Your phone lights up: “Please call me ASAP.” You never get a text from your best friend during work unless it’s an emergency. You quickly call them back. “Things have been so hard lately. I’m not eating. I’m not sleeping. I don’t know what to do. I want to disappear.” You think your friend may be seriously thinking about suicide. You want to ask them directly, but you don’t want to make things awkward if you’re wrong. “Hang in there. It’ll get better,” you reply.

Jacqueline Sharp, Director of the Arkansas division of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), has heard of interactions just like this from individuals who never saw the warning signs or knew that their loved ones were struggling with thoughts of suicide.

Many new mothers experience a strong learning curve with regard to breastfeeding. It can take two or three weeks for a mother to truly learn the ropes. Some mothers may even think it is more cost-effective, convenient, and less invasive to bottle-feed their babies instead of breastfeeding. However, breastfeeding poses several lifelong benefits not only for the child but also for the mother. Jessica Donahue, RN, international board-certified lactation specialist at Baptist Health Women's and Children's Center, has spent the last 25 years teaching mothers about the benefits of breastfeeding and dispelling the myths many mothers have about feeding their newborns.

In the heart of Little Rock, ACCESS stands as a support system for individuals with learning and developmental disabilities. Through a unique, person-centered approach, ACCESS focuses on the genuine connections and opportunities that pave the way for children and young adults to thrive and develop a sense of belonging within their community. Krysten Levin, the Marketing Manager for ACCESS, has seen the authentic strategies that set ACCESS apart, dispelling stigmas and helping individuals meet their long-term goals so they can learn to become independent and be proud of who they are.

When the shades of stigma often overshadow advancements in medical science, we must embrace new treatments and tools that make our lives and our patients’ lives easier. Following our exploration of the stigma surrounding sickle cell disease, we will shed light on what is quickly emerging as a game-changer treatment option for sickle cell disease: gene therapy. Dr. Sunny Singh, oncologist and hematologist at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, is excited about the bright future for gene therapy.

More and more health care professionals are beginning to understand the importance of addressing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and their impact on an individual’s health and well-being. To promote community engagement and knowledge of ACEs and resilience, AFMC has hosted an ACEs & Resilience Summit every year for the last seven years. This year’s summit theme was the power of belonging. In case you were not able to attend this year’s Summit, here is a brief recap of the enlightening presentations, thought-provoking discussions, and practical strategies shared during this impactful event.

Food insecurity is an issue many college campuses continue to face. Recent surveys suggest that out of 195,000 students at four-year colleges, nearly 30% have reported that they struggle to feed themselves and their families. For students at two-year colleges, that percentage is even higher. To help ease the burden, colleges and universities across the nation have used grants and other funding opportunities to create food pantries that provide students and faculty with food, drinks, and other basic essentials. The University of Central Arkansas (UCA) Bear Essentials Food Bank has seen the impact the pantry has had on its community. Wendy Holbrook, assistant vice president for student affairs, oversees the pantry and knows how essential their services are to families who struggle to have their basic needs met.