Cuidando de tu salud

"En los últimos 25 años, el porcentaje de niñas que están sobre peso se ha duplicado", dice la American Academy of Pediatrics. Las niñas que son parte de minorías tienen el mayor riesgo de obesidad infantil. Este grupo de minorías incluye a las niñas latinas. El sobrepeso puede causar problemas de salud crónicos como la diabetes tipo II. La falta de atención de la salud pone a los grupos minoritarios en un mayor riesgo de ser menos saludable.

Algunos de los obstáculos que una latina se enfrenta al tratar de acceder a la atención de la salud incluyen la lingüística, las creencias culturales, y la situación financiera, de acuerdo con, el Center for Studying Health System Change. En algunos casos puede ser un reto para que una mujer latina entienda inglés por lo tanto, se sienten intimidados a buscar atención médica, ya que puede ser que los proveedores de salud no les ayudarán en su lengua materna.

Además, la cultura juega un papel en el cuidado de la salud. Específicamente en la cultura latina algunas de las familias creen en la medicina holística en lugar de la medicina occidental tradicional. Entonces eso resulta en no ir al médico, según dice la investigadora ,Catalina Dower. Además, financieramente hay muchas familias latinas que son de bajos ingresos, según el Censo 2010 de Estados Unidos, que hace que sea difícil pagar la atención médica.

Estar sano y prevenir la obesidad es muy importante. Si usted se encuentra en una situación donde usted no ha visitado a un médico en un largo periodo de tiempo le aconsejo que tome el control de su salud y haga una cita. A continuación ice una lista de algunas clínicas locales en Santa Rosa. Algunas ofrecen servicios gratuitos a los adolescentes, mientras que otros ofrecen una tarifa muy baja. No se sienta avergonzado de buscar los recursos que pueda necesitar, ya que están aquí para su uso.

Elsie Allen Health CenterPhone: 707-528-5770599 Bellevue Avenue, G17Santa Rosa, CA 95407Web: www.myelsie.orgView Map

The Vista Family Health CenterPhone: 707-303-36003569 Round Barn CircleSanta Rosa, CA 95403View Map

Southwest Community Health centerPhone: 707-547-2222751 Lombardi CourtSanta Rosa, CA 95407

Taking care of your health

“Over the past 25 years, the percentage of overweight girls has more than doubled,” says the American Academy of Pediatrics . Minority girls have the highest rates of childhood obesity. That includes Latinas girls. Being overweight can lead to chronic health problems like Type II diabetes. The lack of health care puts minority groups at a greater risk of being unhealthy.

Some of the barriers that a Latina faces when trying to access health care include linguistics, cultural beliefs, and financial status, according to the Center for Studying Health System Change. In some cases it can be a challenge for a Latina to understand English therefore; they feel intimidated to seek health care because it may be a possibility that the health care providers will not assist them in their native language.

In addition, culture plays a role in health care. Specifically in the Latino culture some of the families believe in holistic medicine as opposed to traditional western medicine. Leading Latina’s to not visit a doctor, according to researcher Catherine Dower. Also , financially wise there are many Latino families who are low- income according the 2010 U.S Census which makes it challenging to afford health care.

Being healthy and preventing obesity is very important. If you are are in a situation where you have not visited a doctor in a long period of time I advice you to take control of your health and set up an appointment. Below are some local clinics in Santa Rosa. Some offer free services to teens while others offer a very low rate. Don’t be embarrassed to seek the resources that you may need because they are here for you to use!

Elsie Allen Health CenterPhone: 707-528-5770599 Bellevue Avenue, G17Santa Rosa, CA 95407Web: http://www.myelsie.org/View Map

The Vista Family Health CenterPhone: 707-303-36003569 Round Barn CircleSanta Rosa, CA 95403View Map

Southwest Community Health centerPhone: 707-547-2222751 Lombardi CourtSanta Rosa, CA 95407View Map

Un blog de nuestra lider Alexis Vargas: Abrazos, no Drogas

De acuerdo con la American Academy Child and Adolescent Psychiatrylas, las cinco drogras más utilizados por los adolescentes son la mariguana, medicamentos recetados, éxtasis, inhalantes, cocaína y heroína. Muchos adolescentes empiezan a consumir drogas a una edad muy joven, porque quieren quedar bien delante de sus amigos preocupados de que no podrán ser parte de un circulo de amigos o también puede ser la curiosidad.

Lo que los jóvenes no tienen en mente son las consecuencias de corto y largo plazo que tienen las drogas .La cocaína, restringe el flujo sanguíneo al cerebro, acelera el ritmo cardíaco y causa la coagulación sanguínea, lo que aumenta la posibilidad de sufrir un derrame cerebral o un ataque al corazón. La cocaína también limita la capacidad del cuerpo para combatir infecciones. No sólo eso, pero el usuario también está en mayor riesgo de tener hepatitis, enfermedades de transmisión sexual y VIH / SIDA. La heroína causa colapso de las venas, infección bacteriana de los vasos sanguíneos y las válvulas del corazón.

Algunos adolescentes piensan que la mariguana no es una gran cosa y no afecta el cuerpo. De hecho, genera problemas respiratorios, como tos y sibilancias. También aumenta la posibilidad de resfriados de pecho. El uso intensivo diario de la mariguana afecta las partes del cerebro que controlan la memoria, la atención y el aprendizaje. Por otra parte, aquellos que toman los inhalantes sufren de insuficiencia cardíaca. Los inhalantes también pueden causar asfixia, debilidad muscular, falta de coordinación y puede dañar gravemente los órganos vitales.

Finalmente, una de las razones por cual las drogas recetadas son abusados es ​​por que son fácil de obtener. El uso de drogas prescritas de forma no adecuada pueden llevar a cambios de humor, vómito, disminución de la capacidad de pensar y también puede disminuir la función respiratoria. Ahora que usted esta consciente de las consecuencias que las drogas traen tome la decisión correcta, y mantengase libre de drogas.

