International Missing Children's Day (May 25) brings focus to cases of missing children

Calgary, Alberta - May 25, 2020 -- (The Stuff Gazette) -- May 25 is International Missing Children Day, a day that is marked around the world to remember children who are missing and those who have been found.

The Missing Children Society of Canada (MCSC), uses this day to draw attention to cases of missing children across Canada, with a solemn reminder that children everywhere deserve to feel safe each day of the year.

This year especially, the Coronavirus pandemic is challenging our communities in ways we could never have imagined, and it's leaving vulnerable children and youth at greater risk than ever before.

"Our children deserve safe communities where they can grow and thrive. Today reminds us that we must work together to find our missing children and protect them from future harm," said Amanda Pick, CEO of the Missing Children Society of Canada.

MCSC has been engaged in the search for missing children and supporting their families since 1986. The organization has evolved from one distributing posters to find a missing child, to one embracing the latest technology to help police in the search for that child.

Last year, MCSC released the web app MCSC rescu, which is updated continually by police from across Canada with critical cases of missing children. It allows members of the public to access case information based on geography and to submit tips directly to police.

It was 1983 when U.S. President Ronald Reagan proclaimed May 25 as National Missing Children's Day. In 2001, May 25 was officially recognized as International Missing Children's Day, thanks to a joint effort between the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children, Missing Children Europe and the European Commission. The forget-me-not flower was recognized as its emblem.

The Missing Children Society of Canada urges everyone to join in the search for missing children. Access MCSC rescu to see cases of missing children and please leave a tip for police if you know something. Sign up to receive SMS messages about missing children in your area to help keep children in your community safe.

Creative Healing for Health Care Professionals in The Age of COVID-19

San Diego, CA - May 25, 2020 - (The Stuff Gazette) -- The National Organization for Arts in Health (NOAH) launched a GoFundMe campaign to help bring free expressive art programs to health care workers struggling with anxiety and other symptoms that could lead to burnout in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The program, called "Arts for Resilience in Clinicians" (ARC), will feature artists and art therapists leading interactive projects through videos and virtual sessions.

Burnout in clinicians has long been a topic of concern in the health care industry, with studies showing pre-COVID-19 burnout rates ranging as high as 44-54% in physicians, with similar rates for nurses. alone. Many health care experts are warning these numbers will increase as a result of the pandemic.

"We're starting to see some impact now, but the consensus is that burnout rates and the numbers of people leaving clinical work are about to jump beyond anything we've ever experienced," says Dr. Alan Siegel, Family Physician at Contra Costa Health Services, NOAH board member, and ARC project Co-Director. Siegel says a potential crisis can be avoided, but the time to act is now. "Offering enhanced, immediate options to help health care workers cope with anxiety and avoid burnout is critical. Health care workers need to be healthy in both mind and body so they can continue doing their work effectively and safely. That's why NOAH created this program."

While many health care facilities offer well-being programs for staff, expressive art programs are considered to be among the most effective when it comes to coping with symptoms of burnout and anxiety. For more than 30 years, studies have shown the benefits of incorporating the arts into wellness and mental health programs. In 2019, the World Health Organization published a scoping review that provided significant evidence of the role of the arts on improving health and well-being.

The ARC program will feature interactive art sessions offered through videos and virtual rooms. Each session will allow health care workers to engage in the creative process rather than passively watching a performance and can be accessed online or through an app. Sessions on writing, poetry, dance/movement, drama, music, painting and other forms of expressive arts will be available. The pilot program will begin this June in six facilities, with an eye to expanding nationwide as financial support grows.

According to ARC project curator and co-director Cynthia Perlis, founder and former director, UCSF Art for Recovery, the programs are intended to offer a release from the overwhelming emotions health care workers are experiencing. "The programs are developed by professional artists and art therapists who have experience in helping others alleviate anxiety and avoid the symptoms of burnout," she says.

The ARC project's GoFundMe page was established to help raise funds to bring the program to life. "We hope to harness the enormous goodwill the public is showing health care workers so we can offer caregivers healthy, effective options for relief," says Perlis.

In addition to financial donations, organizers encourage the public to share creative forms of appreciation through social media. "The explosion of creative expression at this time has been extraordinary," says Perlis. "By going to Facebook or Twitter and posting their thanks using #healingourhealers, the public can share their gratitude and show their ongoing support."

The National Organization for Arts in Health (NOAH) is a 501(c)3 organization established to unite, advance and serve the field of arts in health. Through its programs, initiatives and transformational leadership, NOAH's goals are to demonstrate the valuable role of the arts in enhancing the healing process, to integrate the arts in the planning, design and operations of health care facilities and programs, and to advocate for arts programming within all areas of health care including treatment, education, prevention, and public health and well-being. For more information on the ARC project, please CLICK HERE.

