A new study suggests infants are more vulnerable to measles infection than previously thought.

The findings debunk notions that most babies are protected for much of their first year by maternal antibodies passed on through pregnancy.

In fact, Toronto researchers from the Hospital for Sick Children and Public Health Ontario say the vast majority of 196 infants they studied were susceptible by three months of age.

Story continues below advertisement

And none of the infants were immune at six months.

Babies typically dont receive the measles vaccine until they are 12 months old. That results in a wide susceptibility gap that the studys senior author called quite alarming.

Shelly Bolotin, a scientist at Public Health Ontario, said the findings underscore the need for everyone to keep their immunization up-to-date to protect the most vulnerable members of the population.

This is really troubling because measles is a serious disease, and it can be quite serious in infants, said Bolotin, also an assistant professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health and the Department of laboratory medicine and pathobiology at the University of Toronto.

It can be absolutely devastating and we need to make sure that we are protecting our most vulnerable members of our population infants.

The study was published online Thursday and appears in the December edition of the American Academy of Pediatrics journal, Pediatrics.

It found that 20 per cent of one-month-old infants had antibody levels below the protective threshold and 92 per cent of three-month-old babies has levels below the threshold.

Story continues below advertisement

Story continues below advertisement

Bolotin said researchers already knew infant immunity declines in the first six months of life, but they did not expect such a rapid drop.

We were surprised to see that waning or that lack of protection start earlier, said Bolotin, who collaborated with lead author Dr. Michelle Science, infectious disease specialist at Sick Kids and also an infection control physician at Public Health Ontario.

She said the assumption that babies are protected longer is based on studies conducted in places where measles remains prevalent. In those regions, mothers have more robust antibody levels to pass on to their child because their immunity comes through natural infection and is repeatedly boosted by continual exposure to measles.

In contrast, most Canadian women of child-bearing age are immune through vaccination because Canada eliminated measles in 1998. Although vaccination rates are high here, immunization through vaccine is associated with lower antibody levels than natural infection.

Bolotin said the Toronto study is unique in measuring antibodies at each month of an infants life from birth to 12 months. Previous research has focused on measuring immunity levels among babies at birth or those older than six months.

A companion paper written by two other experts that also appears in Pediatrics raises the question of whether its time to consider changing the vaccine schedule. It concludes theres no reason to vaccinate earlier, despite ongoing outbreaks in the United States.

Story continues below advertisement

Bolotin acknowledged this is a challenging question for policy-makers who must weigh the risk of infection against the best time to vaccinate children, whose immunity system is still maturing.

Infants between six and 11 months who travel to regions where measles is endemic are encouraged to receive an early dose of the vaccine in addition to their regular 12-month dose, but otherwise, all provinces in Canada recommend the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR) at 12 months of age.

The schedule for a second dose of the vaccine varies across the country.

The Pediatrics commentary suggested early vaccination may actually hinder the efficacy of a later dose, resulting in lower levels of the antibody compared with children who first get the vaccine at 12 months.

Early vaccination may also alter response after revaccination, leading to lower levels of the antibody compared with children who are vaccinated for the first time during the second year of life, they state, citing one study that looked at immunity in children aged five to 10, and another published earlier this year that looked at short- and long-term impacts on children in the Netherlands.

As of late last week, Bolotin said Canada has seen 112 cases of measles this year, the vast majority of them imported or import-related.

Story continues below advertisement

Measles can cause severe complications including pneumonia, encephalitis and death.

Read more:
Infants more vulnerable to measles than previously believed, study finds - The Globe and Mail

Source: Aaron J. Thornton / Getty

As a society, we have been conditioned to have the least empathy for Black women when it comes to mental health. It is widely theorized by professionals working in the mental health space that the state of being a double minority makes Black women particularly susceptible to suffering from anxiety-related conditions. Sadly, research has shown that among Black women suffering from anxiety disorders, only 13 percent seek treatment (Neal-Barnett & Crowther, 2000). While a variety of different factors can be attributed to that low figure, without a doubt, a major prohibitive factor is the negative attitudes displayed toward us when we need help. Were either judged harshly for our condition or people straight up dont believe us. Take Summer Walker for example.

