HarborOne Bank broke ground on its new Middleboro branch location at 2 West Grove Street on Thursday, November 19 for a move that comes after 20 years in its previous location.

The new Middleboro branch location will feature a design and services that make for a more convenient and efficient way to bank for our customers, said James Blake, CEO of HarborOne Bank. This state-of-the-art branch will help us better serve both business and consumer clients while maintaining the same experienced team of bankers that are focused on helping customers meet their short and long term financial goals.

The new branch will feature comprehensive retail and consumer banking services, a full suite of small business and commercial banking products and services, and an array of credit and lending products for both commercial and personal banking needs. The existing team of highly trained finance relationship experts will continue to execute HarborOnes unique partnership approach to fulfilling all customer needs from loans and lines of credit to checking and savings accounts.

The HarborOne model centers on building strong relationships between experienced consumer and business banking professionals and clients looking to reach and exceed financial goals. The bank also provides new technologies that allow a seamless self-service banking experience, which consumers have come to appreciate throughout the pandemic, and which provides all facets of electronic banking.

HarborOne Bank, headquartered in Massachusetts, has $4.43 billion in assets. It serves the financial needs of consumers, businesses, and municipalities throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island through a network of 25 full-service branches, one limited service branch, and commercial loan offices in Providence and Boston. HarborOne has been included in Forbes Best in State Banks list for three consecutive years.

The Bank also provides a range of educational services through HarborOne U, with classes on small business, financial literacy and personal enrichment at two campuses located adjacent to our Brockton and Mansfield locations. HarborOne Mortgage, LLC, a subsidiary of HarborOne Bank, is a full-service mortgage lender with more than 30 offices in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, and New Jersey and is also licensed to lend in four additional states

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HarborOne Bank breaks ground at new West Grove Street location - SouthCoastToday.com

Work/life balance can be a tight-wire act, but following certain tips can keep you on kilter during ... [+] the holidays.

As the prolonged pandemic continues to batter the American economy, it has produced a high level of stress and burnout. MindEdge Learning and the HR Certification Institute (HRCI) conducted a national survey of 757 HR Professionals between September 15 and October 2, 2020. Three quarters of the respondents (75%) reported an increase in their employees burnout due to stress from Covid-19, and 53% reported that their companies have introduced new benefits to help employees deal with stress or plan to do so in the near future.

In another study, Skynova surveyed over 1,150 employed Americans, including 400 managers and found that nearly 1 in 3 employees dont feel encouraged to take work breaks while working from home with nearly 1 in 4 employees stating they can never take a break. Nearly 1 in 6 managers surveyed don't encourage their team to take breaks while working from home. Overall, respondents who skip lunch are over two times more likely to say they're stressed out and twice as likely to report feeling burned out

Balancing work and home life have become more complex due to Covid-19, especially where school-age children are involved. If pandemic life has made it necessary for you to stress yourself out to get everything done, you could be one of millions who considers this strategy to be an essential survival tool in a culture that expects you to do it all and do it well. On the one hand, there is pressure to do more at work, take on extra responsibilities or even adjust to unfamiliar roles due to company pivots or cutbacks. On the flip side, family pressures and responsibilities and your own self-care dont automatically disappear. Balancing work and personal life can be tricky but certainly not impossible. Knowing where to start is key, and for all of us it begins with self-care.

What Is Self-Care?

If youre in the habit of putting your needs at the bottom of the list to meet work or personal demands, you cant be the best version of you.Self-care prepares you to give more to others. When you put yourself first, theres more of you to go around. I sat down with environmental activist Erin Brockovich and asked her how she mitigates stress and burnout with all she continues to accomplish. As a single mom with no job in 1993, she used her pit-bull determination to help residents of Hinkley, California win a massive arbitration against the Pacific Gas and Electric Company. Her efforts were extolled in the biographical film, Erin Brockovich, in which actress Julia Roberts won an Oscar dramatizing Brockovichs true story. The regimen Brockovich uses to recharge her own busy life is a great example of self-care:

The busyness of life can take our spirit from us, but it can be renewed. When Im quiet, I remember to breathe and be mindful. I think of the simple things and go outdoors and connect with the environment where I can think and hear myself whether its sitting at the ocean or swinging in my backyard on a late summers night. Or just stopping to appreciate (ahh) the smell of rain. Or feeling a breeze across my face. I start looking at the formation of the clouds, enjoy the sun on my face, or the grandeur of a tall tree, how old it is and wonder what it knows. You get to that place where youre just being, and feel total renewal. Thats my recharge so I can go out the next day and go at it again.

Get Off Autopilot

The human body has a mind of its own, tensing and tightening in reaction to the daily work grind. Your body is hard wired to think for you so you can survive while managing the big picture of your lifelike paying bills, managing your portfolio, carpooling the kids or burning the midnight oil to meet a deadline. Its called muscle memory, and we couldnt function without it.

Remember when you first learned to ride a bike or drive a car? If you were like most people, you had to think of each step: adjust the seat, put on your seat belt, start the motor, release the handbrake, put it in gear and so forth. If we did this every time we went somewhere, wed be exhausted before we started our workday. Thank goodness for autopilot. Your body constantly responds to lifes stressors while youre busy with career pursuits. But as much as autopilot helps us function, theres a downside. Its easy to turn everything over to autopilot. When we get caught in our daily routines and lose sight of the big picture, our lives start to feel off-kilter.

If you dont listen and take care of your body, it will grab your attention by speaking to you in a stern voice: headaches, indigestion, body aches and pains or muscle spasms. When we live on autopilot for long stretches and bring work-related stress into personal time, we lose touch with our bodies and minds and the friends and family we love most.

Present-Moment Awareness

Present-moment awareness or mindfulness can help us live a more balanced life. In the past when I had a deadline, my shoulders unwittingly hunched up to my ears in reaction to the pressure. After I became aware of it, I started to make a concerted effort to keep those muscles relaxed. When we start to become better acquainted with our bodies, listen to them and take care of them, we notice a huge drop in our stress levels.

Creating balance is much like driving a car when the gas and brakes work together. These 10 tips can help you develop a self-care plan and maintain work/life balance during the holidays:

In addition to these 10 tips, make sure you realize youve hit your breaking point long before stress-warning signs set in. Instead of pushing past them, cushion your workday to soften stress blows. Avoid putting yourself under unrealistic deadlines. Spread job tasks over reasonable time frames. Build time cushions between Zoom meetings. Try leaving for your workstation (even if youre working remotely) 10 or 15 minutes earlier so you wont start your day in a hurry. Ease into your workday instead of catapulting into it. Unplug at the end of the day and set boundaries to protect your personal and private time. If a colleague asks you to do something when youre already overloaded, learn to say no.

In order to apply your creative instincts at work, you need a clear and calm mind to consider limitless possibilities and think outside the box. Think of work/life balance as the Olympics. Your physical and mental endurance hinges on being in good shape. Prepare yourself by taking care of your physical health outside of work. Prime yourself with good nutrition, vigorous exercise and ample sleep. When you carve out time to recharge and replenish, you give yourself the space to think outside the box in entirely new ways. The payoff is you become a more balanced person, family member and productive worker and thrive amidst holiday stress.

