- Behavioral HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIf you have a teenager, no doubt the world is much different than your childhood. Social media apps have made it easy for teens to communicate with strangers—and sometimes, the people they interact with online are actually scammers. Parents should prioritize monitoring their children’s online activities, especially their interactions with others. It’s crucial to engage in open and meaningful conversations about the potential risks of living in a social media obsessed world. You may be surprised to learn social media scams are far-reaching, impacting teens around the world. While anyone can fall victim to these sexting scams, teenage boys are often targeted by scammers using blackmail tactics. What exactly are sexting scams? Sometimes referred to as sextortion, sexting scams are meant to scare victims into handing over money. While the details can vary, scammers gain the trust of victims before tricking them into sharing compromising photos. The predator threatens to share the photos with the victims’ family and friends unless they pay money. Strangers pose as interested girls and convince unsuspecting boys to send naked photos of themselves showing their face. After sending the photos, they are immediately blackmailed for money. The frequency of this scam has prompted federal law enforcement to issue warnings, cautioning that scammers are targeting children as young as ten years old. If our kids aren’t equipped to recognize it as a scam — or don’t feel comfortable coming to their parents when it happens — it can be dangerous. Ranging from anxiety and depression to thoughts of suicide, these scams can have troubling and long-lasting effects on their mental health. What are the signs my teen may be in trouble? There are many signals to help you determine if your child may have been victimized. Parents should start asking questions if they discover their teen: Becomes unwilling to talk about their online interactions with you or anyone else Exhibits sudden changes in behavior, like moodiness or isolating themselves Expresses fear or discomfort about someone they met online Grades suddenly drop Loses interest in activities Receives messages from strangers asking for personal information Uses electronic devices to the point of ignoring things going on around them Withdraws money from bank accounts or purchases gift cards How can I help if my teen falls victim to sexting scams? If your child is in this kind of situation, you should take the following steps: Let the blackmailer know parents are now involved, you are not afraid, and the harassment needs to stop immediately. Keep proof of all conversations and make backups. Don’t send any money. Even if the harasser has potentially damaging photos of your child, there’s no guarantee that sending them money will end the blackmail. Report the scam to the social media platform. Contact the police. You can call the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) at (800) CALL-FBI or report the harassment online at fbi.gov. You can also report the incident to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force at icactaskforce.org. Talking to your teen openly and often is your best defense The more you and your child talk about these situations, the less likely they are to become a victim. Before your child gets a cell phone, talk to them about the importance of keeping personal photos and personal information private, even if they are in a mature relationship. Sharing compromising photos is never a good idea. But if your teen shares nude photos, they should know that they can come to you, or another trusted adult, for help. The Luminis Health Behavioral Health Clinic in Lanham is a safe space for teens. The urgent care offers services for those needing non-emergency, non-life-threatening behavioral health care. It’s open from 8 am to 5:30 pm, Monday-Friday, for adults and children 4 years of age and older. Author Dr. Jesselina Curry is Luminis Health’s regional medical director for Ambulatory Behavioral Health Services PC: Maureen Porto Photography0
- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogFinally, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. The two pharmaceutical companies, Pfizer and Moderna, that have developed COVID-19 vaccines are reporting a 94% to 95% effectiveness rate—a beacon of hope in fighting the pandemic. “94% to 95% efficacy is much higher than the annual influenza vaccine. Also, the high efficacy is maintained in the elder population. This is very promising,” says Dr. Mary Clance, epidemiologist with Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center. The Data The New England Journal of Medicine reported on the results of Pfizer’s Phase 3 clinical trials late last month. A final analysis of its Phase 3 trial showed a 95% effectiveness rate. There were also no serious safety concerns. The clinical trial has 43,548 participants enrolled. The company conducted trials in about 150 clinical sites in six countries, including 39 states. The NEJM also reported on the results of Moderna’s Phase 3 clinical trials last month. Moderna’s data shows a 94.1% effectiveness rate at preventing severe disease from COVID-19. Moderna has 30,420 participants enrolled in the study at more than 100 clinical sites in the U.S. Both Pfizer and Moderna have received emergency use authorization from the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), and began distribution of the vaccines last month. The vaccines will continue to be monitored and studied. But so far, Dr. Clance and Jean Murray, director of Infection Control for Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center, are very encouraged by the vaccines’ ability to prevent severe COVID disease. What This Means “Everybody is excited about the progress of the vaccine,” Jean says. “But, we need to remember that we still need to observe infection control precautions to prevent the spread of