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June 2024 NewsletterJune 2024 Newsletter
Getting a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) or even worrying about getting an STI can be a stressful experience. However, getting an STI isn’t a moral failing any more than getting any other virus or bacteria. Sexual intimacy is a normal part of life for most people, and whether you’ve had sex one time or a thousand times, it is possible to get an STI.
You are not less important or less clean if you get an STI. What’s important is knowing your status by testing and understanding what to do with that information.
Take Charge of Your Health
An important part of reducing STI stigma is treating STIs like any part of your health. Empower yourself with knowledge about reducing risk, testing, and how STIs work.
If you are at risk of getting an STI, there are simple steps you can take to reduce your risk. This lets you take charge of your health without changing your lifestyle.
- Use barrier methods. When used correctly, both internal and external condoms are effective at preventing STIs. Internal condoms are inserted into the vagina, and external condoms are placed over the penis. No matter what kind of sex you are having, there are effective options for protecting yourself.
- Get tested regularly. Get tested each time you have a new partner and as recommended by your health care provider.
- Ask about PrEP. Are you at risk for HIV? Ask your provider about PrEP, the medication that protects you against getting HIV.
Talk About It!
Sexual health isn’t an individual matter. It’s important not only to test, but to communicate with each partner you have. Talk about the last time you got tested, your intent to test in the future, and any diagnoses that are relevant to your situation.
There are some STIs, for example, that cannot be cured that are important to discuss. Click here to hear directly from a myHealth Junior Board member’s experience with herpes and reducing the stigma that can come with it.
When other people talk about sexual health, listen to them! Telling our stories about sexual health is an important part of reducing stigma around STIs. Make yourself comfortable both sharing and receiving these stories. Even a little bit of communication makes a difference.
Get Tested
Getting Tested is Low-Stress at myHealth!
It’s easy to know your status. myHealth’s STI testing services are offered in a no-judgment environment that’s accessible to everyone in our age range.
If you need a routine screening, walk into the clinic and a nurse will help you.
You’ll check in with one of our front desk staff members, who will help you with paperwork and understanding your confidentiality. They will pass your information on to a nurse.
The nurse will take you back to a private room to discuss your current sexual health with you, helping you understand your risk of STIs, and decide which tests make sense for you. Next, you’ll go to the lab. You may leave a urine sample to be sent out to test for chlamydia and gonorrhea. You may complete rapid HIV and syphilis tests, done via a quick and easy prick of your finger. In some cases, you may also swab your throat or rectal cavity to provide additional samples to test.
If you get rapid tests done, you’ll wait a few minutes for the results. If you do not, the nurse and front desk staff will wish you a great day!
What if I have Symptoms?
If you think you’ve been exposed to an STI or have a symptom of an STI or other condition related to your sexual organs, just call 952-474-3251 to schedule a visit with a health care provider who can help you.
When you visit one of our doctors or nurse practitioners, they will be able to test you for a wider variety of infections, including BV, trichomoniasis, yeast, and urinary tract infections (UTIs).
They can also perform an exam to confirm whether your symptoms require treatment.
STIs are Treatable and Manageable
Many common STIs are easily treatable (e.g. Chlamydia, Gonorrhea); others are very manageable (e.g. HIV, Herpes). If you get an STI, don’t worry: your health care provider has seen many, many people have the same experience as you. They know how to help you!
If an STI test comes back positive, you’ll return to the clinic for treatment. At myHealth, treatment is simple and confidential. Even if you got tested somewhere else, you can come to myHealth for treatment without having to jump through extra hoops.
myHealth takes on STIs
Did you know one of the reasons myHealth was founded as West Suburban Teen Clinic back in 1972 was to combat a rise in gonorrhea in our community? We’ve been fighting STIs and STI stigma from the start!
STIs are like a lot of other viruses: they don’t discriminate, and they don’t like to go away. In the past twenty years, the most common STIs are all on the rise. Here’s a chart that shows a few of them.
myHealth is committed to educating young people about STIs, STI risk, and STI prevention. If you ever need zero-judgment care, you can count on myHealth for confidential and affordable services. Don’t know your status? We hope to help you know very soon!
With holiday season gatherings, spending more time indoors as temperatures drop, and the rise of respiratory illnesses, winters in Minnesota can be tough on the body! It is a great idea to take some extra steps to keeping yourself and your community safe. Here are five tools you can add to your repertoire to reduce the time you and your loved ones stay inside recovering from illnesses.