Continued here:
10 Tips To Find Balance And Thrive In Your Career During The Holidays - Forbes

Bigorexia, also known as muscle dysmorphia, is a health condition that can cause you to think constantly about building muscle on your body.

Bigorexia shares some of the same symptoms as other disorders like anorexia nervosa and is a type of body dysmorphic disorder.

Bigorexia appears to be on the rise, especially among young adults. Lets take a look at the symptoms, risk factors, coping strategies, and treatments available for muscle dysmorphia.

Bigorexia is defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) as a body dysmorphic disorder that triggers a preoccupation with the idea that your body is too small or not muscular enough.

When you have bigorexia, you are fixated on the thought that there is something wrong with the way that your body looks. That can influence your behavior.

Muscle dysmorphia can look like many things, including:

When left untreated, bigorexia can escalate and lead to:

Other mental health conditions, such as disordered eating and obsessive-compulsive disorder, may also play a role in this condition.

There is still some debate in the medical community on whether bigorexia should be classified simply as a body dysmorphic disorder, or if it has more in common with eating disorders or addiction.

Bigorexia is primarily a psychological condition, though it can appear in physical ways.

Someone with bigorexia might experience some of the following symptoms:

Many symptoms of bigorexia may feel relatively normal. But when you are pushing your body to achieve fitness goals that always seem out of reach, there may be more going on than simply wanting to be in good shape.

Its not always clear who will experience bigorexia.

As the Mayo Clinic points out, certain life experiences and underlying psychological factors may make you more likely to have body dysmorphia.

Both women and men can have muscle dysmorphia. Negative experiences during childhood, such as bullying or teasing about your size, may play a role in having this condition.

A 2019 study of over 14,000 young people found that 22 percent of males and 5 percent of females reported having disordered eating patterns linked to working out and getting more muscular.

The same study also found that having other mental health conditions can put you at higher risk for bigorexia. People into bodybuilding, certain sports, or wrestling communities are also more likely to have this condition.

If you have bigorexia, you may be looking for ways to control your symptoms.

While there are some things that you can do at home, you may need to seek a professional mental health provider to treat your condition.

You can start treating muscle dysmorphia today by making changes, including:

You may also want to start your treatment by calling or starting an online chat with the National Eating Disorder Helpline.

You may also want to speak to a mental health professional about your symptoms, especially if muscle dysmorphia is impacting your relationships and causing you to consider self-harm.

These treatments may include:

If you have muscle dysmorphia along with other mental health conditions, your provider may recommend a medication like a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) to help stabilize your moods during treatment.

Living with bigorexia means finding coping strategies that work.

These strategies can help you with your symptoms and give you a sense of control:

Youre far from alone in living with bigorexia, whether you or someone you know experiences these symptoms.

Its now estimated that 1 in 50 people have some type of body dysmorphia. A documentary called Bigorexia has shed light on the way that muscle dysmorphia impacts the professional bodybuilding community.

Talking to a friend, family member, or someone else you trust about your experiences with bigorexia can be a helpful first step in taking control back of your life from an obsession with looking a certain way.

If you are having thoughts of self-harm because of bigorexia or any mental health condition, reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or text HOME to 741741 to speak with a counselor today.

Muscle dysmorphia is a real health condition, and symptoms can be difficult to manage.

More people are becoming aware of body dysmorphia and related problems since public figures, including Jane Fonda, Elton John, Princess Diana, Lady Gaga, Zayn Malik, and Taylor Swift, have grown honest about having body image concerns.

As more people speak out about living with this condition, the stigma and myths around it can dissipate.

There is help and support for you if you are living with muscle dysmorphia. A mental health provider can get you started on a treatment plan, and self-care changes can get your symptoms under control.

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What Is Bigorexia? Definition, Symptoms, Coping & More - Healthline

TipRanks

Investors are in the market to make a profit, and that means finding the stocks with proven growth potential. Yes, its a clich to remind everyone that past performance does not guarantee future results, but when a stock consistently shows strong share appreciation, over an extended period, its a positive sign for investors.With more than ten months behind us, the stocks that are now showing a combination of strong gains and a high near- to mid-term potential are going to attract investor interest.Bearing this in mind, we set out to find stocks flagged as exciting growth plays by Wall Street. Using TipRanks database, we locked in on three analyst-backed names that have already notched impressive gains and boast strong growth narratives for the long-term. Bandwidth, Inc. (BAND)We start in the communications software sector, where Bandwidth is a leading provider of VoIP systems, using its application programming interfaces (API) to offer customers both text and voice capabilities. The company's products include applications for voice calling, text messaging, local phone numbers via internet, and 911 emergency phone system access. Bandwidth has developed and built its own network for voice over internet, helping to guarantee connectivity.Like many online tech companies, BAND has benefitted from the 2020s shift to remote work. The move into the virtual office space has put a premium on internet communications, and BAND shares have reflected that the stock is up an impressive 135% year-to-date. The companys Q3 earnings were also strong and at 14 cents per share were far above the 12 cent net EPS loss expected. Revenues for the third quarter came in at $84.8 million, for a 40% year-over-year increase.In addition to positive revenues and earnings, Bandwidth has also shown sound liquidity. The company had over $300 million in cash and cash equivalents available at the end of September, while liabilities totaled only $57.8 million.Finally, earlier this month, Bandwidth completed its acquisition of the European cloud communications company Voxbone. The deal was valued at 446 million Euros, or more than $520 million in US currency. The transaction included 354.6 million Euros in cash, and the remainder in stock.Bandwidths growth and healthy future prospects caught the attention of 5-star analyst Michael Walkley. Writing from Canaccord, this top analyst said, With Covid-19 impacting the way we work, learn, and interact for the foreseeable future, we believe Bandwidth is a long-term beneficiary from anticipated strong growth trends due to increased customer usage of their platform. We believe revenue growth should remain strong given our expectations for some permanent long-term changes with an increased remote work environment driving both increasing usage from existing customers and layering in the potential for stronger new customer growth.To this end, Walkley puts a Buy rating on BAND shares, and his $225 price target suggests room for nearly 50% upside in the next 12 months. (To watch Walkleys track record, click here)Overall, BAND gets a Moderate Buy rating form the analyst consensus, based on 5 reviews, including 4 Buys and 1 Sell. The shares are priced at $150.50, and the average price target of $192.20 implies a one-year upside of ~28%. (See BAND stock analysis on TipRanks)Wayfair, Inc. (W)From cloud communications we move on to e-commerce, where Wayfair is a leader in the home goods and furniture sector. E-commerce has seen heavy gains during the COVID pandemic, as customers moved larger portions of their shopping online. The stock shows that, having grown 180% year-to-date.Earnings have also reflected strong sales during the pandemic period. EPS turned positive in Q2, coming in at $2.54 against a 55-cent forecast. In Q3, the earnings per share was $1.80, beating the estimate by 300%. Revenues are high, too, with the $3.8 billion in Q3 representing a 66% year-over-year gain. And like Bandwidth above, Wayfair has a sound balance sheet, with $2.6 billion in cash and liquid assets reported at the end of the third quarter.These fiscal gains stand on the shoulders of solid sales performance. Wayfair reported 11.3 million orders from repeat customers in Q3, making up almost 72% of the quarters total orders. Active customers in the companys Direct Retail business segment increased 50% yoy, and reached 28.8 million.Peter Keith, 5-star analyst with Piper Sandler, writes of Wayfair, Looking forward, KPI's repeat customers (% of orders) and revenue per average customer (LTM) both hit all-time highs and suggest Wayfair will grow revenues nicely off a larger base of customers We maintain our bullish thesis as above-trend sales growth is likely to persist at least into early 2021, and margins are expanding far above expectations with longer-term drivers coming into focus."It should come as no surprise, then, that Keith stays with the bulls. In addition to an Overweight (i.e. Buy) rating, he left a $370 price target on the stock. Investors could be pocketing a gain of 47%, should this target be met in the twelve months ahead. (To watch Keiths track record, click here)Overall, Wayfair has 20 reviews on record, including 10 Buys, 7 Hold, and 3 Sell, making the analyst consensus view a Moderate Buy. W stock is selling for $251.70 and has an average price target of $312.63, making the upside potential 24% for the coming months. (See Wayfairs stock analysis on TipRanks)Schrodinger (SDGR)Last but not least is Schrodinger, a software company that develops applications for the life sciences and materials sciences industries. In short, the company builds the software platforms that allows customers to evaluate experimental compounds. Schrodinger describes its software as a physics-based platform, integrating solutions for collaboration, data analytics, and predictive modeling in chemistry. The platform is used extensively in the pharmaceutical industry, but also in aerospace, energy, and semiconductors.Schrodinger went public in February of this year, just as the corona crisis was ramping up, and quickly saw strong share gains. At the IPO, the stock sold for $26 per share, well above the initial pricing of $17. The company sold well over 11.8 million shares, making the opening one of the years most successful. Since then, SDGR shares have more than doubled, gaining nearly 140% in their first nine months of public trading.Revenues have remained consistent during the year, with the first three quarters of 2020 showing the top line between $23 and $26 million. The Q3 number, at $25 million, is right in the middle of that range. The Q3 top line beat the forecast by 10%Covering this stock for BMO, 5-star analyst Do Kim writes, We believe the 42% y/y growth in software revenues reflects the accelerating adoption of computational drug discovery, in addition to a growing customer base. We expect software growth to continue into 2021, as we believe the pandemic trend of remote work is sticky, with increasing platform validation from collaborations.In line with this upbeat outlook, Kim rates SDGR shares an Outperform (i.e. Buy) along with a $94 price target. This figure indicates confidence in a 37% one-year upside potential. (To watch Kims track record, click here)All in all, Schrodingers Strong Buy consensus rating is based on 3 Buys and 1 Hold. The stock has an average price target of $83, giving it a 21% upside from the current trading price of $68.52. (See SDGR stock analysis on TipRanks)To find good ideas for growth stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights.Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.