The Playing Games singer has been an open book regarding her diagnosis with social anxiety disorder. So much so that last week she announced that she would be canceling 20 dates on her Over It tour as a result of her battle with the condition.

Unfortunately Im not going to be able to finish this tour because it doesnt really coexist with my social anxiety and my introverted personality, Summer explained in a video post. I hope that people understand and respect that at the end of the day Im a person, I have feelings, I get tired, I get sad. Its just a lot. I dont want to lose myself for someone else. I want to give yall what I can, so Im going to keep making music and Im going to do a few shows, but I cant finish.

In the video caption, she went on to promise fans a full refund for canceled dates and expressed that she hoped that they would be understanding of her decision.

I truly appreciate all the support and love. As you know, I have been very open about my struggle with social anxiety. I want to continue to be healthy and to make music for yall, so I have decided to cut down some of the dates on the tour, she wrote. I hope you all can understand. Im grateful for every single one of you, and I hope that you understand that wellness/mental health is important. All canceled dates will be refunded asap. Thank you.

Unfortunately, in this country, we have issues when it comes to believing Black women, so even after Walker went as far as to cancel dates and lose out on potential earnings as a result of said condition, people decided that this was their cue to start dissecting her life and building a case against the singer in an effort to prove that she is being dishonest about having social anxiety. More often than not, their arguments centered around the flawed logic that people with social anxiety are incapable of enjoying themselves in public settings and thus any sign of Summer being playful or having a good time was used as proof that she must be lying. The outright attacks on Walker were revelatory of two sobering truths:

The most disgusting behavior took place following Sunday nights Soul Train Awards after the 23-year-old struggled through her acceptance speech for Best New Artist. A quick scroll through the singers Instagram page that night revealed a mixed bag of problematic and degrading comments ranging from She playing yall like a fiddle to You so f-cking weird and its starting to make me not like you as an artist. Some even went as far as to question how she was capable of attending an after-party with her friends if she couldnt make it through a speech. Like I said, complete trash.

Eventually, Summer decided to sound off on her critics in a separate post, essentially blaming their ignorance and vile comments for the reason that so many members of our community with mental disorders especially children go undiagnosed and untreated.

1. Bareface & beautiful

2. You know the scariest sh-t Ive been witnessing is that most of the women leaving negative comments like its an act, I dont have the right to act like this b/c Im famous, b-tch you slow or just flat out making fun of me for being vulnerable. HAVE CHILDREN, these women have children. It makes me feel soo bad cause its clear that if the children are developing or struggling with any type of mental disorder such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, itll be brushed to the side and will never receive any treatment because itll just be an act. These parents are probably so ignorant that instead of reading up on symptoms they just whoop the child sad, my sh-t started at 6 so yes kids have it too.

Im sure people will continue to justify their disbelief regarding Summers disorder. Today, theyll use a twerk video. Tomorrow they will use her past as an exotic dancer. Next week, it will be something else. But the Summer Walker conspiracy serves as a mirror reflection into a larger societal problem when it comes to Black women and girls and our mental health. The numbers dont lie. Just last month, we reported that the suicide rate for Black female teens is on the rise. In 2017, they were 70 percent more likely to attempt suicide than their white counterparts. We should not have to prove that were not okay. Lifestyle choices do not negate the presence of mental illness. If we say that were struggling, believe us the first time.

Follow Jazmine on Twitter @jazminedenise and visit her blog, Black Girl Mom.

Continued here:
B*tch You Slow: Summer Walker And Our Dismissive Attitude Towards Black Womens Mental Health - MadameNoire

Two weeks after its podium finish in the Girls Cross Country State Finals, Columbus North put two more girls teams on the podium at the Nike Midwest Cross Country Regional on Saturday in Terre Haute.

The Bull Dogs finished 10th in the Girls Championship race out of 72 teams from Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Missouri. North also was runner-up and was the top Indiana team in the Girls Freshman-Sophomore race.

Both teams ran well, North girls coach Rick Sluder said. Admittedly, we didnt continue 100 percent of our training. We were a little banged up after the state meet, but our varsity ran nearly the same times as the state meet.