Washing Hands
Handwashing is a tool that we can use year-round to reduce the risk of illnesses… and winter is definitely a time to continue those practices! Effective handwashing typically lasts about 20 seconds.
Wearing a Mask
Wearing a well-fitting mask is still one of the most valuable ways to keep oneself and others safe from airborne respiratory illnesses. Some viruses can stay in the air like smoke for long periods of time, and by wearing a mask a person can limit how much of the shared air they breathe in.
N95 masks offer the most protection, but even a simple surgical mask can be effective in preventing infections.
Getting Vaccinated
It is not too late to get a flu shot, and we have them available at myHealth! It is also recommended that anyone get an updated COVID-19 vaccine. This isn’t a booster, but a new version of the vaccine that’s updated for the latest variants of COVID-19 such as XBB.1.5 and JN.1. If you were vaccinated before September 2023, it’s probably time to get an update! These updated vaccines reduce your chance of getting COVID-19 and reduces the severity of your symptoms if you do become infected with the virus.
Selective Exposure
If you are concerned about getting sick, consider limiting the number of events you attend. For example, if you’re counting down the days before a vacation, you might choose to cancel events or gatherings beforehand that involve exposure to many people.
Staying Home when Sick
Sometimes despite all our efforts, we still get sick. Whether it’s a sore throat, a runny nose, a fever, or a positive COVID-19 test, staying home when experiencing any illness is helpful for recovery, and respectful to your community. What is just a cold for one person could lead to serious illness in another. The quicker we are to stay home, the less likely it is to infect others. The more people who stay home when sick, the less like you are to get sick in return!
Conclusion
Not every method of reducing transmission of viruses may seem appropriate to your situation, but all of them are important tools to have ready to control the spread of illnesses. Your work of prevention doesn’t just benefit you, but the whole community. Immune-compromised, disabled, or otherwise vulnerable people have the most to lose to winter viruses and benefit greatly from our vigilance. If you have any questions about the transmissions of disease, you can always call myHealth at 952-474-3251 and ask to speak to a nurse.
To our Community,
As a friend of myHealth, you know the services we provide are unique and important:
- myHealth is one of only three low-cost or no-cost clinics for adolescents in Minnesota and adolescents ages 18-23 are the single largest uninsured demographic. For more than 50 years, myHealth has ensured access to medical and dental services, mental health counseling, education outreach, parent services, and nurse home visits for pregnant and parenting teens.
- myHealth never turns away anyone who is unable to pay for services and we are the only adolescent-focused community clinic in an area spanning 1,200 miles. Each year, myHealth gives away over $1,000,000 in care to young people in need.
- The need for teen-centered mental health care has increased rapidly in the past few years. myHealth is the only adolescent clinic in our service area offering free and reduced fee mental health care, delivered by licensed therapists. myHealth screens each clinic client for mental health issues annually.
- myHealth operates five days a week with both evening and Saturday hours to accommodate the needs of our clients and ensure easy access to care.
Each year, myHealth provides over 1,100 clients with low-cost medical services in over 4,200 visits. Our clients consistently report we meet their needs, and they feel welcomed and respected when seeing a myHealth healthcare provider. Annually in the community, our health educators present to more than 15,000 young people, adults working with youth, parents, and community partners and provide information on a wide variety of health topics critical to the ages we serve.
We cannot say thank you enough to the people who sponsor myHealth in any and every way. Your donation of time or money has enriched the lives of the young people who come to us in their moments of vulnerability and need.
If you are considering a year-end gift, click the donate button below.
With gratitude on behalf of our clients,
The Staff at myHealth for Teens & Young Adults
Donate
Thank you FOR MAKING THE gala a complete success!
Because of your generosity, we surpassed our goal of raising $100,000 at this year’s gala. Your contribution will provide access to services, treatment, and resources that young people in need otherwise couldn’t afford.
Vendors & Auction Donors
You stepped up for a good cause and gave us amazing items for our silent and live auction. Every year we are blown away by your generosity and creativity. THANK YOU!
Attendees
Just by coming, you showed your commitment to the cause of providing health care and education to youth. Thank you for making our event so fun.
Bidders
Thank you for participating in the live and silent auctions. The friendly battle of bidding was so much fun – and is going to make a genuine difference to myHealth and its clients.
Sponsors & Donors
Some of you chose to give above and beyond at the gala, and we were so humbled by your giving. Each donation is being invested directly into our work, and we couldn’t thank you enough.
