Latest news with #awareness
CTV News
2 hours ago
- Health
- CTV News
Hard disease: Scleroderma awareness
Hard disease: Scleroderma awareness A Nova Scotia woman knows first-hand how tough it is to live with scleroderma.
BBC News
9 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Events held in Jersey for people with learning disabilities
A service has hosted a week of events in Jersey to show the support available for adults with a learning disability. Health and Care Jersey's Adult Learning Disability Service partnered with Mencap, Haute Vallée School and other organisations to host events from 16 to 20 June. There are approximately 280 islanders with a learning disability, the Adult Learning Disability Service week included an art class, zumba and drop-in sessions to help raise awareness. Alex Wiles, from Jersey Mencap, said: "I think often people misunderstand what a learning disability is and the types of challenges people have."This is an opportunity to raise a bit of awareness of that and to showcase some of the amazing opportunities that are on the island."Shelia Morels, whose daughter Elizabeth Morels is a Jersey Mencap user, said: "the Mencap social club is brilliant because it gives them a social life that they wouldn't normally have and experiences." Her daughter said Jersey Mencap helped her with life and "helps me to get out the house for a while." Libby Paisley, practice development practitioner for Jersey Learning Disability Service, said: "Our services are important in the sense that we look at the health of people with learning disabilities ... and support them to access mainstream services.""Please approach us, please come forward and let us see how we can help you."
Forbes
a day ago
- Health
- Forbes
A Psychologist Explains How Global Tragedies Trigger ‘Vicarious Trauma'
Just because it didn't happen to you does not mean it won't affect you. 'Vicarious trauma' is real ... More and more common than you realize. Today, when information is so easily accessible, we're living in an almost 24/7 news cycle. It's more or less normal to be constantly flooded with updates, alerts and breaking stories. Tragedies from across the globe are no longer distant; they appear instantly on your screen, often in graphic and emotionally charged detail. While staying informed is important, this constant exposure to distressing news can take a real toll on your mental well-being and can even cause you vicarious trauma. Vicarious trauma is the emotional residue left behind from witnessing trauma secondhand, through stories, images or videos. It might be impacting you in ways you may not fully notice or be aware of. This lack of awareness often comes from the belief that 'It didn't happen to me, so it shouldn't affect me.' Even if you're safe at home, watching a tragedy like a plane crash can leave you feeling deeply unsettled. For many, it can spark sudden fears, say, of flying, of losing loved ones or of how fragile life feels. Just seeing the wreckage or watching families grieve can activate your body's stress response and make you feel a sense of helplessness. You might even start imagining similar scenarios happening to you or your loved ones. This makes it all the more important to understand just how and why global tragedies can impact you so deeply. Here are two ways global tragedies trigger vicarious trauma, based on research. It's natural to find yourself watching more news, refreshing headlines, clicking through updates or letting footage auto-play on your feed to stay informed and alert. While it's both responsible and necessary, what you may not know is that the more time you spend consuming emotionally charged news, the more it can affect your mind and body, sometimes even more than being directly involved in the event itself. This is backed by research. Research published in PNAS explored whether watching tragic events through mass media could cause acute stress and how that compared to being directly exposed to the trauma. To examine this, researchers conducted an Internet-based survey shortly after the Boston Marathon bombings, gathering responses from over 4,600 people across Boston, New York City, and the rest of the U.S. to understand how media exposure influenced stress levels. They also accounted for factors like people's mental health history, demographics and prior exposure to other collective traumas like 9/11. Researchers found that people who watched six or more hours of bombing-related news each day showed more signs of acute stress than some of those who were physically at the scene. This stress was not just about being on screens too much, but rather about the emotional weight of what they were watching. Even those who had no direct connection to the event felt deeply disturbed. For people who had lived through previous traumatic events, like 9/11 or school shootings, the emotional toll was even greater. The study shows that mass media can act like an emotional amplifier by spreading the psychological effects of a tragedy far beyond where it happened, turning it into a shared and overwhelming emotional experience. When distressing news is always just a tap away, it's easy to underestimate the emotional cost of constantly having to stay informed. You might think you're just scrolling or watching