Mackenzie Barnett led the varsity with a 101st-place finish in 19 minutes, 4.4 seconds for 5,000 meters (3.1 miles) at the same LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course that hosted the state finals. Brianna Newell took 106th in 19:07.6, while Lily Baker was 118th (19:15.5), Olivia Morlok 120th (19:16.0), Jessica Meza 247th (20:30.7) and Kennedy Kerber 265th (20:45.1).

In the Freshman-Sophomore race, Ellen White led with way with a 15th-place finish in 20:24.5. Julie Klaus took 19th in 20:32.7, while Sydney Morlok was 30th (20:58.6) Abby Jacobi 32nd (20:59.9), Katherine Rumsey 53rd (21:30.0), Claire Wisler 66th (21:45.6), Madysin Perry 69th (21:49.6) and Megan Saeger 88th (22:21.1).

Meanwhile, the North boys finished 32nd in the Boys Championship race and 17th in the Boys Freshman-Sophomore race. The Bull Dogs competed without top runner Matt Newell.

Reese Kilbarger-Stumpff led North with a 112th-place finish in the Championship race in 16:20.5. Andy Stohr took 178th in 16:43.0, while Evan Carr was 233rd (17:02.9), Austin Pulkowski 263rd (17:21.9) and Will Kiel 293rd (17:50.6).

Sam Hobbeheydar finished 48th in the Freshman-Sophomore race in 17:38.5. Clayton Guthrie took 84th in 17:56.9, while Carter Howell was 176th (18:40.7), Charlie Smith 263rd (19:38.8), Kellen Hottell 284th (19:57.9), Ethan Lax 290th (20:01.3), Luke Chandler 355th (21:40.8) and Dylan Sluys 372nd (22:34.7).

Cougars earn All-Star status

Hannah Sabotin, who led Trinity Lutheran to the Class A Volleyball State Finals, and Hauser senior Kylie Lock have been named to the Class A/2A Indiana Senior All-Stars.

Sabotin and Lock will play for the South in the Indiana High School Volleyball Coaches Association North-South Senior All-Star Game at 3 p.m. Sunday at Lawrence North.

Trinitys Bailey Reynolds has been named an Indiana Junior All-Star. She will play for the South in the 1 p.m. Junior All-Star Game, also at Lawrence North.

Olympians make All-HHC

Seven members of the Hoosier Hills Conference champion Columbus East football team have made the All-HHC squad.

Offensive selections include senior quarterback Cole Gilley, senior wide receiver Dalton Back, junior running back Mark McDonald and senior running back/receiver Lance Greiwe. Defensive selections are senior defensive end Seth Chandler, senior defensive back Tyler Settle and junior linebacker Parker Harrison.

Junior receiver/defensive back/quarterback Malachi Parks, senior offensive lineman Jake OConnor and junior linebacker Malachi Parks are honorable mention selections.

Senior selected East MVP

Senior Zach Roberts, who helped lead Columbus East the boys soccer final four in Class 3A, has been named the teams MVP.

Sophomore Branson Young won the Olympian Award. Sophomore Korbin Hatcher won the ISCA Top Team Player Award.

Carlos Casados Mendoza was named junior varsity MVP.

Senior is North football MVP

Senior tight end/defensive end Mitchell Collier has been named MVP of the Columbus North football team. Collier also was selected as the teams top offensive lineman/tight end.

Junior Blake Huffman was named the top offensive back/receiver, senior Montez Mitchell was picked as the top defensive lineman and senior Landon Robbins was chosen as the top linebacker/defensive back. Senior Hunter Huser won the Bull Dog Award, senior Luke McDonald took the Tom Orr Award and senior Daveed Jolley won the John R. Skobel Memorial Scholarship.

Collier, Huser, Robbins and senior Jackson Payne were recognized as team captains.

Junior Luke Bless won the JV Bull Dog Award, and Will Davis captured the Freshman Bull Dog Award. Tyler Blythe won the Freshman Team Scholar-Athlete Award.

North selects top runners

Sophomore Matt Newell has been named MVP of the Columbus North boys cross-country team, and junior Mackenzie Barnett and freshman Brianna Newell are co-MVPs of the North girls cross-country squad.

