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Hi there,
Each May marks Mental Health Month. As our agency has been gearing up the past few weeks to draw awareness to this important topic, I can’t help but reflect on the upcoming 1-year anniversary of the tragic death of our previous Health Officer, Dr. Calandra Green. I have been thinking about her family, friends, our team here at Oakland County and the neighborhood residents she robustly served.
The date of traumatic events such as this may trigger various feelings of distress. Coping ahead is one technique that can help individuals handle emotional situations. I encourage all of us, to build your coping toolbox, so you can better manage stress, difficult emotions, and challenging situations. We have more resources about mental health below.
Calandra was a passionate advocate for public health services, especially in communities of color. As I experience this anniversary myself, I rest assured that she would be pleased about the multiple ways we have continued to carry out the work she initiated and strongly supported. I hope we are making you proud Calandra 😊.
As the school year is coming to an end, we are already thinking ahead to the next school year! The Health Division highly encourages parents and caregivers to schedule appointments with their child’s doctor and dentist for screenings and immunizations required for kindergarten entry. Michigan law requires children to have dental, hearing, and vision screenings as well as specific vaccinations before entering kindergarten. Screenings and immunizations are available at the Health Division if a child does not have a healthcare provider. Read more here.
In good health,
Leigh-Anne Stafford, Director, Health and Human Services
Protect your mental health and well-being
We live in a rapidly changing world that can be complex to navigate. Modern life can have a significant impact on mental health. Imagery in the media can be unsettling. Dealing with life’s challenges at home, work, or school can take its toll. And while our devices connect us more than ever, loneliness is an increasingly serious public health concern. Recent survey data shows more than half of U.S. adults (58%) are lonely. We are now able to have conversations with friends and family across the world “face-to-face.” However, constant connection also means that we may find out if we were excluded from a social activity or someone else’s life appears better.
Finding a sense of calm and focusing on well-being when you are having mental health concerns can be daunting in our fast-paced society. It can be especially challenging to know where to start.
May is Mental Health Month and we are raising awareness of the important role mental health plays in our lives. We encourage members of the community to protect their mental health and overall well-being. Mental Health America has created a toolkit to help individuals figure out where to start.
Women: Make health a priority!
National Women’s Health Week is celebrated each year, beginning on Mother’s Day, to encourage women and girls to make their health a priority. Practicing healthy behaviors daily can influence your overall health. Below are ways you can improve your physical and mental health:
- Get regular checkups, including a yearly well-woman exam. Talk to a healthcare provider about any health concerns you have.
- Get active.
- Prioritize your mental health and learn how to cope with stress.
- Eat a healthy and balanced diet. Especially if you are pregnant, your body needs more vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Making good food choices every day will help your baby develop and grow healthy. Working with a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RD/RDN) during your pregnancy can help you better meet your nutritional needs. OCHD provides no-cost in-home and virtual visits with RD/RDNs for expectant mothers living in Oakland County. Visit our webpage for more information.
We want to make it as easy as possible for you to live a healthy lifestyle. Whether it’s nutrition services, breastfeeding support, or nursing home visits, we have a program for you. Call our Nurse on Call hotline at 800-848-5533 to get connected to services!
Warmer weather = Time to avoid tick bites
As temperatures rise, take steps to avoid tick bites while enjoying the outdoors. Ticks can be active when the weather is above 40⁰F. Avoiding tick bites is the best way to prevent tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease.
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Know where to expect ticks. Ticks live in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas, or even on animals. Avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter. Walk in the center of trails.
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Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD) or 2-undecanone. Always follow product instructions. Do not use products containing OLE or PMD on children under 3 years old. Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin, but do not use permethrin on skin.
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Check your body for ticks after being outdoors. Conduct a full body check upon return from potentially tick-infested areas, including your own backyard.
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Inspect your clothing, gear, and pets for ticks. Ticks can be carried into the home on clothing and pets, then become attached to a person later, so carefully examine pets, coats, and daypacks.
Not all ticks spread the same germs. Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS) can help to identify ticks you may encounter outdoors. Residents can email photos of ticks to MDHHS-Bugs@michigan.gov for identification or submit ticks to MDHHS for identification.
For more information on how to submit your tick and/or photos and information on ticks, visit Michigan.gov/Lyme. You can also visit our Tick information page to learn more, including what to do if a tick is attached to your skin.
The power of connection for older Americans
“The Power of Connection” is this year’s theme for Older American Month, which ties into the value of social connection and mental health as we also recognize Mental Health Awareness Month in May. Mental health for older adults may be overlooked amidst other age-related health conditions. It’s important to remember depression is not part of the normal aging process, and yet older adults may be at greater risk for experiencing depression. Poor mental health can occur among older adults because of less social connection with key people in their lives or new age-related conditions, such as chronic disease (i.e. dementia, cancer, etc.) that may change how they engage and participate in their community. Older adults may also experience difficulty maintaining valuable social connections because close friends moved away or have died.
Explore how Oakland County is serving older residents by ensuring they stay connected within their communities and can receive key services. Michigan Department of Health & Human Services is helping older adults stay connected by partnering with GetSetUp to offer free online learning opportunities for seniors, which span from educational webinars to fitness and cooking classes.
If you or someone you love is struggling or experiencing a crisis, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 via phone, or chat.
More Health Division info
Check out our webpage page for information about our services and various health topics. You can also call our Nurse on Call hotline at 1-800-848-5533 (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.).
Oakgov.com/health is the best place to receive the latest information. Add, update, or opt out of Health Division email or text communications by clicking here.
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