passively, but your nervous system doesn't know the difference between watching it and experiencing it in real-time. This doesn't mean you have to tune out entirely or ignore real-world issues. It's simply a reminder for you to set boundaries around news consumption. Try being mindful of how certain stories make you feel and allow yourself to have the space to step back and regulate when needed. It's easy to assume that trauma only affects those who live through it firsthand. What you might not know is that repeated exposure to emotionally intense news, even when you're far removed from the actual event, can cause your nervous system to start processing the trauma as if it happened to you. Over time, this can even lead to PTSD-like symptoms. The trauma may be secondhand, but your mind and body might just respond in very real ways. This was highlighted in a major study following the 9/11 attacks. Researchers conducted a large-scale, longitudinal study to understand how people across the U.S., even those far from New York City, psychologically adjusted to a national trauma over time. They used web-based surveys and tracked over 2,700 adults within weeks of the attacks, with follow-ups at two and six months. There were some notable findings. As many as 17% of participants outside New York reported post-traumatic stress symptoms at two months and roughly 5 % still showed symptoms at six months. These symptoms weren't only tied to how close someone was to the event but were strongly influenced by personal factors like pre-existing mental health issues and the coping strategies used in the early aftermath. Researchers also found that people who relied on avoidant coping (like denial or emotional disengagement) were more likely to experience lingering distress, while those who practiced active coping fared better. These findings suggest that the psychological fallout from large-scale trauma isn't limited to those directly involved, and that how you deal with distress in the moment plays a critical role in how you recover emotionally in the months that follow. This serves as a powerful reminder that emotional distance does not always protect you from psychological impact, especially in the time of constant media coverage. As the study highlighted, suppressing emotions may seem like protection in the short term, but it can prolong distress. Try adopting active coping strategies such as talking to someone, limiting exposure or allowing yourself to process emotions rather than pushing them aside. This can make a meaningful difference in the way you regulate your mental health and stay resilient in the face of overwhelming news. Vicarious trauma is a reminder that empathy is a double-edged sword. While it connects you to others, it also opens you up to their pain. When you're constantly plugged in, that pain can quietly accumulate without you realizing how much of an impact it has caused. Being informed is important. But so is protecting your internal world. This means learning when to step back, when to feel and when to talk, as well as when to turn it off. Remind yourself that you're not ignoring what's happening out there; rather, you're just making sure you're okay enough to hold it. It is possible and necessary to care deeply about what's happening in the world and still care gently for what's happening within you. Do you find yourself doomscrolling and glued to negative news? Take this science-backed test to find out: Doomscrolling Scale
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Heartbroken family of British mother killed by rabies share poignant video of her dancing before she was struck down by virus she caught from stray dog in Morocco in February
The heartbroken family of a British mother who died after contracting rabies from a stray puppy during a holiday to Morocco has shared a poignant video of her before she was struck down by the disease. Grandmother Yvonne Ford, 59, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, became ill two weeks ago and steadily deteriorated until her death this week, after suffering a minor scratch from a puppy in February. Her daughter, Robyn Thomson, 32, a neo-natal nurse, paid tribute to her mother - known as 'Bon' - in a moving post, and urged others to treat even the tiniest scratch with caution. She also shared a video of her mother dancing taken less than two weeks before her death. Ms Ford appears healthy, energetic and seemed to be thoroughly enjoying herself - jumping around and punching her hands in the air. There is no sign that she is remotely ill - but days later she would be admitted to hospital, diagnosed with rabies and ultimately pass away. Rabies - which is passed on through injuries such as bites and scratches from an infected animal - is nearly always fatal. It typically takes between three and 12 weeks for symptoms to show but can also take longer in some cases. Friends and family members were shocked to see the clip, with one describing it as 'unreal'. In the video, Ms Ford appears healthy, energetic and seemed to be thoroughly enjoying herself - jumping around and punching her hands in the air Another said: 'Lovely to see her enjoying herself on this video. Memories to cherish forever - I still cannot believe it.' After her mother's death, Ms Thomson wrote on Facebook: 'Our family is still processing this unimaginable loss, but we are choosing to speak up in the hope of preventing this from happening to others. 