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Why Self-Help and Development Is Crucial for CEO Success - Yahoo Finance

When your partner has depression, their symptoms can become key factors in the equation of your relationship.

Perhaps you recognize depression as simply one piece of their complex identity and focus on other traits: their artistic talent, sense of humor, intelligence, or integrity.

Thats great since it means youre capable of seeing them as a whole person instead of defining them by their mental health.

Yet your relationship can still involve unique challenges you might not face in other relationships. Watching your partner struggle with the weight of their distress isnt easy, and its normal to want to help them find relief.

Before you can offer support, you have to accept one key fact: Its not possible to completely eradicate their depression or make them better, and trying can leave you both drained and miserable.

You can still extend compassion and healthy support in any number of ways. Youll find seven to start you off below.

Youve probably encountered quite a few myths about depression. Learning to distinguish myth from reality can make a big difference in how you show up for your partner.

Some people describe depression as heavy fog or a blanket of nothingness. Others say it feels like drowning. Many people feel so overtaken by dullness, apathy, and hopelessness that they struggle to recall more positive states.

Good vibes and happy thoughts wont chase these feelings away, just like imagining yourself free of congestion wont get rid of a cold.

You can offer better support when you have a more accurate understanding of how depression affects your partner. Doing some research is a great way to expand your knowledge without putting the burden of education on your partner. (Get started with this guide.)

Since depression affects people in different ways, ask about their experience once you have a handle on the basic facts.

Try, Could you tell me more about how youre feeling today? Listen actively to what they have to say, offering empathy and validation instead of advice.

Dont be afraid to ask if they think about suicide. Some people feel afraid to share suicidal thoughts with loved ones. By asking, youre letting them know they can be honest. If they dont think about suicide, they wont suddenly start just because you mentioned the topic.

Treatment helps improve depression symptoms for many people, so you might think its best to urge them to see a therapist. But saying things like, You should go to therapy or You need help may only make them feel worse.

Heres the thing about depression: It can make even simple tasks seem insurmountable. A quick internet search might seem easy to you, but someone in a depression fog might feel overwhelmed by just the thought.

Instead, try, Have you thought about talking to someone? If they seem open to the idea, make the process less daunting by offering to help them find a therapist, schedule an appointment, and go with them to their first (or first few) sessions.

If theyre already in therapy, remember treatment can take time, and not all approaches work for everyone. Its always fine to ask how things are going, but avoid pressuring them to try other approaches.

Pushing lifestyle changes generally doesnt help, either. Avoid saying:

Sunlight and physical activity can help, but they arent magical cures. Your advice, however well intentioned, can give your partner the impression you really dont get what theyre going through.

Instead, encourage them to do something with you:

Depression can make it tough to do even the things you really want to do, and your partner may not always feel up to following through with plans.

Its understandable to feel disappointed when they spend your long-awaited vacation scrolling through their phone while you see the sights. You might feel hurt when they spend your birthday asleep or cant make it to dinner with your parents, again.

Perhaps youve even noticed theyve lost interest in things you usually do togetherdiscussing your day, preparing meals, or having sex. You might feel rejected and begin to believe they dont care about you.

This disinterest, known as anhedonia, happens commonly with depression. Treatment can help renew their interest and energy, but in the meantime, offer compassion instead of criticism by validating their feelings.

Even if you wonder what your friends think when you regularly show up to hangouts alone, avoid saying anything your partner hasnt given you permission to share. A simple, They couldnt make it may not satisfy anyones curiosity but that doesnt matter. What does matter is honoring the trust theyve placed in you.

Its also worth remembering you dont have to stay home yourself unless you want to keep them company when they need support. Otherwise, sticking with your original plans can help you avoid frustration and resentment, so its often a better choice for your own mental health.

Depression is often fueled by cognitive distortions and patterns of negative thinking.

Your partner might say things like:

Its pretty understandable youd want to immediately reassure them these beliefs are completely false. But you cant talk someone out of depression, so this can sometimes backfire pretty explosively. Maybe they insist youre just trying to make them feel better or shut down and stop telling you how they feel.

Instead of trying to refute their negative thoughts, try validating their feelings without agreeing. Then gently draw their attention to their strengths and positive traits.

