Blog - Page 15 of 58 - Healthy Minds Philly®

Minority Organ Donation

Janine Monico2022-08-15T11:21:28-04:00August 15th, 2022|Community, Racial Equity|

Did you know that over 60% of the people waiting for a new organ are minorities? Or that one individual donor can heal over 75 people with just their tissue? Minority organ donation statistics are surprising. For example, nearly 20,000 people of color received organ donations in 2021. Just one-third of those organs came from minorities. In discussions about organ donation, the truth is often mirky. “I’d like to help, but it’s against my religion,” or “My body is too old.” These statements are not true. That’s why minorities should [...]

Sweet Baby Ty: A Personal Story of Loss

Janine Monico2022-08-22T15:10:58-04:00August 8th, 2022|Addiction & Recovery|

I was at work and as usual, we were very busy on the unit. I work in a program named Miracles in Progress. It is for unhoused men challenged by life adversities. I received a call on June 26, 2021, from my niece. They told me that Ty was in the emergency room. He had stopped breathing. My heart raced. I immediately left work and caught the bus, switched to the train, and got off at the transportation center and raced for six minutes to get to the hospital's ER. [...]

Breastfeeding and Mental Health – It’s Personal

Janine Monico2022-08-14T21:51:06-04:00August 4th, 2022|Family & Youth, Mental Health, Support, Women's Health|

The arrival of a little bundle of joy brings heart-stealing smiles along with many opinions and advice about breastfeeding. Undoubtedly, nursing creates a physical and emotional attachment between mother and baby. It strengthens babies’ immune systems, and for moms, can reduce the risk of disease and bring joy and fulfillment. But not always. For some mothers, breastfeeding is extremely painful. Others cannot supply enough milk, which can lead to extreme feelings of guilt. Breastfeeding and anxiety often go hand in hand as infants on breast milk require frequent feedings. The [...]

Overdose Awareness

Janine Monico2022-08-08T09:11:38-04:00August 1st, 2022|Addiction & Recovery|

Addiction is such a stigmatized topic – yet people are so uninformed about it. Most of us were taught that “drugs are bad,” but that is about the most education we get or tend to remember. I am here to discuss the concept of the disease of addiction which goes far beyond the common stigmas about who “addicts” are. Yes, addiction is a disease due to the fact it is ongoing, not curable (only treatable), and a condition associated with signs and symptoms. Just like other diseases, it may run [...]