Caregiving and mental health: ‘Overload in every sense of the word’

The pressure of being a caregiver become more common. AARP estimates the number of unpaid caregivers – roughly one of every five adults – has grown nearly 25% during the last half-decade, to about 50 million people.

Los cuidadores y la salud mental: una ‘sobrecarga en todos los sentidos’

La presión de ser un cuidador se vuelve más común. AARP estima que la cantidad de cuidadores no remunerados, aproximadamente uno de cada cinco adultos, ha aumentado casi un 25 % durante la última media década, a alrededor de 50 millones de personas.¿Qué soluciones pueden aliviar los múltiples peajes que pagan los cuidadores?

Young caregivers need more support. There’s an app for that.

 The average age of a caregiver is 49, but about 24% of adult unpaid caregivers — almost 13 million Americans — are 18 to 34, according to a 2020 report issued by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. And that doesn’t include another 5.4 million adolescents who are unpaid caregivers. They say caregiving has taken a toll on their mental or physical health, or both. 

Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid helps people experiencing symptoms and crises

Mental Health First Aid prepares people to assist somebody who's experiencing a mental health crisis or beginning to experience signs and symptoms of a mental health challenge.

Summit Pointe’s First Step program operates out of their facility on College Street in Battle Creek.
First Step Psychiatric Urgent Care Center a stepping stone to mental wellness

First Step Psychiatric Urgent Care Center provides services when people need them most. The 24/7 facility treats patients of all ages, irrespective of insurance.

Flocking to a new breed of sheep in Calhoun County

Raising Blacknose Sheep in Calhoun County isn’t about the meat or the wool. “We got reading about them more and more and just fell in love with them,” says Mike Zebolsky of raising the rare Valais sheep with his wife Tammy Zebolsky. “They’re just so docile and friendly and with us not being truly farmers, they’re the perfect animal for us.”

Paths to Dignity: Kalamazoo’s Junior Symphony premiers concerto for the unhoused

The Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra is world-premiering Paths to Dignity, a violin concerto for the unhoused by composer and Grammy-award winning conductor Lucas Richman  and featuring well-regarded violinist Mitchell Newman on Sunday, Feb. 19.

Coming clean about a growing demand in Battle Creek

Many of us take for granted our ability to shower or bathe, but for the unhoused, getting clean can involve many variables and few options. SHARE Center in Battle Creek is seeking to change that by raising funds to install public showers for those who are unhoused, housing insecure, or living somewhere with no running water.

Voices of Youth: Battle Creek teen explores coming out safely through her comic art

Coming out safely is not one-size fits all, as Voices of Youth Battle Creek Artist Athena McCarthy explores in her comic strip illustrations. "I wanted to bring to light the different experiences people can have when coming out," she says.

Breastfeeding education materials at the Black Mothers' Breastfeeding Association in Detroit.
Michigan’s breastfeeding networks educate parents, address disparities, advocate for parent rights

Support networks for breastfeeding parents are helping more little Michiganders get their best start in life.

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