Latest news with #stigma
BBC News
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Bereaved Clacton mum praises Blumenthal for bipolar film
A bereaved mother who took part in Heston Blumenthal's documentary about bipolar disorder has praised the "super brave" celebrity chef for wanting to end the stigma on mental opened up about his illness and spoke to others about their experience for the BBC film, My Life with them was Natalie McClellan, whose 24-year-old daughter Rebecca had bipolar and died in Ipswich in November 2023."If Heston can say 'I have bipolar but look at what I'm achieving, you can live a fulfilling life', it might change perspectives on mental illness," said Ms McClellan. "He is super brave to do it; he has really put himself out there to help others."I try to do the same, but none of its easy."Since Rebecca's death, Ms McClellan has campaigned for improved mental health provision that could have helped her daughter, who she said felt "abandoned". She shared her story with Blumenthal over several hours at her home in Clacton-on Sea, emotional experience helped them both, she said, particularly as Rebecca and Blumenthal had much in even transpired that he had gone into hospital for his condition when Rebecca died."They had the same sorts of visual disturbances, he's got ADHD and she was awaiting a diagnosis," she said."I showed him videos of her, photos, and one video in particular where she says 'my bipolar is popping'."He said 'that's exactly how it is', I think he found that emotional." The chef also became upset when talking about the impact of his bipolar disorder on his family - an experience that rang true for Ms McClellan."Rebecca didn't always tell us [how she felt], she would mask because she was worried about the effect it would have on us," she said."You just want your loved ones to be well and know what's going on, obviously I would rather worry every day but still have her here."Heston was quite open, he feels he has hurt his family and she [Rebecca] would be the same." The trainee paramedic was left with no GP or psychiatrist when she moved to Ipswich for work, her mother previously told the August 2023, she drove to a mental health unit and begged for help and said she was willing to drive anywhere in Norfolk and Suffolk to see someone, but staff told her to leave and threatened to call police. 'Not complacent' In the film, Blumenthal is shown Rebecca's mobile footage of the incident, which he described as "absolutely shocking"."Since we lost Bex it's been really important for me to push for changes in mental health and the support people get," added Ms McClellan."I will keep going and keep going for people who are suffering in the way she suffered, but it's not easy, it's only been 18 months [since her death] and it's still very raw."The reason Heston was speaking out was he wants to end the stigma. "It's so important to me that I'm part of that message."I was honoured and proud to be part of that process, and I hope he feels proud, too."Rebecca was under the care of the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT), which was in special measures for several years until January this March it completed a review into the circumstances of her death. A date for an inquest has not been chief Caroline Donovan, who joined in autumn 2023, said it had made "considerable progress" in its work to learn from deaths of patients and thanked Ms McClellan and other families for their "invaluable challenge and support"."We are not complacent and know we have much more to do to transform our services so that everyone receives safer, kinder and better services from us when they need them," she My Life with Bipolar is available on BBC iplayerIf you are affected by any of the issues in this article you can find details of organisations that can help via BBC Action Line. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
WebMD
3 days ago
- Health
- WebMD
Living with HIV in the Rural South
Living with HIV can be challenging anywhere. But stigma can be devastatingly severe in small communities where privacy is more infringed, services can be limited and difficult to access, and the disease can be more deadly due to religious culture. The rural South can seem to be littered with a church of every denomination at almost every intersection. Local legislation and governing bodies reflect highly conservative views. And the culture is permeated with religious ideologies even in people who aren't religious, because Southern culture is pervasively influenced by the strictest traditions of Christianity. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with religion. But it should be a matter of choice, not coercion. In my opinion, Southern culture makes Christianity feel more coerced than chosen. Religious people have been at war with LGBT people for years, and LGBT people are disproportionately affected by HIV. At the beginning of the AIDS epidemic in 1981, the then-mysterious disease seemed to only affect gay men. So it was stigmatized by the church. This had a significant consequence. The fear of being judged or ostracized creates a perfect environment for the disease to flourish, thrive, and even spread because people are afraid to be tested. In small communities, privacy is usually heavily infringed upon and everyone knows everyone. So it only takes one person to reveal your HIV status. And disclosure of status can have devastating effects. Being tested for HIV may seem like a small thing, but it's not. If you're afraid to get tested, you might contract the virus and not know until you're very sick. Sometimes it's too late. Stigma alone perpetuates the spread of HIV and AIDS, and it's a barrier to prevention efforts. That's how religion makes the virus more deadly. But not all woes of rural communities are rooted in religion. The sprawling distances common in such areas can create barriers to accessing health services. This is another factor contributing to health care gaps