Junior Austin Pulkowski and senior Olivia Morlok won the boys and girls Bull Dog Awards. Junior Andy Stohr was named Most Improved for the boys.

Senior Carson Littrell, junior Jackson Davis and sophomores Evan Carr and Reese Kilbarger-Stumpff were recognized as boys team captains. Seniors Morlok, Kate Falkner, Kennedy Kerber and Karla Perez were cited as girls team captains.

Senior picked as North MVP

Senior Gabby Genth has been selected MVP of the Columbus North volleyball team.

Sophomore Sarah Bennett won the Bull Dog Award, junior Madison White was named Most Improved and senior Lauren Opalka won the Perseverance Award. Juniors Emma Derringer and Kathryn Rayburn shared the Jolie Crider Award for Upperclassmen Mental Attitude.

Sophomore Grace Chapman was named JV MVP. Sophomore Nya Davis won the JV Most Improved Award, and freshman Emma Burns won the Casey Cooley Award for Underclassmen Mental Attitude.

Sophomore named Jets MVP

Sophomore Caleb Walker has been named MVP of the Hauser boys soccer team.

Franco Avilla was recognized as the High Scorer, Diego Vazquez was honored for Most Assists andCaitono Fracasso and Ben Essex shared the Best Defender Award. Cody Vincent was named Most Improved and Emily Harler won the Mental Attitude Award.

Boys set for hoops scrimmages

Most of the areas boys basketball teams will compete in preseason scrimmages today and Saturday.

Columbus North will visit Bedford North Lawrence at 6 p.m. today. Also today, Brown County visits Monrovia at 6 p.m., and Edinburgh hosts Jac-Cen-Del at 6:30 p.m.

Columbus East will host Roncalli at noon Saturday, and Hauser will host Central Christian Academy at 2 p.m. Saturday. Also Saturday, Jennings County hosts Brownstown Central at 5 p.m., and Trinity Lutheran will host Southwestern (Hanover) at 6 p.m.

Crusaders game rescheduled

Columbus Christians home girls basketball game against Medora that was postponed on Saturday has been rescheduled for 6 p.m. Dec. 20.

Ted Schultz is sports editor for The Republic. He can be reached at tschultz@therepublic.com or 812-379-5628.

Original post:
North girls teams run to podium finishes - The Republic

The Seymour football coaching staff say Brendan Smith and Ethan Corwin were key members of the Seymour football team this season.

Smith was named Seymours most valuable offensive player and Corwin received MVP honors for the defense during the Seymour football awards program attended by 335 persons Wednesday night at the Pines Evergreen Room.

Smith quarterbacked the Owls for most of the season and saw some action at running back. He completed 54 of 121 passes for 940 yards and 10 touchdowns. Smith rushed 114 times for 558 yards and seven touchdowns.

He accepted me right away and I enjoyed every minute I worked with him, offensive coordinator Jeff Richey said.

Heading into his third season at the helm, head coach Mike Kelly said he knew he was going to get a lot of effort and leadership from his quarterback.

He is pretty quiet, he doesnt say much," Kelly said. "I appreciated his effort and his leadership.

Defensive coordinator Brian Balsmeyer, in presenting Corwin his award said, He was a team captain and a hard worker and took over the defense as a leader.

Kelly remarked at how much Corwin changed himself for the betterment of the team.

As a junior we didnt think he was going to get on the football field," Kelly said. "He changed positions and made a big improvement. He loves football and is a student of the game.

This fall Corwin had 37 tackles, 64 assists, one interception and he recovered three fumbles.

Cameron Barr received the mental attitude award.

In many sports you get knocked down," assistant coach Jeff Klakamp said. "Cameron would fight even harder after getting knocked down. He will be successful in life in whatever he does.

Jake Roberts was named the most valuable lineman.

He is the most confident player Ive ever met, assistant coach Steven Wolfsberger said in presenting his award.

Jacob Rotert was named the most improved defensive player, Jalen Scales was announced as the most improved defensive player and Caleb Elliott was named the most valuable special teams player.

Klakamp introduced the freshman team and said that squad had a record of 6-2. Assistant coach Zach Ruble introduced the junior varsity players.

