New Leaves

This month’s Giving Back Tuesday post is about mental and physical health. I planned to write this blog post a few weeks ago, but interestingly, I had several medical appointments to attend to. Going to all the appointments made me realize more than ever the importance of good health and working to maintain it.

According to my unofficial research, good physical and mental health means achieving a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease. It involves high energy, functional immunity, and emotional resilience to manage stress, work productively, and build meaningful relationships. Both are deeply interconnected, requiring lifestyle habits like nutritious eating, regular exercise, and adequate rest.

Access to quality healthcare is something everyone deserves. If someone is struggling with a health issue, they should be able to seek treatment without the excessive worry of its cost. The United States does not have a universal healthcare system, making it the only wealthy, developed nation without one. Instead, the U.S. relies on a mixed system of private, employer-sponsored insurance and public programs (like Medicare for seniors and Medicaid for low-income residents), leaving millions uninsured or underinsured. Because so many do not have access to care, non-profit health organizations desperately need financial and volunteer support to provide services that fill in the gaps. I recently found out that Medicare, something I would qualify for in a few years, does not cover costs for hearing aids. As a hard-of-hearing individual who relies heavily on my hearing aids, which have always been covered by insurance, I am concerned about what the costs will be financially in the future.

I have chosen three important organizations to focus on for this month: Hearing Loss Association of America, American Cancer Society, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness. All of these charitable organizations focus on issues that likely impact you or someone you know. Financially supporting any or all of these organizations can make a big difference.

Hearing Loss Association of America

HLAA is building a hearing health movement empowering millions with, and at risk of, hearing loss to thrive through education, advocacy, and a nationwide network of support. HLAA speaks up for the millions of Americans with hearing loss and millions more at risk for this invisible disability. We are a trusted voice in national legislation, major health and communications agencies, and boards and commissions fighting for change. HLAA has been involved in much of the major federal legislation and regulation affecting accessible communication and hearing healthcare access over the last four decades. We serve on numerous boards, agency committees, and working groups as a trusted voice for the rights and needs of people with disabilities, including hearing loss.

American Cancer Society

The mission of the American Cancer Society is to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families through advocacy, research, and patient support, to ensure everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. By funding and conducting research, we have helped create a world where breast cancer is detected earlier, where fewer people smoke, and where more people survive cancer. We’ve helped increase federal funding for cancer research to $6.9 billion. With your help, we can go even further.

National Alliance on Mental Illness

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. We are an alliance of more than 650 local affiliates and 49 state organizations who work in your community to raise awareness and provide support and education that was not previously available to those in need.

We are dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.

Through our programs and services, we challenge stigma, champion supportive policies, and support and empower individuals and families. We are building stronger communities and a better future for everyone affected by mental illness.

Writing the Giving Back Tuesday blog posts has helped me to be more involved, both financially and in terms of time. Making a positive impact is something we can all do, and with so many organizations needing our help, there is bound to be a cause or issue that would benefit from my involvement, as well as yours.