Wearable glucose monitors shed light on progression of Type 2 diabetes in Hispanic/Latino adults Study by Sansum Diabetes Research Institute and Rice University points to new directions for improved diabetes care
HOUSTON – (April 29, 2021) – In one of the first studies of its kind, medical and engineering researchers have shown wearable devices that continuously monitor blood sugar provide new insights into the progression of Type 2 diabetes among at-risk Hispanic/Latino adults.
"The fresh look at the glucose data sheds new light on disease progression, which could have a direct impact on better management," said Rice study co-author Ashutosh Sabharwal, professor and department chair in electrical and computer engineering and founder of Rice's Scalable Health Labs. "An important aspect of our analysis is that the results are clinically interpretable and point to new directions for improved Type 2 diabetes care."
The study builds on SDRI's groundbreaking research to address Type 2 diabetes in underserved Hispanic/Latino communities. SDRI's Farming for Life initiative assesses the physical and mental health benefits of providing medical prescriptions for locally sourced fresh vegetables to people with or at risk of Type 2 diabetes, with a focus on the Hispanic/Latino community. SDRI recently added a digital health technology called continuous glucose monitoring to this research.
Continuous glucose monitors track blood sugar levels around-the-clock and allow trends in blood glucose to be displayed and analyzed over time. The devices typically consist of two parts, a small electrode sensor affixed to the skin with an adhesive patch and a receiver that gathers data from the sensor.
"We found that the use of this technology is both feasible and acceptable for this population, predominantly Mexican American adults," said study co-author David Kerr, SDRI's director of research and innovation. "The results also provided new insights into measurable differences in the glucose profiles for individuals at risk of as well as with noninsulin-treated Type 2 diabetes. These findings could facilitate novel therapeutic approaches to reduce the risk of progression of Type 2 diabetes for this underserved population."
Sabharwal, who is also a co-investigator of the Precise Advanced Technologies and Health Systems for Underserved Populations (PATHS-UP) engineering research center, said, "The collaboration with SDRI aligns with our mission to use technology as an important building block to reduce health care disparities."
"We are excited about the application of digital health technologies for underserved populations as a way to eliminate health disparities and improve health equity," Kerr said. "This opens up potential for a larger number of collaborations to support SDRI's evolving focus on precision nutrition and also the expanded use of digital health technologies for both the prevention and management of all forms of diabetes."
Study co-authors include Souptik Barua of Rice and Namino Glantz, Casey Conneely, Arianna Larez and Wendy Bevier of SDRI.
The research was supported by the Department of Agriculture (2018-33800-28404), the National Science Foundation (1648451), the Hearst Foundation, the Mosher Foundation, Sun Life Financial, the St. Francis Foundation and the Blooming Prairie Foundation.
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Links and resources:
The DOI of the EClinicalMedicine paper is: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.100853
High-resolution IMAGES are available for download at:
https://sansum.org/images/Lancet-graphic-print.jpg CAPTION: Sansum Diabetes Research Institute's Farming for Life initiative addresses Type 2 diabetes in underserved Hispanic/Latino communities by assessing the physical and mental health benefits of providing medical prescriptions for locally sourced fresh vegetables to people with or at risk of the disease. In a study of participants who wore continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), devices that measure blood sugar levels around-the-clock, researchers showed CGM data can provide new insights into the progression of Type 2 diabetes among at-risk Hispanic/Latino adults. (Image courtesy of Sansum Diabetes Research Institute)
https://sansum.org/images/David-Kerr-print.jpg CAPTION: David Kerr is the director of research and innovation at Sansum Diabetes Research Institute. (Image courtesy of Sansum Diabetes Research Institute)
Follow Rice News and Media Relations via Twitter @RiceUNews.
Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 3,978 undergraduates and 3,192 graduate students, Rice’s undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is just under 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for lots of race/class interaction and No. 1 for quality of life by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.
