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Categories Insights, Mental Health Tags Behavioral Health, Department of Labor (DoL), Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), Health, Mental Health, Military, Thought Leadership

PTSD Awareness Day

PTSD Awareness Day

The National Center for PTSD promotes awareness of PTSD and effective treatments throughout the year. Starting in 2010, Congress named June 27th PTSD Awareness Day.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event. PTSD can happen to anyone at any age and includes war veterans, children, and people who have been through physical or sexual assault, abuse, accident, disaster, or other serious events. According to the National Center for PTSD, about 7 or 8 out of every 100 people will experience PTSD at some point in their lives. Women are more likely to develop PTSD than men, and genes may make some people more likely to develop PTSD than others.  PTSD happens after traumatic events that cause people to have painful memories. For many people, the effects of the traumatic fade over time, but others are unable to make the thoughts and feelings go away even months or years after the event has occurred.

PTSD symptoms usually start immediately after the traumatic event:

The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs has a list of symptoms for PTSD:

  1. Reliving the event (also called re-experiencing symptoms). You may have bad memories or nightmares. You even may feel like you’re going through the event again. This is called a flashback.
  2. Avoiding situations that remind you of the event. You may try to avoid situations or people that trigger memories of the traumatic event. You may even avoid talking or thinking about the event.
  3. Having more negative beliefs and feelings. The way you think about yourself and others may change because of the trauma. You may feel guilt or shame. Or, you may not be interested in activities you used to enjoy. You may feel that the world is dangerous and you can’t trust anyone. You might be numb, or find it hard to feel happy.
  4. Feeling keyed up (also called hyperarousal). You may be jittery or always alert and on the lookout for danger. Or, you may have trouble concentrating or sleeping. You might suddenly get angry or irritable, startle easily, or act in unhealthy ways (like smoking, using drugs and alcohol, or driving recklessly.

Below is a list of PTSD screens, that is, brief questionnaires that may identify people who are more likely to have PTSD.

For each measure, a brief description, sample items, versions, and references are provided. Information on how to obtain the measure is also provided.

Categories Insights Tags Department of Energy (DoE), Energy, Labor

Renewable and Sustainable Energy

Renewable and Sustainable Energy

Energy is the single most valuable resource for human activity and the basis for all human progress. Materials play a key role in enabling technologies that can offer promising solutions to achieving renewable and sustainable energy pathways for the future.

The demand for energy – specifically electricity – is rising, driven by the ballooning world population. The most commonly used source for electricity production today is coal, but there are other technologies that produce electricity that are sustainable and renewable, including hydroelectricity, solar energy, wind energy, wave power, geothermal energy, bioenergy, and tidal power. These new and sources technologies are designed to improve energy efficiency and to minimize negative environmental impact.

Over the last few decades, an increased emphasis has been placed on clean and renewable energy to meet demand, but also to address climate and environmental issues. Renewable energy is also making an economic impact by creating jobs. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the “the clean energy industry generates hundreds of billions in economic activity and is expected to continue to grow rapidly in the coming years. There is a tremendous economic opportunity for the countries that invent, manufacture and export clean energy technologies.

Responsible development of all of America’s rich energy resources — including solar, wind, water, geothermal, bioenergy & nuclear — will help ensure America’s continued leadership in clean energy. Moving forward, the Energy Department will continue to drive strategic investments in the transition to a cleaner, domestic and more secure energy future.”

The Bizzell Group (Bizzell) is a proud partner of the U.S. Department of Energy.

Categories Global Development, Insights, Tobacco Tags Behavioral Health, Global Development, Global Health, Health, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), The World Health Organization (WHO), Thought Leadership

World No Tobacco Day

World No Tobacco Day

Every year on May 31st, The World Health Organization (WHO) and partners mark World No Tobacco Day (WNTD).  World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) highlights the health and other risks associated with tobacco use and advocate for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption. WNTD focuses on the impact tobacco use has on the cardiovascular health and how tobacco use is an important risk factor for the development of coronary heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.

