Healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle is one which helps to keep and improve people's health and well-being.Many governments and non-governmental organizations have made big efforts in healthy lifestyle and health promotion.
Mental Health
Mental health can be considered a very important factor of physical health for the effects it produces on bodily functions. This type of health concerns emotional and cognitive well-being or an absence of mental disorder.
Public health
Public health can be defined in a variety of ways. It can be presented as "the study of the physical, psychosocial and socio-cultural determinants of population health and actions to improve the health of the population.
Reproductive Health
For the UN, reproductive health is a right, like other human rights. This recent concept evokes the good transmission of the genetic heritage from one generation to the next.
Health
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
samedi 18 avril 2020
Rainn Wilson and Ed Helms Sing "Take Me Home, Country Roads" in Virtual Office Reunion
Image Source: Getty / George Pimentel / Rodin Eckenroth
Rainn Wilson and Ed Helms just had a (virtual) The Office reunion! During the most recent episode of Wilson's "Hey There, Human" series on Instagram with SoulPancake, the pair sang a mini version of John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads." Fans of the show will remember that Wilson and Helms's characters, Dwight Schrute and Andy Bernard, famously had a sing-off to the song on the show in an attempt serenade Erin Hannon, who had recently started working at Dunder Mifflin. They may not have had a banjo and guitar to back them up this time, but something tells me this performance would have Erin insisting on an encore. Keep reading to see the Office alums discuss what they used to do in between takes on the show and to see them sing their latest version of "Take Me Home, Country Roads" ahead.
5 Stretches You Should Do Every Day, According to a Yoga Instructor
You probably already stretch before and after exercising, depending on the workout, but stretching is something you need to do every day, whether you work out or not. That's because it keeps your muscles from shortening (hello, tight hamstrings from sitting at a desk all day), and helps with flexibility, mobility, and range of motion. Aside from making you strong and limber, stretching regularly will protect you from injury, too.
Thankfully, it doesn't take a ton of time. These five exercises from Tessa Jenkins, training director for Bulldog Online and Bulldog Yoga Studio, can be done in just five minutes at any point during the day. Whether you prefer to wake up and stretch or shake off brain fog with some mid-day poses, the benefits of this routine will help both body and mind.
Where to Watch All Your Favorite Late-Night Shows Right Now
Between Stephen Colbert chilling in a bathtub and Jimmy Fallon goofing around with his daughters, late-night television has become a Wild West under shelter-in-place directives. Sure, production is being conducted via iPhones and Zoom calls, but silly chats and bits are now more welcome than ever. That said, there's been uncertainty around when and where to watch new late-night content since in-studio production shut down in mid-March. Some shows have been regularly uploading content onto YouTube, where they post fundraisers with organizations to help frontline workers and food banks. Others have already returned to the air, with hosts filming from their homes and chatting with guests by video call. To curb the confusion, we've rounded up the latest updates on where to watch all of your favorite late-night TV personalities.
vendredi 17 avril 2020
Ariana Grande Channels Her Inner Meg as She Sings "I Won't Say I'm in Love" From Hercules
We'll say it @ArianaGrande, we're IN LOVE with this performance 😍 #DisneyFamilySingalong pic.twitter.com/ievZ2i2JXp
- ABC (@ABCNetwork) April 17, 2020
Ariana Grande has been using her platform to bring a little light into the world during the coronavirus pandemic, and on Thursday, the 26-year-old singer joined forces with a group of stars for ABC's The Disney Family Singalong special. The one-hour event included appearances by host Ryan Seacrest, Demi Lovato, Christina Aguilera, Derek and Julianne Hough, and Beyoncé - just to name a few - and Grande belted out a gorgeous rendition of Hercules's "I Won't Say I'm in Love" from her home. Donning a purple sweater, Grande channeled Meg perfectly, but she also played the five Muses as she donned a silver outfit.
Along with the special performance, Grande recently announced on Instagram that she's supporting the Opportunity Fund, Feeding America, the World Health Organization, and the Italian Red Cross with coronavirus relief efforts. Watch Grande's beautiful performance above now.
Matching Sweatsuits Are the Trend We've Not-So-Secretly Been Hoping For
If you were to combine two of the year's biggest trends, tonal dressing and coziness, you would get a matching sweatsuit. If you're like us, the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of a sweatsuit is a matching velour Juicy Couture moment, but it's 2020 now, and it's only right that the iconic look gets an upgrade. In our opinion, the best way to tackle this look is to make sure your colors match. That way, the look is more cohesive, and then, the world's your oyster. Pair your sweatsuit with sneakers, slides, or slippers. The possibilities really are endless when it comes to crafting this look, and honestly, we can't wait to shop.
Whether you are going for an all-white look or prefer to stick to blacks or blues, we found a sweatsuit you're going to love. If you're set on a print, we say, make it tie-dye. Just keep reading to see some of our favorite ways to wear a matching set, then shop some of our most flattering picks!