How a Momtrepreneur is Changing the Way We Workout Through an
On-Demand Water Fitness System
Women in Tech Founders Award Finalist Available for Interviews
Certified fitness trainer Jennifer Conroyd developed a serious, no-impact aquatic high-tech workout after she was injured and needed to rehab to run a marathon. Her Fluid Running workout is an on-demand deep water running workout system that's like a Peloton for the pool. It uses a special flotation belt and Bluetooth, waterproof headphones that connect with the app that allows users to hear music-backed workouts led by Jennifer. Movement in cool, circulating water helps improve flexibility while cushioning the joints and reducing inflammation. Water also creates resistance and uses core and upper body muscles, which is why deep-water running burns about 40% more calories than land running. Get into the deep end of the pool (or bay or lake) and hit “play” for a running workout that’s perfect for people of all ages and fitness levels.
Why did Jennifer Conroyd Invent Fluid Running?
Jennifer Conroyd is the quintessential momtrepreneur. A certified fitness trainer, she founded Fluid Running in 2011 after an injury left her unable to run in preparation for the 2010 Chicago Marathon. She ran exclusively in deep water for the six weeks leading up to the race, and not only finished that marathon, but qualified for the Boston Marathon. Jennifer, a graduate of Miami University, certified personal trainer, and mom of three adult boys, wanted a way for everyone to stay active without the risk of injury. Jennifer is an accomplished athlete, having completed the Ironman and has run 16 marathons, qualifying for the Boston Marathon 15 times. Jennifer resides in Chicago and was named a finalist for the 2018 Women in Tech Founders award.
The Path to Product Development: Jennifer met Mike Lambert, a technologist and digital marketer in a co-working space during a weekly entrepreneur lunch. Jennifer’s inspiring story prompted Mike to share his idea about using an app to deliver classes instead of instructors. Within a month, they had people testing out a prototype, and six months later, the product was complete. Fluid Running offers in-person classes in the Chicago area, however, the on- demand system is available for purchase in The United States, Canada, Australia, and throughout the EU.
What Fluid Running Has Accomplished
Sales were over $400K last year.
Over 1000 people have taken the group class, with over 2000 On-demand customers via online purchase.
After being named one of the "20 Best Workouts in America" by Men's Journal, interest arose internationally resulting in Fluid Running adding an On-demand, app-based program that can be done by anyone, anywhere.
In summer 2020 growth rates were over 1,000%
A Gratefulness Revival: Five Truths to Keep in Mind This Spring
We’re naturally more grateful this time of year (and maybe especially this year). Steve Cook explains why gratefulness is so important in our pursuit of joy—and offers a simple exercise to help you get intentional about shifting your focus.
Knoxville, TN (April 2021)—As the sun comes out, the flowers bloom, the trees green up, and the pandemic shows signs of improvement (at least in some places), the conditions are right for feeling, expressing, and expanding our gratefulness. Don’t let this moment pass. Steve Cook says now is the time for a gratefulness revival.
“A life devoid of gratefulness robs of us joy, and joy is what we all need more of, especially here at the end of a long, tough winter,” says Cook, author ofLifeonaire: An Uncommon Approach to Wealth, Success, and Prosperity(Lifeonaire Promotions, LLC, 2018, ISBN: 978-0-9863228-7-7, $14.99).
Is Cook talking about literal winter, pandemic winter, or spiritual winter? It could be any or all of them. Regardless, says Cook, it’s easier to feel grateful right now when things are looking up a bit. That’s why we need to seize the feeling, focus on it, and intentionally do the things that cause it to grow.
“If you want more joy in your life, focus on gratitude,” he says. “They go hand in hand.”
Cook—a life and business coach, speaker, trainer, and author who helps people opt out of the American Dream culture that glorifies “busy, the grind, and the hustle”—says gratefulness is easier to embrace once you see its benefits. A few “great truths” about gratefulness:
GREAT TRUTH #1:First and foremost, gratefulness is a choice. “When we don’t intentionally choose gratefulness, we’re automatically ungrateful,” says Cook. “There’s no way around it. You can’t be stuck in the middle. Too often the default is to be ungrateful simply because you’re not intentionally focusing on gratitude.”