As we go through the season we have goals," Kelly said. "We want to win the first game, stay undefeated at home, win the Jackson Bowl, win the conference and advance in the tournament. Those goals are never going to change.

The Owls reached the first goal, and started the season 4-0, but lost their final six, including the first round of sectional at Franklin. The Owls lost each of their final five regular season games by seven points or less.

We were a whole lot more competitive this year than in recent years," Kelly said. "The seniors bought into the program.

We put in a new offense and a new defense and were progressing to the next level. We learned a whole lot about our strengths and weaknesses and were continuing to buy in to have success.

His message to the returning players was: Invest in the little things. Be the best you can be.

Visit link:
Owl football caps another great year - Seymour Tribune

Editor's Note: The following is an op-ed. The opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Task & Purpose.

The "suck it up and drive on" mentality permeated our years in the U.S. military and often led us to delay getting both physical and mental health care. As veterans, we now understand that engaging in effective care enables us not just to survive but to thrive. Crucially, the path to mental wellness, like any serious journey, isn't accomplished in a day and just because you need additional or recurring mental health care doesn't mean your initial treatment failed.

This may seem self-evident to some, yet we have heard veterans and advocates both imply and directly state their belief that, if a veteran goes back for additional mental health care, it means the initial intervention was a failure. This belief is self-defeating and potentially dangerous if it discourages anyone struggling with mental health challenges from seeking initial or follow-up care. While there has been a continued increase in the number of veterans seeking care in the immediate year following departure from active duty, numbers seeking follow-on or additional treatment remain low.

Stigmatizing follow-on care does a disservice to anyone struggling with mental health challenges; mental health care, like physical health care, must be comprehensive and continuous. The one -and-done attitude about mental health care is absurd. This becomes blatantly evident when compared to attitudes about physical health.

Some injuries predispose you to related but not identical problems in the future. Those who have had acute joint injuries are often warned that they are at increased risk of developing arthritis as they age. Shingles develops only years after recovery from chicken pox. Similarly, some Vietnam veterans only developed PTSD symptoms when the Iraq War kicked off. Some Iraq veterans show violent tendencies once marital strife occurs despite successful treatment for initial PTSD symptoms. It doesn't mean the initial treatment failed; rather, it suggests those at risk should pay attention to early warning signs and engage in the appropriate follow on care.

Certain conditions are chronic. In some cases, physical or mental health conditions may require lifelong medication and careful monitoring. Insulin for Type 1 diabetes or mood stabilizers for bipolar disorder may be required for a lifetime. Individuals who have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) are of particular risk, as the manifestations of mental health issues change over time, and there are complex risks of additional physical conditions as well.

Other issues are chronic but episodic for some patients. Eczema may flare up in drier winter months just as depression may recur in that darker season. Having a physical or mental health condition wax and wane increases the need for tailored treatment, and both proactive and follow-on care.

Compensating for one injury can cause another. "Favoring" a sore knee by limping can throw your body out of alignment and end up causing pain or injury to the other leg. Similarly, some of the ways we try to compensate for mental pain, like numbing with alcohol, can end up developing into independent disorders that need separate and additional treatment.

One injury may bring another problem to light. Bone cancer is sometimes identified on x-rays for broken bones and it must be treated separately from casting the fracture that drove the initial care. Similarly, therapy for combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder may unearth childhood trauma or other mental health conditions not directly related to the immediate stressor and require their own care.

Different conditions also can be totally unrelated. If someone develops strep throat, takes a course of antibiotics that successfully treats it, and gets an ear infection five years later, it's unlikely they would assume the first doctor did something wrong. A course of therapy for one mental health condition cannot be expected to ward off all future problems.

There may be a genetic component. Both physical and mental health conditions can be influenced by a complex interplay of genetic and environmental causes. Stay attuned to family history, avoid environmental exposures that may increase risk if possible, and seek early intervention if warning signs are seen.

Particularly for military veterans who once operated in an environment that prized physical and mental toughness, admitting to the need for any sort of care can be difficult. It's important that everyone understand that it is not a sign of failure or weakness to seek follow up care down the road.