Beyoncé's Surprise Disney Singalong Performance Is Exactly What We Needed Today
We knew ABC's Disney Family Singalong was going to be special, but we definitely weren't ready for a surprise performance from Beyoncé. The singer blessed our TV screens on Thursday with a beautiful performance of Pinocchio's "When You Wish Upon a Star," and her soothing voice is exactly what we needed to hear today. Following her gorgeous rendition of the Disney song, Beyoncé shared a sweet message with viewers. "Please hold on to your families tight," she said. "Please be safe." The Disney special also included numbers by Demi Lovato, Ariana Grande, Christina Aguilera, Little Big Town, and Derek and Julianne Hough. Watch Beyoncé's performance above.
Ariana Grande Channels Her Inner Meg as She Sings "I Won't Say I'm in Love" From Hercules
We'll say it @ArianaGrande, we're IN LOVE with this performance 😍 #DisneyFamilySingalong pic.twitter.com/ievZ2i2JXp
- ABC (@ABCNetwork) April 17, 2020
Ariana Grande has been using her platform to bring a little light into the world during the coronavirus pandemic, and on Thursday, the 26-year-old singer joined forces with a group of stars for ABC's The Disney Family Singalong special. The one-hour event included appearances by host Ryan Seacrest, Demi Lovato, Christina Aguilera, Derek and Julianne Hough, and Beyoncé - just to name a few - and Grande belted out a gorgeous rendition of Hercules's "I Won't Say I'm in Love" from her home. Donning a purple sweater, Grande channeled Meg perfectly, but she also played the five Muses as she donned a silver outfit.
Along with the special performance, Grande recently announced on Instagram that she's supporting the Opportunity Fund, Feeding America, the World Health Organization, and the Italian Red Cross with coronavirus relief efforts. Watch Grande's beautiful performance above now.
Matching Sweatsuits Are the Trend We've Not-So-Secretly Been Hoping For
If you were to combine two of the year's biggest trends, tonal dressing and coziness, you would get a matching sweatsuit. If you're like us, the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of a sweatsuit is a matching velour Juicy Couture moment, but it's 2020 now, and it's only right that the iconic look gets an upgrade. In our opinion, the best way to tackle this look is to make sure your colors match. That way, the look is more cohesive, and then, the world's your oyster. Pair your sweatsuit with sneakers, slides, or slippers. The possibilities really are endless when it comes to crafting this look, and honestly, we can't wait to shop.
Whether you are going for an all-white look or prefer to stick to blacks or blues, we found a sweatsuit you're going to love. If you're set on a print, we say, make it tie-dye. Just keep reading to see some of our favorite ways to wear a matching set, then shop some of our most flattering picks!
In a Netflix Rut? Try One of These 17 Underrated Gems
It's easy to fall into Netflix habits of watching your same favorites over and over again or never exploring beyond the big buzzy titles on the front page. Beyond those popular titles, though, are a ton of underrated movies on Netflix that definitely deserve your attention. Whether they're older movies that you haven't thought about in years or smaller indies that you maybe never even caught the first time around, there's a whole world of lesser-known movies just waiting to be found. If you don't want to sift through dozens and dozens of movies on Netflix, we've got you covered with a list of our underrated faves. Keep reading to find your next movie night pick!
10 Times Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake Proved They Need Their Own Variety Show
We absolutely love the bromance between Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake, and they've definitely provided us with plenty of hilarious comic skits and segments over the years! From their early days of teaming up on Saturday Night Live to more recent appearances during Fallon's tenure as host of The Tonight Show, we can always count on them to crack us up with plenty of jokes and plenty of music, too. In honor of their hilarious friendship, we're rounding up some of the best skits they've done together. If your day could use a laugh - and really, who couldn't use a laugh? - keep reading for ten of the best Fallon/Timberlake comic collaborations!
Where to Watch All Your Favorite Late-Night Shows Right Now
Between Stephen Colbert chilling in a bathtub and Jimmy Fallon goofing around with his daughters, late-night television has become a Wild West under shelter-in-place directives. Sure, production is now being conducted via iPhones and Zoom calls, but silly chats and bits are now more welcome than ever. That said, there's been uncertainty around when and where to watch new late-night content since in-studio production shut down mid-March. Some shows have been regularly uploading content onto YouTube, where they post fundraisers with organizations to help frontline workers and food banks. Others have already returned to the air, hosts filming from their homes and chatting with guests by video call. To curb the confusion, we've rounded up the latest updates on where to watch all of your favorite late-night TV personalities.
The Innocence Files: What Happened to Levon Brooks and Kennedy Brewer?
Similar to Ava DuVernay's When They See Us, Netflix's latest true-crime project, The Innocence Files, unravels the questionable methodologies and emotional fallouts behind wrongful convictions. The first two episodes of the docu-series cast serious doubt on how forensic dentistry was applied to two shockingly similar cases: the convictions of Levon Brooks and Kennedy Brewer. Both men were eventually exonerated - here's what you need to know about what happened to them and where they are today.