in rural communities. Not only are distances longer, transportation can be less reliable or even nonexistent. Many rural areas have little or no public transportation. Not everyone has family or other means to provide travel to basic necessities like groceries and doctor appointments. Telemedicine can help, but it can't fill all needs. Rural isolation and loneliness can lead to mental health concerns. When you live with HIV, depression is common, partly because it's highly stigmatized. Loneliness intensifies the pain of depression. I live in a rural community, but I have quick access to the amenities of a small city. I'm blessed to live where I can find health care with HIV expertise, but resources can be limited. Wraparound services often fall through the cracks of a sparsely funded health care system. Some rely on help like the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program that provides assistance for low-income people living with HIV. Without this assistance, people would die. Many rural areas have rising numbers of new HIV diagnoses, due to intravenous drug use. Needle exchange programs can help prevent HIV transmission and eliminate the risk of a community outbreak, as they have in the past. But many of these communities have religious objections to free needle exchanges. They claim to feel responsible for contributing to the drug problem by supplying clean needles. But they don't realize the greater danger is contracting HIV. In 2014-2015, in Scott County, Indiana, there was an HIV outbreak among drug-injecting populations. A temporary needle exchange program was established and the outbreak was curbed, showing needle exchanges work. But the program was halted when the outbreak got under control. This allows for the continuation of HIV transmission. But why do anything about it until it makes the news, right? Our HIV prevention system is broken, largely because of religious beliefs influencing legislation and policy pertaining to this disease. People will continue to contract and transmit HIV because of it. Regardless of geographical location. But religious stigma is strongest in rural America, where there are greater numbers of new HIV cases. Religion isn't the only factor behind this. But you can change stigma and stereotypes before you can change the distance of a mile. Rural areas will always have more miles to traverse with fewer reliable methods of transportation. They'll always be poorer and more vulnerable to HIV transmission. Some of these factors can't be changed. But harmful beliefs about HIV must change, or this disease will never be eliminated. Conservative, rural communities will continue to be hotbeds for HIV to thrive.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Kalen Jackson is carrying on her father's legacy through her mental health advocacy
Breaking down barriers surrounding mental health was a personal mission for Jim Irsay, the beloved owner of the Indianapolis Colts who died last month at age 65. It's personal for Kalen Jackson, too. Irsay's youngest daughter, who joins sisters Carlie Irsay-Gordon and Casey Foyt in running the team, has talked openly about dealing with anxiety. Irsay-Gordon is the CEO with Foyt as executive vice president and Jackson chief brand officer. Jackson leads 'Kicking The Stigma,' the family's initiative to raise awareness about mental health disorders. The organization is committed to dismantling the stigma often associated with these illnesses and has been focused on expanding access to critical services across Indiana and nationwide. The Colts have donated more than $30 million to nonprofits and organizations in the mental health space since the initiative launched in 2020. 'The stigma piece to me has almost become synonymous in my head with the way we handle it as a culture because the stigma comes from prejudice and judgment and that comes from how it's presented in our culture over time,' Jackson said. 'How do we change that conversation? With that will come so much of the change that we're fighting so hard to get to in terms of having more things covered (by) insurance or the way the hospital networks look at this, the way that companies look at this and supporting their employees.' Irsay often spoke publicly about his battles with alcoholism and addiction, hoping his journey to sobriety would inspire and encourage others. Jackson's voice will continue to carry on the conversation. 'I am so proud of the legacy he has left behind and I only hope to make him proud,' Jackson said. Jackson will be recognized by Project Healthy Minds, a Millennial and Gen Z-driven mental health tech nonprofit, for becoming a trailblazing leader in mental health advocacy. She will receive the organization's first 'Sports Visionary of the Year' Award at the third annual World Mental Health Day Gala on Oct. 9 in New York. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will present Jackson with the award at an event that's brought together celebrities, executives, and cultural leaders, including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. 'When we all got together to decide who should win this inaugural award, it was unanimous that it should be Kalen and the Colts because they have been so committed to mental health in sports,' said Phillip Schermer, founder and CEO of Project Healthy Minds. 'It's not talking the talk, it's walking the walk. They've been doing this from the beginning and I think they've sort of lit a path for what I think every sport and every league ought to do.' For Jackson, who is on the nonprofit's Board of Directors, the mission is clear. 'To connect with people and to be compassionate and to try to change the world for the better, that's kind of what all this is for me,' she said. The NFL and NFL Players Association in 2019 agreed to make it a requirement to have a licensed behavioral health clinician on the staff of each team in an effort to increase mental health resources. The Colts have taken it further. They recently hired a clinician to also work with front-office staff and coaches. 'I don't have to wait to know what impact it's going to have,' Jackson said. ___