A blog from our leader Alexis Vargas : Hugs not Drugs

According to the American Academy Child and Adolescent Psychiatry the five drugs most used by teens are marijuana, prescription drugs, ecstasy, inhalants, cocaine and heroin. Many teenagers start using drugs at a very young age because they want to look good in front of their friends worried that they might not fit in or it may just be curiosity.What teens are not aware of are the short and long term consequences.

Cocaine, restricts blood flow to the brain, speeds up the heart rate and causes blood clotting, which increases the possibility of having a stroke or a heart attack. Cocaine also limits the body’s ability to fight infections. Not only that, but the user is also in greater risk of having hepatitis, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/Aids. On the other hand heroin causes collapsed veins, bacterial infection of the blood vessels and heart valves, including kidney and liver disease.

Some teenagers think that marijuana is not a big deal and does not affect the body. In fact, it causes breathing problems, including coughing and wheezing. It also increases the possibility of chest colds. Heavy daily use of marijuana affects parts of the brain that control memory, attention and learning. Furthermore, those who take inhalants suffer from heart failure. Inhalants also cause suffocation, muscle weakness, lack of coordination and can seriously hurt vital organs.

Finally, one of the reasons why prescribed drugs are commonly abused by teens is because it is easy to obtain. Using prescribed drugs for the wrong reasons can lead to vomiting, mood changes, decreased ability to think and can also decrease respiratory function. Now that you are aware of the consequences that drugs bring make the right choice and stay drug free.

Un blog de nuestra Lider Aolani Contreras: La clave para una vida exitosa es el equilibrio

Como Pablo menciono en el blog anterior, "a mí me parece que el estrés está controlando la vida de muchos estudiantes, especialmente los de la escuela secundaria y la universidad." Estoy totalmente de acuerdo. Como estudiante todos pasamos por momentos llenos de tensión, pero es normal. Tenemos que ir a la escuela, hacer la tarea, limpiar las habitaciones, y aparte de eso tenemos que lidiar con los problemas sociales y familiares, esas son un montón de cosas que tenemos que hacer en tan poco tiempo. Pero siempre es importante tener en cuenta que podemos tomar un descanso, toma por lo menos 30 minutos al día para sentarte y reflexionar, puede ser una de las mejores decisiones que puedes tomar.
Pablo menciono algunas cosas que usted puede hacer para poder aliviar el estrés y me gustaría añadir a esa lista:

* puedes tomar tiempo para ver tu programa favorito

* juega un juego de vídeo

* da un paseo o ve a dar una carrera

* lee un libro

* medita

* escucha música o

* toma una siesta

Otra cosa que puedes hacer es simplemente comer la cena en la mesa en vez de comer en su escritorio mientras usted está haciendo la tarea. Eso puede hacer una gran diferencia. Has tomar un descanso una prioridad diaria. Las investigaciones han demostrado que las personas que toman descansos son más saludables y felices. Empezando mañana si te sientes como si estuvieras a punto de explotar por hacer tanta tarea sal para afuero por un momento y respirar, esos momentos te quitaran un gran peso de tus hombros y te sentirás más saludable. Y ten en cuenta que la clave del éxito es el equilibrio.

Guest blog by Peer Leader Aolani Contreras: The key to a successful life is balance

As Pablo mentioned on the previous blog,” it seems to me that stress is controlling many students’ lives, especially those from high school and college.” I completely agree. As students we all go through moments full of stress, but it’s normal. We have to go to school, do homework, clean our rooms, and apart from that we have to deal with social and family issues; those are a lot of things to do in so little time. But it’s always important to remember that it’s okay to rest; taking at least 30 minutes a day to just sit down and reflect, can be one of the best decisions you make.

Pablo mentioned some things you can do to relief your stress and I would like to add on to that list:
*You can take time to watch your favorite show

*play a video game

*take a walk or go on a run

*read a book

*meditate

*listen to music or

* take a nap

Another thing that you can do is to simply have dinner at the dinner table and not on your desk while you do homework can make a huge difference. Make taking a break a daily priority. Tests have proven that people who take breaks are healthier and happier.Starting tomorrow if you feel like you’re about to explode from doing so much homework go outside and breathe, those moments will take a huge weight off your shoulders and you’ll feel healthier! And keep in mind that the key to success is balance.

Un blog de nuestro Líder Pablo Cruz, La Rutina Diaria: ¿Cuánto tiempo hasta que nos cáiganos?

Me parece que el estrés esta controlando la vida de muchos estudiantes, especialmente los de la escuela secundaria y la universidad. El estrés inicia al instante que el ruido de la alarma suena. Una de mis buenas amigas, dijo: "odio tener que levantarme al ruido de la alarma .

Se siente como que penetra a través de mi cuerpo. "Como estudiante, mis días comienzan con el estrés. Me apresuro a tomar el desayuno y para alistar mis materiales. Tan pronto como llego a la escuela el parqueadero es una molestia y temo que voy a llegar tarde a clase. Mientras camino rápidamente ya puedo escuchar a mi profesor diciendo: "¿mi clase comenzó minutos antes por qué llegas tarde?" Pero finalmente llego a la clase y el profesor pregunta "¿cómo fue la lectura? ... bien, bien, porque vamos a tener un examen."

Incluso cuando estoy sentado sin el examen enfrente de mí, la ansiedad comienza a abrumar a mi cuerpo como un perro hambriento. A pesar de que llegué a clase al final del día estoy agotado mentalmente, físicamente e incluso emocionalmente.

Aun cuando el día de la escuela se ha terminado el estrés continúa ya que algunos estudiantes corren a casa a comer un bocadillo y se preparan para ir al trabajo. Después de 4-6 horas de trabajo, se ha llegado el momento de volver a casa cansados, con hambre, sueño, y agotados. Es tiempo para descansar. Pero la realidad es que no hay tiempo para descansar debido a las tareas. Entonces, de rapantemente se llega la medianoche, o incluso a veces las 2 a.m. Con sólo 5-7 horas de haber dormido los estudiantes se despiertan agotados y una vez más, el estrés toma control.

Escribo esto para tratar de apoyar a todos los estudiantes por su gran trabajo. La escuela no es fácil para todos y tenemos que tomar un descanso, y ser pacientes. Manténgase activos en algún tipo de ejercicio y lo más importante, duerman y sonrían.