Its only natural to want to help and do whatever you can to make things a little easier for them. You wont have much to offer if you neglect your own basic needs, though.

Everyone needs time for self-care, but looking after your well-being becomes even more essential when supporting a loved one. If you prioritize their needs at the expense of your own, youll end up overwhelmed and resentful.

Exhaustion and stress can eventually lead to burnout. You might even begin to experience depression symptoms yourself.

To maintain emotional health, good self-care practices are key.

Find more tips on creating a personalized self-care plan here.

An added benefit of taking care of your physical and mental health? It can encourage your partner to do the same.

Healthy boundaries make healthier relationships.

Establishing boundaries means setting limits around specific behaviors that dont work for you. Boundaries help safeguard physical and emotional needs, so honoring them is healthy. It doesnt make you selfish or uncaring.

Maybe your partner regularly cancels plans when they feel low, which you completely understand. The challenge lies in the fact that they want you to skip out, too. You set a boundary by telling them that unless its an emergency, youll go ahead with the plans you made.

As youre heading out to meet for a hike with friends, they text to say, Sorry, I cant make it. Can you come over instead? You stick to your boundary by replying, I need to get moving for a while! Maybe tomorrow?

People with depression sometimes lash out and say hurtful things. You know they dont mean them, but you can still choose to protect yourself by setting a boundary around unkind or derogatory language.

Next time they have an outburst, you say: It seems like youre pretty angry right now. Ive asked you not to shout at me, so Im going to leave. We can talk when you feel calmer.

A partner trying to manage depression may not have the emotional capacity to support you as they usually would.

Everyone needs social support, but friendships outside of your romantic relationship become even more valuable when your partner has depression.

Suppressing emotions can isolate you and leave you struggling to manage emotional turmoil, but trusted friends and family can listen and offer support. Their compassion and validation can meet some of your needs and have a positive impact on your well-being.

Support groups can also be a good option if you dont feel comfortable sharing your partners mental health details with anyone you know.

Its also worth considering talking to a therapist on your own. Dating someone with depression isnt always easy, and it never hurts to strengthen your coping skills and practice new ways to communicate.

Most people would agree loving someone means accepting them as they are. This acceptance becomes even more important when your partner lives with depression.

Showing your acceptance is sometimes as simple as listening and validating their distress, but its normal to need a little extra support when it comes to nurturing your relationship. A couples counselor can help you shore up your partnership so you can stand stronger together.

Crystal Raypole has previously worked as a writer and editor for GoodTherapy. Her fields of interest include Asian languages and literature, Japanese translation, cooking, natural sciences, sex positivity, and mental health. In particular, shes committed to helping decrease stigma around mental health issues.

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What to Know About Dating Someone with Depression - Healthline

Top News

Nov 23, 2020

PHOTO PROVIDED Volunteers with the New Love Center distribute food.

For many Pennsylvanians, the late fall and early winter holiday seasons hold memories of coming together with friends and loved ones; a time of happiness and unity.

Unity can be defined as many things: the state of being brought together, the quality of not being divided, a condition of harmony. In 2020, as a direct effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and related mandates, the physical aspect of unity has changed.

Interestingly, unity is the word used by Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine as she calls on citizens to do their respective parts in taming the resurgence of the virus.

Clearly were in the middle of our fall increase, but we are not at the peak, said Levine. The increases that we are seeing now are directly in response to, and a part of, those that are being experienced across the country. And our response needs to be one of unity.

Levine notes the important role that Pennsylvanians will play in the mitigation of the virus during the 2020 holiday season and stresses the suggestion from the Department of Health to limit in-person gatherings to include only individuals regularly inside the home.

For other family members outside of the immediate household, the visits should be kept to a remote method and try to limit as much direct contact as possible, said Levine. The smaller gatherings have been strongly linked to the community spread of the virus.

With safety in mind, the holidays take on a new sense of unity, with a key piece missing for many this year.

People are craving that connection; there is a lack of touch. And that is something that we absolutely need as human beings, said Dr. Dea Silbertrust, president of the Pennsylvania Psychological Association. Silbertrust stressed the value of addressing the proverbial elephant in the room as an individual and as a family.

These holidays will be like no other, said Silbertrust. There is no hiding it, this year is different, and that difference will accentuate whatever has been tricky or difficult for us in the past.

To prevent further strain, Silbertrust recommends that people be honest with themselves and others this holiday season, especially as it relates to the plans and expectations for holiday gatherings. She says that the handling of activities, spacing, meals and masks should all be discussed in advance and with complete transparency.

Silbertrust suggests Pennsylvanians explore self-help resources to help deal with the stress of the holidays, and shared that the Pennsylvania Psychological Association has many available on its public education page: https://www.papsy.org/page/Publicfaq.

Dr. Elana Newman, professor of psychology at the University of Tulsa, echoed Silbertrusts sentiments regarding the need for a unification of the expectations Pennsylvanians have for themselves and the people in their lives this holiday season.

Everyone needs to accept that were not at 100 percent and that is OK, said Newman. Our expectations of ourselves need to be gentle and mindful. Newman says the preparation for the holidays can be as useful, if not more so, than the follow through.

She encourages individuals to create digital and regular activity journals, much like diet diaries that people use when trying to create a healthier eating plan. Newman says these journals can help account for time spent working, online on phones or other devices, and practicing healthy, restful habits.

When you are rested, when you are focused you can really get a lot done, she said. Recovery is essential. She suggests being mindful of the boundaries between different aspects of life and creating rituals to make those boundaries more tangible.

Symbolically cover up your computer at the end of the workday, said Newman. Or light a candle to signify the beginning of one activity or the end of another through your senses (of smell and sight).

Newman explains that people should also consider the weather as they are preparing for the holidays and the coming season in potential lockdown. She says that as winter comes, individuals should be even more aware of the physical and mental need to get time outdoors each day.

Ask yourself, How am I going to manage during the winter months? Do I need to order long underwear? What are the best times of day to get out? And how am I going to get my kids out of the house?' said Newman.

Regarding the holidays, she encourages people to totally disconnect from work and hide their phones and other devices from themselves.

Whatever aspects of the holidays are important to you spirituality, family, community immerse yourself in it, she said. Its not easy to disconnect, it takes work and practice some of us need more practice than others.

As Pennsylvanians prepare for a time of disconnecting from the stressful distractions from external forces, some are facing stress related to their nuclear household unit. Some parents are finding themselves overwhelmed by personal and professional issues, while others are concerned about their childrens and teens education and social development during the pandemic. Dr. Levine provides a helpful metaphor as it relates to the virus.

Find the eye of the hurricane, she said. The hurricanes forces are strong and dangerous, so it is important to find ways to create the safe, centered area the eye of the hurricane for yourself and your family.

In addition to serving as the secretary of health for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Dr. Levine is also the professor of pediatrics and psychiatry at the Penn State College of Medicine and has a background in pediatrics and adolescent medicine. She says that the time of the pandemic continues to be one of stress for children and teens in Pennsylvania, and it is crucial for parents and caregivers to provide guidance through healthy communication, one-on-one and family activities and oversight of school and social connections.