Each day, you must commit to feeling gratitude—even on those days you’re feeling crabby, uninspired, or generally negative. When you catch yourself being negative, redirect your focus to something you feel grateful for. It can be something large, such as the ability to go to work, or small, such as your favorite dessert. Either way, choosing gratitude is a deliberate decision you have to make over and over. This a practice, but it becomes easier with time and repetition.
GREAT TRUTH #2: Gratefulness changes the atmosphere around you. It allows you to see everything differently. In a spiritual sense, when you’re grateful, it’s hard for anything that would steal your joy to exist or to remain in your presence. If you’re overflowing with something, how could you possibly run out?
“Challenge yourself to feel so full of joy and gratitude that there’s less room for anything else,” says Cook. “Once you witness the powerful shift this makes on your outlook, you will be eager to turn to gratefulness as a way of life.”
GREAT TRUTH # 3: Expressing gratefulness redirects your focus. It takes your mind off your problems and places it on more meaningful things.Ideally, says Cook, we would express our gratefulness to God or our Higher Power. But we can also express it to those around us, or to ourselves (perhaps in a gratitude journal). Why suffer by focusing only on what is wrong in your life when you could spend time exploring spirituality and seeking guidance that helps you learn and grow?
GREAT TRUTH # 4: You can’t wallow in self-pity or have a victim mentality when you’re feeling grateful. This is an important reason to work on your gratitude levels.Being grateful changes your attitude about the tough things you experience and helps to drown them out and put them into the right perspective.
GREAT TRUTH # 5: Finally, with the right perspective, you can even become grateful for your trials. Why? Because you start to see your experiences as opportunities to learn valuable lessons, grow stronger, and rely more on faith.
“When approached from a place of gratefulness, your struggles take on a whole new meaning,” says Cook.
Now that the benefits of gratefulness are clear, try this gratitude exercise for experiencing what Cook calls “indescribable joy.” It’s the perfect pick-me-up for those times you fall into a self-pity trap or when you’re just plain feeling ungrateful and want to reset your attitude.
An Exercise for Harvesting Gratitude and Joy
Set aside some time every day to stop and express what you’re thankful for. Speak it out verbally or write it down in a gratitude journal. Commit to doing this every day—and if you are struggling a lot to feel grateful, you might need to do this exercise even more often. It’s a simple process, so if you commit to making it happen, it will pay off.
To get you started, here is a sample list. (When Cook does this exercise, he thanks God, but there are other ways to express gratitude.)
I am grateful for:
My faith (If you like, you can add specifics like God’s mercy, forgiveness, or unfailing love.)
My wife or husband or partner
My children
The arrival of spring
The flowers outside my window
A new day
My home
A mind that can think
My health
My livelihood
Singing
Good food to eat
A good vehicle
Hope
The ability to give
The ability to serve
My rich friendships
The ability to be generous
“Once you begin seeking out things to be grateful for, you will see there’s no end to them,” concludes Cook. “And the more you express, the more everything around you will begin to change. Joy is the emergent. It’s the perfect attitude for welcoming spring.”
# # #
About the Author:
Steve Cook is the founder of Lifeonaire, an author, coach, real estate investor, speaker, father, and husband. He has a passion for teaching, giving, and his faith. After two failed restaurant ventures in 1998, Steve hit rock bottom and lost everything. With no money and nothing but a strong will to succeed, Steve turned to real estate investing, and his efforts were met with an uncommon success.
As a professional real estate investor, he has done over 550 deals, and it was that very success that led him to realize that having true abundance isn’t about a lot of money or possessions—it’s about having a wealth of life.
With this understanding, Steve founded Lifeonaire, and now his passion is sharing the message with others to help them live prosperous, abundant lives.
About the Book:
Lifeonaire: An Uncommon Approach to Wealth, Success, and Prosperity (Lifeonaire Promotions, LLC, 2018, ISBN: 978-0-9863228-7-7, $14.99) is available from major online booksellers.
Tap into Trauma’s Emotional Energy and Use it to Power a Fulfilling Future
Los Angeles, CA, April 29, 2021 — Trauma doesn’t have to lead to a lifetime of weakness or hardship. In fact, trauma can lead to greater resilience and higher levels of achievement than we thought possible.