Guest Blog by Peer Leader Pablo Cruz, Daily Routine: How Long Until We Fall?

It seems to me that stress is controlling many students’ lives, especially those from high school and college. It begins from the very second we get up to that noisy alarm clock. One of my good friends said “I hate waking up to the alarm clock. It feels like it pierces through my body.”

As a student my days begin with stress. I rush to eat breakfast and to get my supplies ready. As soon as I arrive to school parking is a hassle and I fear that I will be late for class. While walking at a fast paste I can already hear my professor saying, “my class started minutes ago why are you late?” But I finally make it to class and the teacher mentions “how was the reading? ...okay good, because we’re having a quiz.”

Even when I am sitting without the exam in front of me, I tend to freak out as the anxiety starts to overwhelm my body like a starving dog. Even though I made it to class at the end of the day, I tend to be both mentally and physically drained, and maybe even emotionally.

Even when the school day is over the stress continues as some students rush home, eat a snack, and get ready to drive to work. After 4-6 hours of work, it is finally time to go home tired, hungry, sleepy, and exhausted. It is time to rest. But the reality is that there is no time to rest due to homework. Then suddenly it is about midnight, maybe or sometimes even 2 a.m. With only 5-7 hours of sleep a day students tend to wake up exhausted and once again the stress is talking control.

I write this to try and give a pat on the back to all students, great job! School is not easy for everyone and we have to always relax, take a break, and be patient. Stay active in some sort of exercise and most importantly, sleep and smile.

Conducir borracho = Peligro

¿Sabía usted que cada quince minutos un adolescente muere por conducir ebrio? Lo que es mas sorprendente es que la mayoría de las veces la persona que esta conduciendo ebrio no sufre lesiones mayores. Las consecuencias se pagan, ya sea por los pasajeros o las personas del coche que ha sido golpeado. Imagínate vivir con el recuerdo terrible de saber que tu has tomado la vida de otra persona. O, sin embargo, nunca se sabe si alguien en la carretera esta conduciendo ebrio y tu vida está en riesgo.

Casey Goodwin, una estudiante de veinte años en el colegio de Cuesta Vista en San Luis Obispo, era una joven activa que participaba en programas tales como Friday Night Live y California Youth Council. Ella era reconocida como una defensor de la prevención del consumo de alcohol entre menores de edad en todo el estado de California. No sólo estaba comprometido con la prevención del alcohol, pero tenía sueños de algún día convertirse en un profesora de la preparatoria. El 13 de marzo del 2003 los sueños de Casey y su vida fueron llevados por un joven de dieciocho años de edad que estaba conduciendo ebrio y golpeo a Casey en la carretera. El joven de dieciocho años conducía al trabajo después de que había consumido algunas cervezas cuando ocurrió el incidente. Casey estaba en camino a celebrar el cumpleaños de su madre- nunca llego. Cuando la madre de Casey Lynne Goodwin llegó al hospital en el que Casey fue llevada ella recuerda cuando el médico dijo que los huesos de Casey se rompieron por lo que necesitaría llevar a cabo cirugía. No sólo eso, sino que también encontró que todos los órganos vitales de su cuerpo, excepto su corazón había sufrido daño irreparable. El cerebro de Casey también había sido dañado en ambos lados dejándola sin las ondas cerebrales. Es entonces cuando Goodwin se dio cuenta de que los médicos no podían hacer nada por Casey y ella tuvo que aceptar la dolorosa realidad de que Casey ya no estaba. El funeral de Casey fue asistido por más de 2,000 personas entre ellas estaban miembros de la familia, amigos, políticos, policías, y sus colegas.

El joven de dieciocho años que conducía ebrio no sufrió ninguna lesión pero fue condenado a diez años de prisión por homicidio vehicular. Estaba conduciendo 100 millas por hora cuando tomó la vida de Casey. La madre de Casey escribió en el sitio web de Casey, "He pasado gran parte de mi vida profesional trabajando para y con los jóvenes para evitar daños que pueden resultar en conductas de riesgo. Estos jóvenes también han incluido mis propios hijos. Irónicamente, mientras que mis hijos sabían el daño que puede resultar de beber y conducir no estaban seguros de ello. Era el chico que no sabía, que tomó la vida de mi hija.” Por eso es importante que los adolescente estén educados para evitar incidentes como éste.

La madre de Casey trabaja para el capítulo Friday Night Live y se pasa una gran cantidad de tiempo educando a los padres y adolescentes acerca de no conducir ebrio y cómo ella ha tenido que vivir con la muerte de su hija. Mientras yo asistía a la conferencia llamada, Youth Convergence en Miami, Florida en el 2008, tuve el honor de escuchar una presentación por Goodwin acerca de Casey. Goodwin inicia la presentación introduciendo la historia de Casey y poco a poco se avanza a la forma en que su hija falleció. Pero no es hasta el final de su presentación que menciona que ella es en realidad la madre de Casey. Las expresiones faciales en todos son increíbles. Esto no sólo nos impacta a todos en la habitación de la conferencia, pero sentimos el dolor a la madre de Casey y la ira hacia el joven de dieciocho años por conducir ebrio. Tragedias como ésta afectan directamente a la familia y todas las personas que rodean a Casey. Sinceramente, creo que historias como la de Casey se debe decir porque le dan a los oyentes una necesidad de educar a los adolescentes sobre conducir ebrio.

En honor de Casey Goodwin, Caseys Pledge ha sido desarrollado. Este es un compromiso donde los adolescentes se comprometen a no beber y conducir o estar en un coche con un conductor ebrio. Animo a todos los jóvenes a asumir el compromiso y que hagan esta opción saludable. Recuerda, no sólo es tu vida la que esta en peligro, sino también la vida de los demás.

Aquí hay algunas maneras en cuales tu puedes apoyar a Caseys Pledge:

• Si te encuentras en una situación en la que estás entrando en un coche y el conductor ha estado bebiendo llama a tus padres, un amigo, o un adulto de confianza para que te recojan.

• Relaciónate con personas que tienen un impacto positivo en tu vida.

• No bebas y conduzcas.