Check in on your kids and teens schoolwork and social lives, said Levine. And watch for signs of stress and depression. The role of the parent or guardian is great as it relates to a child or teens resilience, she says.

It is important to stay calm. If parents are overly stressed, their kids are going to see that. (Parents) need to stay calm and provide stability for their children and teens.

Beyond the household unit, many people find reuniting with friends and family creates or exacerbates anxiety. Sue Scheff, author of Shame Nation, offers a mantra for the 2020 holiday season.

Compassion over conflict, she said. We are finally at the end of a very stressful year. This is the time to have compassion for others rather than shaming them because they may have a difference of opinion or (in our opinion) may not be being socially responsible.

Scheff goes on to stress the value of perspective this holiday season, and she points out that many people have recently lost their jobs, are struggling with remote work while caring for young children or are potentially facing eviction or forbearance all during a heated political time locally and across the nation.

Adults need to be mindful in understanding that the holidays are not a place for arguing, said Scheff. Conversations are about exchanging ideas, thoughts and opinions and can be extremely interesting, but the moment they get heated and tempers flare, no one is listening anymore, and no one wins.

Scheff says that using listening skills and identifying when it is time to agree to disagree is one of the most important exercises to promote a calm and enjoyable experience together this year.

The spirit of community and service to the community is a holiday tradition for many Pennsylvanians. Volunteering fulfills the promise of unity within families, social circles and larger communities across the commonwealth.

Youre doing good for others while youre doing good for yourself, said Samantha Jo Warfield, spokesperson for AmeriCorps. You dont have to choose one or the other.

Warfield shared that Pennsylvanians involved in volunteering tallied 3.5 million in 2018, contributing 341 million hours of services, worth $8.2 billion, to the project communities. She suggests individuals and families consider volunteering in the 2020 holiday season, whether by reaching out to a local organization or through ideas of their own.

Warfield says checking in on elderly or disabled members of the neighborhood or community, picking up trash along the streets or in local parks and sending cards or letters to residents in assisted-living communities in the area are all great, safe options for service. She says these activities can bring unity in families during the winter season and into the new year.

Maybe your family used to have a football game before the Thanksgiving meal, but now theyre spread across the state. Make volunteering your pre-meal event this year, says Warfield. Then, when youre done you can come back and share pictures and stories as you connect for a virtual Thanksgiving meal together.

The COVID-19 pandemic and other hardships in 2020 have wreaked havoc on plans and expectations for much of the year, leaving many Pennsylvanians feeling aimless and searching for sense and purpose in their lives: their homes, families, workplaces and communities; and destroying any semblance of togetherness and unity they once knew.

Pioneer endocrinologist Hans Seyle once said, Its not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it.

The holiday season offers an opportunity for people across the commonwealth to regain or strengthen themselves and their relations and experiences with friends and loved ones, and to set the tone for the new year.

I am confident that we will get through this as a nation, as a commonwealth, said Dr. Levine. But we need to stand together.

Mary Firestone is staff writer for Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, of which the Williamsport Sun-Gazette is a member.

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COVID holidays inspire behaviors, expectations for life in new year - Williamsport Sun-Gazette

Jackson Appelt an Echols Scholar at the University of Virginia, varsity lacrosse player and fourth-year pre-med student with an interest in immunology and oncology medicine loves research and problem-solving. But most of all, he loves the opportunity to make a transformative, meaningful impact in the lives of others.

He has participated in student mental health programs as an undergraduate, and this semester is leading a two-credit seminar of his own creation, Resilience and Authenticity for the Young Adult.

Appelt said that the interdisciplinary and collaborative nature of his undergraduate learning and research experiences, and now guiding fellow students through a mental-health-based, self-actualization course, has made him excited for the deep and meaningful relationship aspect of medicine. He plans to pursue a public health and relationship-based approach to changing physical and mental health on a large scale, he said.

Jacksons passion for helping people is like an aura around him, astronomy professor Kelsey Johnson, director of the Echols Scholars Program, and Appelts faculty adviser, said. Getting to work with students like Jackson is a source of deep joy, and renews my faith that this generation is going to make the world a better place.

Here, Appelt discusses the many aspects of the seminar he developed and leads.

Q. What do you mean by resilience and authenticity?

A. This course is an exploration into the process of collaborative self-actualization for young adults. It is based on the question, What could happen when college-age students are given an environment where they can be honest, vulnerable and authentic, supporting each other on a journey of self-discovery?

In a time and place in our lives where so much of our self-esteem and life satisfaction is commonly dictated by external factors, this course is an attempt to inspire the belief in a few amazingly unique individuals that they can be proud to express who they truly are.

This is the first core concept in our experience: authenticity. One of the essential questions we ask ourselves is Are you enough? In this class, we have aimed to create a family of people who surround each other with a sense of belonging, admiration, support and unconditional love, which we hope will serve as a constant reminder that Yes, we are enough.

One activity we have done is writing and mailing anonymous letters of affirmation to each other, for each of us to hold and be reminded of our own value and meaning to those who truly love and understand us.

In our first few months, we as a class have realized that being authentic requires more than just having the courage to express yourself, but in learning to discover who you really are. This process of self-reflection and introspection is one that all young adults experience at one point or another, including each of the students in this course.

Most of us do realize that taking the courage to work on ourselves and reflect is beautiful and amazing, but we have also experienced the hardship and pain that comes with failure and disappointment. This makes the process scary, daunting and often quite isolating. Yet, in this class, we have aimed to help each other work through the question, Why is this process worth it? Are we content living a comfortable life, to play it safe, to never dare to dream and explore who we are? Or do we have the courage to learn what it is like to be uncomfortable, to fail and get back up, again and again, knowing that there may not be an end in sight to our successive hardships, but learning along the way to enjoy the process and feel stronger every time.

This is the second core concept in our experience: resiliency.

Q. What is the authentic self?

A. For young adults, in a time in our life where our identity and purpose are uncertain, there is significant pressure on all of us to live up to an image of who we are supposed to be. We flood our internal dialogue with judgement, pressure and expectations to be perfect or outstanding. We criticize ourselves for not doing enough, being enough, or doing things a certain way.

In our class, we often talk about this phenomenon as having a case of the shouldas (I shoulda done more. I shoulda done better. I shoulda tried harder). Fighting with these thoughts is a battle we all actively experience throughout our lives, and one that is rarely satisfied. This self-criticism is a complex construct, formed both by the world we live in, convincing us that we need to both conform to norms and perform to expectations, but even more so something that we impose on ourselves. We all become our harshest critics.

In thinking about this dynamic, we have attempted to step back from what we do and try to understand why we do it. Initially, we discussed the idea of what was important to us, but soon developed a collective sentiment that the word important automatically implied some sort of externally driven approval or validation. So, we searched for a word or mantra to describe our sense of purpose and identity, but to do so from an intrinsic perspective, which led us to the third, unforeseen core concept of our experience: meaning.

In discussing what it means to live a life of meaning, we have talked about the value of unconditional support to the people that we love and care about, including within the unique family we have formed. In doing this, we have learned to give ourselves permission to treat ourselves in the same way we would treat those we care about; and to let go of the prospect of becoming who we are supposed to be. By realizing that everybody, including ourselves, is deserving of unconditional love, we begin to rediscover the pride in who we already are, along with hope for becoming who we are meant to be.