the disease until enough of the community is vaccinated.” Remember to practice the 3Ws. Wash your hands, wear a mask and watch your distance. It’s going to take time to roll out the vaccine and immunize a significant number of the population. “It’s not a magic bullet, so people will still need to continue to physically distance, wear a mask and wash their hands,” Jean says. “But the vaccine is an opportunity to give many, many more Americans immunity to prevent the spread of this virus.” Questions Remain But there are many unanswered questions. How long will a vaccine provide immunity? Can it be used in young children? When can the general public get the vaccine? State health departments have developed plans to roll out the vaccine. Essential health care workers in hospital and nursing facilities were first to get it, followed by first responders including firefighters, police officers and emergency medical services personnel. No vaccine is 100% effective, Dr. Clance says. “The chances of getting COVID after vaccination with the two mRNA vaccines is very small,” she says. “The duration of immunity after vaccination is not yet known but will be learned in the months ahead with longer follow up of the past and current vaccine recipients.” The Vaccine’s Effectiveness The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say the trial data results are remarkable. Each year, the CDC looks at how well the flu vaccine protects against the flu. Recent studies show the flu vaccine reduces the risk of flu by between 30% and 60% among the overall population—compared to the 94% to 95% effectiveness the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are showing against COVID. In some years the efficacy is much lower. The challenge, Dr. Clance says, is that influenza viruses can change each year. The CDC anticipates which strains to target for the upcoming vaccine. Some years, the efficacy is lower because the vaccine doesn’t match the virus. Coronaviruses, too, can mutate over time — as we are seeing with a more contagious strain recently discovered in the United Kingdom and now reported in several parts of the U.S. We don’t yet know what percentage of the population will have to become immune to COVID to reach herd immunity – the point at which the virus runs out of bodies to infect because enough people have already gotten it. How It Works To best understand how the vaccine works, we need to describe how the virus works. The virus is transmitted via droplets into our nose, mouth or eyes. The virus then produces spike proteins. These spike proteins are used like a key in a lock. The key, or spike proteins, attaches and unlocks our cells to infect them and make more virus. Both COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna were created using a genome sequence to design a molecule called messenger RNA (mRNA). The vaccine is not a live virus vaccine and cannot give COVID to those who receive it. When the vaccine is injected, the mRNA in the vaccine instructs the cells to make the virus’ spike protein only. Our bodies recognizes these spike proteins as foreign and starts making antibodies, so when we are exposed in the future to the actual COVID virus, our bodies will immediately respond and defend us. The antibodies generated by the vaccine prevent viral attachment and infection. Talk to Your Provider About the Vaccine “We’re beginning a marathon here,” Dr. Clance says. “We want to tell the public to be patient, continue washing your hands, wearing a mask and watching your distance – and let this unfold.” Talk to your doctor about when you could be eligible for the vaccine — and continue to follow Luminis Health for the latest updates. Do you think you may have COVID-19? Check your symptoms here.0
- General Page - Tier 1Ethlyn Carroll of Mechanicsville, Md., underwent several surgeries for gynecological cancer in 2021. After feeling unheard by her physician, Ethlyn decided to contact Dr. Monica Jones, chair of Women’s and Children’s services for Luminis Health. “I sought a second opinion, and I am so glad I did. Dr. Jones and her team welcomed me,” Ethlyn says. Dr. Jones referred Ethlyn to radiation treatment at the DeCesaris Cancer Institute (DCI). Instead of driving one hour each way from her home to DCI, Ethlyn and her husband decided to stay at the Hackerman-Patz House, an affordable accommodation option for LHAAMC patients. “Ms. Cati Revelle [manager of the Hackerman-Patz House] welcomed us with open arms,” Ethlyn says. Before starting radiation treatment, Ethlyn had a simulation done by Radiation Therapist Leah Vinson. “She was so warm and loving. I thought this is the way everyone should be treated,” Ethlyn says. Ethlyn and her husband go home on the weekends and enjoy being active members of their church, including through virtual bible study and Sunday service. Ethlyn is also a writer. She is working on her second book of poetry. Throughout this journey, Ethlyn says God and her husband have been her source of strength. “No one can take care of me like my husband, Gary, can.”0
- General Page - Tier 2Community Health Needs Assessment Every three years, we "take the pulse" of our community's health through what's called a Community Health Needs Assessment . Similar to checking your own pulse and other vital signs, this process allows us to see how well our systems are working and make adjustments as needed. We collect as much data as possible from a variety of sources. We use that information to determine our community's highest-priority health needs and develop an action plan to address them., Community Benefits Report Our annual community benefits reports give you a better understanding of our community activities and partnerships. You'll find several stories about people we help and learn more about how we break barriers and promote health. Check out our latest community benefit reports from the communities we serve.Whether it's through our mobile health clinics or through talks, seminars