A new round of physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medication may be required as knees battered by ruck marches are further worn down by the ravages of age; no one blinks an eye at this to-be-expected development. The same approach should be taken when the changing stresses of life require new approaches to mental wellness.

Kayla Williams is Director of the Military, Veterans, and Society Program at the Center for a New American Security. She previously served as Director of the Center for Women Veterans at VA, where she focused on policies, programs, and legislation affecting women veterans. She was enlisted for five years and wrote the memoirs Love My Rifle More Than You: Young and Female in the U.S. Army and Plenty of Time When We Get Home: Love and Recovery in the Aftermath of War.

Kyleanne Hunter, PhD is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University's Center for Security Studies, and the Vice President, Programs at Brady. She is a Marine Corps combat veteran, with 10 years as an AH-1W SuperCobra pilot and 3 years as the Legislative Liaison Officer to the House of Representatives. She is the co-editor of Invisible Veterans: What Happens when Military Women become Civilians Again.

Read the rest here:
Mental health care isnt one-and-done like any journey, you have to commit - Task & Purpose

Scorpio.

iStockPhoto / Getty Images

As Mars moves into your sign on your birthday this year you need to believe that all paths are open to you. Then you need to pick one of those paths and give it your all. You wont just be good this coming year Scorpio, you will be great!

Refuse to settle for second best and refuse to let others tell you that certain things cannot be done. Your ruling planet Mars makes all things possible, so set your sights high and go for it. While others are still stuck on the ground you will soar.

A change in the way you deal with people on a one-to-one basis is needed. You can still get your way in most things but you will have to make sure that others get what they want from joint activities too. Its no longer all about you.

Story continues below advertisement

You dont have to change your ways to please other people. Even if you try it probably wont work because on a subconscious level your mind and emotions will be working against it. You are who you are and you do what you do for a good cosmic reason.

You no longer need to be reticent about your aims and ambitions. Make sure everyone knows what it is you are trying to do and how they can help you reach your goals. You may be pleasantly surprised how many come forward to assist you.

You will have to make some tough decisions over the next few days, the kind of decisions that are sure to make people angry. Fortunately, you are not the sort of individual to let it worry you, so do what you have to do and do it well.

You may believe that you can take on the world and win but even if that is the case you are advised to make compromises where you can and to avoid confrontation. Life is about having fun, so why fuss and fight about trivial things?

Once Mercury turns direct again tomorrow you will find it much easier to convince others that your plans are worthy of support. You may actually look back over the past few weeks and recognize that the delays you were forced to endure were worth it.

Dont waste any more time trying to analyze your motives, just get on and do what has to be done and be happy in the knowledge that you are making things happen again. Mars in your sign will endow you with no end of energy and ambition.

It is of the utmost importance now that you adopt the correct mental attitude in your everyday affairs. Cosmic activity in the most sensitive area of the your chart will open you to all sorts of negative influences, but you dont have to give in to them.

Story continues below advertisement

Story continues below advertisement

The more adventurous side of your nature will come to the fore over the next few days and you will take the kind of risks you usually strive to avoid. By all means push your luck a little but dont forget there will be consequences for getting it wrong.

As Mars moves into the career area of your chart today you may be able to exert more leverage on the work front that has been the case in recent weeks. By all means let people in positions of power know when you think they are doing it wrong.

You have never been the sort to be taken in by the latest craze or fashion and you are not about to get caught up in the latest round of trendy hysteria. If others want to put common sense on hold thats up to them, but its not for you.

Discover more about yourself at sallybrompton.com

Link:
Your daily horoscope: November 19 - The Globe and Mail

Judd Trump has won three ranking titles already this season (Picture: VCG via Getty Images)

Judd Trump might be one of the most naturally talented snooker players in history, but it is his single-mindedness and commitment to his game that separates him from the pack, believes Michael Holt.

The 30-year-old is riding high at the top of the sport as the world champion and world number one, showing no signs of slowing down.

After claiming his first world title in May, the Bristolian has triumphed in three more ranking events, most recently beating Ronnie OSullivan in the final of the Northern Ireland Open.