Q. Why did you develop this course?

A. Somehow, hardship in isolation has become the model that young students feel they must aspire toward: the model student-athlete is glorified for conducting grueling work alone on a field in the off hours; the model academic spends hours at night tucked away in the library looking to achieve the grades that will bump the GPA or land the highly touted job or internship. The mature young adult manages to suck it up rather than tell others how they are feeling. The tendency to hide behind a veneer of toughness contributes to a culture in which we young adults feel as if we must persist through and internalize our issues independently without seeking help, leaving us isolated and struggling.

Throughout my college experience, it has become clear how widespread this dangerous stigma is for individuals in our age and situation, particularly at UVA, where so many people seek high levels of achievement. In this class, the mantra of resiliency is not to be confused with toughness, which is a widely admired trait in our culture that glorifies individuals who are able to withstand adversity in isolation. In reflection and awareness of this stigma, we have decided to build our class on a completely contradictory philosophy, based on the power of connection with others. We have attempted to embrace that we are strongest when supported by those who love and understand us, and that resilience comes in not in the nobility to endure our hardships alone, but in the courage to embrace them collectively.

Thinking of the larger dynamic of student mental health at UVA, our hope and goal is that this class will serve as the centerpiece for a larger movement to fundamentally change the student mental health culture at UVA. In reflecting on what our experience has been like to discover and express who we are, we have been applying our reflections toward creating a framework for the development and self-actualization of young adults.

This effort will be a way for us to transcend toward a purpose greater than ourselves and gift other students like us with the amazing opportunity we have been fortunate enough to have had this semester. Our goal is to ensure that this mental health programming, aimed at fostering a process of self-exploration through peer-to-peer connections, is expanded to as many students as possible.

Included in this effort will be a recommendation to UVA administration, including this framework, on how to reform and expand their mental health programming. As part of this proposal, we also hope it will lead to the establishment of a new minor at UVA: Self and Community Actualization, to train a new generation of young student leaders who can serve as continuous advocates to improve the lives of their fellow students, covering several socio-cultural movements on college campuses, such as mental health, relationship violence and social justice.

Q. How has the pandemic affected or altered your course content?

A. For so long I had looked forward to building this experience in an intimate setting, and worried that the experience might not be as genuine or emotionally moving through a computer.

Two months later, I am quite thrilled to say I could not have been more wrong. I am so proud of how our class has managed to handle this situation, and impressed at how present, insightful and enthusiastic everyone comes to class each and every day.

Ironically, forming such deep and meaningful relationships over Zoom has made it that much more exciting on the occasions we get to see each other in person. One of my favorite moments all fall was on my 21st birthday, when I left my room to find everybody standing outside my door with balloons, streamers and a Happy Birthday sign, or when we were able to surprise one of our other classmates and visit him following his ACL surgery. In these moments, you get to feel the level of connection, care and love we have developed for each other in such a short time.

At this point, I dont believe any of us view this experience as a class anymore. As crazy as it sounds, it really has become a family. These are deep, meaningful and unbreakable relationships that I have full confidence will continue for a long, long time.

Q. What do you expect your fellow students to gain from the course?

A. We all joined this class and this family because we had the common goal to find ourselves. But, inherently, the courage to find ourselves comes with the easily held misconception that one day we will have everything all figured out. Often, our impatience makes us hope that day will come very soon.

When we climb obstacle after obstacle, we wonder why hardship does not seem to get easier. When we try to discover who we are, we frequently find ourselves getting more questions than answers. This can leave us tired, defeated and lost. But in this class, we have always tried to embrace what we dont know, rather than judge ourselves for it.

To explore this, we have spent a handful of class sessions assembling a list of what we call triggers and mantras triggers being thoughts or feelings that put us in a mindset of stress and judgment, such as anxiety, loneliness, performance, etc., and mantras being those things that provide or describe when we are most fulfilled, at peace and full of purpose, such as acceptance, belonging and vulnerability.

Discussing these triggers and mantras has allowed us to reflect on the way we see ourselves and understand our emotions in both our best and worst moments, when things seem most confusing. They help remind us that it is OK to not be OK, but also know that we are all deserving and capable of peace, self-worth and fulfillment.In letting go of the idea that we will one day figure it all out, we have been able to accept and embrace the moments where we are most uncertain and turn them into the moments we learn most about ourselves.

Furthermore, the opening quote of one of our readings for the semester, Mind Platter by Najwa Zebia, is: No one can walk your journey for you, only you can do that. No one can dream for you, only you can do that. We have realized that while we can watch all the TED talks or read all the books on self-help in the world, only we can climb our mountains for ourselves. This is something we have all taken quite to heart and has summarized the courage and skill we are continuously developing to learn more about who we are and who we want to be.

In this family we have a very unique group of people who support each other unconditionally in our individual journeys, reminding each other to keep going when things seem hard or uncertain. This highlights another core concept of our class, and what we believe is a key component of self-actualization for young adults: self-transcendence commitment to something greater than ourselves.

My hope is that all of us can look back on this experience as a reminder that we are all deserving of that unconditional support, and also recognize the special power we have in gifting it to others.

Q. How have your own experiences informed your approach to the class?

A. None of this amazing opportunity would have come about if it were not for my own experience. Ive spent what seems like my whole college career trying to figure out myself and what place or purpose I had in every aspect of my life.

Whether it was in lacrosse playing for the UVA varsity team, or in my academic pursuits as a pre-medical student, the beginning of my college career was filled with many big dreams, but also devastating setbacks. Ive dealt with repetitive injury, anxiety, loneliness and a struggle to find a sense of purpose and belonging.

In the beginning of these hardships, I adopted the common type of thinking that we talk so much about in our class; thinking I needed to tough through these things and figure them out alone. However, when I was at my low, I can point to several specific moments where the people in my life each played their own integral part in lifting me back up. This is when I began to find the courage to reflect more on myself, to work through my emotions rather than fearing them, and to learn to appreciate the cathartic power of vulnerability.

Seeing these feelings experienced more and more by fellow students, I realized just how similar our experiences and limiting beliefs about ourselves really are. Consequently, I was driven to explore creating an environment for other students to realize these same things together.

Initially, I spent months structuring this class with different activities and ideas that I thought would be beneficial. However, it has been so incredible to see every person in the class take equal ownership in our experience and build something really special. It has become clear that this class has grown into something completely organic, authentic and genuine, which I could not be more grateful for. I am so thankful for this family.

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In a Time of Darkness, This Student Is Helping His Peers Find Their Authentic Selves - UVA Today

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Prescott The Trauma Lens Care (TLC) program, a program of MATFORCE focused on providing resources, education, and support for professionals, parents, and caregivers involved in the lives of children from hard places, announces a new line up of virtual classes scheduled for winter 2020.

TLC Director Stacey Gagnon said of the new classes being offered, Im excited and inspired by the stories I hear every day in our communities about the families and professionals who work with children from hard places. These new classes are designed with them in mind and will offer tips and techniques to help both the child experiencing trauma and exhibiting bad behaviors, as well as the adult involved.

