In April, the Network Celebrates…
Stress Awareness Black Maternal Health Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Infertility Awareness
The best science, stories, and strategies related to this month’s national health themes. Check back throughout the month for new additions.
Stress Awareness
The Office of Women’s health defines stress as our reaction to a change or a challenge. In the long term, stress can lead to serious health problems, and women are much more likely than men to report symptoms of stress, including headaches, nausea, and mental health concerns. Read on to learn how to better recognize and manage stress:
- Action Alert! April is Stress Awareness Month – Learn more about Stress Awareness month and get free stress management tips here.
- Stress 101 – What are some of the signs and symptoms of stress? Does it effect women differently than men? What health problems can stress cause? Check out this frequently asked questions document developed by the Office on Women’s Health for answers
- Stress in America: 2022 Survey Results – The survey found a majority of adults are disheartened by government and political divisiveness, daunted by historic inflation levels, and dismayed by widespread violence. Get the latest stats here.
- Coping With Stress: The CDC’s Comprehensive Guide –This one-stop landing page features tons of resources for how to deal with stress in different situations and populations.
- Stressors Related to Racism Hurt Moms And Babies: A Review of The Research – The National Partnership For Women & Families recently published an examination of the effects that racism and the associated stressors have on maternal health.
Further Reading - News and Recent Articles
- There’s A Stress Gap Between Men And Women. Here’s Why. (NYT Op-Ed)
- Assess Your Stress With This Free Online Screening Tool Provided By Mental Health America
- Chronic Stress Can Affect Your Health. One Activity Can Help (CNN Health)
- Can Stress Make You Sick? The Answer Might Surprise You. (USA Today)
- How to Tell When Stress Is a Problem (CNN Health)
- Caregiving Brings Stress. Here Are 6 Tips to Help Ease It (Health Day)
- “It took multiple seizures for me to finally take the impact of burnout seriously” (Stylist-I Lived It)
- Prolonged Stress Is More Damaging Than We Thought – Here’s How (And Why) It Causes Hair Loss, Heart Disease, and More (Yahoo!Life)
- I thought my seizures were due to stress – turns out I had a brain tumor the size of a tennis ball (New York Post- I Lived it)
- Stress Can Increase Your Biological Age. Here’s How You Can Reverse It (Healthline)
- There’s a kind of stress our brains don’t notice—and it’s burning us out (Quartz)
- Your body’s intense reaction to stress, explained (USA Today)
Black Maternal Health
Black women and pregnant people are three times more likely to die than their white counterparts from health conditions attributed to and/or aggravated by pregnancy and childbirth. This is a full-blown crisis that requires targeted interventions across systems. Read on for more Black maternal health facts, resources, and ways to get involved:
- Action Alert! April 11 – 17 is Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW) – Held annually, BMHW is a week-long campaign founded and led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance to build awareness, activism, and community-building to amplify the voices, perspectives and lived experiences of Black Mamas and birthing people. Get information on local events, activism opportunities, and up-to-date digital toolkits here.
- Track the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act in Real Time – Learn the status of the bill package that, if passed, will revolutionize Black maternal health care and save countless lives.
- Maternal Mortality Prevention: Statistics and Resources – The CDC has compiled the best, most up-to-date statistics, stories, and prevention campaigns related to stopping maternal mortality in its tracks.
- Looking For A Safe Spot For Pregnancy Care? – This interactive map maintained by the National Perinatal Task Force can help.
- Breastfeeding Support Group Directory for Black Mothers – The Black Girls’ Breastfeeding Club (BGBC) has compiled a list of in-person and online breastfeeding support groups by state.
Further Reading - News and Recent Articles
- Stories From The Black Maternal Mortality Crisis: The new documentary “Aftershock” follows two women who died from pregnancy-related complications.
- Racial Disparities in Maternal and Infant Health: Current Status and Efforts to Address Them (KFF Research)
- The Simple Intervention That May Keep Black Moms Healthier (NPR News)
- ‘1619 Project’: The Impact of Slavery on Black Women’s Maternal Health (The Atlanta Voice)
- OPINION: It’s Black Maternal Health Week And It Matters For A Good Reason (Bet)
- Working Together to Reduce Black Maternal Mortality (CDC)
- What I learned about ‘birthing while Black’ in my 40s (MSNBC)
- It’s not safe to be pregnant and Black in America: ‘People aren’t receiving the care they deserve‘ (USA Today)
- Joy Is Our Birthright: Striving for Black Maternal Health Equity (Healthline)
- Doctors must stop tuning out Black women. It happened to me, as a pregnant OB-GYN. (USA Today, Op-ED)
- Black women face greater risk of death and trauma due to childbirth. This reporter explored why (PBS News Hour)
- A Postpartum Hospital Visit Almost Cost Me My Life; Here’s What Other Black Women Should Know (Popsugar, I Lived It)
Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the term sexual assault means any nonconsensual sexual act (including unwanted kissing or touching) perpetrated without consent. The CDC reports that over one half half of women have experienced sexual assault during their lifetime. Read on to get the latest on sexual assault awareness and prevention:
- Action Alert! April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) – The theme in 2023 is “Drawing Connections: Prevention Demands Equity.” We recognize that it will take ending all forms of oppression to end sexual assault. Learn more about how individuals, communities, and organizations can change attitudes and systems. You can even take part in the SAAM 30 Days of Action.
- Sexual Assault 101– What constitutes sexual assault exactly? How big is the problem? What are the consequences of sexual assault on women’s short and long-term health? How can we prevent sexual assault? Get all these answers and more from the CDC and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC).
- What Does Enthusiastic Consent Look Like? – The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) has developed a useful overview on what it does (and doesn’t) look like when people consent to sex.
- Did You Know There’s A National Sexual Assault Hotline? – Call 800.656.HOPE (4673) to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area.
- Hear From Survivors of Sexual Assault – Molly is a gym goer, an EMT, and a survivor of sexual abuse. Blanche is a student, mother, and a survivor of intimate partner violence. Get their stories and dozens more here.
Further Reading - News and Recent Articles
Infertility Awareness
Infertility is defined as not being able to get pregnant (conceive) after one year or longer of unprotected sex. In the United States, about 1 in 5 (19%) of women aged 15 to 49 years with no prior births are unable to get pregnant after one year of trying. Get the facts:
- Action Alert! April 23 – 29 is National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW) – Help enhance public understanding and educate lawmakers about infertility. Learn how to observe NIAW here.
- Frequently Asked Questions About Infertility – The CDC has the answers you need about the causes and treatment of infertility.
- Infertility Support Group Directory – Peer-led and professionally-led support groups are safe spaces to meet others facing similar struggles with infertility and family building. Find a virtual or in-person support group in Resolve’s directory.
- Here From People Who Have Struggled With Infertility – These stories provide a variety of intersectional perspectives on navigating infertility.