Volunteers
We love ya, our dear volunteers! You make sure the night runs smoothly. It was so great to see returning volunteers and meet new ones excited to invest in myHealth’s mission. Your gift of time made a difference to us.
myHealth Staff
Our theme this year was myHealth Heroes. That’s you, myHealth staff! You choose to work at an organization that can’t pay you as much as a big healthcare system, but you decided this work was worth your time and passion. Thank you for all the amazing work you do to ensure that myHealth clients get all the care they need, whether it’s in the clinic, in the community, in a therapy session, or in the office. Thank you for being health care heroes; you are genuinely appreciated.
The excitement of discovery of someone’s teen years is accompanied by struggle too. There are new skills to practice, new feelings to identify, and new information to process. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed at times!
Seeking help outside can feel difficult, but it can be an important step towards reclaiming control over your inner life. Let’s look at the symptoms of poor mental health and what you and trusted people in your life can do about it.
Understanding Your Mental Health: Identifying Signs and Symptoms
While each person’s experience with mental health is unique, there are common signs that can help you identify struggle.
Psychological signs: Pay attention to changes in your mood, such as persistent sadness, irritability, or extreme mood swings.
Physical signs: Anxiety and depression aren’t two simple feelings: nausea, faster breathing, aches and pains, poor sleep, changes in sex drive, changes in appetite, and restlessness are all symptoms to monitor.
Changes in behavior: Difficulties in concentration, withdrawal from activities you once enjoyed, or feelings of hopelessness are warning signs that something might be wrong.
What’s the Role of Our Environment?
Our environment plays a significant role in shaping our mental health. Big life changes can bring feelings of uncertainty and stress:
- Moving
- Starting at a new school
- Financial struggles
- Relationship problems
- Medical conditions
- Living with an addiction or with a person with addiction
Your struggles may stem from one of these problems or multiple problems at once. Regardless, it is okay to reach out for support for navigating your life and building coping skills to improve your mental health.
It’s also completely valid to reach out if you are experiencing none of these issues. Seeking the support of friends or professional help is not dependent on what’s happened to you. Trust your instincts and be honest about your feelings. If you are concerned, take action. Self-care can be an act of power!
Initiating Conversations About Mental Health
Let’s face it, it can be difficult to share deeply personal feelings that are positive, much less the feelings of deep struggle that accompanies a decline in mental health. But without getting past that initial barrier of speaking about your problem, the problem rarely gets better on its own. The great news is you are not alone. There are always people who can help.
Who Should You Talk to When Seeking Help as a Teen?
Identify trusted people in your life, such as friends, family, teachers, school counselors, or role models. Talk to them in a safe and private space.
Be Open And Honest
Approach the conversation honestly, sharing how you’ve been feeling and changes to your thoughts or behavior. Bravery is required to face something scary, and being vulnerable can definitely feel scary. Starting these discussions shows your resiliance. People who care about you will respect your honesty.
Building a Supportive Network: Seeking Help Outside Your Inner Circle
While reaching out to trusted friends and family members is great, seeking support beyond your close circle may also be necessary. Finding additional support systems can offer different perspectives and resources to help you on your mental health journey.
Explore avenues such as mental health hotlines, teen clinics, online communities, and support groups for teenagers. In addition, use the resources available in your school, such as counselors and psychologists, who can provide professional guidance and assistance.
Your supportive network is your safety net that understands and empathizes with your struggles. Including trusted professionals can be an important part of that safety network.
Navigating the Path to Help: Exploring Resources and Professional Support
Finding the right resources and seeking professional help is crucial for mental health. Start by exploring online platforms, mental health websites, and helplines that provide information, tools, and guidance.
But, if you need individual counseling, consider finding a qualified therapist who offers specialized support for teens. Learn about seeking professional help, from finding therapists to booking appointments, and be aware of any potential costs or insurance coverage.
Taking Care of You: Practical Self-Care for Mental Well-being
Prioritizing self-care is an integral part of maintaining good mental health. Adding self-care practices into your daily routine can reduce stress, enhance resilience, and improve overall well-being. So, what can you do?
Healthy Lifestyle
Regular physical activity, such as walking, yoga, or dancing, boosts your mood and reduces anxiety. A nutritious diet supports brain function and emotional well-being. Bolster your energy with good sleep hygiene, such as reducing screen time before bed, allowing enough time for sleep (8-10 hours for teens), keeping a consistent schedule, and avoiding large meals close to bedtime.
Express Yourself
Practice mindfulness and relaxation techniques, such as meditation or deep breathing, to promote a sense of calm. Journaling can provide an outlet for self-expression and reflection. Engage in hobbies or activities that bring you joy and give you a sense of fulfillment.