Trauma Lens Care Trainings Teaching through the Holidays Using a trauma-informed approach, teachers will learn how to be intentional in supporting their students during the holiday season. Wednesday, December 2nd | 10:00 am to 11:15 am

Parenting through the Holidays Using a trauma-informed approach parents will learn about what is happening within the brain of a child during what is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year. Discussion will include tips and techniques that will help both parents and children manage their stress during the holidays. Wednesday, December 9th | 10:00 am to 11:15 am

True Self Care: Avoiding Burnout for Teachers Save the date. Wednesday, January 6th | 10:00 am to 11:15 am

True Self Care: Avoiding Burnout for Parents Save the date. Wednesday, January 13th | 10:00 am to 11:15 am

Loving Porcupines: Love vs. Fear for Teachers Save the date. Wednesday, February 3rd | 10:00 am to 11:15 am

Loving Porcupines: Love vs. Fear for Parents Save the date. Wednesday, February 10th | 10:00 am to 11:15 am

Kinship Classes Also included in the mix of winter classes is a three-part virtual learning series geared towards professionals who help kinship families. Kinship families are relationships between individuals who are thought of as having family ties. Examples include grandparents raising grandchildren, aunts and uncles caring for nieces or nephews or foster families.

Drawing on almost two decades of experience helping parents, caregivers, and educators create and maintain positive growth and learning environments for children, Sandi Cheney will equip professionals with tools to assist the kinship families they work with.

This 3-part virtual learning series starts December 3rd at 3:00 pm, with additional 1-hour classes on December 10th and December 17th.This class is limited to 20 participants.

COVID-Related ClassesOn Friday, December 11th from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, Beth Dunn, a counselor with Yavapai County Education Service Agency, will discuss the brains coping mechanisms during COVID.

On Tuesday, January 12th, Tom Benson will present, Loneliness amid COVID-19, now more serious than ever. Is there a solution?

For more information about any of the classes listed, or to register for free, contact MATFORCE today at matforce@cableone.net or (928) 708-0100. Visit matforce.org for more details.

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New Line Up of Virtual Classes Aim to Help Parents and Teachers Through the Holidays and Beyond - Signals AZ

Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- Greece became the latest European country to declare a national lockdown on the same day England entered a four-week shutdown to combat the accelerating spread of Covid-19. U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak extended the furlough wage support scheme until March.New cases in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic climbed to records, while unprecedented numbers of coronavirus patients are in intensive care in Belgium. The European Commission cut its economic forecast for 2021, projecting growth of just 4.2%.AstraZeneca Plc said its ready to supply hundreds of millions of doses of its Covid-19 vaccine and will seek approval for its shot in many countries at once. The pandemic continued to spread in the U.S., with almost 100,000 new cases. Coronavirus deaths and infections worldwide surged by daily records, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.Key Developments:Global Tracker: Cases surpass 48 million; deaths top 1.22 millionEuropes lockdown wave risks double-dip recessionsBrexit in a lockdown is worst of all worlds for U.K. businessAmericas Covid-19 hotspots stuck with TrumpCaution arises on rapid tests in asymptomatic peopleVaccine Tracker: Clinical trials restart in hopeful signSubscribe to a daily update on the virus from Bloombergs Prognosis team here. Click CVID on the terminal for global data on coronavirus cases and deaths.Sunak Extends U.K. Furlough Wage Support to March (7:26 a.m. NY)U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak extended furlough payments to employees of shuttered companies until the end of March as he sought to provide certainty to the countrys coronavirus-ravaged economy.Government payments of 80% of wages for workers at companies forced to close because of coronavirus pandemic restrictions will continue after the end of the partial English lockdown on Dec. 2, Sunak told the House of Commons on Thursday.Speaking on the day England entered a new four-week lockdown, Sunak abandoned his previous position that the program should end on Oct. 31 in order for new, less-generous measures to focus on supporting viable jobs.Regeneron to Ramp Up Antibody Output (6:47 a.m. NY)Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. said it should have enough of its Covid-19-fighting antibody to treat 80,000 patients by the end of the month, and 200,000 doses of the medication that President Donald Trump dubbed a cure by the first week of January.It plans to produce another 100,000 doses to fulfill its $450 million contract with the U.S. governments Operation Warp Speed by the end of January. It submitted data to support an emergency use authorization of the experimental antibody cocktail last month.Montenegro Tightens Rules After Funeral of Cleric (6:35 a.m. NY)Montenegro imposed new restrictions after thousands of people ignored existing distancing measures and flocked to the funeral of a famous local Orthodox cleric. On Sunday, an open-casket funeral of Bishop Amfilohije, who died of Covid-19 last week, drew masses to the capital of Podgorica despite a ban on gatherings.Exponential growth in new infections, a consequence of a disregard for measures and mass gatherings in recent days, require the tightening, health authorities said late Wednesday by email. Restrictions will be tightened in four cities, including Podgorica, by closing down schools, bars and restaurants.Astra Preparing to Roll Out Vaccine Supplies (6:48 p.m. HK)AstraZeneca Plc is poised to unveil coronavirus vaccine test results by year-end and to begin supplying the world with hundreds of millions of doses shortly afterwards if it gains approval from regulators, Chief Executive Officer Pascal Soriot said on Thursday. Soriot dismissed reports of delays and manufacturing snags.After summer delays, a recent resurgence of the virus has allowed scientists to gather the clinical data they need, Soriot said on a conference call. Astra is keeping the vaccine in a frozen bulk state for now to maximize its shelf life while it awaits final test results and regulatory clearances.Norway Restricts Alcohol Sales in Bid to Avoid Lockdown (6:38 p.m. HK)Norway is banning alcohol sales at bars and restaurants after midnight, extending measures already imposed in some municipalities nationwide. The new curbs also limit gatherings in public places to 20 people, while Prime Minister Erna Solberg urged people to stay at home if they can and advised against unnecessary domestic travel. Norwegians will still be free to travel to their cabins, provided they can avoid contact with others.Solberg said the latest rise in infections means theres no time to see whether restrictions introduced last week are enough.Greece to Enter National Lockdown on Saturday (6:08 p.m. HK)Greece will go into a three-week national lockdown from 6 a.m. Saturday after a prolonged rise in coronavirus infections and an increase in the number of patients in intensive care, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said.If we continued to see the same rate of increase in cases as in the past week wed have thousands in our hospitals, Mitsotakis said in a nationally televised address.Greece recorded a new daily record high of 2,646 new cases Wednesday, while the occupancy rate of total intensive-care units currently stands at 69%. The total number of infections in the country of around 11 million people is now 46,892.Europe Economy Faces Sluggish Recovery in 2021 (6:00 p.m. HK)The euro-area economy will grow 4.2% in 2021, less than previously anticipated, the European Commission said. The European Unions executive arm does see a shallower recession this year, though that doesnt include the latest government lockdowns, which could push some of the regions biggest economies back into recession.The outlook is for a sluggish recovery next year that leaves EU nations open to rising company failures and long-term unemployment, the Commission said.Polish, Czech Infections Hit New Records (5:44 p.m. HK)Poland confirmed 27,143 new coronavirus cases in the last 234 hours, a record, with 367 more deaths, the countrys health ministry said. That pushes the countrys infection rate over a threshold set by the government for the imposition of a full lockdown.The Czech Republic also registered a record daily caseload, with 15,729 new Covid-19 infections on Wednesday, according to health ministry. The countrys health-care system is under pressure and a state of emergency was recently extended until Dec. 3.Swedish Economy Disappoints, PM Enters Isolation (5:40 p.m. HK)Swedens economy grew less than expected in the third quarter, when a lull in the virus during the summer months allowed businesses and households to return to a semi-normal existence. Gross domestic product grew 4.3% from the previous quarter, Statistics Sweden said on Thursday, less than economists predictions of 5%.Separately, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said he is self-isolating after being exposed to a person who tested positive for Covid-19. Lofven said on Facebook that he has no symptoms and feels well.Top Serb Clerics Get Covid-19 After Funeral (3:50 p.m. HK)The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Irinej, and one of his bishops tested positive for the coronavirus days after holding service for another top cleric whose funeral in neighboring Montenegro drew crowds that ignored health warnings.Patriarch Irinej, 90, has been hospitalized in Belgrade, the Serbian Orthodox Church said by email late Wednesday. Bishop Joanikije, another dignitary of the denomination, also tested positive.Both attended the funeral on Sunday for Bishop Amfilohije, who died last week from Covid-19 in Montenegro. He was a prominent political figure whose support of opposition groups helped them defeat the long-ruling party of President Milo Djukanovic in August elections.Bank of England Boosts U.K. Stimulus (3:00 p.m. HK)Policymakers at the Bank of England voted unanimously to inject an extra 150 billion pounds ($195 billion) into the U.K. economy by increasing the size of its government bond-buying program to combat the effects of the accelerating pandemic.Officials also slashed their economic growth estimates, saying they now expected a contraction in the fourth quarter. The U.K. economy will shrink by 11% in 2020 before expanding 7.5% in 2021, the bank said.German Cases Climb to Record (2:28 p.m. HK)Germany registered a record increase in new cases, days after the government imposed the toughest restrictions since a national lockdown in the spring.Europes biggest economy had 31,480 new infections in the 24 hours through Thursday morning, bringing the total to 608,611, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The figures have fluctuated wildly in recent weeks, with daily infections falling to the lowest in almost two weeks on Wednesday.India Adds More Than 50,000 Cases (12:09 p.m. HK)India reported 50,210 new infections Thursday, the first time in 10 days that cases have topped 50,000. Daily infections have dropped from a peak of more than 97,000 in mid-September, but a rise in cases is expected as India kicks off its festival season -- culminating in Diwali on Nov. 14.Total cases in India are at 8.36 million, the second-highest globally behind the U.S., while the countrys death toll rose to 124,315 as of Thursday.Record Worldwide Deaths (11:33 a.m. HK)Daily coronavirus deaths worldwide set a new record of more than 10,000, while global infections passed 600,000 in a day for the first time as the pandemic gathered pace, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.Hokkaido Outbreak Grows (10:25 a.m. HK)Infections in Japans northern-most prefecture Hokkaido, where cases have spiked since October, may break through 100 for the first time today, according to local broadcaster FNN.Hokkaidos governor and the mayor for the prefectures biggest city met Wednesday to discuss possible restrictions, such as asking restaurants in the citys nightlife district to shorten operating hours in exchange for subsidies, FNN reported.China Suspends Entry for U.K. Visas (9:10 a.m. HK)China will temporarily suspend entry by non-Chinese U.K. nationals who hold valid visas or residence permits, the Chinese Embassy in the U.K. said in a statement.The suspension is in response to the Covid-19 outbreak and will be assessed as it evolves, the embassy said. Entry by holders of diplomatic, service or C visas wont be affected, it said.Denver Mulls Tighter Rules (8:15 a.m. HK)Denver is considering more tools to restrict gatherings and avoid a stay-at-home order, said Theresa Marchetta, spokeswoman for Denver Mayor Michael Hancock. Its safe to say everything is on the table.Pueblo, the ninth-largest city in Colorado, last week imposed a two-week, overnight curfew.U.K. May Unveil Furlough Details (7:33 a.m. HK)The U.K. is expected to unveil details of a wage support program Thursday, amid calls for more generous help for people who cant work due to coronavirus restrictions.The Treasury announced Saturday it would extend furlough payments at 80% of employee wages until Dec. 2 to support workers during a second lockdown that starts Thursday. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak is due to announce further extending the program beyond Dec. 2 in areas under the highest levels of restrictions, the Sun newspaper said.For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.2020 Bloomberg L.P.