• Lleva Caseys Pledge a tu escuela y crear conciencia.

• ¡Se la persona que hace lo correcto!

¡Ten cuidado! Mantente con vida!

Drunk Driving = Danger

Did you know that every fifteen minutes a teen dies from drunk driving? What is even more eye opening is that most of the time the person who is drunk driving doesn’t suffer major injuries. The consequences are paid, either by the passengers or the people from the car that has been hit. Imagine living with the terrible memory of knowing that you have taken the life of someone else. Or yet, you never know if someone on the road is drunk driving and your life is at risk.

Casey Goodwin, a twenty year old college student at Cuesta Vista in San Luis Obispo, was an active teen who participated in programs such as, Friday Night Live and the California Youth Council. She was recognized as an advocate for the prevention of underage drinking all over the state of California. Not only was she committed to the prevention of alcohol but she had dreams of one day becoming a high school teacher. On March 13, 2003 Casey’s dreams and life were taken away by an eighteen year old drunk driver who hit her on the road. The eighteen year old was driving to work after he had some beers when the incident occurred. Casey was on her way to celebrate her mother’s birthday-she never made it. When her mother Lynne Goodwin arrived to the hospital that Casey was taken to she vividly remembers when the doctor stated that Casey’s bones were broken and they would need to perform surgery. Not only that but they also found that every vital organ in her body, except her heart had sustained irreplaceable damage. Casey’s brain had also, been damaged on both sides leaving her with no brain waves. That is when Goodwin realized that the doctors could not do anything for Casey and she had to accept the painful reality that Casey was gone. Casey’s funeral was attended by over 2,000 people including family members, friends, politicians, police officers, and colleagues.

The eighteen year old drunk driver did not suffer any injuries but he was sentenced to ten years in prison for vehicular manslaughter. He was driving 100 miles per hour when he took Casey’s life away. Casey’s mother wrote on the Casey’s Pledge website, “I have spent much of my professional life working for and with young people to prevent them from harm that can result from risky behavior. These young people have also included my own children. Ironically, while my children did know the harm that can result from drinking and driving they were not safe from it. It was the kid that didn’t know, that took my child’s life.” That is why it is important to be an educated teen to prevent incidents like this one.

Casey’s mother works for the Friday Night Live Chapter and she spends a great amount of time educating parents and teens about drunk driving and how she has had to live with her daughter’s death. While attending the Youth Convergence Conference in Miami, Florida in 2008, I had the honor to listen to Goodwin give a presentation about Casey. Goodwin starts these presentations by introducing Casey’s life story and slowly she advances to how her daughter passed away. But not until the very end of her presentation does she mention that she is in fact Casey’s mother. The facial expressions on everyone are unbelievable. Not only does this ending impact everyone in the room but we feel grief towards Casey’s mother and anger towards that eighteen year old for drunk driving. Tragedy’s like this one affect the family directly and everyone around them. I truly believe that stories like Casey’s should be told because it will give the listeners an urge to educate teens on drunk driving.

In honor of Casey Goodwin, Casey’s Pledge has been developed. This is a pledge where teens pledge not to drink and drive or get in a car with a drunk driver. I encourage all teens to take the pledge and to make this healthy choice. Remember, not only is your life in danger but also the life of others as well.

Here are few ways you can support Casey’s Pledge:

-If you run into a situation where you are getting into a car and the driver has been drinking call a parent, a friend, or a trusted adult to pick you up.
-Hang out with people who have a positive impact in your life.
-Don’t drink and drive.
-Take the pledge to your school and raise awareness.
-Be the person that does the right thing!
-Be safe! Stay alive!

One of the Possible Dangers of Romance. Guest Peer Leader Blog Post By Hannah Davis

Sometimes we find ourselves in a relationship where something doesn’t seem quite right. Many things can go wrong in romantic relationship, and because of this we have to take caution when we select a mate. Perhaps one of the most serious issues is when a person becomes involved in an abusive relationship.

What do we consider to be abusive relationships? This doesn’t have a simple answer because there are many forms of abuse; physical, emotional, verbal, sexual, financial, social, spiritual, or a combination of the above. All of these are serious signs that you should get out of the relationship quickly. If any of these forms of abuse are occurring you are not in a loving relationship, your partner most likely wont stop even if he or she says they will change, and they aren’t trustworthy. You must remember this person is trying to manipulate you in order to control you. That is not okay.

What I found to be very interesting was that victims, typically women, tend to stay with their partner. I asked myself, why would you stay? So I looked it up and found that there is a cycle of violence these relationships get stuck in. It starts with the build up phase where there is noticeable tension and perhaps a sense of unease. Next comes the explosion where you experience the abuse. After that, which may occur immediately or soon thereafter, comes the remorse stage, where the abuser tries to make it up to you through gifts, saying “it will never happen again”, or that “it was all your fault”. And lastly is the time when things appear to get normal; the abuser seems to have truly felt bad about what happened and seemed to change. This honeymoon period doesn’t last long before the entire cycle starts again.

While I understand that it’s the honeymoon phase that keeps people in those types of relationships, I still couldn’t comprehend why it takes people so long to get out of those bad situations; eventually they must realize that the cycle wont stop repeating itself. I could think of several reasons, such as fear of leaving, but was that really enough to keep you there?

There are myths about abusive relationships and I began to wonder if that was another factor keeping people from leaving. Some of the myths included the victim deserved to be hurt, that those who are abused should be ashamed about it, that if it isn’t physical abuse it doesn’t count, that it’s the abusers drug and/or alcohol use that makes them violent, and that victims are weak because they don’t stand up for themselves.

Seeing as it’s a myth, none of these things are true. If you happen to be in an abusive relationship and these thoughts are stopping you from reaching out for help, please understand that none of it is your fault. No one deserves to be treated in any type of abusive manner.

Why is it important to leave an abusive relationship? First and foremost it is unhealthy physically (losing sleep, bodily injury) and mentally unhealthy (depression, fear, problems trusting others). Secondly, you should be in a fun relationship that centers on love, acceptance, and feelings of safety.