and trainings, we bring care right to your neighborhood.This work helps us reduce barriers to health care. Once we meet people where they are, we can help connect them to the health services they need.Mobile Clinics: Driving Better Health in Our CommunitiesOur mobile clinic rolls out weekly to bring health care to people who face challenges in accessing services. We work with low-income senior housing, as well as faith-based and community organizations to spread the word and make sure our clinics have the biggest impact.Our mobile clinics offer:Diabetes screenings.Cholesterol screenings.Blood pressure screenings.Health education.The staff at our clinic on wheels represent the diversity of our communities.Our mobile clinic helps us identify those at risk of developing chronic conditions, like heart disease and diabetes. This way, we can prevent problems before they start. We offer health education classes and connect patients to a primary care doctor or specialist near them. We even offer diabetes education classes in both English and Spanish.When we're out in the community, we also take the opportunity to teach about vaccines, annual check-ups and cancer screenings. Our mobile clinic staff connects those who are eligible for cancer screenings to this free service in their community.0
- Behavioral HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogSometimes life gets you down. You may, for example, have trouble at work, paying bills, meeting social obligations or maintaining relationships with friends and family. While experiencing life’s twists and turns, we can all feel blue from time to time. However, if you’ve been feeling overwhelmed for a longer stretch of time, it’s important to find support. Left untreated, depression can negatively impact your health. However, learning more about mental health disorders — including understanding how to recognize their risk factors and symptoms — can go a long way toward helping you find proper care and getting back to living your best life. Body, Mind and Spirit Work Together to Help You Feel Your Best The Greeks were right: A sound mind is a sound body. Mental and physical health are inseparable and equally important to your overall health. When it comes to your mental health, there’s a lot involved, including how your body functions (your biology), how you think (your psychology) and what you do (your habits). Stress can affect everything from how your white blood cells respond to viral infections and cancer to how your wounds will heal. Long-term depression can increase your risk for chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease and stroke, weaken your immune system, interfere with your sleep and even wreck your diet. Only when your body, mind and spirit are working at their best, can you truly enjoy life. Understanding Mental Disorders Mental disorders are serious conditions that make it even more challenging to cope with the stresses of daily living; affecting your thinking, feelings, moods and behaviors, relationships with others and your ability to function from day to day. Know the Types There are many types of behavioral health disorders, including: Mood disorders Eating disorders Panic Anxiety disorders Stress disorders Psychotic disorders Substance use disorders Recognize the Risk Factors Although there’s no single cause for behavioral health disorders, risk factors include: Chronic stress Traumatic experiences Chemical imbalances in the brain Family history Feelings of loneliness or isolation Alcohol or drug use Know When You Need Help About one in four people have mental health issues that affect their everyday activities. Unfortunately, about 75 percent of them don’t get the help they need. Changes in your behavior or outlook can signal that it’s time to get help from others. If you have trouble managing your symptoms, or they won’t go away, it may be time to talk to a professional. In addition to feeling overwhelmed, withdrawn or disconnected, symptoms may include: Chronic anxiety Constant sadness Excessive anger Extreme mood swings Inability to manage problems or daily activities Nervousness New or increased substance use Thoughts of suicide or harming others You should never feel embarrassed about needing help to feel your best. Just like for any other healthcare concern, you need a healthcare professional to address your mental health. Getting the help you need, sooner rather than later, can help you to get on the path to recovery. How to Find Mental Health Help Your primary care doctor can help you find mental health services. You can also get help, including a mental health evaluation, therapy and medication management, from Luminis Health. Before you meet with a mental health professional, it can help to write down a list of questions to ask. Here are a few examples to get you started: Do you have experience caring for others in my situation? How do you treat my condition? How long can I expect treatment to last? What do you charge? Do you take insurance? You may also want to write down a list of the results you want from treatment. Sharing these with your behavioral health specialist can steer you both in the right direction toward meeting your mental health goals. Call 988 for Immediate Help If you (or a loved one) are in crisis or thinking about hurting yourself, the National Suicide and Crisis Prevention Lifeline offers immediate help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States. This is a national network of local crisis centers providing free, confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Make Your Mental Health Your Priority Getting help for behavioral health disorders starts with you. Self-help can be an important first step to your improvement or recovery, and it begins with self-awareness. Once you take the first steps to identify that you’re having trouble in your daily life, you’re on your way to better overall health.0
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