure Storage Law for Firearms in Michigan. This legislation requires firearm owners to safely store their firearms when someone younger than 18 years old is, or is likely to be, present. That means keeping unattended firearms unloaded and locked with a locking device or stored in a locked box or container.

All families need to have a conversation with children about firearm safety. Also, if your child is going to someone else's home, don’t hesitate to ask if firearms are present and how they’re stored.

Be SMART about gun storage and safety:

• S: secure all guns in your home and vehicle
• M: model responsible behavior around guns
• A: ask about the presence of unsecured guns in other homes
• R: recognize the role of guns in suicide
• T: tell your peers to be SMART

Additional Resources:

Project ChildSafe

Information on how to obtain a FREE gun safety kit and where to obtain a FREE gun trigger lock in 230 cities in Michigan.

Gun Safety and Children - C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital | University of Michigan Health

• Gun Storage
• Guns at homes of others
• Teaching children about what to do in the presence of a gun
• Adolescents, teens, and guns
• Non-powder guns, BB guns, and toy guns

Parents' Guide to Home Firearm Safety (umich.edu)

Information regarding firearms safety among children and teens. Great resource for families.

https://mifrp.org/prevention-tools/firearms/

The Michigan Fatality Review and Prevention, provides information regarding Prevention Resources, and Firearm Storage resources.

Holding onto Life Toolkit (michigan.gov)

The holding onto life toolkit is discusses firearms and focuses on suicide prevention

Michigan - American Firearms Training (concealedcarryonline.com)

This course reviews the fundamentals of safety and gun handling, including transportation, storage, and firing in defensive situations. The course includes easy-to-understand safety instructions and is filmed in a professional production, with a state-certified instructor. The course takes 90 minutes to complete and is free of charge.

Online Learning | Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention (umich.edu)

• The University of Michigan has provided free online courses about the Firearm Safety Among Children and Teens, Injury Prevention for Children and Teens, and Preventing Gun Violence.

You need a day to relax. Let us help you with some ideas and reasons why it's important to take time to  slow down and unwind. It's a day to focus on taking care of ourselves and take a moment to relax. We all need a break from the fast-paced and often hectic lifestyles we live. Taking time to recuperate and rejuvenate our tired minds and bodies may help prevent many health risks, too.  Doctors agree that finding ways to relax and thus reducing stress will improve overall health.

This video offers 8 tips for relaxation.

Other ideas are:

Taking time away from the screens

While social media and the internet have many benefits in this modern age, you can also quickly feel overwhelmed and stressed by constantly being bombarded with news and posts about other people's lives. Put your phone or computer away, and do something that relaxes you, such as reading, painting, or cooking. Make sure to especially avoid any screen time before bed, as it can mess with your sleep patterns.

Treat yourself to a spa day

What better way to relax than by having a massage, or sitting in a nice sauna? You can go one step further and book yourself into some beauty treatments, such as a haircut, a facial, or a manicure.

Green Tea

Green Tea is an excellent remedy to lower your stress. It contains L-Theanine which helps to reduce stress and improve your mood and sleep.

Stare and Do Nothing

Sometimes, you can enjoy and relax by simply sitting near your window and staring outside at the trees, people, parks, and just nature. While staring at your phone screens all day has a negative impact, looking outside at nature helps to make you calmer and more relaxed.

It's summer and it's a great time to pay attention to your eyes.

Of the approximately one million eye injuries in the United States each year, health experts say that 90% are preventable. The leading causes of eye injury are sports accidents, fireworks, yard and workshop debris and household chemicals, according to the Detroit Medical Center.

• Lawn mowers, weed trimmers and leaf blowers can throw dust and debris into the eye causing injury.
• Household chemicals such as drain cleaners, bleach, oven cleaners and battery acid can splash into the eye.
• Household items, such as elastic cords, can also strike the eye and cause injury.
• Use safety measures near fires and explosives, such as campfires and fireworks. Never look directly at a firework, bottle cork, or other explosive or projectile device if it doesn’t go off as expected. Keep a safe distance from open flames.
• Use grease shields to prevent the splattering of hot grease or oil.
• Avoid using a curling iron near your eyes.
• Don’t aim a laser pointer at anyone’s eyes, and never let children play with them.

One of the greatest threats to your eyes is invisible. Studies show that exposure to bright sunlight may increase the risk of developing cataracts, age-related macular degeneration and growths on the eye, including cancer. When spending time outdoors, sunglasses that have 97-100% UV protection should be worn. Styles that wrap around to the temples prevent the sun's rays from entering from the side.

Be a good role model and always wear proper eye protection. Fit or adjust your eye protection to make sure you have proper coverage, comfort, and adequate peripheral vision.

Wear safety glasses, goggles, face shields or full facepiece respirators when you hammer nails or metal, work with power tools or chemicals, or do any activity that might cause a burn to your eyes. If you work with hazardous chemicals that could splash into your eyes, know how to flush chemicals out, and know the location of the nearest shower or sink.
 

Wear protective eyewear during sports such as hockey, racquetball, or paintball that involve the risk of a blow to the eye. Baseball is the most common sport to cause eye injuries. Fishhook injuries are another common cause of eye injuries. Protective eyewear can prevent sports-related eye injuries more than 90% of the time.

Toys are a major source of injury, so check all toys for sharp or pointed parts.  Get protective eyewear for your children and help them use it properly. Teach children that flying toys should never be pointed at another person. Teach children how to carry sharp or pointed objects properly. Teach children that any kind of missile, projectile, or BB gun is not a toy. Don’t aim a laser pointer at anyone’s eyes, and never let children play with them.