Health

Suicide Prevention Week Focuses on Mental Health Crisis Confronting Black Californians

The conclusion of Suicide Prevention Week on Sept.16, served as a reminder, according to wellness advocates, of the ongoing mental health crisis faced by Black Californians. Between 2010 and 2019, Black Californians experienced a 31.1% increase in suicide deaths, according to the California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission.

Misty Williams — A Sickle Cell Disease Warrior

Although the disease has taken her through the changes, she’s still here and making a difference.   Healthy red blood cells are round, moving through small blood vessels to carry oxygen to all parts of the body. If the hemoglobin is abnormal, red blood cells become hard and sticky and look like a C-shaped farm tool or a “sickle.” The sickle cells die early, which causes a constant shortage of red blood cells. They also get stuck and clog the blood flow. This can cause pain and other serious health complications including infection, acute chest syndrome and stroke. Related Links:

WisePause: The Women’s Menopausal Sanctuary

Menopause is a significant benchmark, marking a women’s development and wholeness of self. Since 2019, Wisepause has been the mecca for women across the nation to connect and have transparent conversations about the unraveling of a new chapter of life.

Tragic Death, Health Fears Add to New Extreme-Heat Reality

Yahushua Robinson, a student at Lake Canyon Middle School, allegedly did not “dress out” appropriately for gym class and was consequently punished by running laps in his street clothes. His aunt told NBC4 Los Angeles that he was denied a water break by his Physical Education teacher. His classmates reported that Robinson repeatedly complained of difficulty breathing before collapsing and becoming unresponsive. 

Millions of Californians in Jeopardy of Losing Medi-Cal

Between June 2023 and May 2024, more than 15 million Medi-Cal recipients will have their Medi-Cal eligibility redetermined as part of what’s been referred to as the “great unwinding”. In June 2023, an alarming 225,000 individuals were disenrolled from Medi-Cal mainly because they did not return their redetermination packages or “yellow envelope” to the county for processing.

Thousands of Black Californians Have Lost Their Health Insurance. Don’t Lose Yours

According to numbers from the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), around 14,000 Black Californians lost health insurance with the state’s safety net health care exchange because they didn’t turn in the required renewal paperwork to continue their Medi-Cal enrollment or their coverage was switched to the state’s insurance provider, Covered California.