BOSTON, March 1, 2023 (Newswire.com) - In an effort to address mental health and substance abuse issues, Whittier Street Health Center, a community health center with a mission to serve as a center of excellence that provides high-quality and accessible healthcare and social services that achieve health equity, social justice, and the economic well-being of a diverse patient population, recently added mental health screenings to their Mobile Unit outreach offerings.  

Depression and substance misuse screenings are part of Whittier's outreach-focused Mobile Health Program designed to meet individuals where they live and to engage, educate and empower them to transform and improve their lives. A fleet of four health vans allows Whittier the capability to provide routine and preventative primary care services and screenings in an effort to close the gaps in life expectancies for low-income communities of color and immigrant populations. 

"Depression can present itself in numerous ways, including feelings of sadness, loneliness, agitation, and worthlessness and are sometimes accompanied by physical symptoms," said Carolyn Reynolds, Whittier's associate director of behavioral health adult and substance abuse services, noting that while identifying those with depression can be difficult in busy primary care settings where time is limited, depression screenings can go a long way toward helping physicians diagnose and appropriately treat the disorder.

The staff has a depression safety protocol in place for patients that score positive for suicidality. Screening can likewise assess the severity of substance misuse and abuse, opening the door to proper treatment. The Early Support in Recovery drop-in program is one resource available for anyone who scores positive for substance misuse.

Said Brenda Daley, associate director of behavioral health child and family services, "Mental health and substance issues have particularly impacted youth over the past several years, with many still struggling to find their social footing after lengthy spans of isolation resulting from the pandemic." 

"People dealing with mental health and substance misuse issues often seclude themselves, further impacting their self-esteem, relationships, resilience and more," said Frederica M. Williams, president and CEO of Whittier Street Health Center. "Our Mobile Health Program was created to go directly to those who need our help."

Those interested in learning more about Whittier's Mobile Health Program can contact the Mobile Health Care Team at 617-989-3212.   

About Whittier Street Health Center

Whittier Street Health Center is an independently licensed community healthcare center with a mission of providing high-quality, reliable and accessible primary healthcare for diverse populations while promoting wellness and eliminating health and social disparities. Through its locations in Roxbury and North Dorchester, and its Mobile Health Van program, Whittier Street Health Center serves more than 30,000 patients and 20,000 community outreach visits annually; its ethnically and racially diverse patient base is primarily made up of individuals from Roxbury, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, the South End and greater Boston.  For more information, please visit www.wshc.org as well as Facebook (www.facebook.com/WhittierStreetHealthCenter), Twitter (@Whittier_Boston), or LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/whittier-street-health-center), or call 617-989-3221.

FemAging
FemAging logo

LOS ANGELES, March 1, 2023 (Newswire.com) - Today, the FemAging^® Project (www.femaging.com), a global initiative focused on supporting and leveraging innovation to improve the health, wellness, and well-being of women ages 40-plus, released the FemAging 2023 report. Produced with the support of AARP, the report features the FemAging Index, a nationally representative survey of 1,000 U.S. women ages 40-65, and introduces the 2023 FemAging Tech Champions, 20 global innovators developing groundbreaking innovations for older women. First introduced by the FemAging Project in 2020, the FemAging sector features innovations in software, beauty, fashion, devices, wearables, and other areas for women ages 40-plus. The FemAging Project will host a series of online events sponsored by AARP, focusing on the research results and highlighting data from the study about Blacks, Asians and Hispanics. The first, held on Wednesday, March 1 at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT, features the world premiere of the FemAging research and a conversation titled: "What Black Women Aged 40+ Want in Health and Wellness."  

The FemAging Index features surprising information about the health, wellness, and technology preferences of U.S. women ages 40-65. Uniquely, the research provides insights about older women of color, with a special focus on Asian-American women ages 40-plus. 

Key FemAging Index insights include:

• 58% of respondents have significant or very high concerns about their ability to remain active, healthy, and independent as they age. 
• Women facing health issues associated with aging and hormonal changes due to perimenopause and menopause are focused on sleep management, stress/anxiety, and cognitive issues (i.e., reduced ability to concentrate and forgetfulness).
• Women of Color ages 40-65 have unique health and wellness needs and sometimes respond differently to menopausal symptoms — regardless of severity. 
• Older women are technology-adoption trend-setters in some areas. 41% of women ages 40-65 use voice-enabled solutions (such as Alexa/Siri), 30% utilize "smart home" technologies (i.e., thermostats and appliances) and 8% report using digital/cryptocurrencies. 

