Why Are So Many of Our People Dying?

We cannot overstate the effect that centuries of slavery and oppression have had, and still have, on our mental and physical health, our emotional wellbeing, our relationships, and our economic status.

Did you know that African Americans are 50% more likely than white people to have strokes?

African Americans are dying disproportionately from cancer and other health challenges including, among other things, cardiovascular problems, stroke, diabetes, certain cancers, HIV/AIDS and Alzheimer's.  For more about these and other issues, click here to download Why We Need to Heal.  

 

Why are so many of our people dying?  Why are our people dying at such higher rates than the rest of the population?

Is this to do with poverty and discrimination?  Is it to do with lack of access to healthcare? Is it to do with racism within healthcare provision?

Is it due to diet and lifestyle?

As suggested by this video from the African American Cultural Center, is it a cultural thing – do we just accept that we will be subject to certain health issues?

For more about health issues and other challenges facing our communities – and what we can do about them - click here to download Why We Need to Heal.

I would love to know your opinion. Please leave your comments below.

See also: Many African Americans Still Can't Access Healthcare.

 

Mental Wellbing and HIV

New research by Positively UK, presented in their States of Mind Report, shows that three quarters of all HIV positive people experience mental health issues.  

For more about this, see:  
Positive Nation 
Mental Health Today
 
Mental health can impact on treatment, as people can miss doses of their meds as a result of depression and other mental health issues. 

The report highlights the need for mental health support for people living with HIV.  However, mental health services are shrinking due to budgetary constraints.  

This report may not be telling us anything we don't already know.  But as people of African heritage are already over-represented within mental health service users, and HIV is still spreading rapidly in areas where there are large numbers of African people, such as inner-city London, this is something we need to be very concerned about.  

Click here for a short audio on the benefits of meditation.  Meditation can have a very powerful effect on our wellbeing.  

 

Older Black Women and the HIV/AIDS Epidemic

What measures are Black women aged 50 and over taking to protect themselves from HIV and AIDS?  The answers may shock you.  

These are some of the issues being tackled by the Black Women's Health Imperative.  These are very difficult conversations, but they need to be held, and we need to hear them.  Listen to the audio below. 

Listen to internet radio with Imperative Radio on Blog Talk Radio