Dr. Randall Bell, widely considered the world’s top authority in the field of post-traumatic thriving, shares a process for not only surviving trauma but also thriving in the aftermath in his latest book, Post-Traumatic Thriving: The Art, Science, & Stories of Resilience.
“It can’t happen to me” is one of life’s greatest lies, he notes. But if or when it does happen, it’s possible to harness the emotional energy generated by the traumatic event — whether it was losing a loved one, surviving a natural disaster or being a victim of violence — and use it to heal and grow in entirely new directions.
“How do you take that energy from the trauma and tap into it to do something really remarkable that you wouldn’t have done otherwise?” asks Dr. Bell.
In Post-Traumatic Thriving, he shares stories of real people (many of them, like Leo Fender, are familiar) who have done exactly that, including:
• A deaf man with a glass eye invented the electric guitar and became a household name, remarkably wealthy and most importantly, happy.
• A convicted murderer took responsibility for the damage he caused, graduated with honors from college, became a minister and turned around the hearts of the most hardened criminals.
• A girl born with cerebral palsy landed the world’s first starring role on national television and spoke at the White House three times.
• A woman hid in a basement for years and lost her entire family in the Holocaust. She eventually found true love and paints stunning artwork.
• The sister of a murder victim helped millions of women in toxic domestic relationships.
• A woman’s car crash resulted in an addiction to prescription drugs, a divorce, a loss of her children and a cot in a homeless shelter. She has rebuilt it all back and more.
• A man set to go to the Olympics had his hopes dashed by Jimmy Carter and went on to build a worldwide business empire.
Dr. Bell juxtaposes outcomes of scientific studies with these stories to reveal common denominators among “thrivers.” He divides his insights into three sections: The Dive Stage, The Survive Stage and The Thrive Stage, and outlines a step-by-step process toward authentic healing.
As a socio-economist, Dr. Randall Bell has consulted on more disasters on earth than anyone in history. His clients include the Federal Government, State Governments, International Tribunals, major corporations and homeowners. Dr. Bell believes that “the problem is not the problem — the problem is how we react to the problem.”
Often called the “Master of Disaster,” Dr. Bell is squarely focused on authentic recovery and resilience. His research has been profiled on major television shows and featured in numerous magazines and the international media. More information can be found at www.posttraumaticthriving.com.
Post-Traumatic Thriving: The Art, Science, & Stories of Resilience
Embrace Your Imperfections and Embark Upon a Healing Journey with God as Your Guide
Seattle, WA, April 29, 2021 — Crippling fear permeated every aspect of Christine Soule’s life from an early age and followed her into adulthood. Her past of brokenness — abuse, dysfunction, addiction and other trauma — could have very well defined her future. But once she turned to God and let Him lead the way, she found a path toward a brighter future.
“The key is discovering who you are in Christ — your true identify. And that’s especially significant if you, like me, have a past of brokenness,” Soule writes in her inspirational story, Broken and Beautiful. “So much of how we see ourselves revolves around the demands our society places on us, insisting we live up to its expectations. Don’t listen to the world. Listen to God.”
Soule’s life was a jumbled pile of broken pieces. Her father was married seven times; her mother four times. Between her parents’ divorce when she was 5 years old and the day she allowed the power and presence of God into her heart, she watched her sister have an affair with her adoptive father; met 15 siblings she never knew at her biological father’s funeral; turned to drugs and alcohol; got pregnant at 17; had twins less than two years later; and became a victim of human trafficking. She had to break the cycle for the sake of her children. With nowhere else to turn, she dropped to her knees and prayed. And that’s when everything changed.
Broken and Beautiful is Soule’s remarkable story of how God took the pieces of her broken, astonishingly dysfunctional life and transformed it all into a breathtaking mosaic of joy and purpose.
“The places where you feel hopeless are exactly what He wants to redeem and fill with beauty, dignity and strength. He has a plan for your pain. A wonderful intention for your failures. A purpose for your hardest, darkest stories,” Soule writes.
