If you’re dealing with the stress of a low-income lifestyle – not able pay all the bills, worried about job security, etc. – having access to green spaces will significantly boost your sense of well being, compared to low-income people without this access, a new study found. The researchers compared reports of well-being among wealthy … READ MORE
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Life Expectancy in Las Vegas
The Las Vegas Review-Journal ran a story on life expectancy by neighborhood in the glittering city. Like most every other community, it varies dramatically by neighborhood, with the gap as much as 16 years at either end of the nine-mile stretch between the downtown Strip and suburban Henderson. The study was funded in part with … READ MORE
Low-crime neighborhoods promote mental health in older Latinos
This is from a new study out of the University of Illinois. It’s long known that bad neighborhoods raise stress, but this one quantifies the effect, and in terms of depression. It’s not hard to understand that staying cooped up inside, and feeling fearful leaving your house, would bring on depression. Next step, as the … READ MORE
Running Keeps You Younger
As a once-regular runner, this headline was intriguing to come across: “Running really can keep you young, says CU-Boulder-Humboldt State study.” The gist of the article is that seniors who run regularly also use energy more efficiently while walking, about the same as a typical 20-year-old. But older people who walk for exercise rather than … READ MORE
The Grand Elm Playlot Project in Richmond
I’ve never seen anything like it – a dangerous 1/2-acre park in one of the Bay Area’s most dangerous neighborhoods – the Iron Triangle in Richmond – turned into a thriving, beautiful oasis for the neighborhood’s children and families, who need the respite and the exercise. Here is a write up on it, below, with … READ MORE
Everyday discrimination impacts mental health
Here are the questions nearly 5,000 African American and Caribbean adults were asked: “How often do you receive poorer service than others at restaurants or stores?” (disrespectful discrimination); “How often do people act as if they’re better than you are” (condescending discrimination; “How often are you viewed as dishonest?” (character-based discrimination) and; “How often are … READ MORE
High obesity rates still burden blacks, Latinos
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation just released an excellent report on obesity rates in the United States. While adult obesity rates increased in six states, that’s a slower climb than in the past, when almost all states showed increases. And rates are leveling off for children, thankfully. Surprisingly, at least to me, California has the … READ MORE
Ending absenteeism to change the future for struggling communities
In researching a book on distressed communities, nothing has become clearer than the role of education in lifting the health, and economic prospects, of a community. Yet as this article describes, poor kids face the greatest obstacles in succeeding in school. In one community I’m reporting in, a rural county in Northern California, 1 out … READ MORE
Teens from rural counties struggle to get heard
On Aug. 5 and Aug. 6 this year, about 100 youth converged on the State Capitol in Sacrament, under the umbrella of the Alliance for Boys and Men of Color. They walked the hallways, meeting with lawmakers and their staff to push for laws that help young men of color succeed and live healthy lives … READ MORE
Great summation of black/white health disparities
This write-up has a clear, narrative summary of what’s doing on with health disparities, especially among blacks. Excellent charts too. From VOX: WHITE PRIVILEGE IS THE BEST MEDICINE Updated by Julia Belluz and Steven Hoffman on August 25, 2014, 7:00 a.m. ET With the eyes of the world on Ferguson, Missouri, our collective attention is focused on the different … READ MORE