In July, the Network Celebrates…
Minority Mental Health Awareness Fibroids Awareness Disability Pride Month National Orgasm Day
The best science, stories, and strategies related to this month’s national health themes. Check back throughout the month for new additions.
Minority Mental Health Awareness
Racial and ethnic minorities often suffer from poor mental health outcomes due to cultural stigma and lack of access to mental health care services. Learn more below.
- Action Alert! July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month – This is observed each July to raise awareness about the unique mental health challenges faced by minority populations in the United States and the disparities in treatment. Learn how to observe here, and check out this toolkit developed by Mental Health America.
- Statistics and Disparities in Minority Mental Health – Get mental health statistics by ethnicity from the Office of Minority Health, the American Psychiatric Association, and a handy summary analysis done in 2023 by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
- Resources for Minority Mental Health – The Office of Mental Health has compiled actionable resources on minority mental health and COVID-19, LGBTQAI+ consideration, specific mental disorders, substance use, and trauma. Consider also this practical guide on prioritizing BIPOC mental health at work, and this examination of how to support the mental health of BIPOC students.
- BIPOC Mental Health Personal Stories – These brave storytellers share deeply personal accounts of their experiences with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and more.
Further Reading - News and Recent Articles
- 4 Opportunities to Improve Mental Health in BIPOC Communities
- How to Decolonize Mental Health Treatment for BIPOC
- You Are Not Alone: NAMI in Washington offers BIPOC Support Group
- Importance of Mental Health for Minority Communities
- America’s therapy boom
- The Importance of Black Therapists in Mental Health Care
- WATCH: Biden proposes new rules to push insurers to increase mental health coverage
Fibroids Awareness
Fibroids are muscular tumors that grow in the wall of the uterus (womb). Fibroids are almost always benign (not cancerous). Fibroids are most common in women in their early 40’s and 50’s, and up to 80% of women will develop fibroids at some point in their lives. Not all women with fibroids have symptoms, but women who do often find fibroids hard to live with. Read on to learn more about fibroids, who gets them, and treatment.
- Action Alert! July is Fibroid Awareness Month – July officially marks the beginning of Fibroid Awareness Month and July 1 is National Wear White Day—a day to show support of all women suffering from fibroids. Learn more about how to observe, and check out this resource-packed fibroids event put on by the White Dress Project.
- Fibroids 101 – Check out the NWHN’s Fibroids Fact Sheet for information on fibroids causes, symptoms, treatment, and more. The Office of Women’s Health also continually updates this FAQ page on fibroids.
- Disparities in Fibroids Incidence and Treatment – Nearly 25% of Black women between ages 18 and 30 have fibroids compared to just 6% of white women in the same age group. Learn more about why in this article by the University of Michigan’s Medical School.
- Patient Empowerment and Treatment for Fibroids – These practical guides on fibroids, uterine health, and more by the White Dress Project are must-reads for anyone with fibroids. They also provide a detailed treatment comparison chart for fibroids continuously updated with the latest research and developments in the field.
- Fibroids Stories – Hear from dozens of real women living with fibroids in their own words.
Further Reading - News and Recent Articles
- What’s Behind Black Women’s Excessive Rate of Fibroids?
- Woman’s Doctor: Who’s at Risk for Uterine Fibroids?
- Do Uterine Fibroids Make You Gain Weight?
- New Collaboration Wins Award to Investigate Non-Invasive Treatment of Uterine Fibroids
- A List of Clinical Trials for Uterine Fibroids
- Anti-Abortion Politics Hinder Access to Important Fibroid Treatment: Mifepristone
- Everything to Know About Myomectomy Scarring
- All the Uterine Fibroids Treatment Options to Discuss With Your Doctor
- Why Are Black Women Disproportionately Affected by Uterine Fibroids?
- Hidden Health Dangers: Uterine fibroids a common tumor among women
Disability Pride Month
According to the CDC, up to 1 in 4, or roughly 27% of adults in the U.S. have some type of disability. Read on to learn more about disability rights, types, health resources, and role models.
- Action Alert! July is Disability Pride Month – Disability Pride Month is celebrated every July during the passage anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as an opportunity to honor the history, achievements, experiences, and struggles of the disability community. Learn how to observe and why it’s important here.
- The History of Disability Rights in the U.S. – When was Braille invented? How did people with disabilities get better employment rights? Get answers to these questions and more by checking out Temple University’s timeline of historical milestones in the disability rights movement. You can also read a brief narrative history and get a handy glossary of terms from Adl.org.
- Statistics on Women with Disabilities – Get the nationwide numbers as well as global trends on the incidences of disabilities for different groups of women.
- Disabled Rights Under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) – Check out this plain language guide and resources related to the ADA.
- Health Information and Resources for Women With Disabilities – The CDC has compiled resources for both patients and providers here. They have also compiled a list of affiliated organizations and topics of particular interest to women with disabilities such as disability-specific information on screenings for estrogen-related cancers.
- Inspiring People With Disabilities Who Made History – Get to know a senator, a model, a famous writer, and others over at SheKnows and Respectability.org.
- Real Stories From People Living With Disabilities – In their own words, courtesy of the CDC.
Further Reading - News and Recent Articles
- Justices Consider Taking up Case on Whether Americans With Disabilities Act Protections Cover Gender Dysphoria
- Governor Greg Abbott Vetoes Bill That Would Give People With Disabilities New Option to Vote by Mail
- Lewis Capaldi’s Glastonbury Set Displayed the Best of the Human Spirit and Put Disability Center Stage
- Accessible Nature: A Trail Guide for Disabled Hikers
- Employment among people with disabilities hits post-pandemic high
- How Fannie Lou Hamer’s disability informed her fight for voting rights
- ‘Disability Sparks Innovation’: Insights From Deafblind Human Rights Lawyer Haben Girma
- Working from home has worked for people with disability. The back-to-the-office push could wind back gains
- Disclosing a disability in the workplace, as employers focus on creating a culture of inclusion
- How the ADA paved the way for workplace protections for women and LGBTQ+ people
- New Biden rule would make government websites, apps more accessible to people with disabilities
National Orgasm Day
Further Reading - News and Recent Articles
- Impact of Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy on Orgasm Function in Transgender Women and Men
- Having Sex and an Orgasm Before Bed Can Help You Fall Asleep Faster, Indicates Study
- Can Exercise Really Induce an Orgasm? Here’s the Truth.
- “How I Went From Faking Orgasms to Having 23 in One Night”
- How to have better orgasms, according to science