May Health Equity Link

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May 2022  |  View as a webpage

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In this Issue

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month. HHS OMH. minorityhealth.hhs.gov

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) Heritage Month—a celebration of AA and NHPI individuals and communities in the United States.

This year's theme, "Building Legacy Together: Our Communities' Journey of Strength and Resilience," encourages local and national governments to prioritize collaboration, development, diversity, transparency, and inclusion through leadership training of AA and NHPI communities.

This May, join the HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH) as we celebrate the contributions and diversity of AA and NHPI communities by sharing resources and data highlighting their contributions to our society, economy, and culture. Join the conversations on social media with the hashtags #AANHPILegacy and #AANHPIHM.

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Lupus Awareness Month

Let's Take Charge! infographic on diversity in clinical trials.

May is Lupus Awareness Month. To increase awareness of the need for diversity in lupus clinical trials, OMH and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Office of Minority Health and Health Equity (FDA OMHHE) have created the Let's Take Charge! campaign. Visit the campaign microsites available in English and Spanish to find resources for people living with lupus and their caregivers.

Did you know? Research published by the Michigan Lupus Epidemiology and Surveillance Program found that Black people are disproportionately affected by lupus and are at increased risk of severe symptoms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Black, Latina, and Asian women are more likely to be living with lupus than white women. We need diverse clinical trial participants to get data on the safety, effectiveness, and side effects of lupus treatments within the populations most affected.

Watch this video from the FDA OMHHE and OMH to learn how diversity in clinical trials can benefit lupus patients—then find and join lupus clinical trials at ClinicalTrials.gov. Let's take charge to make lupus research more inclusive and diverse!

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National Physical Fitness and Sports Month

Move Your Way. Image shows an Asian father and child kayaking. "Team sports weren't his thing, so he found his own way to play."

National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, observed in May, is an opportunity to highlight the importance of physical activity as a form of disease prevention. According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), physical activity can reduce stress and the risk for many chronic diseases, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and dementia. It can also ease symptoms of anxiety and depression.

The 2nd edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends three hours of active play for children 3-5 and at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity for youth ages 6-17 and adults. Use ODPHP's Move Your Way Activity Planner to pick activities, set goals, and track your progress. #MoveInMay and challenge yourself, your family, friends, and your community to make physical activity a part of your daily routine.

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National Prevention Week (May 8-14)

NPW: National Prevention Week. May 8-14 2022.

National Prevention Week (NPW), sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), brings together communities and organizations to increase public action around substance use prevention and positive mental health.

Data from the SAMHSA 2020 National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) shows that 25.8 percent of American Indian or Alaska Native, 15.4 percent of Black, 13.5 percent of Latino, 10 percent of Asian, and 5.4 percent of Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander people aged 18 years or older live with a substance use disorder.

Visit the SAMHSA website to find substance use fact sheets in English and Spanish.

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National Women's Health Week (May 8-14)

Image shows a Black woman meditating. "Take Care of Your Mental Health." HHS OWH, NWHW.

National Women's Health Week is a weeklong health observance led by the HHS Office on Women's Health (OWH) that focuses on health issues that impact women's physical and mental health.

According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death for Black women (22.8 percent), and cancer is the leading cause of death for Asian or Pacific Islander (25.5 percent), Latina (22 percent), and American Indian or Alaska Native (17.6) women.

The 2022 theme for National Women's Health Week, "Forward Focus: Achieving Healthier Futures Together," urges women to stay healthy by taking steps such as keeping up to date with preventive screenings and vaccines, getting active, eating healthy, paying attention to their mental health, and quitting smoking.

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National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (May 19)

May 19. National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. CDC. Let's Stop HIV Together. Ending the HIV Epidemic.

National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NAPIHAAD) is observed annually on May 19. NAPIHAAD addresses the impact of HIV stigma among Asian and Pacific Islander people.

According to the CDC HIV Surveillance Report, new HIV diagnoses among Asian American people have declined since 2015, and diagnoses among Pacific Islanders have been stable since 2015. However, HIV stigma can keep AA and NHPI people from getting tested for HIV. You can help stop HIV stigma in AA and NHPI communities by being intentional and thoughtful in how you talk about people, health, and experiences, and by talking openly and honestly about HIV prevention options like PrEP and condoms, testing, and medicines that treat HIV.

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OMH Knowledge Center

Looking for the latest minority health resources and publications? Visit the OMH Knowledge Center Online Catalog.

This month, the OMH Knowledge Center is featuring a collection of resources focusing on AA and NHPI populations. Topics include hepatitis, hypertension, mental health, HIV/AIDS, women's health, and more. Many of these resources are available for free. To view this collection in the online catalog, click here.

Looking for more information on a topic included in this collection? View our search tips page for guidance on searching the online catalog, or contact the OMH Knowledge Center directly for research assistance.

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