Be True to Yourself
Sometimes, you may have to set healthy boundaries and practice saying no when necessary to protect your mental and emotional energy. These coping strategies will enable you to manage stress better, build resilience, and foster a positive mindset for improved mental well-being.
Your Mental Health Matters: Seeking Help is a Sign of Strength
Discussing mental health and seeking help as a teen is challenging but crucial for taking control of your well-being. Don’t be afraid to break the silence and find the support you need. Value yourself, stay attuned to how you truly feel, and ask for help from your loved ones and professionals when needed. Remember, seeking help is a sign of strength, and your mental health matters.
June has held a celebratory air for me ever since the Obergefell vs. Hodges decision legalized same-sex marriage on June 26, 2015. I felt hope that everyone would be treated with greater dignity and respect as acceptance of LGBTQ+ people grew across the United States.
And you know what, even though a lot of LGBTQ+ news hasn’t been uplifting lately, some of that hope has been realized. There are so many people and organizations like myHealth that accept LGBTQ+ people as who they are. Affirming clinics are not a curiosity, but the norm in the healthcare world.
As the fight for our rights continues, I choose to see the amazing allies first, and the negative minority second. After all, Pride was first celebrated in 1970, not 2015. The American Psychiatric Association had not even removed homosexuality from the list of mental illnesses in 1970 and Pride still happened. Every year, we’ve chosen to see the good that is possible and proclaim our freedom from conformity.
Part of living in a space where you can be yourself is allowing others to be themselves. It’s important to myHealth staff to create that kind of a place. Whether it’s through community partnerships, cultural education, or patient feedback, we are always looking to learn more about the young people in our community and how to give them the care that they need in the way they want it.
I want to join all my friends at myHealth in wishing you a HAPPY PRIDE in 2023. Celebrate your identity, your freedom to be you, and all the hardworking people who fought for LGBTQ+ liberation.
To my gay brothers and sisters, my transgender siblings, and my straight allies: I’m Proud of You.
You’ve heard of body positivity, but what about body neutrality? With nearly 4 out of 5 women and 1 out of 3 men expressing dissatisfaction with their bodies, it’s important to find strategies that help a wide variety of people. If one person finds it easy to be body positive, another may truly struggle to think positivity about a body image struggle they’ve had since they were young.
And unfortunately, body image struggles does tend to begin at a young age. In fact, 95% of people with eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25, which matches almost exactly the age range served by myHealth for Teens and Young Adults.
Body neutrality provides a framework to feel neutral or better about yourself on days where body image is a struggle. Body neutrality is all about removing guilt, respecting your body, and challenging negativity.
Let’s examine seven ways to practice body neutrality. And if these habits lead to positivity, that’s fantastic too!
1. Think Healthier, Not Skinnier
A lot of health plans focus on body shape and dieting, which can have undesired side effects:
- Unrealistic body image
- De-emphasizing health
- Nutrition imbalances
- Risk of developing eating disorders
Focusing on your health rather than your weight can improve both your physical and mental health. Find healthy habits that feel attainable and sustainable so that you can achieve many years of good health. After all, the goal of learning about health is to be healthy! What that looks like to an outside observer is going to vary from person to person.
Honor your body by finding a variety of foods that fuel it Talk to your health care provider about foods that you can add that could improve your quality of life.
Energize your body by moving it in ways that feel good. It’s important to talk to your health care provider about your activity levels, especially if you want to make a significant change in your activity levels. They can help you achieve your goals in a way that reduces the risk of injury.
2. Find Supportive People
We’re all in this together. Spend time with people who are supportive of your goals. On social media, make a point of following people that are body neutral/body positive. When you see a variety of people with a variety of body types, your perceptions will better align with what people actually look like in the real world! This can help produce body neutral feelings.
Don’t filter out different body types in your brain. Consider how different people might feel in their bodies and accept them the same way you would want them to accept you and your body.
3. Complement Others
There are qualities that your friends have that you really appreciate but you’ve never mentioned to them. Tell them! Sharing what you like about people can be a great way to strengthen your friendship. And don’t your friends deserve to feel good about themselves too?
But this isn’t just about them. When you see the beauty and value in others, you are better able to see the beauty and value in yourself too. Some of us are prone to unrealistically negative opinions about ourselves. Sharing a compliment about someone’s style or kindness opens your heart to see yourself more honestly too.
4. Practice Setting Boundaries
Sometimes people make unwelcome comments about you that make you feel uncomfortable. It is completely normal and healthy for you to set boundaries with people to limit those experiences.