Told with honesty and surprising touches of humor, Soule shares her journey from drug-
addicted stripper to exuberant Jesus lover with a passion for helping others embrace God’s love. Broken and Beautiful is a raw, authentic story of hope, from a place of experience.
Author Christine Soule lives with the love of her life, Mitch Soule, in Seattle. They have five kids and three wonderful grandchildren. She is the founder and CEO of Providence Heights (www.providenceheights.org), a nonprofit created to house women and children in need and to provide counseling, education and jobs.
Tap into Trauma’s Emotional Energy and Use it to Power a Fulfilling Future
Los Angeles, CA, April 29, 2021 — Trauma doesn’t have to lead to a lifetime of weakness or hardship. In fact, trauma can lead to greater resilience and higher levels of achievement than we thought possible.
Dr. Randall Bell, widely considered the world’s top authority in the field of post-traumatic thriving, shares a process for not only surviving trauma but also thriving in the aftermath in his latest book, Post-Traumatic Thriving: The Art, Science, & Stories of Resilience.
“It can’t happen to me” is one of life’s greatest lies, he notes. But if or when it does happen, it’s possible to harness the emotional energy generated by the traumatic event — whether it was losing a loved one, surviving a natural disaster or being a victim of violence — and use it to heal and grow in entirely new directions.
“How do you take that energy from the trauma and tap into it to do something really remarkable that you wouldn’t have done otherwise?” asks Dr. Bell.
In Post-Traumatic Thriving, he shares stories of real people (many of them, like Leo Fender, are familiar) who have done exactly that, including:
• A deaf man with a glass eye invented the electric guitar and became a household name, remarkably wealthy and most importantly, happy.
• A convicted murderer took responsibility for the damage he caused, graduated with honors from college, became a minister and turned around the hearts of the most hardened criminals.
• A girl born with cerebral palsy landed the world’s first starring role on national television and spoke at the White House three times.
• A woman hid in a basement for years and lost her entire family in the Holocaust. She eventually found true love and paints stunning artwork.
• The sister of a murder victim helped millions of women in toxic domestic relationships.
• A woman’s car crash resulted in an addiction to prescription drugs, a divorce, a loss of her children and a cot in a homeless shelter. She has rebuilt it all back and more.
• A man set to go to the Olympics had his hopes dashed by Jimmy Carter and went on to build a worldwide business empire.
Dr. Bell juxtaposes outcomes of scientific studies with these stories to reveal common denominators among “thrivers.” He divides his insights into three sections: The Dive Stage, The Survive Stage and The Thrive Stage, and outlines a step-by-step process toward authentic healing.
As a socio-economist, Dr. Randall Bell has consulted on more disasters on earth than anyone in history. His clients include the Federal Government, State Governments, International Tribunals, major corporations and homeowners. Dr. Bell believes that “the problem is not the problem — the problem is how we react to the problem.”
Often called the “Master of Disaster,” Dr. Bell is squarely focused on authentic recovery and resilience. His research has been profiled on major television shows and featured in numerous magazines and the international media. More information can be found at www.posttraumaticthriving.com.
Post-Traumatic Thriving: The Art, Science, & Stories of Resilience
Should a Person with Autism Be Allowed to Become a Professional Boxer and Put His Life at Risk?
Forest, VA, April 29, 2021― It’s a struggle that parents of children with special needs face every day and well into that child’s adulthood: how much decision-making latitude is safe?
NOKI is an empowering story from Douglas Farrago, MD, about a young man with autism who wants to become a professional boxer. Life’s circumstances have dictated the reason for him choosing this path. The lawless world of boxing has its reasons for embracing Noki and his abilities. And they are not good ones. So, the debate wages on: Should Noki be allowed to make the life-altering decision to enter the ring and put his life on the line?
Meanwhile, what few know is that Noki is actually a savant and can imitate and transform himself into any legendary boxer he wants — a plot twist that allows NOKI to pay homage to some of the greatest boxers of all time.
Dr. Farrago draws upon his experiences as an All-American collegiate boxer, a sports medicine trainer for professional boxers in Houston and his decades-long career in medicine during which he worked with autism patients to lend authenticity to his characters and narrative.