'Yvonne Ford, Ron Ford's wife and our Mum, died of rabies. She was scratched very slightly by a puppy in Morocco in February. At the time, she did not think any harm would come of it and didn't think much of it. 'Two weeks ago, she became ill, starting with a headache and resulted in her losing her ability to walk, talk, sleep, swallow. Resulting in her passing.' Ms Thomson added: 'We never thought something like this could happen to someone we love. Please take animal bites seriously, vaccinate your pets, and educate those around you. 'She was the heart of our family - strong, loving, and endlessly supportive. No words can fully capture the depth of our loss or the impact she had on all of us. 'We are heartbroken, but also grateful for every moment we had with her. Rest peacefully, Bon. You'll always be with us.' It is understood Ms Ford was diagnosed with the disease at Barnsley Hospital. An inquest into her death opened yesterday morning at 9am at Sheffield Coroners' Court, which her daughter attended. It has since been adjourned. At court Ms Thomson declined to comment but said she was having a 'horrendous day'. There have been less than 10 cases of human rabies associated with animal exposures abroad reported in the UK since 2000. However, the UKHSA yesterday stressed there was 'no risk to the wider public' given there is 'no documented evidence of rabies passing between people'. Ms Ford's family described her as 'strong, loving, and endlessly supportive' and said they had lost the 'heart of our family' Ms Ford's family paid tribute to her in emotional Facebook posts this week and urged others to take even the smallest grazes seriously The UK has been rabies-free since 1922, when the last indigenous non-fatal case was recorded, with the exception of rabies-like viruses in some wild bat species. The last death caused by rabies in a UK animal - other than bats - was in 1902. Dog licensing, euthanasia of stray dog and quarantining were credited with killing off the virus. Western Europe is now considered low risk for the disease by the World Health Organisation (WHO), while countries in Eastern Europe are listed as 'moderate risk' and African and Middle Eastern countries are 'high risk'. Popular tourist destinations such as Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco and Turkey all carry a high risk of dogs transmitting rabies to people. Dr Katherine Russell, head of emerging infections and zoonoses, at the UKHSA said: 'I would like to extend my condolences to this individual's family at this time. 'If you are bitten, scratched or licked by an animal in a country where rabies is found then you should wash the wound or site of exposure with plenty of soap and water and seek medical advice without delay in order to get post-exposure treatment to prevent rabies. 'There is no risk to the wider public in relation to this case. 'Human cases of rabies are extremely rare in the UK, and worldwide there are no documented instances of direct human to human transmission.' Once a person begins showing signs and symptoms of rabies, the disease is nearly always fatal. The first symptoms of rabies can be similar to flu, while later symptoms include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, agitation, anxiety, difficulty swallowing and excessive saliva. People may develop fears around things like swallowing drinks and can suffer hallucinations and paralysis. However, it is possible to save a patient who has contracted rabies if they can begin treatment before the virus enters their immune system. The course of treatment for rabies is four doses of the vaccination for rabies and human rabies immunoglobulin (antibodies) applied over a 21-day period. According to the UKHSA, people should take immediate action to wash the wound or site of exposure with plenty of soap and water, if they've been bitten or scratched by an animal while abroad in a country with rabies. They should also follow the same advice if an animal has licked their eyes, nose or mouth, or licked a wound they have. British bats have also been known to carry rabies. However, as people can only catch rabies by manually handling bats directly, the risk to the public is considered to be low. But people who have been bitten or scratched by a bat in Britain are still advised to contact their GP urgently or call the NHS on 111 due to the potential risk. The last recorded rabies death in the UK was in 2018, when Omar Zouhri, a 58-year-old kebab shop worker, was bitten by a cat while visiting family in Mehdya, Morocco. The same rabid cat is believed to have also bitten a young girl in the area, but she was treated locally for the nip and made a full recovery. An inquest in Oxford heard that Mr Zouhri had contracted rabies on August 31 2018, but it was not until as late as October 28 that 'the die was cast' when he started to report symptoms of 'furious rabies'. This included itching, pain and muscle twitches—which showed the virus had already entered his central nervous system, rendering treatment ineffective. Mr Zouhri, from Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, died in hospital in Oxford on