Public Service Recognition Week (May 3-9, 2020)

by Laborers’ International Union of North America

Washington, D.C. - May 6, 2020 - (The Stuff Gazette) -- LIUNA General President Terry O’Sullivan made the following statement on this year’s Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW), May 3-9.

As we mark Public Service Recognition Week, we should both honor and support those who serve our nation by providing vital services for federal, state, and local governments. LIUNA is proud to represent more than 50,000 public sector workers.

As we confront the pandemic, many public workers are on the frontlines facing unique and unprecedented risks. LIUNA thanks you for your courage and for putting the needs of others before your own. Every single American owes you an enormous debt of gratitude for your service and your sacrifice.

We must also continue to be vigilant in working together to protect the health and safety as well as wages and benefits of those in the public sector for all that they do to keep us safe and make all of our lives better.

LIUNA stands shoulder to shoulder in solidarity with public sector workers during Public Service Recognition Week and every day of the year.

May is Lupus Awareness Month

Washington, D.C. - May 2, 2020 -- (The Stuff Gazette) -- Lupus is a more pervasive and severe disease than many realize, as a number of its symptoms can be invisible. This May for Lupus Awareness Month, the Lupus Foundation of America is urging the public to join the nationwide effort to Make Lupus Visible, and raise awareness and funds for this brutal disease.

Many of the debilitating symptoms and impacts of lupus can't be seen, and can cause those living with the disease to feel isolated and misunderstood. Invisible symptoms of lupus include:

Organ involvement, affecting areas like the heart, lungs, kidneys or brain, occurring in approximately half of people with lupus;

Joint and muscle pain, causing weakness and loss of strength, which impacts 90% of people with lupus at some point during their illness;

Extreme fatigue, which can be debilitating, impacts as many as 80% of people with lupus;

Loss of income –Two out of three people with lupus report a complete or partial loss of income because of complications with the disease;

Feeling symptoms of anxiety (90%) and depression (85%) due to the impact of lupus.

"Lupus impacts every part of a person's life, whether you can visibly see the effects or not," said Stevan W. Gibson, president and CEO, Lupus Foundation of America. "The Lupus Foundation of America is on a mission to end the brutal impact of lupus, and raising awareness of the devastation that this disease can cause is incredibly important. We urge everybody to Make Lupus Visible this May by wearing purple, sharing facts about lupus, and raising funds for the critical research and support programs that our community relies on."

Lupus affects an estimated 1.5 million people in the U.S. alone, and awareness of how devastating this disease is remains low and misunderstood. That's why raising awareness, funds and making lupus visible is so crucial this May for Lupus Awareness Month. Even though many of us are physically apart due to the coronavirus, there are still several ways we can come together to Make Lupus Visible. People with lupus, friends and family members can participate from home or virtually by:

Sharing the facts about lupus, its symptoms and impact with social media posts, fliers and infographics available in our awareness toolkit, and by sharing our new "What is Lupus?" video that highlights the difficulty to diagnose, treat and manage this complex, unpredictable and cruel disease.

Starting a virtual fundraiser or Facebook fundraiser, and inviting friends and family to support the fight against lupus no matter where they live.

Celebrating Put on Purple Day on May 15 by wearing purple, making a donation, and sharing on social media and with friends and family why you are wearing purple to make lupus visible.

For more information on Lupus Awareness Month and how to get involved, visit www.lupus.org/lupus-awareness-month.


Lupus, My Doctor and Me: A Sacred Dialogue

May is Bladder Cancer Awareness Month

Baltimore, MD - May 1, 2020 -- (The Stuff Gazette) -- Bladder cancer is the 10th most common cancer worldwide and the sixth most common cancer in the United States. May is Bladder Cancer Awareness Month, a time of year when the Urology Care Foundation, the world's leading nonprofit urological health foundation, raises awareness about bladder cancer and its prevalence around the globe, and encourages the public to make direct, positive and healthy changes in their lives to keep their bladders healthy.

"Approximately 550,00 cases of bladder cancer are diagnosed each year around the world, including nearly 81,000 in the United States," said Harris M. Nagler, MD, President of the Urology Care Foundation. "It is important for men and women to understand the signs, symptoms and their risk of developing bladder cancer and to ensure they're getting reliable health education and information from sources like the Urology Care Foundation."

Risk factors for bladder cancer include gender, age, race and genetics. About one in 100 men and one in 400 women will be diagnosed with bladder cancer, globally. Bladder cancer is the sixth most common cancer in men and 17th most common cancer in women. Cigarette smoking is the number one risk factor for bladder cancer.

Visit the Urology Care Foundation's Twitter, Facebook and Instagram platforms for free bladder cancer resources, including fact sheets, podcasts, videos and more.

The Foundation is the world's leading nonprofit urological health foundation and aims to support and improve the prevention, detection and treatment of urologic diseases through research and education. Visit www.UrologyHealth.org to learn more about bladder cancer and order or download free patient education materials in English or Spanish.