Preparation for the event was only possible through the help of the incredible volunteers in our Health Resource Room. They did a great job of advertising, creating banners, and passing on the information to patients. Thank you, guys!

For lunch, we served a vibrant summer corn and bean salad (see recipe below!), barbeque sauteed ground turkey hash, and lemon water. We heard the shuffling of footsteps and the murmur of voices as Madeleine Taskier, one of our HRR volunteers, and I added the final touches to the food. A group of 12 women made their way into the upstairs conference room to learn a more about issues affecting women’s health. As soon as we turned on the PowerPoint, all eyes turned to Madeleine.

Our discussion covered such topics as women’s monthly cycles, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), menopause, and more. A large part of the conversation was dedicated to women’s cancer and preventative measures. We encouraged our clients to get screened, and we let them know about some of the cancer resources available in the District.

The presentation ended with a Q&A session. All of our clients had great questions, and they were open with their health concerns, reinforcing the benefits of the event’s collaborative nature. There were questions about breast cancer, the link between HPV and cervical cancer, and ways to handle stress and improve mental health. The event ended on a high note as our clients felt that they were gaining useful health information and that Bread is a supportive place for their to explore their health needs and questions.

Last, we let our attendees know about the other services offered at Bread for the City. Sometimes our clients do not realize just how comprehensive our services are. Many are surprised to find that they’re eligible for our food program, clothing room, legal clinic, and social services. It’s great to know that Bread is a place where you can not only get medical care, but where you can learn and take control over your own health and wellness. We are so grateful for all the staff, volunteers, and clients who made this event possible for the people we serve.

Summer Corn & Bean Salad with Sherry Cumin Dressing

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

For the salad:
1 can corn (15 oz) (or fresh if you prefer)
1 can black beans (15 oz)
1 large cucumber, peeled
1 medium red bell pepper
1 medium tomato
salt and pepper to taste

For the dressing:

• ½ cup olive oil
• ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons sherry
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dijon mustard
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Open and drain beans and corn, place into large salad bowl.
2. Wash and dice cucumber, red bell pepper, and tomato into small cubes. Place in large salad bowl.
3. Season with salt and pepper.
4. In separate small bowl, combine the olive oil and vinegar. Whisk until combined.
5. Add the sherry, cumin, salt, pepper, and mustard. Whisk until smooth.
6. Add to the veggies in the salad bowl, serve with some toasted bread, and enjoy!

Got questions about women’s health? Contact Obi at onnebedum@breadforthecity.org for some help in getting your questions answered.

Mental Health & Mental Illness

First, awareness begins with definitions! So what is mental health?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is “a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.”

Read it again. I think it is safe to say that everyone struggles to maintain their mental health when they’re dealing with stress from work, school, relationships, finance, the list goes on…

Mental health however, differs from mental illness and mental disorders, which instead refer to a set of psychiatric illnesses that significantly hamper an individual’s daily functioning and ability to carry out necessary tasks. About one in four adults in the U.S. — approximately 57.5 million Americans – are living with a diagnosed mental illness. Some examples are clinical depression, anxiety disorder or schizophrenia.

The disabling nature of mental illness can be quite grave, especially when paired with other problems like financial instability or even addiction.

Susanne Horn, Representative Payee Program Manager, says, “We frequently experience the cyclical nature of the mental illness over time and see clients who periodically improve or decompensate. We also commonly see the intersection of our clients’ mental illness with other factors including substance abuse, developmental disabilities, or limited education.  These factors come together in different ways for each client and impact their ability to manage their finances and their benefit eligibility.”

Bread for the City and Mental Health

Since Bread for the City serves about 31,000 low-income DC residents, both challenges to mental health and psychiatric mental illnesses are bound to manifest in each department. Our social services department helps clients tackle issues like homelessness, unemployment, insufficient food supply, and so forth. Such conditions can be emotionally and mentally taxing, and these extreme stressors can lead to an increase in symptoms of poor mental health. And the reverse often happens, too: individuals already living with untreated mental illness can find themselves unable to work, manage finances and even maintain stable housing.

We regularly connect people with resources for mental health treatment, and we’re even able to provide some mental health supports in-house! BFC’s Representative Payee Program (RPP) works with the DC Department of Mental Health (DMH) to provide financial management services to about 800 consumers with chronic mental illness, such a bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. We’re also planning to expand supports in our medical clinic this year to increase our capacity to address mental health issues.

Poverty and Stigma

Although there’s a strong correlation between poverty and poor mental health, being poor doesn’t necessarily mean that someone has a mental illness. Stigma regarding certain illnesses, like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia create negative ideas of a violent and dangerous person. The truth is that people with mental illness are more likely to be victims of a violent crime rather than the perpetrators. Read more of the myths and facts surrounding mental illness here.

It is vital to have conversations about mental health and mental illness in order to create a safe space to really address the issues. Those conversations start with ourselves, our friends, and our co-workers. “Having insight into how mental illnesses manifest themselves – particularly severe mental illnesses – can help our staff to improve their interactions with clients and fulfill our mission of treating everyone with dignity and respect,” says Susanne Horn.

Understanding where our clients are coming from helps us empathize with all those who walk through our doors. We offer compassion, not criticism.

So let’s talk about mental health and mental illness in a way that is not shaming or judgmental. “It is up to all of us to know the signs of mental health issues and lend a hand to those who are struggling,” President Obama said in the proclamation making May Mental Health Awareness Month. “Shame and stigma too often leave people feeling like there is no place to turn. We need to make sure they know that asking for help is not a sign of weakness — it is a sign of strength.”

Stay tuned! We’re also addressing mental illness in our medical clinic and legal program. Find out how we’re doing it on our blog next week.