Both men spent over a decade behind bars for the rapes and murders of young girls in Noxubee County, Mississippi. In 1992, Brooks received a sentence to life for the death of Courtney Smith, his ex-girlfriend's daughter. In 1995, Brewer was put on death row for the murder of Christine Jackson, his girlfriend's daughter. The cases shared uncanny correlations - both victims were three-year-old African American girls who were kidnapped and sexually assaulted in the middle of the night, then tossed in a body of water. Medical examiner Steven Hayne and forensic dentist Michael West identified bite marks on both bodies. West claimed that Brooks' and Wests' teeth matched the markings on each respective victim. While then considered experts in their fields, Hayne and West have become controversial figures for their close ties with state prosecutors and their unthorough work. Their testimonies would later be put into question.
Years after his sentencing, Brewer got in touch with the Innocence Project, a nonprofit that helps those with wrongful conviction cases using DNA testing. The Innocence Project's deep dive into Brewer's case eliminated him as a possible perpetrator based on the semen on the victim's body. The investigation instead linked Jackson's murder to Justin Albert Johnson, who ultimately confessed to killing both Jackson and Smith. Johnson recalled being high and hearing voices during the murders, but he didn't remember biting. Based on experts, the marks on the bodies likely came from crawfish and insects, not human teeth.
So what happened to Brooks and Brewer? Both men were exonerated in 2008. Brooks and Brewer attempted to sue Hayne and West in 2014, but their civil lawsuit was dismissed. While the two forensic professionals were grossly negligent, they still qualified for immunity. The state of Mississippi paid both Brooks and Brewer $500,000 each in statutory compensation.
Brooks died in 2018 at age 58 after battling colon cancer for five years. Before he passed away, he married his girlfriend Dinah and opened a restaurant behind their house. After his exoneration, Brewer worked at various factory jobs, including gigs at a chicken processing plant and catfish farm. He recently suffered from a stroke in March 2020, right after his mother's death. His family, friends, and fiancée have been raising money for his recovery.
Meet the Cast of Netflix's Newest Sexy Reality Show, Too Hot to Handle
Once again, Netflix is serving up a pipping hot dish of entertainment with the new spicy reality dating series, Too Hot to Handle. Contestants, who are single and more than ready to mingle, will travel from around the globe for the chance to win $100,000. The catch? Participants must resist all forms of sexual interaction, including a simple smooch! And it doesn't help that the cast is sexy as hell. From the trailer alone, we can tell it's going to be a steamy competition with more than one contestant breaking the rules. In the meantime, here's where you can follow the cast; let's face it, if it's anywhere near as good as Love is Blind, we'll be obsessed by the end of episode one. Too Hot to Handle premieres on Netflix on April 17.
When I Lost Access to a Gym, I Lost All Motivation, Too - Until I Shifted My Mindset
I've been working out consistently for more than 10 years, always in a gym or studio and never at home. I've tried everything from kickboxing and big-box gyms to Pilates and personal training. Currently my love is F45, where I get the benefit of high-intensity interval training, weights, a supportive community, and a feeling that I'm one less degree of separation from Mark Wahlberg.
The common denominator among them all is that my workouts have always been scheduled. I've had somewhere to be at a specific time where someone was expecting me to show up. I do well with that level of accountability. My competitive spirit thrives in a gym environment. Knowing that someone is watching always helps to keep me going. I'm constantly in secret battles with the people around me, and I'm grateful every time a trainer challenges me to increase my weight or my speed, pushing me outside my self-imposed limits.
When COVID-19 forced gyms to close, so much of what I love - and thought I needed - in my workout routine was gone. No one was counting on me to show up. There was no one to compete with or push me. I was impressed with how quickly my local F45 studio responded, immediately posting modified workouts and hosting live sessions on Facebook. Not to mention there are thousands of other free, at-home workouts available at our fingertips. Technically and logistically, I had no excuse not to seamlessly continue my workout routine. But mentally, I found plenty.
Without someone to hold me accountable, I quickly fell into the trap of telling myself, "I'll do it later," then "I'll do it tomorrow." That cycle went on for several weeks. I made excuses for myself about how the timing of the live workouts didn't fit my schedule (like I had anywhere to go!), and how I just don't push myself as hard on my own. I was struggling to stay motivated and finding every reason to avoid working out from home.
Then I realized that I was looking at the situation with a very narrow lens. My challenge wasn't to take my workout routine and somehow replicate it at home. Instead, I needed to reimagine it completely. If I was going to find a way to work out consistently from home, I had to change my mindset.
Instead of continuing to think that the only workouts that count are the ones that push me to the edge of passing out, I accepted other ways to move my body.
First, I expanded my definition of working out. Instead of continuing to think that the only workouts that count are the ones that push me to the edge of passing out, I accepted other ways to move my body. I started running again, doing ab exercises at the park, and going on long walks in the afternoon (at a safe distance from everyone else, of course). These are all things I'm not sure I would have ever done had I been able to stay in my gym routine. Are they as intense as my beloved F45 classes? No. Do they burn as many calories? Not even close. But they come with some nice benefits, like being outdoors and giving my boyfriend and I something new to enjoy together.
I also had to define my reason for working out in the first place. I'm not training for a figure competition. I don't need to be the strongest person I know or get down to some ridiculously low body-fat percentage. The reason I work out is not solely for my physical health, but for my mental and emotional wellbeing as well. I simply want to feel good. So stressing myself out over the intensity or consistency of my workouts is completely counterproductive. I had been putting all this pressure on myself to keep up with this challenging routine without evaluating whether it was necessary or even harmful.