So, if you are in an unsafe relationship its times to get out of it! Talk to a trusted adult or friend or call a hotline. You can reach the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline at 1-866-331-9474, the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673, or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

The Continuation of Prejudice in Today's Society: Guest Post by Peer Leader Intern Hannah Davis

Why does our society continue to allow prejudice? Sure it isn’t always as blatant as it use to be, but there are many people suffering from microaggresions. What does this mean you may ask? Microaggressions are very small incidents that may at first appear innocent but on deeper inspection are actually forms of aversive racism or sexism or classism or any other ism there is. It appears that these slights are unconscious and is one way that people who have unknown biases project their true feelings.

An example of a microaggression could be a person who is Asian being denied a job they are qualified for to another candidate who is white. Their resumes are exactly the same, both are charming, and both are hard working but the white manager picks the white person. If asked, most likely that manager wouldn’t admit he or she picked the person according to race, even if it was an undertone to the decision.

According to Derald Wing Sue in his article entitled “Microaggressions in Everyday Life”, there are three categories of microaggressions:

1) Microassults: conscious actions that are prejudiced against a person for their race, sex, age, ect.

2) Microinsults: some type of communication that is insensitive and unconsciously done

3) Microinvalidations: communication that secretly puts another down by invalidating them due to their religion, sexual orientation, disability, ect.

All of these forms of microaggressions are powerful ways to hurt others, but the last two are unconscious and therefore harder to stop. Many people deny that they have stereotypes of certain people because society promotes diversity and acceptance. And yet their denial only hurts those who are the victims of their words and actions even more. Only once people begin to understand that they are unwittingly harming others can they begin to change their attitude and stop their unconscious prejudiced actions.

In another article Sue mentioned “microaggressions reflect the active manifestation of oppressive worldviews that create, foster, and enforce marginalization. Because most of us consciously experience ourselves as good, moral, and decent human beings, the realization that we hold a biased worldview is very disturbing; thus we prefer to deny, diminish or avoid looking at ourselves honestly. Yet, research suggests that none of us are immune from inheriting the racial, gender, and sexual orientation biases of our society. We have been socialized into racist, sexist and heterosexist attitudes, beliefs and behaviors. Much of this is outside the level of conscious awareness, thus we engage in actions that unintentionally oppress and discriminate against others.”

So with this in mind, is it really all that crazy to think we have each engaged in any of the three types of microaggressions?

I’d also wager that if you ask your friends and family someone would probably be able to give you an example of how microaggressions have been used against them.

As we try to fight the everyday microaggresion in our society we should also continue to battle the obvious forms of aggression. The USA Network television channel has come up with a campaign called Characters Unite that is asking people to take a “stand against intolerance, prejudice, discrimination and hate, and to promote greater understand and acceptance”. You can pledge at their website http://www.charactersunite.com/ and learn more about their fight against all forms of hatred.

Perhaps by removing the obvious discriminations we will be able to truly begin to stop microaggressions. As hard as it might be to imagine a world where everyone is seen as equal, isn’t it a nice picture? Don’t we want to fight to see a better tomorrow for future generations? If the answer is yes, then it’s time to work on our own prejudices; acknowledge them, think about them, and eliminate them.

A Closer Look at Video Games: Guest Post by Peer Leader Intern Hannah Davis

It’s easy to see how a video game can be a fun way to avoid reality; you can be a sniper in Call of Duty: Black Ops, a gnome in World of Warcraft, slay zombies in Left 4 Dead, or fly planes and bomb the enemy in Wings of Prey. In this virtual world you can be anyone you want, from an intimidating ogre to a sexy elf. It doesn’t matter who you are in the real world because in video games you can create yourself into any form you wish. You can even prove to other gamers that you are in fact a force to be reckoned with!

There are many positive aspects to playing video games. You can temporarily escape from stress, create another social network with people of similar hobbies and interests, and can practice skills that can be used in later life, such as increased hand-eye accuracy and faster reaction times. Several years ago in his article Video Games: An Escape From Reality? Jeffery D. Davis said that the U.S. Army and Navy use video games to train their recruits to cut down on simulator costs. He also said that because so many soldiers have grown up playing shooter games, they tend to learn battlefield tactics faster.

Although it sounds like these first-person-shooter games can be valuable in training our military, many are concerned about the violent aspect of these games. Many people argue that video games are too bloody and gruesome, which in turn is causing our young generations to have violent tendencies. It has been suggested that games like Grand Theft Auto teach bad examples of how to behave in society. Players steal cars, swear, and kill innocent people. At the same time, there is debate if these types of games can be blamed for the increased violence in our society any more then the violence shown on TV and the movies.

And what is there a point where video games become detrimental? Can you become addicted to the games you play and neglect your life’s many duties? The answer is yes. I have personally seen people spend large amounts of money on games, miss classes and isolate themselves in their room to play Counter Strike and Portal, and even stop hanging out with their friends and family in order to spend countless hours in front of their computer. Marriages have fallen apart and people have lost their jobs due to avoiding their responsibilities in order to complete their raid or because they were on a winning spree. Their addiction can ruin their lives, but like all other addicting things, there are steps towards recovery people can take to get their gaming under control.

So, overall there is both good and bad aspects to the beloved video games many people play. The industry will continue to grow as more people discover the pleasure associated with this activity. Games will be made to cater to the desires of gamers, whether it is a racing game such as Need For Speed, a simulation game like The Sims, or Madden, which is a sports game. There may always be some games that people may consider to be too violent, but it is up to parents and consumers to decide which games are appropriate.

What do you think about violence in video games? What do you think about their addictive properties? Is this something we need to worry about?

In support of all love: Guest Peer Leader Blog Post by Hannah Davis

These last few months have been filled with tragic deaths, all of which could have been avoided if only our society was more understanding and less homophobic. We lost nine youth recently, including Seth Walsh from California, Asher Brown from Texas, Felix Sacco from Massachusetts, and Caleb Nolt from Indiana. I for one am appalled and saddened that these teens feel so stigmatized that they felt suicide was the only option.

You’d think that by now we would have overcome these biases and found ways to accept those who are different from us. But is it that much of a shock when in this day and age we continue to ban gay marriage, say things like “that’s so gay”, have ignorant beliefs such as “being gay is a choice” and have people espousing the idea that being gay is an abomination that goes against the bible and God.