“Noki becomes somewhat of a hero to those with special needs in this story, which I think is pretty cool,” he said. “I felt it would be nice if a story showed that those with autism don’t need to be anything but themselves, and maybe it is the rest of us who need to change.”
Ultimately, NOKI is a heartwarming story that will spark real conversations about the limits that society places on people with special needs. Knowingly or not.
Author Douglas Farrago, MD, is board certified in the specialty of Family Practice. Recently retired, he had a large following of autistic and special needs patients in his career. Dr. Farrago is the inventor of the Knee Saver, which is currently in the Baseball Hall of Fame. The Knee Saver and its knock-offs are worn by many major league baseball catchers. He also invented the CryoHelmet, used by athletes for head injuries as well as migraine sufferers.
Dr. Farrago received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Virginia in 1987, his Master of Education degree in Exercise Science from the University of Houston in 1990 and his Medical Degree from the University of Texas at Houston in 1994. His residency training occurred way up north at the Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. Dr. Farrago still blogs every day on his website Authenticmedicine.com and lectures worldwide about the present crisis in our healthcare system and the effect it has on the doctor-patient relationship. Dr. Farrago has written six books to date, his latest one being NOKI.
Embrace Your Imperfections and Embark Upon a Healing Journey with God as Your Guide
Seattle, WA, April 30, 2021 — Crippling fear permeated every aspect of Christine Soule’s life from an early age and followed her into adulthood. Her past of brokenness — abuse, dysfunction, addiction and other trauma — could have very well defined her future. But once she turned to God and let Him lead the way, she found a path toward a brighter future.
“The key is discovering who you are in Christ — your true identify. And that’s especially significant if you, like me, have a past of brokenness,” Soule writes in her inspirational story, Broken and Beautiful. “So much of how we see ourselves revolves around the demands our society places on us, insisting we live up to its expectations. Don’t listen to the world. Listen to God.”
Soule’s life was a jumbled pile of broken pieces. Her father was married seven times; her mother four times. Between her parents’ divorce when she was 5 years old and the day she allowed the power and presence of God into her heart, she watched her sister have an affair with her adoptive father; met 15 siblings she never knew at her biological father’s funeral; turned to drugs and alcohol; got pregnant at 17; had twins less than two years later; and became a victim of human trafficking. She had to break the cycle for the sake of her children. With nowhere else to turn, she dropped to her knees and prayed. And that’s when everything changed.
Broken and Beautiful is Soule’s remarkable story of how God took the pieces of her broken, astonishingly dysfunctional life and transformed it all into a breathtaking mosaic of joy and purpose.
“The places where you feel hopeless are exactly what He wants to redeem and fill with beauty, dignity and strength. He has a plan for your pain. A wonderful intention for your failures. A purpose for your hardest, darkest stories,” Soule writes.
Told with honesty and surprising touches of humor, Soule shares her journey from drug-
addicted stripper to exuberant Jesus lover with a passion for helping others embrace God’s love. Broken and Beautiful is a raw, authentic story of hope, from a place of experience.
Author Christine Soule lives with the love of her life, Mitch Soule, in Seattle. They have five kids and three wonderful grandchildren. She is the founder and CEO of Providence Heights (www.providenceheights.org), a nonprofit created to house women and children in need and to provide counseling, education and jobs.
CHATHAM-KENT, ON, April 30, 2021 /CNW/ - Thunderbird Partnership Foundation says details from last week's 2021 federal budget can't come soon enough for First Nations communities and treatment centres to address substance use, addictions and mental health issues compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Thunderbird's Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Carol Hopkins, welcomes the proposed investment of $597.6 million over three years for a distinctions-based mental health and wellness strategy. It's certainly a step in the right direction.
"Communities know what they need to build their capacity to address opioid and methamphetamine use at the local level," says Hopkins, "but those solutions need investments that are equitable and sustainable to address the acuity of need."