Associated Press
4 days ago
- Health
- Associated Press
Kalen Jackson is carrying on her father's legacy through her mental health advocacy
Breaking down barriers surrounding mental health was a personal mission for Jim Irsay, the beloved owner of the Indianapolis Colts who died last month at age 65. It's personal for Kalen Jackson, too. Irsay's youngest daughter, who joins sisters Carlie Irsay-Gordon and Casey Foyt in running the team, has talked openly about dealing with anxiety. Irsay-Gordon is the CEO with Foyt as executive vice president and Jackson chief brand officer. Jackson leads 'Kicking The Stigma,' the family's initiative to raise awareness about mental health disorders. The organization is committed to dismantling the stigma often associated with these illnesses and has been focused on expanding access to critical services across Indiana and nationwide. The Colts have donated more than $30 million to nonprofits and organizations in the mental health space since the initiative launched in 2020. 'The stigma piece to me has almost become synonymous in my head with the way we handle it as a culture because the stigma comes from prejudice and judgment and that comes from how it's presented in our culture over time,' Jackson said. 'How do we change that conversation? With that will come so much of the change that we're fighting so hard to get to in terms of having more things covered (by) insurance or the way the hospital networks look at this, the way that companies look at this and supporting their employees.' Irsay often spoke publicly about his battles with alcoholism and addiction, hoping his journey to sobriety would inspire and encourage others. Jackson's voice will continue to carry on the conversation. 'I am so proud of the legacy he has left behind and I only hope to make him proud,' Jackson said. Jackson will be recognized by Project Healthy Minds, a Millennial and Gen Z-driven mental health tech nonprofit, for becoming a trailblazing leader in mental health advocacy. She will receive the organization's first 'Sports Visionary of the Year' Award at the third annual World Mental Health Day Gala on Oct. 9 in New York. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will present Jackson with the award at an event that's brought together celebrities, executives, and cultural leaders, including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. 'When we all got together to decide who should win this inaugural award, it was unanimous that it should be Kalen and the Colts because they have been so committed to mental health in sports,' said Phillip Schermer, founder and CEO of Project Healthy Minds. 'It's not talking the talk, it's walking the walk. They've been doing this from the beginning and I think they've sort of lit a path for what I think every sport and every league ought to do.' For Jackson, who is on the nonprofit's Board of Directors, the mission is clear. 'To connect with people and to be compassionate and to try to change the world for the better, that's kind of what all this is for me,' she said. The NFL and NFL Players Association in 2019 agreed to make it a requirement to have a licensed behavioral health clinician on the staff of each team in an effort to increase mental health resources. The Colts have taken it further. They recently hired a clinician to also work with front-office staff and coaches. 'I don't have to wait to know what impact it's going to have,' Jackson said. ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
The Real Reason Why Mental Health Improves After Weight-Loss Surgery
A new study published in the journal Health Psychology has determined the precise reason one's mental health improves following weight-loss surgery. Lead researcher Larissa McGarrity, a clinical psychologist at University of Utah Health who studies mental health after weight-loss surgery, found that getting rid of the stigma surrounding excess weight, rather than the weight loss itself, is the reason many people feel an improvement in their mental health and a decrease in disordered eating following surgery. Conversely, those who underwent weight loss surgery but still continued to face weight-related stigma were at a higher risk for depression, anxiety, and disordered eating. Of the 148 patients surveyed, all underwent bariatric surgery. Data was collected before the surgery, as well as 18–36 months afterward. Over 90 percent of the patients reported experiencing weight-related stigma prior to the procedure, while about 60 percent experienced less stigma after the surgery. Those who experienced less stigma saw an improvement in their mental health and physical wellbeing. However, the 40 percent who continued to experience stigma were found to be at higher risk for depression, disordered eating, and weight increases."There's considerable evidence that societal weight stigma is prevalent and has harmful health consequences for people with obesity," Rebecca Puhl, deputy director for the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health at the University of Connecticut, told Live Science. "This new study begins to address this research gap.' (Puhl was not involved in this study.) McGarrity emphasized that the study cannot directly establish cause and effect because the patient's experiences were self-reported. However, the results of this study suggest that "bariatric surgery patients are not immune to the effects of weight stigma, even years after surgery, even after significant amounts of weight loss.' Both Puhl and McGarrity agree that more research is needed in order to understand how weight-related stigma can affect overall patient health and treatment. The Real Reason Why Mental Health Improves After Weight-Loss Surgery first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 15, 2025