Now I livestream F45 classes at home whenever I can, but if I miss a workout, I let it slide. I'm also listening to my body and my mind to figure out what they need that day, and if it's just a long walk to get some fresh air, that's what I do. I still miss my gym workouts, where I'm surrounded by fitness enthusiasts and coached by trainers who push me. I'll be the first in line when my gym reopens - but I also plan to keep some of this new mindset. I'm hoping that's one of the positives that comes from all of this. That I'll be more flexible with my routine, allowing space for loved ones and the outdoors to be part of it, and giving myself the freedom to stray from it whenever needed.
In a Netflix Rut? Try One of These 17 Underrated Gems
It's easy to fall into Netflix habits of watching your same favorites over and over again or never exploring beyond the big buzzy titles on the front page. Beyond those popular titles, though, are a ton of underrated movies on Netflix that definitely deserve your attention. Whether they're older movies that you haven't thought about in years or smaller indies that you maybe never even caught the first time around, there's a whole world of lesser-known movies just waiting to be found. If you don't want to sift through dozens and dozens of movies on Netflix, we've got you covered with a list of our underrated faves. Keep reading to find your next movie night pick!
10 Times Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake Proved They Need Their Own Variety Show
We absolutely love the bromance between Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake, and they've definitely provided us with plenty of hilarious comic skits and segments over the years! From their early days of teaming up on Saturday Night Live to more recent appearances during Fallon's tenure as host of The Tonight Show, we can always count on them to crack us up with plenty of jokes and plenty of music, too. In honor of their hilarious friendship, we're rounding up some of the best skits they've done together. If your day could use a laugh - and really, who couldn't use a laugh? - keep reading for ten of the best Fallon/Timberlake comic collaborations!
Julianne and Derek Hough Put on a Whole Show For Their Beauty and the Beast Singalong
Derek Hough and Julianne Hough aren't letting social distancing stop them from dancing together. For ABC's upcoming Disney Family Singalong special on Thursday, the brother and sister duo teamed up for a performance of "Be Our Guest" from Beauty and the Beast. The video starts with Derek and his girlfriend, Hayley Erbert, playfully dancing around the house, before doing a full number in Beast and Belle costumes. Of course, Julianne couldn't let them have all the fun as she eventually joined in via video chat to dance with them. She even slipped into her own Belle outfit for the occasion! We can't tell which is more impressive: their costumes or the fact that they were able to put on such a stunning performance via FaceTime. Watch their full number above.
Where to Watch All Your Favorite Late-Night Shows Right Now
Between Stephen Colbert chilling in a bathtub and Jimmy Fallon goofing around with his daughters, late-night television has become a Wild West under shelter-in-place directives. Sure, production is now being conducted via iPhones and Zoom calls, but silly chats and bits are now more welcome than ever. That said, there's been uncertainty around when and where to watch new late-night content since in-studio production shut down mid-March. Some shows have been regularly uploading content onto YouTube, where they post fundraisers with organizations to help frontline workers and food banks. Others have already returned to the air, hosts filming from their homes and chatting with guests by video call. To curb the confusion, we've rounded up the latest updates on where to watch all of your favorite late-night TV personalities.
Looking For Online Therapy During This Time? Here's a Guide to Teletherapy Amid Coronavirus
Due to the implementation of social distancing guidelines and stay-at-home orders across the US, nonessential businesses have closed their doors. That includes private practices run by therapists. At a time where being isolated and the novel coronavirus pandemic itself can cause anxiety and stress - and especially for those with mental illness - not being able to go to scheduled face-to-face therapy appointments is a problem. That's where teletherapy comes in.
Teletherapy is exactly how it sounds. Simply put, it's the act of receiving therapy by phone or video call from a therapist who is licensed in your state. Each state has its own licensing board for therapists, and during this time, some are permitting therapists to practice across state lines - many therapists POPSUGAR spoke to have verified this. It also depends on what type of license a therapist has. Here is, for example, a state by state rundown of emergency waivers and actions announced, as released by the American Psychological Association.
Some states are also making it easier to get temporarily licensed in order to accommodate therapy across state borders. Sheina Schochet, LMHC, for instance, who's licensed in New York and Florida, said she recently received a temporary license lasting 180 days to practice therapy in New Jersey. Regardless, those conducting therapy should check in with their individual state's licensing board for more information.
Teletherapy Amid Coronavirus: HIPAA, Insurance, and Growth
Teletherapy and HIPAA
Typically, teletherapy sessions need to be conducted with technology that's compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA); in other words, through platforms that guarantee privacy for the client's information. For instance, my therapist uses a platform called Doxy for video sessions, and there are other services such as Zoom for Healthcare and Updox. Basically, you can't just pull up FaceTime.
"There could be legal trouble in general from not using HIPAA-compliant devices and technologies to use and disclose patient health information," Alissa Smith, a partner at the international law firm Dorsey and Whitney who represents different organizations and workers in the healthcare industry, told POPSUGAR. "Because mental health information is more sensitive and protected, the stakes are higher, and providers should exercise even greater caution to protect the information."
