Black History Month 2022

The theme for 2022 focuses on the importance of Black Health and Wellness. The Association for the Study of African American Life and History said this about the theme, "This theme acknowledges the legacy of not only Black scholars and medical practitioners in Western medicine, but also other ways of knowing (e.g., birthworkers, doulas, midwives, naturopaths, herbalists, etc.) throughout the African Diaspora." ASALH 2022 Theme

Here are some facts from Everyday Health about Black Health and why it's important to focus on:

• Mistrust of the healthcare system among Black Americans negatively impacts their health
• High maternal mortality in Black women Is representative of a larger problem
• Black young adults ages 18 to 25 experience higher rates of mental health problems and lower rates of mental health service utilization compared with their white counterparts.
• In 2018, 2.4 percent of Black Americans ages 18 to 25 made a suicide attempt, compared with 1.5 percent in 2008.
• Although more common in white Americans, studies find that Black Americans with a-fib are more at risk,
• African Americans are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's Disease as white Americans.
• Black Americans experience the highest overall mortality rates and the most widespread occurrence of disproportionate deaths due to COVID-19.

 Below you'll find resources about Black History Month & this year's theme:

• 12 Black American Health and Wellness Pioneers
  
• How racism in US health system hinders care and costs lives of African Americans
• Black kids and suicide: Why are rates so high, and so ignored?
  
• Knowing the Past Opens the Door to the Future: The Continuing Importance of Black History Month
• The Lasting Impacts of Segregation and Redlining
• 17 Black Mental-Health and Wellness Resources to Follow on Instagram
  
• Black History Month: A Medical Perspective: Chronology of Achievement