The following are some of the community identified solutions:
adequate wages to sustain the workforce responding to addictions and substance use dependency, including those First Nations on the frontline of the opioid and methamphetamine crisis through outreach
harm reduction supplies
capacity to distribute safe supplies
overdose prevention safe consumption spaces
access to naloxone
emergency shelters for homeless people who use substances
training for the workforce
Hopkins adds that solutions also require a committed response from provincial and territorial health officials who also carry responsibility for mental health and primary care for every citizen, including First Nations communities. Every relevant solution must ensure services are delivered where people live in remote and rural communities in Canada and that services are relevant through the inclusion of land, language and culture. Funding and other resource allocations must be prioritized towards the right to health and the right to life for First Nation individuals, families and communities, who without adequate resources, do everything they can to ensure life for people at risk of death due to the contaminated illegal drug supply.
Equitable and sustainable funding support continues to be a priority for the National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program (NNADAP) and National Youth Solvent Abuse Program (NYSAP) workforce, who work in communities and treatment centres. First Nations addictions workers earn 45% less than their provincial counterparts yet exceed standards of excellence through accreditation, and the workforce consistently maintains core competency certifications.
Hopkins says despite stark funding inequities, this workforce continues to respond to the needs of First Nations with quick innovation during the pandemic. Some are maintaining in-person services at reduced capacity for safety, while others are seeing new virtual treatment services reach far more people than ever before. They also continue to demonstrate the value of land-based programs and remain committed to collecting data through standardized assessment tools to show the efficacy of their services during the pandemic.
"What more can be expected of this workforce unless their First Nations employers have capacity to retain them with meaningful wages and clear funding allocations that enable effective operational planning instead of maintaining the instability created by year-to-year funding promises," says Hopkins. She's hoping the new federal investments will honour the strengths of First Nations and provide parity for substance use and addictions workers because low wages make it impossible to retain a qualified workforce to ensure a response to the opioid and methamphetamine crisis many communities are experiencing.
Studies show the social return on capacity investments in First Nations treatment centres are significant with returns of $4 for every $1 invested and in some instances as much as $25 return for every 1$ invested.
SOURCE Thunderbird Partnership Foundation
Major Depressive Disorder: The Hope-Filled Battle for the Causes and the Cures
Spokane, WA, April 27, 2021 — The voice on the other end of the phone was familiar but shaky. It was Sarah’s friend Carolyn, and she was grappling with suicidal ideation.
“Something had her in its grip and would not let go,” Sarah Zabel explains. “I kept wondering, what’s doing this? How does a normal, happy person come to feel life is so bad that she must kill herself?”
A decade after that first phone call, solutions for Carolyn’s major depressive disorder remained elusive, and Sarah felt compelled to understand why.
Fighting Chance: How Unexpected Observations and Unintended Outcomes Shape the Science and Treatment of Depression delivers a 360-degree look inside the world of this debilitating illness, featuring interviews with more than 20 experts in the fields of neuroscience and psychiatry, current research and the unforgettable stories of 16 people personally impacted by depression.
Described by Sarah as a “science book for non-scientists,” Fighting Chancetackles key questions that have guided scientific research for decades and delves into the discoveries that have formed the medical world’s understanding of the disorder. Peppered throughout are more than 20 illustrations that help explain the science involved — making it widely accessible.
Sarah adeptly explores topics ranging from the neurobiology of depression to antidepressant medications; stress and inflammation; genetics; suicide; traditional and alternative therapies and treatments; and even gives a nod to Big Data’s efforts to clarify depression’s causes and cures.
Ultimately, Fighting Chance is a tale of human endeavor and ingenuity, of downright weird experiments and serendipitous discoveries, and of people who valiantly battle for answers for themselves and for people they will never know.
Author Sarah Zabel graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy with a degree in computer science in 1987 and was commissioned a second lieutenant. She retired from the Air Force in 2018 as a major general and decided to turn her focus to her life-long love of learning and become a science writer. She set herself the task of first coming to understand, and then to explain for other lay-persons, the science behind some of life’s most complex but important human experiences. Inspired, intrigued and frustrated by an enduring friend’s battle with depression, she set that topic as her first task. Sarah does occasional consulting and other activities associated with her time as one of the military’s leaders in cyberspace operations and security, in the provision of communications and other services to a community, and leadership of a diverse workforce.