That being said, due to the national emergency declared, HIPAA rules have been waived on telehealth, making it easier to communicate with patients through personal devices and apps that aren't HIPAA complaint such as FaceTime and Google Hangouts. Therapy sessions are included in this, according to Smith. "HIPAA applies to all healthcare providers, so the waivers also apply to all healthcare providers, including therapists," she said. "However, if states have more restrictive privacy and security requirements for mental health and substance abuse treatment providers, then the state law would continue to apply."
That was echoed by Mary Jo Monahan, MSW, LCSW, the CEO of American Social Work Boards, which works with all of the licensure boards throughout the United States and in Canada. If teletherapy rules instated by individual state boards are more restrictive than HIPAA, those rules should be followed, she said. As a regulator, Monahan said she would not encourage any therapist to use technology that is not HIPAA compliant. "If anything, during an emergency when people are distraught and vulnerable, therapists have to be at their best and their most competent and practicing safely," she told POPSUGAR. When in doubt, a therapist should check with their state licensing board during this time though the national HIPAA waivers should apply.
Is Training Required For Teletherapy?
Additionally, in order to practice teletherapy ethically and, as Monahan said, competently, it's generally encouraged to have some sort of training. For instance, Natalie Jones, PsyD, a licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC) and psychotherapist in California, told POPSUGAR that she received a teletherapy certification through continuing education. Getting extra training in teletherapy is simple for licensed mental health providers to do, Dr. Jones said, "and if not a certification, it's at least in your best interest to be well-versed in the requirements of teletherapy." Note: Dr. Jones said she uses Zoom and Skype business accounts that are HIPAA compliant as well as Google Voice for phone calls, which is also HIPAA compliant.
For therapists who work under behavioral health services like Talkspace and AbleTo, for instance, conducting sessions using new technologies is something they go over before working with clients. Talkspace offers video therapy sessions along with text, audio, and video messaging, and AbleTo offers video and phone calls with therapists during eight-week programs, which individuals have access to through their health benefits. Those administering therapy should be checking with their licensing board to see if there are any training requirements specific to their state at this time.
Is Teletherapy Covered by Insurance?
Therapists are not always affiliated with insurance carriers and therefore do not take insurance for their services, so be sure to check if a therapist takes your insurance or not first. If your therapist takes insurance, you will be charged a copay, coinsurance, or the full contracted rate if you need to meet the deductible, Dr. Jones said. If you do not have health insurance, you will be paying for your sessions up front in full (out of pocket).
If a therapist doesn't accept your insurance and your insurance company has out-of-network benefits, you will also be paying the full rate out of pocket, but you can send your therapy bills to your insurance company for reimbursement; depending on your plan, your insurance should reimburse up to 80 percent of the cost. Your therapist will give you a form that typically has your diagnosis, their tax identification number, the charge of the session, and a billing code. According to Monahan, there are two separate codes for face-to-face therapy and for teletherapy. These codes are important for reimbursement purposes and they are the same for psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers giving therapy, according to the American Psychological Association.
Whether or not teletherapy is covered - and how much is covered - depends on your individual insurance and your state's policy. Slate reported in March that 37 states have telehealth parity laws ensuring that private insurance companies cover telehealth services the exact way they'd cover in-person services. Through Medicaid, 21 states offer coverage for telehealth services as they would for in-person services, Slate also reported. As for Medicare, telehealth wasn't available for coverage unless seniors on the plan lived in a rural area. Now, under this national emergency, Medicare is waiving that requirement and making it easier to get access to and coverage for telehealth in general.
Some insurances also, according to Dr. Jones, only cover teletherapy if you receive it from a mental health professional with a specific type of license. She explained they may not cover interns who are practicing under a licensed therapist, or they may not cover the cost of sessions based on the type of therapy provided such as marital counseling. It depends on the underwriting of the policy. It's also important to note that certain insurance companies don't consider sessions via phone to be teletherapy. As ICANotes states, "some insurers will cover therapy over the phone, even though Medicare and Medicaid require a video element." Again, due to the current crisis, it's best to check since some providers may have plans in place in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic that offer more flexibility for coverage.
Kayla Murphy, MHC-LP, told POPSUGAR that the New York City and Long Island private practice she works for, Family and Personal Counseling, now offers a sliding scale for clients who can't afford their usual copay due to the pandemic. If a therapist offers payment on a sliding scale, that means you and the therapist work out the cost of the session ahead of time depending on what you can afford. Dr. Jones, who started offering teletherapy in 2017, said she charges her clients the same amount of money for teletherapy as she does for in-person sessions. You should speak with your therapist, or prospective therapist, about rates during this time.
