In the US, females comprise about 50.8% of the population.  If you were born female, you are now able to do the following things that you haven’t always been able to do in our history’s past.

• Open a checking account without a male co-signer
• Get a credit card without a male co-signer
• Obtain/retain employment while pregnant
• Obtain a mortgage without a male co-signer
• Start a business without a male co-signer
• Obtain a job without gender-biased discrimination
• Obtain birth control without having to obtain husband’s permission
• Not be forced to provide proof of sterilization to obtain/retain employment
• Pension benefits equal to male co-workers
• Equal consideration to be executors of their children estates.

All this changed in the last 50 years because of one woman’s idea for social justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Ask yourself, is the fight over? Here are 18 ways in which women still aren’t equal to men. Consider this – if sex/gender based discrimination is a thing of the past, why is sex still asked on housing applications, credit card applications, applications for employment, etc.? Consider what you will do to consider the fight for women’s rights in the next 50 years.

 

 

LatinX Heritage Month or Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes and celebrates the contributions Americans who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico, Central America, South American. The term “Latinx” relates to people of Latin American origin or descent and is used as a gender-neutral or non-binary alternative to Latino or Latina. They honor the contributions they have made to American society and culture. The observation was created in 1968 when Congress authorized by President Lyndon Johnson to issue an annual proclamation designating National Hispanic Heritage Week. Two decades later, it was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988, to stretch from September 15 to October 15.

The timing of LatinX Heritage month is key as the month starts September 15, a historically significant day that marks the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. The period is also a nod to those from Mexico and Chile, which celebrate their independence on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18.

For more information about Latinx or Hispanic Heritage Month check out the Humans Right Campaign website!

 

September is National Recovery Month

National Recovery Month is a national observance held every September to educate Americans that substance use treatment and mental health services can enable those with mental and substance use disorders to live healthy and rewarding lives. The 2020 Recovery Month observance and theme, “Join the Voices of Recovery: Celebrating Connections” will work to inspire people across the country to recognize the strength and resilience of individuals living in recovery as well as to support those with mental health and substance use disorders to consider seeking treatment. We need to spread the message that help is effective and available and that healthy and rewarding lives are in reach, knowing that our humanity is the cornerstone that connects us all. The Recovery Month observance reminds us that when we Celebrate Connections and share our personal accomplishments and struggles, we combat the stigmas that can impede the recovery journey and send a message to positively impact lives for the better. Together, we will spread the message to people seeking recovery that “You are not alone. There’s hope, help, and support available from others.”

Oftentimes, individuals who experience a mental or substance use disorder feel isolated and alone. It’s important that we offer support to individuals facing mental and substance use disorders. In fact, we need to create environments and relationships that promote acceptance. One of MSU’s strategic priorities for the student experience within the 2016-2021 Long-Range Plan is to, “Ensure all students experience a sense of belonging and personalized connection to Missouri State.” We need to show every person with a mental health and/or substance use disorder we care and they belong.

Why this matters…all Americans are impacted¹:

• 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experience mental health changes in any given year
• 1 in 20 adults experience a co-occurring mental illness and addition each year
• 1 in 7 individuals experience addition at some point throughout their lifespan
• 1 in 2 individuals know someone impacted by addiction

Why this matters…recovery is real¹:

• 2 million Americans (8.2% of the U.S. population) identify as a person in recovery from a drug/alcohol use problem
• 8 million Americans (12.5% of the U.S. population) identify as a person in recovery from a mental health issue

Why this matters…college students are impacted²:

• Annual marijuana use at historic highs among college students – 7% increase from 2013 (35.5%) to 2018 (42.6%)
• 1 in 17 college students (5.9%) report used marijuana on 20 or more occasions in the past 30-days
• Past month nicotine vaping doubles among college students – 2017 (6.1%) to 2018 (15.5%)
• Rx opioid misuse has significant 5-year drop – 2013 (5.4%) to 2018 (2.7%)
• Binge drinking (5+ drinks in a row in last 2 weeks) below 30% for the first time among college students – 28%

Word Choice Matters¹: Data suggests that using positive language increases public support for:

• Effective substance use & mental health disorder policy
• Additional funding for substance use & mental health disorder services
• Interactions and engagement with those who are affected by substance use & mental health disorders

Positive:	Negative:
Person with a substance use disorder	Addict or alcoholic
Alcohol or drug use	Alcohol and drug abuse
Recurrence of use	Relapse
Death by suicide	Committed suicide
Person in recovery	Clean/sober
Person with a mental health disorder	Crazy

 

Image Choice Matters¹: Keep in mind there are many potentially stigmatizing labels and images that are used without regard, and oftentimes even with good intentions. In addition to words, the images chosen with covering addiction and mental illness matter.

• Please do not use sensationalized labels and images: chaos, drugs & paraphernalia, criminal, needles & syringes, straitjackets, etc.
• Please use recovery-orientated labels and images: community, treatment and recovery & person

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MSU Resources:

• MSU Counseling Center | Alcohol and Other Drug Services
• MSU Online Screening Information (anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, alcohol abuse, depression/manic depression)

References:

¹ Your Choices, Our Lives: A Quick Guide to Fair and Accurate Coverage of Addiction and Mental Illness

² Drug and Alcohol Use in College-Age Adults in 2018