Trauma

A violent assault. 

A rocky childhood.

A car accident. 

If these are in your past, they could be affecting your present health.

These are all examples of traumatic events — which, in psychological terms, are incidents that make you believe you are in danger of being seriously injured or losing your life.

Research shows that these events can trigger emotional and even physical reactions that can make you more prone to a number of different health conditions, including heart attack, stroke, obesity, diabetes, and cancer.

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Age Argument Doesn't Work

"18 year olds can fight in war should be able to buy an assault weapon..."

Ok...then we should license (enlistment), train (basic training) and supervise all 18 y/o with any such weapon.

Then argument doesn't work. It's not the same.

It's not a different standard as long as we license, train and supervise said person.

As one NRA member attendee said, "Raise the age limit to 25...that's a start"

Attack

One of the foundational building blocks of a healthier world is consistently under attack: sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Sexual and reproductive health and rights are central to the health and well-being of patients and communities.
It reflects not only the ability to exercise rights related to sexuality and reproduction, but also the ability to make informed decisions and have full access to sexual and reproductive health services.
This includes access to safe abortion.

Each year, nearly 25 million unsafe abortions take place, representing just under half of all abortions worldwide.
As many as 25% of women and girls who undergo unsafe abortion are likely to develop temporary or lifelong physical and emotional health problems.

Lack of access to abortion does not lead to a decrease in abortion, it only increases the danger to people's health and lives.
Evidence suggests that whether or not it is legal, patients will seek ways to induce an abortion if necessary.
And in countries with highly restrictive abortion laws, the proportion of unsafe abortions is significantly higher, with profoundly harmful effects for its citizens.

What kind of world are we becoming when access to healthcare choices is restricted by a single viewpoint of non-medical voices?
We deserve "progress", not regression.

Tragedy In Front of Us

From Mariupol…

"I told the brothers that it's good for her to sleep." Ukrainian gymnast Liliya Podkopaeva, from her basement in Mariupol, where her mother died."

"We went to the toilet, slept, or ate leftovers in the basement. Mother was hanging on until the end, 3 days before our evacuation, she died. I told the brothers that it's good to sleep and don't wake her up."

"The corpses stink so much."

"I hate Russia."

"My dear uncle is there. Do you know what I heard him saying over the phone today? "Kotya? What is Katya?, I don't know you. What war, what Katya? And then writing from a burner phone: "Katenko, don't write to me. For me, my motherland is not safe." 

"I hate them! Who would have thought for a moment that such a thing would happen again. And who would think for a moment that Russia is acting like that, that it has turned into the Horde."

The pain, the suffering, the determination of the Ukrainian people is stunning. We can't survive as a planet if there are forces in the world willing and able to cause such destruction, death, and pain. 

Healthcare, like Education

You have heard the news. Education is under attack.
Teachers are burned out.

And so are healthcare clinicians.

We have lost faith in the system.
We are disillusioned with leadership.
We are sick of the constant pandering to agencies, administrations, politicians and others.

We are no longer willing to heal a system beyond repair at their own expense.
Many of us technicians, nurses, physicians, PAs and others are done.

We are expected to fix the ills of society, but when we aren't treated like the experts and professionals we no longer see any reason to stay.

The highs of medicine, as in education, are no longer worth the many lows.
For many, a time for healing, a time for change.