The Rise in Teletherapy
Telehealth visits in general in the US surged by 50 percent this past March, according to research from Frost and Sullivan consultants, and an increase of teletherapy sessions seems to be trending as well. Talkspace has seen an increase of about 250 new therapist applicants a day as of late March when POPSUGAR spoke with Amy Cirbus, PhD, LMHC, LPC, director of clinical content at Talkspace. And, since mid-February, Talkspace, which is currently offering a COVID-19 anxiety management program to subscribers, has also seen a major increase in people seeking therapy - user volume is up over 65 percent year-over-year. AbleTo, according to a spokesperson, has seen a 30 percent uptick in engagement and people scheduling appointments compared to the beginning of March. Dr. Jones and Murphy both said that their client numbers have gone up.
Is Teletherapy Beneficial Right Now?
Teletherapy has been shown to be as effective if not more effective than face-to-face therapy in the long run. However, it depends on your personal preference and relationship with your therapist - that's something that the majority of mental health professionals POPSUGAR spoke to for this article stressed.
Nothing beats human contact face to face, Dr. Jones said, but having access to therapists via phone or video during the coronavirus pandemic is particularly convenient and crucial for her clients. "Since we're in a time of crisis, I definitely think that people should reach out and look for therapy online," Dr. Jones noted, adding that we should be putting our mental health needs first.
Reena Pande, MD, chief medical officer at AbleTo, pointed to the fact that with this crisis, "we very much expect there to be an uptick in the levels of anxiety, feelings of social isolation, fear in the context of all the ambiguity and the concerns about people's health." Social isolation and loneliness in particular, she told POPSUGAR, has an impact on our mental health, and this pandemic can cause stressors in many aspects of people's lives, whether that be family dynamics, health and safety, or financial stability. "I think it's a combo of anxiety and fear married to issues that will arise from isolation and loneliness that together will be problematic for so many individuals," she explained. That's why access to teletherapy is so imperative.
"You don't need to be in the same room to feel the empathy that a therapist can give you," Dr. Pande said. "So I think that relationship can be strong no matter what."
Next Steps to Signing Up for Teletherapy
If you're interested, here are some steps you may want to take:
- Read up on the different types of mental health professionals.
- If you regularly go to therapy, ask your therapist if they're offering teletherapy and what types they offer.
- If you need to find a therapist, use resources like Psychology Today, and make sure that the therapist you're considering is licensed in your state and they have had experience using teletherapy before. (As Monahan said, "You don't want someone learning on you.")
- Consider tele-mental health platforms either individually (Talkspace, for example) or through your health plan (AbleTo, for instance).
- Speak to your health insurance provider on reimbursements and coverage options during this time.
- See if organizations in your community or other services are offering mental health services for free. You'll find some of those options ahead.
- Read up on mental health management tips from trusted resources like the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Free Mental Health Services During This Time
Many private practices or teletherapy platforms are offering discounts amid the pandemic, but it's also worth checking for free services, whether that be full therapy sessions, messaging with a licensed therapist, or hotlines you can call. Some services are designated to specific states. For instance, New York City has a COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline manned by mental health professionals at 1-844-863-9314. And startup Real opened early to offer free services through the end of April for those living in New York state. The Real to the People program, in response to this pandemic, includes one-time "digital mental check-ins" and four-session "digital group salons" hosted by licensed therapists on topics such as "Overcoming the Trap of Productivity to Surviving" and "Thriving While Single During Quarantine."
BetterHelp, in partnership with Thoughtful Human, is offering anyone who needs it one month of free messaging, phone, or video sessions with a licensed therapist (free from whenever you sign up). Talkspace is offering a free month of services to a limited number of healthcare workers on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic through its Unlimited Messaging Plus plan, which includes text, video, and audio messaging with a licensed therapist. According to a spokesperson, as of now and through donations, Talkspace is able to extend this offer to at least 2,100 healthcare workers. They can sign up through the Talkspace app or website by providing their NPI and state of residence for verification.
Experts we spoke to stressed that, during this time, communicating with a therapist online is still only considered teletherapy if you have ongoing sessions via phone or video. But, they said that services such as hotlines, texting, or audio messaging can still provide therapeutic benefits amid this pandemic. It's up to you and what you're comfortable with. No matter which avenue you choose, be sure to take care of your wellbeing.
It's No Secret Target Has Great Furniture - These Are the 28 Pieces That Caught My Eye
Furniture shopping can be an exciting, yet daunting task. Sometimes the amount of choices can stress me out more than anything. When I was looking for my new apartment, I spent hours online browsing endless retailers, but it turns out, a ton of a great options were hiding at Target. Every time I visited the store I saw a handful of nice items, but its site has thousands of even more choices. To help you shop its best selection too, I curated a list of my favorite picks right now.
Ahead, you can shop everything from chic sofas to cool accent chairs and even desks for working at home. All these stylish pieces have one thing in common: they're affordable and won't break the bank. Plus, they're delivered right to doorstep, making redecorating easier than ever. Keep reading to shop my top picks and see which ones fit in your space.
Teddy Bear Scavenger Hunts Are a Beary Good Way to Pass the Time While Social Distancing
After being cooped up in the house for a few weeks, chances are that your kids would welcome a little distraction from the heaviness of the coronavirus pandemic and the social distancing measures currently in place to keep us all safe. While they may not be able to see their friends and neighbors in person, teddy bear scavenger hunts are giving kids the chance to get out of the house and visit their neighbors from a distance.