Here are some examples of how you can set boundaries with people:
- Tell someone a certain subject is off-limits. “My acne is a topic for me and my doctor.”
- Remind people that a conversation needs to be respectful. “We can talk about my diet, but if things get too heated or disrespectful, we’ll need to end the conversation.”
- Stick to your boundaries. “You know talking about my weight is a hard line for me. We can change the topic, or I’m going to have to leave.”
Some people won’t respect your boundaries, and you may choose to spend less time with them. But if any conversation gets stressful for you, it’s okay to take some time to yourself. (See item 6 below!)
5. Use Social Media Less
Studies show that social media use is correlated with negative thoughts and anxiety. And not just anyone’s studies: Instagram’s internal studies found that the app facilitates body image problems. Over 40 percent of young people who report feeling “unattractive” said the feelings started when using Instagram.
Social media is an experimental force in our society. You’re not wrong to want to keep its influence on the sideline. One way to do that is find 30 minutes you would usually spend on social media and replace it with something else like music, games, exercise, or meditation.
6. Do a Nice Thing for Your Body
Do something that says, “Hey body, thanks for sticking with me. Enjoy this one on me.”
Examples:
- Sitting on the grass
- Taking a bubble bath
- Getting a massage
- Listening to music (and just music)
- Taking a nap
- Doing deep breathing
- Writing down what you’re thinking and feeling
Try a couple of these ideas or make up some healing routines of your own.
7. Practice Helpful Affirmations
Find some things you like about yourself, physical or non-physical. Remind yourself of those things in the morning. Set the tone of your day.
Each person consists of so many parts. Acknowledging your whole self is an important part of your mental health. This means acknowledging the parts of yourself that give you joy, yes, but also confronting areas that are tougher for you.
This is where body neutrality comes in. You don’t have to pretend things are different than they are. You don’t have to feel positive all the time. You can find a neutral place to start your day and find a respectful relationship with your body.
Here are some ideas for body neutral affirmations:
- “I am grateful that my body keeps me going.”
- “I deserve to wear clothes that I like.”
- “I will respect my body.”
- “I deserve to enjoy myself.”
- “This is my body. I accept my body.”
Conclusion
While there’s no perfect solution to body image struggles, practicing body neutrality can help. If you find that a consistent practice of body neutrality is not relieving your symptoms of distress, it may be time to speak with a mental health counselor. You can call myHealth at 952-474-3251 to ask about counseling services. Our wonderful therapists are equipped to help!
Let’s look back on the month of February and see what’s been happening at myHealth!
February 2023 Newsletter
At the beginning of life, a child has their health care needs met by a parent or guardian who brings them to a pediatrician. But as they age, a child may begin to feel differently about keeping the same doctor they saw when they were a toddler.
Many pediatrician’s offices are designed to make small children feel welcome. If you’re 14 years old and surrounded by decorations and toys for someone half your age, you may feel like you’re in the wrong place!
With each stage of life comes slightly different needs. As young people age into teenagers and experience puberty, they may want to keep some conversations with their doctor confidential.
When is it time to stop seeing a pediatrician?
If a young person wishes to remain with their pediatrician, they usually may do so until age 21; however, many young people begin to transition away from pediatricians after puberty.
One great option for those teens is an adolescent medicine specialist like myHealth for Teens and Young Adults. Adolescent specialty clinics are equipped not only to provide a welcoming environment, but know the challenges and needs unique to young people who are making the transition to adulthood.
Giving your child the tools to succeed
myHealth’s mission is to improve the health of our community by providing health services and information that support all teens and young adults in making responsible and well-informed decisions.
Here are some ways we help prepare young people for the world of adult medicine:
- Client-first care that empowers young people feel in charge of their health
- Easy scheduling by phone or online
- Judgment-free services, whether in primary, reproductive, or mental health care
- Comprehensive education on medication and lifestyle choices
- Low cost to free care for clients not using insurance
- Staff trained as MNsure Navigators can help young people apply for insurance
myHealth sees young people to ages 12 to 26. Everyone who ages out of services at myHealth is sent off with information about transitioning to adult medicine, time with a nurse, and an opportunity to apply for health insurance.
We believe in going above and beyond in the field of adolescent care. We understand that young people are trying to navigate the world on their own, and we do everything we can to make that experience not merely an effective one, but a positive one.
Just as important as giving health care to young people is preparing them to continue caring for themselves as they gain independence. myHealth is proud to be one of many clinics to share the goal of informing young people in a way that empowers them to seek the care that is right for them.