Who is saying this? Is it only those who are religious? Or people who have grown up with these ideas all their lives?

No. As much as we might like to group those who are anti-gay activists into a neat little group, we can’t. People of all races, religions, ages, social classes, education, and ethnicities may have these negative views. Even though every new generation is showing a reduction in biases regarding racism, sexism, and sexual orientation, we still see younger people who are stuck in these prejudicial ways.

What is distressing about this to me is that there are very few truly safe and welcoming places for those in the LGBTQQI community to be open about their sexual orientation without being afraid of hate crimes, discrimination, and violence. While changes are being made by groups such as FCKH8, Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance, the "It Gets Better" project, and various gay pride parades, Americans still struggle with the idea of being open minded and accepting of homosexuality.

I want to know why people are so bigoted. Why must the majority put down those who are already under-represented? Will society as a whole eventually understand that there is no difference between heterosexual and homosexual couples? How long will it take for society to realize that ALL love for one another is precious and sacred? And perhaps most importantly, I wonder if the discrimination will ever end.

My belief is that yes, we will one day live in a country that is welcoming to all sexual orientations. It will be a struggle at every step, but each small victory for those who are being stigmatized is worth the fight.

As Abraham-Hicks once said, “A belief is only a though you continue to think. A belief is nothing more than a chronic pattern of thought, and you have the ability – if you try even a little bit – to begin a new pattern, to tell a new story, to achieve a different vibration, to change your point of attraction.” These empowering words give me hope that every time a person protests against abuse and mistreatment of the LGBTQQI community, we will slowly change the minds of others. By educating the public and promoting awareness, love, and compassion we can take that engrained pattern and begin a new one that is more accepting.

What happens when a friend is diagnosed with mental illness? Guest Peer Leader Blog Post By Hannah Davis

Hannah Davis is the new Peer Outreach Coalition Intern. Hannah is studying Psychology at Sonoma State University. Her guest blogs will be featured weekly. Welcome, Hannah!

Many people wonder what it is like to have a mental disorder and how that changes a person’s life. While this is important, I am more interested in the many people who know a friend or family member that’s diagnosed and are entering the unknown territory of caregiver. According to the National Institute of Mental Health there are 26.2% of people aged 18 and over who “suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.” Seeing as one in four adults have mental disorders, the chances of knowing someone who is affected is a likely possibility. Because of these statistics, NAMI California, a group dedicated to educating the public about mental illness, lays out several of the typical feelings those helping mentally ill family members go through and ways to cope with this challenge.

There tends to be seven common emotions due to the added burden of caring for a mentally ill person. These emotions are guilt, embarrassment, confusion, anger, resentment, fear, and frustration. When I imagine the challenge of caring for someone who is mentally ill I associate with these emotions, all of which aren’t positive. If I feel this way by simply picturing these hardships then how much more stressful must it be for those who don’t imagine these situations, but are in them?

Guilt manifests because people blame themselves for what has happened and believe that somehow they could have taken control of the situation and stopped the mental illness from developing. Social stigmas about the mentally ill can cause embarrassment while confusion occurs when people have a hard time accepting that their loved one is mentally ill, what caused the disorder, and its impact on the affected individual. When family members think a patient isn’t really sick, yet merely looking for attention or excuses, they exhibit anger towards the ill individual. Resentment is where people feel pressured and burdened while caring for their family member. The people who normally feel this way are primary care givers that are closest to the mentally ill. Another normal response is fear that the family member will also be likely to get the illness. They may wonder if they are next. And lastly, the feelings of frustration occurs when caretakers feel they are unable to properly assist their loved one and therefore not helping them get better, which can also increase feelings of guilt. None of these negative feelings are helpful to any individual involved in the situation and should be change to a more positive outlook so there are no hard feelings between both parties involved.

In my opinion, it is vital that we try to get into the mindset of those in such a difficult position so we can understand what they are going through and learn how to help them. Thankfully there are ways that we can assist those who may feel burdened by caring for a friend or family member. They face an enormous challenge that includes little thanks for the help they provide, emotional heartbreak watching a loved one suffer, lots of time spent helping the mentally ill individual, and the rebellion against their help that they are likely to run into. This challenging time is when we as friends need to offer a helping hand; trying to care for someone shouldn’t be one person’s job.

Caregivers should try to reach out to others for emotional support, which can be as simple as talking about what is going on and getting feedback from others about treatment and behavioral issues. By discussing their concerns, fears, and thoughts people can create realistic expectations of recovery and maintain an objective perspective. Getting a break from care giving can reduce stress, and the use humor can help with the hardships of caring for those who can make the work difficult and depressing. Next time your friend needs to talk or asks for help, seriously think about the responsibility they are undergoing by caring for their mentally ill individual and ask yourself if you would want help and support. If the answer is yes, then do whatever you can to help to reduce that person’s burden.

As NAMI California says, “it is important to remember that mental illness is just that, an illness of the brain” and that “wrestling with the intricacies of mental health disorders is no easy feat.” It is important for those dealing with family members or friends afflicted with mental disorders to try to understand their feelings towards the ill person and how to change them to positive emotions, as well as know what resources are available during their struggle to help their mentally ill companion. Having a close circle of friends they can count on is also extremely helpful.

Remember that one day you could be in this position. Wouldn’t you want help and loving support during these troubling times?

"I love boobies." Do you?

"I love boobies." The phrase makes my inner middle-schooler giggle.

All giggles aside, I am referring to a new trend sweeping California. In addition, the trend is for a really great cause; breast cancer awareness. The Carlsbad based nonprofit Keep A Breast decided the best way increase awareness among teens was to start producing rubber bracelets similar to the Lance Armstrong bracelets. The bracelets are bright pink (or pretty much any color you want if you go to their website) and have the tag line "I love boobies" in big, bold letters. 100% of the profits sold go to the Keep A Breast Foundation.