If you're interested in joining in on the hunt yourself, we've pulled together information on how teddy bear hunts came to be, how to find out if your town already has a teddy bear hunt going on, and a few tips on how to start one yourself. Read on if you're ready to go on a bear hunt!
Kim Kardashian's Legal Mentor Proves You Don't Need to Hold Office to Make a Change
When you think of women who are changing the political landscape for the better, people like Elizabeth Warren and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez might come to mind. But Jessica Jackson is proof you don't need to hold a position in office to be a catalyst for policy change. Jackson's name might not be familiar to you, but the human rights attorney is working to overhaul the US prison system, is a legal mentor to Kim Kardashian, helped pass the First Step Act, and cofounded #cut50, a bipartisan effort to decrease the incarceration rate. Her path to advocacy, and her talent for bringing Democrats and Republicans together, were borne out of her own personal tragedies.
"When I was 22, my husband was incarcerated," Jackson, now 38, told POPSUGAR. Because she had just given birth to their daughter two months prior, she needed to do whatever she could to help her husband. "I didn't have the luxury of sitting back and not getting more involved in correcting the ills of the justice system. I decided to become a public defender, went to college and law school, and ended up really becoming interested in criminal justice and working on everything from death row cases to federal policy."
Obviously for Jackson, the work is incredibly personal. "People tend to forget about the families of those who are incarcerated," she explained. "They very much fall into the narrative of 'They did the crime, they're doing the time.'" Jackson knows from her own experience how financially trying it can be for the inmate's family. "Right off the bat, we felt the financial impact of having the breadwinner go to prison," she said. "We scrambled and had to leave our home because I couldn't afford it anymore. I instantly felt the burden of being a single mom, and having to provide for my daughter while going to school and working."
"I didn't have the luxury of sitting back and not getting more involved in correcting the ills of the justice system."
After finishing law school, Jackson became the youngest-ever elected official in Marin County, CA, when she was named to the Mill Valley City Council in November 2013. In 2015, she partnered with news commentator, author, and nonpracticing attorney Van Jones to form the bipartisan non-profit #cut50, which seeks to cut crime and incarceration rates across the 50 states.
In order to make a lasting impact on the prison system, Jackson used #cut50 to bring a group of unlikely allies together, including members of Congress, business and faith leaders, and families directly impacted by the injustices of the prison system. Together, they crafted the First Step Act, a piece of legislation meant to "transform the federal prison system and reduce some of the harshest drug-related penalties on the books."
For Jackson, the overarching point of the First Step Act is to give individuals the tools they need to be successful when they're released from prison. "The purpose of the First Step Act is to make sure that people are job ready when they're coming home from prison," she explained. "We want to make sure these individuals are being treated with dignity while they're incarcerated so that they don't have trauma. We also want to ensure they have a meaningful opportunity to rehabilitate themselves while they're inside, and that they're coming home ready to get to work."
As the first step in a long series of reforms, Jackson admitted that the law is one of the few pieces of legislation both Democratic and Republicans agree upon.
"We've had over 7,000 people come home [from prison], and I think one of my favorite things is watching video after video of these families being reunited."
"One thing I love about the First Step Act is that with such a huge national spotlight and so many unlikely people coming together - everybody from Cory Booker to Donald Trump to Nancy Pelosi to Sheila Jackson Lee to Ted Cruz - you've never seen a coalition so strange," she said. "It's such a strange group of characters that it inspired lawmakers on the state level to reach across the aisle and say, 'Look, we can get something done.'"
On Dec. 21, 2018, President Trump signed the First Step Act into law after it was overwhelmingly passed by the bipartisan majority in Congress. For Jackson, it was an exciting step in the right direction. "I was really emotional when it passed," said Jackson. "We've had over 7,000 people come home [from prison], and I think one of my favorite things is watching video after video of these families being reunited."
"In some ways, seeing families reunite is almost therapeutic for me," she explained. "My husband and I broke up while he was incarcerated. We got a divorce right when he came home, so unfortunately, we didn't have one of those magical moments of reuniting . . . I know so many families that have been ripped apart by the system. It's amazing to watch these families come together when [a family member] is coming home, especially the folks who thought they were going to die in prison until the First Step Act passed."
Jessica admitted there's still work to be done when it comes to prison reform, but she's received significant support from Kim Kardashian. As Kardashian's mentor, Jessica has been impressed by Kim's "persistence and tenacity," especially when it came to getting a pardon for Alice Marie Johnson aka "Miss Alice," a 65-year-old grandmother who was given a life sentence in 1996 for a nonviolent drug charge. After spending 21 years in prison, Miss Alice was granted clemency by Donald Trump on June 6, 2018.
"Kim never gave up on Miss Alice, even though it was difficult," said Jackson. "I think people only saw her walk into the White House, and basically walk out with an agreement for Miss Alice to be free. But there were months and months and months of work done before that. She does so much that people don't even know about. She reads all the letters she gets, she figures out how she can help people. I'm just so impressed by her deep commitment to the cause."
On March 4, Jackson and Kardashian attended a meeting at the White House, along with a group of formerly incarcerated women, to discuss how to bring more change to the American justice system.