Although Tobacco is considered a legal drug, the effects and complications related to tobacco use kill many of its users when used as intended by manufacturers. WHO has estimated that the use of tobacco is responsible for the death of about six million people across the world yearly. WHO’s new Global Report on Trends in Prevalence of Tobacco Smoking 2000-2025 report shows that 27% of people worldwide smoked in 2000, compared to 20% in 2016.

For tobacco users that are interested in quitting and living a healthier lifestyle, there are many resources available to help develop a solid “quit plan” that provides ways to stay focused, confident, and motivated throughout the journey. Smokefree.gov has 5 steps that can help smokers handle quit day, which is a smoker’s first day without cigarettes.

1. Make a Quit Plan

Having a quit plan can make quitting much easier. You can build your plan or find a program that works for you. Visit Create My Quit Plan for assistance.

2. Stay Busy

Staying busy is a great way to stay smoke-free. Being busy will help keep your mind off smoking and distract you from cravings. Here is a list of activity ideas that could help distract you:

  • Exercise
  • Chew gum or hard candy
  • Drink lots of water
  • Go to a movie
  • Spend time with non-smoking friends and family
  • Go to dinner with non-smoking friends and family

3. Avoid Smoking Triggers

Triggers are people, places, things, and situations that set off your urge to smoke. Here are some ways to avoid common smoking triggers:

  • Throw away your cigarettes, lighters, and ashtrays
  • Avoid caffeine and replace with water instead
  • Change your routine to avoid the things you might associate with smoking

4. Stay Positive

Try not to put too much pressure on yourself about quitting. Take things one day at a time and reward yourself for small milestones.

5. Ask for Help

You don’t have to do this alone. Ask for support from your family, friends, or a professional. They can help you get through the rough spots.

Categories Insights Tags Department of Labor (DoL), Labor, National Office of Job Corps, Special Populations, Thought Leadership

How Millennials are Changing the Workplace

How Millennials are Changing the Workplace

Millennials, as defined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, were born between 1981 and 2000. They have been transforming the workplace for the past decade or so, arriving on the work scene with new attitudes and impressive characteristics that inspired both excitement and resentment from previous generations.  The big question is how will millennials change the workforce once they gain more experience?  

Some employers may feel that millennials are “job hoppers” and are unable to commit to one employer.  About 60% of millennials are currently open to a new job opportunity and are by far the most likely generation to switch jobs.  Millennials may seek multiple opportunities until they find the career they want, and this can have a positive impact on the employee and the employer.   

Leaving one job for another does not necessarily mean the employee lacks commitment; sometimes the job is just not a good fit, or the company does not provide enough benefits or career advancement opportunities, or other reasons.  One thing is clear: millennials will continue to take advantage of and are opening themselves up for more chances expand their career experiences.  

Here are 3 positive ways millennials are changing the workplace:  

  1. Push harder for diversity and inclusion 

Millennials feel strongly about diversity and inclusion.  Partly because they are naturally passionate and feel that diversity was poorly handled by generations in the past.  In the future, we will notice an increase in diversity, inclusion programs and incentives.   Millennials are quickly becoming the majority in just about every sector of the business world and the push for diversity seems to be more pronounced in certain industries such as health care and medicine, technology, and higher education.
 

  1. Adapt to new technology trends 

Millennials are the first generation grow up with the internet and cell phones.  As such, technology has been integrated fully into their lives. Millennials in the workplace are a benefit for any employer because of their intuitive ability to adapt to change, especially as it relates to technology. Not only is this a generation constantly connected to smartphones, but the millennial mindset is focused on making all things easier, faster, more efficient and mobile, as well as more personal, inclusive and intuitive. 

  1. Set new standards in leadership 

According to Forbes, about 20 percent of millennials hold leadership roles and is expected to grow in 2018.  With more Baby Boomers retiring, the millennials are defining a new generation of leadership and influence.  Millennials prioritize their values, flexibility, ethics, and feedback.  As millennials gain more experience and take more positions of leadership, millennials are going to have an even more pronounced effect on how the workplace develops soon.  

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