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Trial launched to test app that promises digital self-help for youngsters - Yahoo Finance UK

New items are available at the Hancock County Public Library.

The following items are available at the Hancock County Public Library, 900 W. McKenzie Road. For more information on the librarys collection or to reserve a title, visit hcplibrary.org.

Adult Fiction

The Book of V. by Anna Solomon

Suzanne Falter's book encourage women to take care of themselves amid a busy life. submitted

"The Book of V" examines the lives of three women over time to determine how things have changed -- or not changed. submitted

Three women: Lily, Vivian and Esther.

Lily is a mother and a daughter, a second wife and maybe a writer. Or she was going to be, before she had children. Now, in her rented Brooklyn apartment shes grappling with her sexual and intellectual desires, while also trying to manage her roles as a mother and a wife in 2016. Vivian Barr seems to be the perfect political wife, dedicated to helping her charismatic and ambitious husband find success in Watergate-era Washington D.C. But one night, he demands a humiliating favor, and her refusal to obey changes the course of her life and the lives of others. Esther is a fiercely independent young woman in ancient Persia, where she and her uncles tribe live a tenuous existence outside the palace walls. When an innocent mistake results in devastating consequences for her people, she is offered up as a sacrifice to please the King, in the hopes that she will save them all. In author Anna Solomons The Book of V., the lives of these three characters overlap and ultimately collide, illuminating how womens lives have and have not changed over thousands of years.

Adult Nonfiction

The Extremely Busy Womans Guide to Self-Care: Do Less, Achieve More, and Live the Life You Want, by Suzanne Falter

Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. Imagine your perfect day. What if that perfect day was every day? Youre probably doing a lot: taking care of your family, killing it at your job, volunteering, organizing, scheduling and delegating. At the end of all of that, do you have any time or energy left to take care of the most important person: you? If you are ready to step out of feelings of frenzy, guilt, stress and overwhelm, this is the perfect book to guide you on that journey with simple steps you can take each day to improve your self-care. Self-care movement leader and author Suzanne Falter gets it. In fact, she lived the life that every woman today feels expected to lead, chasing career goals while balancing the commitment of raising a family. But after facing an unthinkable tragedy, Suzanne transformed her identity as a stressed-out workaholic to find her way back to wholeness and balance after experiencing overwhelming grief. In The Extremely Busy Womans Guide to Self-Care, Suzanne shares simple, bite-sized suggestions to help you ease onto the path of effective self-care in a way that feels doable rather than demanding.

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Off the Shelves November 5 - Greenfield Daily Reporter