"We are proud to continue to work with leaders that are committed to advocating for changing our system to ensure justice for all," Jessica told POPSUGAR. "Women inside prisons are often separated from their families, placed in extreme conditions of confinement, and stripped of their dignity. As we work towards reform, we are eager to continue to fight to reunite families and uplift the leadership of individuals impacted by the criminal justice system."
Now, as the current chief advocacy officer at Reform Alliance, Jackson is thinking even bigger. She's currently working on several clemency cases and focusing on bills geared toward the 4.75 million Americans who are not incarcerated, but rather are living under community supervision.
"What we've come to find out is because of really silly things like technical violations, many of these people are getting sent back to jail, even if they have a job, a housing situation, and custody of their kids," she explained. "They cycle back into the system because they miss a meeting with a probation officer or they can't make their restitution payment."
As for her advice to other young women who want to see policy change? Fight for what you believe in. "It's all about letting your anger turn to action as opposed to letting it build up," she advised. "I let what happened to my family guide me in discovering my passion and using that passion to make change. It should always be about really looking at people, and putting people over politics and being willing to take some heat and work with whomever you have to get things done."
The Innocence Files: What Happened to Levon Brooks and Kennedy Brewer?
Similar to Ava DuVernay's When They See Us, Netflix's latest true-crime project, The Innocence Files, unravels the questionable methodologies and emotional fallouts behind wrongful convictions. The first two episodes of the docu-series cast serious doubt on how forensic dentistry was applied to two shockingly similar cases: the convictions of Levon Brooks and Kennedy Brewer. Both men were eventually exonerated - here's what you need to know about what happened to them and where they are today.
Both men spent over a decade behind bars for the rapes and murders of young girls in Noxubee County, Mississippi. In 1992, Brooks received a sentence to life for the death of Courtney Smith, his ex-girlfriend's daughter. In 1995, Brewer was put on death row for the murder of Christine Jackson, his girlfriend's daughter. The cases shared uncanny correlations - both victims were three-year-old African American girls who were kidnapped and sexually assaulted in the middle of the night, then tossed in a body of water. Medical examiner Steven Hayne and forensic dentist Michael West identified bite marks on both bodies. West claimed that Brooks' and Wests' teeth matched the markings on each respective victim. While then considered experts in their fields, Hayne and West have become controversial figures for their close ties with state prosecutors and their unthorough work. Their testimonies would later be put into question.
Years after his sentencing, Brewer got in touch with the Innocence Project, a nonprofit that helps those with wrongful conviction cases using DNA testing. The Innocence Project's deep dive into Brewer's case eliminated him as a possible perpetrator based on the semen on the victim's body. The investigation instead linked Jackson's murder to Justin Albert Johnson, who ultimately confessed to killing both Jackson and Smith. Johnson recalled being high and hearing voices during the murders, but he didn't remember biting. Based on experts, the marks on the bodies likely came from crawfish and insects, not human teeth.
So what happened to Brooks and Brewer? Both men were exonerated in 2008. Brooks and Brewer attempted to sue Hayne and West in 2014, but their civil lawsuit was dismissed. While the two forensic professionals were grossly negligent, they still qualified for immunity. The state of Mississippi paid both Brooks and Brewer $500,000 each in statutory compensation.
Brooks died in 2018 at age 58 after battling colon cancer for five years. Before he passed away, he married his girlfriend Dinah and opened a restaurant behind their house. After his exoneration, Brewer worked at various factory jobs, including gigs at a chicken processing plant and catfish farm. He recently suffered from a stroke in March 2020, right after his mother's death. His family, friends, and fiancée have been raising money for his recovery.
Meet the Cast of Netflix's Newest Sexy Reality Show, Too Hot to Handle
Once again, Netflix is serving up a pipping hot dish of entertainment with the new spicy reality dating series, Too Hot to Handle. Contestants, who are single and more than ready to mingle, will travel from around the globe for the chance to win $100,000. The catch? Participants must resist all forms of sexual interaction, including a simple smooch! And it doesn't help that the cast is sexy as hell. From the trailer alone, we can tell it's going to be a steamy competition with more than one contestant breaking the rules. In the meantime, here's where you can follow the cast; let's face it, if it's anywhere near as good as Love is Blind, we'll be obsessed by the end of episode one. Too Hot to Handle premieres on Netflix on April 17.
It's No Secret Target Has Great Furniture - These Are the 28 Pieces That Caught My Eye
Furniture shopping can be an exciting, yet daunting task. Sometimes the amount of choices can stress me out more than anything. When I was looking for my new apartment, I spent hours online browsing endless retailers, but it turns out, a ton of a great options were hiding at Target. Every time I visited the store I saw a handful of nice items, but its site has thousands of even more choices. To help you shop its best selection too, I curated a list of my favorite picks right now.
Ahead, you can shop everything from chic sofas to cool accent chairs and even desks for working at home. All these stylish pieces have one thing in common: they're affordable and won't break the bank. Plus, they're delivered right to doorstep, making redecorating easier than ever. Keep reading to shop my top picks and see which ones fit in your space.
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