13 years ago, Trump became the youngest player to qualify for the final stages of a ranking event at the Welsh Open, so the snooker world has long been aware of him, but it has only been over the last year that he has reached the pinnacle of the sport.

Holt believes that his natural talent got him so far, but the mental toughness he has developed has taken him to the very highest level.

Im a big fan of Trump, I just love his attitude, hes brilliant, such a great player, Holt told Metro.co.uk.

Hes turned into a great player, he obviously had raw talent when he was a kid. Its his second spell at number one and what is he, 12? Its incredible really, hes won everything now.

What he did to [John] Higgins in the [World Championship] final. I admire his stubbornness and belief in his own ability, because he got a bit of stick a few months ago which I thought was incredible.

Some people would have took that criticism badly and start doubting his technique and start tinkering, because hes got a strange technique going across the white.

But he didnt, he believed in what he does, worked hard and look at him now. His attitude and resilience, thats what champions have got and hes got it in spades.

As far as dominating, its hard to dominate now, theres a lot of good players around and some days youre going to get beat. But the way hes playing now, you never know, somebodys going to have to play well to beat him because hes not throwing any bad matches in.

With his action, its so amazing. A lot of world champions have a bad season the next year because theyre away with the fairies, but hes said thats not going to be me hes got his head down. Great attitude, we can all learn from his mentality.

Trump hammered Higgins 18-9 in one of the most impressive performances in World Championship history, but it could all have been very different for the Juddernaut.

The world number one barely scraped past Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in round one, with the Thai star narrowly running out of position during a break in the deciding frame, and Holt knows how different Trumps life could be if those few seconds had played out differently.

He was one ball away from losing first match to Thepchaiya, who was so unlucky, continued the Hitman. He came through the pack and it could have landed almost anywhere and it ended in the absolute worst spot.

He left Judd a double and he knocked in a mad double. But Thepchaiya was a roll of the white away from knocking him out and then he wasnt world champion and wed all have been talking about him losing first match.

Everyone would be questioning if he can achieve what he should in the game. Thats all it takes, such fine margins between everyone saying how great he is now, the same people would be jumping on the bandwagon saying he hasnt achieved enough, he doesnt live right, he goes out too much, all this absolute codswallop.

But it did roll an extra one and all them people have disappeared into their hole again.

Much has been made of Trump curbing his former playboy lifestyle of clubbing and sports cars, and now being fully focused on the game he has profited.

The world champ still enjoys himself, as his Instragram detailed over the summer, and Holt believes as long as hes working hard and playing hard, then all is well, especially with the results speaking for themselves.

He works hard at his game, I think he does everything right, said the world number 37. Youve got to enjoy your life and if he likes going out to clubs, popping champagne bottles, its not for me, but if thats what rocks his boat then crack on mate.

On his death bed hell regret the things he didnt do, good look to the man.

Theres plenty of jealousy as well, which creates criticism, but hes not hurting anyone. Theyre the same people who say theres no characters in the game and the same people who ask him for a photo.

Hes world number one and world champion so you cant criticise him.

Holt and Trump will be in action at the UK Championship next week, where the Hitman takes on Adam Stefanow in round one and the Juddernaut faces Amine Amiri.

MORE: Judd Trump claims Ronnie OSullivan can only play well if you let him

MORE: Superb Judd Trump beats Ronnie OSullivan to retain Northern Ireland Open title

Read more:
How Judd Trump's attitude sets him apart at the top of snooker - Metro.co.uk

Photo Credit: Alan Hubbard

CATCH MANHATTAN @ URI, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27 AT 4PM ON YURVIEW, COX CHANNEL 4 IN RHODE ISLAND.

The 2019-20 season is just four games old, but Rhode Island Rams freshman Jacob Toppin (6.5ppg, 4.8rpg) is already a fan favorite.

Possessing a mixture of above-the-rim athleticism, ball skills, and fluidity, Toppin is fitting in seamlessly in Kingston. There are adjustments to be made, muscle-mass to be gained, and knowledge to be accrued as the games and seasons pass all expected for a young freshman. But its easy to see why the URI coaching staff was, and is, excited about Toppins present and future in Kingston.

