WVON

So who is Equal Hope? It is a great name but what does Equal Hope do? Equal Hope is on a mission to help our community be our healthiest selves. Equal Hope offers free mammograms at… some of the best hospitals in Chicago – think Rush, think University of Chicago, Advocate Christ and we offer free cervical cancer screens too.

The current COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed to the increased number of Black youth experiencing anxiety and depression. In addition, the rate of suicide among this group is increasing faster than any other racial or ethnic… group. Yet, they are less likely to seek treatment. Mental health is very stigmatized in our society. We are told not to prioritize our mental health because there is something wrong with asking for help. Although awareness about mental health is increasing, many Black youth still suffer from mental health issues and cannot access the resources necessary to help them. Delays in seeking care can lead to negative consequences, such as emergency psychiatric hospitalizations and also becoming adults with unaddressed mental health issues.

The current COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed to the increased number of Black youth experiencing anxiety and depression. In addition, the rate of suicide among this group is increasing faster than any other racial or ethnic… group. Yet, they are less likely to seek treatment. Mental health is very stigmatized in our society. We are told not to prioritize our mental health because there is something wrong with asking for help. Although awareness about mental health is increasing, many Black youth still suffer from mental health issues and cannot access the resources necessary to help them. Delays in seeking care can lead to negative consequences, such as emergency psychiatric hospitalizations and also becoming adults with unaddressed mental health issues.

Health disparities disproportionately impact the communities on the south and west sides of Chicago. People living in these neighborhoods are at a higher risk for adverse health impacts due to social, economic, and environmental disadvantages. It… is important to implement strategies to promote health equity and improve access to healthcare resources to reduce health inequities, disease, and mortality rates.

The death rate from COVID-19 in the U.S. continues to rise as the nation struggles with a burst of cases in what’s become “a pandemic of the unvaccinated.” It is important for residents to… be educated on why the Covid-19 vaccine is important and safe for people to get to keep themselves and their loved ones safe. The flu vaccine and other vaccines are important as well to keep people safe.

It has been almost two years since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. During this time, there have been many people who deny the existence of Covid-19 and believe false information about what is happening. This… misinformation/disinformation has impacted the spread of Covid-19 as well as vaccine uptake in the U.S., which stands at 58.0% of the population being fully vaccinated as of October 28, 2021. Covid-19 mitigation strategies have also been impacted with different mandates and regulations depending on the area.

The life expectancy gap between Black and non-Black Chicagoans has widened, according to a report from the Health Equity Index Committee at the Chicago Department of Public Health. Between 2012 and 2017, the gap grew from 8.3 years to 9.2… years, according to the report, which found that Black Chicagoans on average live 71.4 years, while non-Black Chicagoans live an average of 80.6 years. Historic and current racism in Chicago’s institutional and social structures have created the current state of striking inequities. On today’s show, our guests will discuss what’s driving the life expectancy gap and what is currently being done to help close this.

The HIV/AIDS pandemic has existed since the early 1980s, with two groups being heavily impacted: men who have sex with men and intravenous drug users. Although infections have decreased over the years as a result… of medical advancements, men who have sex with men, and heterosexual Black women face the most severe burden of HIV and AIDS in the nation. Social and economic challenges, such as lack of access to care, discrimination, stigma, homophobia, and poverty cause Black people and people of color to have higher rates of HIV infection than their white counterparts.