So what's the drama over this good cause? Many California schools and parents feel like the bracelets are "sexually suggestive" and should not be allowed on the wrists of tweens and teens. According to the ABC news story, Kelly Avants, the spokeperson for the Clovis school district, stated that the bracelets are in clear violation of the school dress code and they have been banned. Kelly McAtee from Keep A Breast fired back at Avants, saying that "boobies is not a four letter word."

With this recent news, there has been a sudden surge in popularity at the I Love Boobies Facebook group. The page is 2,000 members strong (maybe some of those people could "Like" the SCPOC page....) and the growth doesn't seem to be slowing down. Many of those contributing to the page are teens stating that they simply want to support friends and family members who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. One teen posted that his First Amendment rights had been violated. There's even a comment from a young adult that mentions that since more young women are being diagnosed with breast cancer, it is important for teens to know about the risks and start self-exams early.

I can understand the need to keep graphic and offensive sexual language out of classroom, but how many people really consider the word "boobies" offensive? Also, by not allowing young people to be passionate about a cause, are we saying that teens cannot be activists? For almost half a year I have been working with a group of dedicated, opinionated, and driven teens and young adults at the Sonoma County Peer Outreach Coalition. I would never dream of telling the Peer Leaders not to be outspoken about the causes of which they are passionate.

What happens when you start telling youth that they cannot be activists?

Teen Mental Health A-Palooza!!!

The Sonoma County Peer Outreach Coalition has been BUSY. Aside from our regular duties of updating all of our social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace, we have also been busy with lots of other activities! Here's what we've been up to:

Updating Our Website

*whew!* That was hard work! For the past few weeks we have been building resource pages on the website. Do you want to know more about depression? What do you do if a friend has an eating disorder? Have you ever heard of K2? Do you know how to put on a condom correctly? What should you think about before you come out of the closet?

Did any one of those leave you scratching your head? Check out our resource page on the website to get all the facts. We're just calling it a "Teen Mental Health A-Palooza!"

Chillin' at the South Park Day and Night Festival

On Saturday, August 14, the Peer Leaders headed to Martin Luther King Jr. Park to promote the Peer Outreach Coalition. We handed out dozens of our new stickers, resource lists, and had a raffle for two tickets to Great America! The Festival was a blast too! The food was yummy and the day was full of non-stop music, dancing, and martial arts demonstrations. It was a great day!

Be sure to go to our Facebook page and check out the photos we posted!

Recording Radio Shows

What are you doing Sunday night? Well, if you are near a radio or computer, tune in to KRCB (Radio FM 91) to hear the Peer Outreach Coalition on the hit show Outbeat Youth! Peer Leaders Marcos Garcilazo, Jesús Guzman, and Vanessa Romero (along with group faciliator Shana Friedman) will be discussing their experiences with the POC and helping the LGBTQ community! The show airs at 8pm on August 22, and if radios are just too mid-nineties for you, you can stream the show online at the KRCB website.

So, feed your inquiring mind at our website resource page, check out our photos from the festival, and listen to us on the radio too! It's just another wonderful weekend with the Sonoma County Peer Outreach Coalition. Have a happy and healthy weekend!

Back to school blues

It's that time of year again. Throughout Sonoma County (and across the nation) children, teens, and college students are heading back to the classroom. Many of the Sonoma County Peer Outreach Coalition's Peer Leaders are going back to school this week too. Things are about to get busy!

Some of you may be heading off to college for the first time. This is an exciting transition! For the first time you may be living away from home. Independence! Freedom! Partying! Before you get too excited, remember the reason you are going away to school is *ahem* school.

Despite all these feelings of excitement, going to college can stir up some emotions you may not be prepared for. Although college is an opportunity to meet lots of new people, sometimes students find that they are socially isolated and lonely. According to this recent article, mental health problems are on the rise among college students. The students who are most likely to seek counseling or other resources on campus are the ones who feel disconnected from peers or feel like they are not "fitting in" at the school.

According to the study by Hofstra University, "moderate to severe depression increased to 41 percent in 2009, compared to 34 percent in 1997 and 1998." Also, the study reported that impulsive behaviors (such as drinking, fighting, and stealing) were on the rise. The incidence of students exhibiting self-destructive behaviors (such as cutting or other forms of self-injury) doubled during the last decade.

But there is good news! According to the same study, student reports of suicidal thoughts were down by fifteen percent! It has been suggested that this is due to college student's increased access to on campus counseling and health services.

So if you are going away to college, where can you turn for support?

• Your campus health center Check out your college health center. Most have access to counseling and mental health services.



• Your friends Reach out to your classmates and friends. A phone call to a friend from high school who is attending a different school may boost your mood.



• Your family There is nothing wrong with calling home to talk about how you are feeling! Also, if you have health insurance, your family might be able to help you locate a mental health professional under your insurance plan to help with the strong emotions you are dealing with



• Your online social network There is a wealth of information on the internet. On Facebook, the Sonoma County Peer Outreach Coalition links to a variety of Facebook pages and websites about suicide prevention, depression, and anxiety. There are also numerous online resources dedicated to college students such as ULifeline. Right now you can also check out Psych Central which currently has a back-to-school mental health guide

Remember, it is completely normal to feel depressed and overwhelmed at times. Going to college for the first time is a life-changing experience. If you feel like your enjoyment of this exciting time in your life is being overshadowed by feelings of sadness or hopelessness, then please make an appointment with you campus health center. There is nothing wrong with seeking help for depression or anxiety symptoms. As you can tell by these articles, students are making the choice to get help more frequently.

The Sonoma County Peer Outreach Coalition frequently uses the saying "Got Mental Health?" Take care of your body, take care of your mind, and when we ask you if you've got mental health you can say proudly, "Why yes, I do!"

What does your Facebook say about you?

When you run an online social media campaign about mental health awareness, you are constantly aware of how you are perceived by the public. You must be careful about your choice of words (i.e. The Baby Seal Club) and make sure that you are providing the best information possible for your readers. The Peer Leaders are constantly sifting through articles, websites, and a plethora of information online about teen mental health, sex, drugs, and occasionally a little rock and roll. We discuss frequently if something is worth posting, if it is "Fact or Crap?" as we have joked on many occasions.