"Since we launched the FemAging Project in 2019, we have seen great improvements in the availability of products, services and innovations targeting women ages 40-plus, said Denise Pines," co-founder of the FemAging Project. "But, much more work needs to be done. The FemAging 2023 report features data, analysis and strategic innovation advice that can help drive global FemAging innovation further ahead in the months and years to come." 

"The FemAging Project has been a leader in helping to identify and drive understanding of the growing FemAging market, along with the unique ways women of color are impacted by aging and menopause," said Edna Kane Williams, Senior Vice President, AARP. "We look forward to seeing how innovators respond to the opportunities and insights presented in the research." 

FemAging 2023 Tech Champions Lead the Way in Innovation for Women Ages 40-Plus

The FemAging Project has named the 2023 FemAging Tech Champions, 20 innovators developing products, services, and solutions for women ages 40-plus. This year's FemAging Tech Champions include Bloomer Tech, which has developed a smart bra featuring sensors that can potentially diagnose heart disease earlier in women, Stripes, which is developing products (and communicating boldly) for menopause, vaginal dryness, and other issues, and Syrona Health, which provides women's health services targeting women at all stages of their lives. 

FemAging Exchange Conversation Series, Fast Pitch Competition, and Femmaya, a GPT-Powered Intelligence Platform 

Beginning on March 1, the FemAging Project will hold the FemAging Exchange Conversation Series, three events focusing on its research and providing health, wellness, and innovation insights about women of color. On April 13, the Project will hold the Fast Pitch Competition, in partnership with Keiretsu Forum SoCal, which will feature FemAging innovators competing for cash and in-kind services. To learn more and register for the Conversation Series and pitch competition, visit www.femaging.com/femagingera. 

In Q2 2023, the FemAging Project will launch Femmaya, a unique intelligence platform powered by GPT, the same technology behind ChatGPT. Femmaya can answer questions about women's health and aging, identify emerging innovation trends in beauty, devices and other areas, surface interesting companies and more. Visit https://www.femaging.com/contact-us to submit a request to join the Femmaya waitlist. 

"Over the past three years, we've steadily grown the breadth and depth of FemAging research, events and intelligence to accelerate innovation and investment in solutions for women ages 40+," said Fard Johnmar, FemAging Project co-founder. "We remain committed to developing high-impact research, services and other offerings to help ensure the most pressing needs of these women are recognized and addressed." 

About The FemAging Project
The FemAging^® Project provides health and tech industry leaders and investors with research, strategy, education, and intelligence that helps drive global innovation focused on the health and wellness needs of women ages 40+. Learn more about the Project at www.femaging.com.

About AARP

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers people to choose how they live as they age.

FURNISHD
FURNISHD

MELBOURNE, Australia, March 1, 2023 (Newswire.com) - According to premier interior design company, FURNISHD., updates to a house can maximise value and make the home more enjoyable to live in but some home décor trends have an expiration date. Here, the interior designers share the top home décor mistakes and tips to keep a home looking fresh and modern.

FURNISHD. says one of the most common mistakes people make is choosing trendy pieces that will soon be out of style. While it's tempting to go for the latest trends, they may not be a wise investment in the long term. 

Instead, FURNISHD. advises to opt for classic pieces that have stood the test of time. Classic pieces like a well-crafted sofa or a beautiful antique piece can add elegance and charm to any space and never go out of style.

Another mistake is choosing colours that clash or are too bold. While a bright colour may be trendy at the moment, it can quickly become overwhelming and dated.

FURNISHD. recommends choosing colours that are more neutral and can be easily updated with accessories or accent pieces. A neutral colour palette can also create a calming atmosphere in the home and make it feel more inviting.

The leading interior design consultant says overcrowding a space with too many accessories or knick-knacks is another common mistake. While it's great to have a few statement pieces, too many can make a home feel cluttered and chaotic. 

Choosing a few key pieces that will create a focal point in the room will draw the eye and make the space feel more cohesive and intentional.

FURNISHD. says many forget about the importance of lighting in the home when decorating. A poorly lit space can make even the most beautiful design feel lacklustre. 

Using a variety of lighting sources, including overhead lighting, task lighting and accent lighting will create a warm and inviting atmosphere in the home and highlight the beautiful decor.

As one of the leading interior design firms, FURNISHD. offers a dedicated online interior decorator service with a fixed price model to help homeowners create a space that will never go out of style. For more information, visit FURNISHD. online.