November 4, 2018. Rabies: Death from a scratch Rabies is a viral infection which targets the nervous system and the brain. It is deadly in 100 percent of cases left untreated - and has an incubation period of 20 to 60 days. It is only spread by infected animals to humans, most often through the animal biting or scratching the person. It can also be spread by an animal's saliva being in contact with a graze or cut on a human's skin. The majority of rabies cases result from being bitten by an infected dog. The symptoms of the illness include high temperatures, numbness at the area where the bite occurred and hallucinations. Some victims also have hydrophobia, which is a fear of water. There are about 55,000 cases of rabies worldwide each year with over 95% of cases occurring in Africa and Asia. Half of all rabies cases occur in India. Rabies is one of the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) that predominantly affects poor and vulnerable populations who live in remote rural locations. Approximately 80% of human cases occur in rural areas, and although effective human vaccines and immunoglobulins exist for rabies, they are not readily available or accessible to those in need. Globally, rabies deaths are rarely reported and children between the ages of 5–14 years are frequent victims. Every year, more than 29 million people worldwide receive a post-bite vaccination. This is estimated to prevent hundreds of thousands of rabies deaths annually.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Explainer: What is rabies and how do you avoid getting it?
A grandmother from South Yorkshire has died from rabies after returning from a holiday in Morocco, where she was scratched by a puppy with the virus. Yvonne Ford, 59, from Barnsley, visited the North African country in February but . Her family now want to raise awareness about the virus. What is rabies? Rabies is a virus transmitted between mammals, nearly always through bites and scratches from an infected animal. Rabies is always fatal once symptoms appear - even if someone is treated for it - but post-exposure treatment is very effective if given quickly enough. How rare is it? Although cases in UK travellers are very rare, rabies is endemic in many parts of the world, including popular holiday destinations such as Morocco, Turkey, India, Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia. While most developed countries are considered safe, the government says there is a risk from rabies in foxes in some European countries. Since 1946, 26 cases have been reported in the UK. The most recent incident involved a person in 2018. The only domestic case was in Scotland in 2002 when a person was bitten by a bat. There are around 59,000 cases of rabies globally each year, but there have been no incidents of human-to-human transmission. How do you get infected? Rabies is usually transmitted to humans through the bite or scratch of an infected animal, most often dogs, but also cats and bats. Even a minor scratch can pose a risk, but there is also a risk of transmission where the animal has licked the eyes, nose or mouth, or a wound. What if you are bitten, scratched or licked? Immediate medical help is essential. Anyone who is bitten, scratched or licked by an animal abroad should wash the site with plenty of soap and water and contact a doctor or medical centre. The NHS says the same applies for people who are bitten or scratched by a bat in the UK. Treatment, called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), includes a course of rabies vaccinations and, in some cases, rabies immunoglobulin. What are the symptoms? Once a person begins showing signs and symptoms of rabies, the disease is nearly always fatal. Initially, people with the virus may exhibit flu-like symptoms, which develop into a fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, agitation, anxiety, difficulty swallowing and excessive saliva. Spasms of the muscles used for swallowing make it difficult for the patient to drink and people can suffer hallucinations and paralysis. The incubation period between being infected and showing symptoms is typically between 3 and 12 weeks, but can it can be as soon as a few days and can take many months. How do you avoid rabies? It is possible to get the vaccination before travelling abroad, but anyone who is bitten, scratched or licked is still advised to seek help even if they have had a course of jabs. The NHS says the rabies vaccine is recommended for anyone travelling to a part of the world where rabies is more common, especially if they're going somewhere where it may be hard to get medical help quickly; they might come into contact with infected animals (for example by doing lots of outdoor activities like cycling or running), or they're staying for over a month. But the rabies vaccine for travel is not available on the NHS meaning it will require a visit to a travel health clinic or pharmacy with travel health services. Dr Chris Smith, clinical associate professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), said that while treatments are "highly effective when started early", prevention is better. "Avoid contact with animals abroad; if bitten or scratched, seek medical care immediately - don't wait for symptoms to appear," he said.