So when you are looking online at your friends' Facebook profile, can you be sure they are showing you who they really are? Well, now you can. According to a study in the March issue of Psychological Science, Facebook users' profiles accurately reflect who they really are! The study was done by a collaboration of University of Texas at Austin and the University of Mainz in Germany. Research assistants ranked profiles study participants on the “Big Five.” These are the five dimensions of personality often used in psych­ological research. They include extroversion, agreeableness, neuroticism, openness and conscientiousness.

The research assistants then compared their perceptions with personality tests of the study participants, and the feedback of four close friends of the participants. For the most part, the perceptions were very accurate. In other words, if you were to look at a profile on Facebook and think "Wow, this person sure is extroverted!" you would most likely be correct.

Why is this important? Well, think about everything we do online. We socialize, we date, and we occasionally snoop on other people! The latter is more common than you think, especially when it comes to employers checking up on prospective job applicants. What do you think a potential employer thinks when they see a job applicant's Facebook profile where all the pictures show the applicant drunk on the beach in Cabo? Hmm...maybe it's time to rethink posting those Spring Break photos.

The Sonoma County Peer Outreach Coalition works pretty closely with local LGBTQ organizations such as Positive Images and Outbeat Youth. Over the past few months, we have become increasingly aware of the problem of privacy when it comes to being "out" online. Once you have posted information online, people can access that information. Privacy settings can help, but concerns about safety and security often are at the forefront of the minds of those who have faced discrimination in the past.

Cyberbullying is also a concern regardless of one's sexual orientation. Teens across the country are being bullied by peers via the internet, often resulting in mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. Cyberbullying has even been linked to a probable cause of a girl's suicide in New York.

Will knowing that people are (for the most part) pretty honest on Facebook help with this problem? Will this knowledge make it easier to spot a wolf in sheep's clothing? Can we now determine what is "fact" and what is, well, "crap?"

Excuse me now while I go remove my summer vacation pictures from my Facebook...

"Equality: 1, Bigotry: 0." Guest blog post by Peer Leader Marcos Garcilazo

Yesterday was a historic day for LGBTQ rights in the state of California. Since members of the LGBTQ population are often at an increased risk of stress, anxiety, and depression due to discrimination, Marcos has graciously written this post on his thoughts about Prop 8, equality, and discrimination. Thanks Marcos!

Yesterday afternoon, I was one of the millions of people on Twitter who was furiously refreshing their feed hoping that the Fail Whale would not show up. The day before, the judge who had been presented with the case that would rule Proposition 8 (which banned gay marriage in California back in November 2008) was going to release his decision. I was overcome with the same feeling that I felt the night of November 2008 when Americans made history by electing the first African-American man to office: history would be made that day once again.

At 2PM PST, Twitter exploded (it really exploded) with the news: the Judge had ruled Prop 8 unconstitutional, meaning that people in favor of gay marriage had won this round. I have to admit that a huge grin adorned my face as I proudly updated my Facebook status with a link to the ruling and my own little comment - "Equality: 1, Bigotry: 0." I understand this is but the first step in what's surely going to be a marathon, but it's a step in what I believe to be the right direction.

As of yesterday, a very large part of the population got affirmation on a very deep level that there is hope for equality. America has a history of inequality and bigotry, sure, but we also have a history of people moving history along past such things, and yesterday Honorable Judge Vaughn Walker joined those people. His ruling, which is honestly one of the better reads of the summer (and I only read about a fifth of the whole document) very clearly asserts several things. First, his ruling upholds the notion that equality is not something we should be putting up for a vote. Equality in general is not a voter initiative idea - it is an ideal. Regardless of race, gender, economic status, sexual orientation, religion, or any other factor that may differentiate us from a larger group, when we stand in front of a judge or in front of a police officer, we expect that we will all be treated equally. This ruling asserts that Judge Walker heard no argument that was convincing enough to abolish that equality at the marriage license clerk's office.

The concept of equality is not new, but the fact that now we should be applying it to more people apparent is. If "marriage" continues to be something recognized by a government, which thereby grants certain legal benefits (e.g. hospital visits, tax breaks, etc) then marriage should be something every single American should be able to get. Throughout this whole debate opponents of gay marriage have brought up the religious interpretation of the word "marriage", and that's something that needs to be said: this debate is not about "religious marriage" - it is about the legal, government-recognized and government-benefited union between two people. In order for equality to be equality, it needs to be applied to everyone, not just to those the majority deems appropriate.

Second, this decision carried a deeper message for the greater queer community. This decision sent a loud and clear message that their relationships are just as valid and that their relationships carry the same intrinsic value as opposite-sex relationships. Through years of anti-gay messaging, it has been my experience that people do not carry the same level of respect for the word "partner" as they do for "husband" or "wife," and what this decision does is tell all those people that in fact there is no difference, that the love in a relationship is not dictated by the genders of the people in it.

Third, this decision was really heartening because it struck down discrimination, and as a "minority" discrimination is an issue. As I said, if people will discriminate against someone because of their sexual orientation, how can I know that it won't be because of their race the next day, or because they have an accent, or are of a certain religion? Discrimination is a disease as far as I'm concerned and to allow any kind of discrimination is a violation of the principle that our nation so often touts: that all men are created equal. If we are to uphold that notion, then we must do all that we can to make sure that every single person in this nation is an equal in the eyes of the law.

Again, this is not about the religious institution. This is about the legal marriage. Yesterday amongst the flurry of joy around this decision there was a lot of hate. Some people see this as an attack on tradition, and some see it as an attack on the will of the people. Appealing to tradition is one of the many techniques employed in arguments, and to that I say, just because we've been doing something in a particular manner for years doesn't mean we've been doing something right. As far as an attack on the will of the people, well, this is called a "minority rights issue" for a reason - this affects the minority, and the implication here is that simply because 52% of Californians have an issue with gay marriage we should embed discrimination into our state constitution. Minority rights would never advance if we waited for the majority to work through its concerns with any particular issue.

I hope that when this reaches the Supreme Court of the United States (and I have no doubt it will) I will see a repeat of yesterday. It is comforting to know that a community that so often has to deal with hatred finally gets a break, even if it's just a small one.