Between managing the cost of student loans, stagnant wages, and inflation, many students are struggling to afford to pay for basic essentials, such as food. According to a Hope Center survey at Temple University in 2020, out of 195,000 students at four-year colleges, nearly 30% reported experiencing food insecurity. For students at two-year colleges, that number is nearly 40%. With the end of the public health emergency in May, eligibility requirements for federally funded hunger relief programs have changed. Now, students who relied on federal funds for the last three years have to find a new way to get food. To help ease the burden, some colleges and universities have used donations, grant money, and student funds to build food pantries on campus.

The healthcare sector has experienced a dramatic digital shift in recent years, powered by remarkable advances in technology. Central to this transformation is the rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into our daily lives. One fascinating application of AI that has captured the attention of the medical community is ChatGPT, a sophisticated large language model launched by OpenAI in November 2022. Leveraged ethically and appropriately, this technology holds the potential to redefine the way medical professionals engage with patients, access information, and provide personalized care. This blog will explore the exciting possibilities offered by ChatGPT in the medical field.

Caretaker burnout is a prevalent issue affecting millions of caregivers worldwide. It occurs when caregivers become overwhelmed, exhausted, and emotionally drained from their duties. This can have a severe impact on their physical and mental health, leading to anxiety, depression, and even chronic illness. As health care providers, we are responsible for identifying and supporting caregivers experiencing burnout. Dr. Rhonda Mattox, a board-certified psychiatrist and president of the Arkansas Medical, Dental, and Pharmaceutical Association, recently went on AFMC TV to discuss the importance of self-care and how telehealth has changed psychiatry for the better. Dr. Mattox says caretakers usually put patients’ concerns first, often leaving their own needs on the back burner.

Adolescence is a difficult and confusing time for a child. External stressors often pressure teenagers to act out and employ unhealthy coping mechanisms. They may turn to alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD) to delay or avoid their anxieties altogether, causing them to exhibit more risky behaviors and putting them at risk for adverse health impacts later in life. Arkansas regional prevention providers deter the onset of ATOD among youth through changing perceptions, attitudes, behaviors, and local conditions that increase the risk of ATOD abuse. 

Everyone has stressful days at work. Stressors affect mental and physical health and can trickle into overall work performance. To improve employee health and enhance recruitment and retention, companies should consider wellness programs. Jayme Mayo, PA-C, PTA, with JM Wellness, discusses the overall structure of a wellness program and the benefits it can have on a business. With an employee-focused design and a reliance on wellness experts to adapt and change the program to fit the needs of the business, wellness programs can be invaluable to the financial and personnel aspects of a company.

In a high-stakes, ever-changing environment like health care, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with multiple stressors. Patients’ health is at stake, and sometimes, we are the only ones who can help put them on the right track. Regardless of how stressful our work is, we must find a way to unplug, decompress, and get back to it the next day. For the good of our patients. For the good of our own mental health. Kim Shuler, LCSW, Chief Executive Officer at the Arkansas Behavioral Health Integration Network, says that stress is a part of life, but it’s also something we can learn to manage.