Wednesday Wisdom

National HIV Testing Day

 

Saturday, June 27^th is National HIV Testing Day (#NHTD). HIV Testing, and retesting as necessary, is an integral part in HIV Prevention. Testing is the only way to know if you are HIV+ or not.

According to the CDC (2015):

• There are an estimated 1.2 million people living with HIV in the U.S.
• There is an estimated 50,000 new (reported) HIV diagnoses in the U.S. every year (the true number must be higher when we take into account those who become infected, do not test, and do not know they are infected)
• One in five people who have HIV don't know it. That means they aren't getting the medical care they need to stay healthy and avoid passing HIV to others

National HIV Testing Day is a reminder to get the facts, get tested, and get involved to take care of yourself and your partners.

 

Who should get tested?

EVERYONE! The CDC recommends testing at least ONCE a year for:

• —  Sexually active Individuals aged 13-64
• —  MSM(Men Who have Sex with Men)
• —  Injection Drug Users
• —  Men & women w/ more than one sexual partner
• —  Men & women who have had any STIs in their history
• —  Women who are or may become pregnant

When should you get tested?

Once a year or…every 3-6 months for more sexually active individuals & RETEST as needed depending upon your sexual activity

5 Reasons to get tested:

1. In the U.S., 1:5 people infected with HIV are unaware of their status    
2. Testing is the only way to know if a person is living with HIV
3. Even if you have been tested once, guidelines suggest RETESTING
4. If (+) test result, proper healthcare and drug therapies can stop the virus from progressing
5. If (-) test result, you can help stop the virus from keeping yourself protected

Get Tested. Know your Status. Share and Update your Status. Encourage those around you to get Tested. 

Bryan C. Heitz
Risk Reduction Specialist

Community Counseling Center

Landmark Decision Day

Wednesday Wisdom

Mental Health in Literature

Fiction

1. "A Tale for the Time Being" by Ruth Ozeki
2. "After Birth" by Elisa Albert
3. "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath
4. "The Round House" by Louise Erdrich
5. "Norwegian Wood" by Haruki Murakami
6. "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien
7. "Hausfrau" by Jill Alexander Essbaum
8. "A Gesture Life" by Chang-rae Lee
9. "All The Bright Places" by Jennifer Niven
10. "Nobody Is Ever Missing" by Catherine Lacey
11. "OCD Love Story" by Corey Ann Haydu

Nonfiction

12. "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls
13. "Willow Weep for Me" by Meri Nana-Ama Danquah
14. "Trauma and Recovery" by Judith Lewis Herman
15. "After a While You Just Get Used To It" by Gwendolyn Knapp
16. "Unholy Ghost: Writers on Depression" edited by Nell Casey
17. "Stop Walking on Eggshells" by Paul Mason
18. "Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia" by Marya Hornbacher
19. "Don't Panic" by R. Reid Wilson, PhD
20. "Just Checking: Scenes From the Life of an Obsessive-Compulsive" by Emily Colas
21. "Lit" by Mary Karr
22. "Irritable Hearts: A PTSD Love Story" by Mac McClelland
23. "Lay My Burden Down: Suicide and the Mental Health Crisis Among African Americans" by Alvin Poussaint and Amy Alexander
24. "Hyperbole and a Half" by Allie Brosh

*This list was published on Buzzfeed on June 9. Click HERE for more information about the books listed.

Wednesday Wisdom

Introducing: Community Cares!

Did you know that today is the "Worldwide Day of Giving?"

Each month, generous individuals, community partners, and businesses in Southern Nevada give back to Community Counseling Center in many ways, including offering their time, resources, and/or monetary donations.

Giving is simple -- maybe it's a few minutes you might have otherwise spent checking Facebook, or a coffee from Starbucks that you can do without for one day. It might be offering a smile or kind words to someone in need of encouragement, or lending a helping hand to make someone's task go faster. Giving doesn't have to cost any money at all, just a little time and willingness. 

In short, everyone is capable of giving in some capacity. 

With that in mind, Community Counseling Center is delighted to unveil its newest program, "Community Cares," a volunteer-based, staff-led initiative to give back to the community that so abundantly supports us each and every day. 

Throughout the month of June, we will be collecting nonperishable food items that will be donated to East Valley Family Services. Anyone who is able is encouraged to join the CCC staff in participating in this worthy cause. A collection box is located in our main lobby, near the front desk.  We also welcome suggestions for other service projects that "Community Cares" could adopt in future months. 

Let's do some good in the community by giving back. Together, we can make a difference!

-ASM