You're probably aware that agriculture is one of America's most hazardous industries. Compared to other occupations, farmers—as well as their family members—have an elevated risk of fatal and nonfatal injuries. What you may not realize is that agriculture exposes workers to more than just physical health hazards. Farming and the unique challenges it poses can lead to issues like chronic stress, anxiety and depression. These mental health issues can have a long-term impact on the overall wellbeing of farmers and their families. The good news is that they're manageable. Read on to learn more

You're probably aware that agriculture is one of America's most hazardous industries. Compared to other occupations, farmers—as well as their family members—have an elevated risk of fatal and nonfatal injuries. What you may not realize is that agriculture exposes workers to more than just physical health hazards. Farming and the unique challenges it poses can lead to issues like chronic stress, anxiety and depression. These mental health issues can have a long-term impact on the overall wellbeing of farmers and their families. The good news is that they're manageable. Read on to learn more

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and SIU Medicine's Farm Family Resource Initiative invites members of the farming community to help us bring awareness to this important topic. We need to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. Let's start by debunking four common myths surrounding mental health. How many of these have you heard? Myth #1: You can tell someone has a mental health problem. An estimated 1 in 5 Americans has some form of mental illness, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. This means that you probably know several people who are dealing with mental

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and SIU Medicine's Farm Family Resource Initiative invites members of the farming community to help us bring awareness to this important topic. We need to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. Let's start by debunking four common myths surrounding mental health. How many of these have you heard? Myth #1: You can tell someone has a mental health problem. An estimated 1 in 5 Americans has some form of mental illness, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. This means that you probably know several people who are dealing with mental

Not many know what a Community Health Worker (CHW) is or what the profession entails. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) describes a CHW as “lay members of the community who work either for pay or as volunteers in association with the local health care system in urban and rural environments." CHWs usually share ethnicity, language, socioeconomic status, and life experiences with the community members they serve. Tyra Jones, Education Coordinator for the Office of Community Care at SIU Medicine says CHWS have been identified by many titles, such as community health advisors

Through Smith Alzheimer's Center outreach programs, participants have found camaraderie, compassion It didn’t take Chris Burns long to realize he found something special. Looking for more resources to help with caregiving, Chris searched high and low around Springfield. He took a caregiver class that helped provide some information, but that only made him hungrier for more knowledge. At one of the visits to the Smith Alzheimer’s Center with his partner, Mary Ann, their clinician suggested trying some of the Center’s year-round outreach programs. Minds in Motion hooked in Chris. He and Mary Ann

Lindsey Teefey leads Stepping Up, an exercise-based program from the Smith Alzheimer's Center. After growing up in Anna, Ill., and graduating from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Lindsey joined the Smith Alzheimer's Center this past spring. What interested you about physical therapy? A friend encouraged me to job shadow a physical therapist in college, and from that day forward, I knew I would really enjoy the field because it was a practical way of helping people through exercise and physical activity. I finished the excellent physical therapist assistant program at SIUC and went on

Varicose veins are enlarged and twisted veins that can appear like blue or purple cords just below the skin. Usually found in the legs, varicose veins arise when valves inside the veins become weak and unable to close properly, causing blood to pool inside the veins. For most people, varicose veins are a cosmetic concern rather than a health issue. But sometimes varicose veins can cause significant symptoms. A diagnostic test is the first step. During this initial evaluation, you will likely undergo a specific ultrasound test referred to as a “venous reflux study” that will evaluate the