Over the summer, Toppin and I enjoyed a lengthy discussion over the phone after his commitment. Postgame after Rhode Islands 70-65 win over Nicholls State, we connected personally for the first of many conversations well have in Kingston.

Chris DiSano: Four games into your URI career how are you feeling about your experience here and getting rolling?

Jacob Toppin: Its great. I love being on the court with my teammates its a great environment to be in and my teammates are always pushing me. We push each other in practice and workouts to our limits. Were close as a team and we play as a team. Thats why weve been successful early on this season.

CD: You talk about the team being close and weve heard some of the guys talk about this team being tighter this year. Obviously, you werent here previously but when youre in a dogfight like you were tonight and youre down 5 to 7 points, how do you approach staying together in those moments?

JT: I choose to lead as best I can in my role. Im big on posture, attitude, and mental toughness. So when were in a dogfight or the other team goes on a run, I want to be the one, choose to be one of those guys who makes sure everyone is alright and were staying together. We need to continue to play through adversity and play for one another.

CD: Whats been the most significant on-court adjustment for you so far in terms of transitioning to play at this level?

JT: Definitely the speed. Right now my shot isnt falling like I want it to. Im a shooter but Im not making enough shots right now because of the speed. Im sped up at times. That just comes with practice and shooting game reps. Ill get used to that and things will come naturally.

CD: When we spoke over the summer you talked about having tight hips defensively and needing to work on that. How would you assess your play defensively so far and how youre coming along?

JT: I think Im playing pretty good defense. I still need to stay in front of my man and not let them take me off the dribble, but Ive gotten a lot better since Ive been there on the defensive side. Our strength and conditioning coach, Chase [Campbell], helps us a lot with our lateral movement and movement in general, so thats been big for me.

CD: If this Nicholls State team is 11th in their league, Ill be shocked. Theyre a physical, veteran, team. Can you reflect on this win tonight?

JT: This is a big W for us because we want to go to Jamaica coming off a win. We dont want to sulk. And theyre a great team that will do very well in their conference. It will help us out in the long run.

CD: What do you see your role as for this team as we sit here right now?

JT: An energy guy. I have to come in, provide energy, crash the boards, and have to do everything I can to help the team win. Whether scoring, rebounding, playing defense I need to be an energy guy on and off the floor.

CD: Because of your athleticism, youve quickly become a fan favorite. You must like that, right?

JT: Yeah, its nice [smiles].

CD: You made two really solid, underrated decisions tonight leading directly to six points for your team. One was in the first half where you shook a defender off the dribble at the top of the key and found Mekhi Long for a three-pointer. And the next was in the second half where you penetrated from the right wing, had an opportunity to throw up a runner or something similar but instead whipped it cross court to the left wing to Fatts Russell who connected from deep. Can you take us through those possessions and your decision-making?

JT: Im big on sharing the ball and always want to look for my teammates. If I dont believe that I have a good opportunity to score then I try to make the right basketball play. On those plays, I saw what made the most sense and made the pass.

CD: Whats your greatest, early learning that youve taken from the upperclassmen?

JT: Definitely mental toughness. Were always trying to move forward to next play, next possession, as coach always tells us. Thats big to be able to control your frustrations and focus on the next play.

CD: Finally, what are your thoughts on the upcoming trip to, and games in, Jamaica?

JT: Ive never been out of the country, so Im excited. Im excited to play great competition thats just going to make us better and to experience being in another country.

CATCH MANHATTAN @ URI, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27 AT 4PM ON YURVIEW, COX CHANNEL 4 IN RHODE ISLAND.

Chris DiSano, is an Atlantic 10 television analyst and writer. He has served as the host of A-10 Live! at Mens Basketball Media Day and founded the former College Chalktalk. DiSano, who was named an NBC Sports top Atlantic 10 basketball follow, can be found on Twitter at @CDiSano44

More:
Toppin: Four Games and Already a Fan Favorite - yurview.com

Behind many rich, stimulating and vibrant legal careers lurks an undercurrent of suffering, with stress, anxiety and mental ill-health rife within all areas of the profession. With this in mind, Richard Collier, a professor of law and social theory at Newcastle University, told WTR why hes concerned for the mental health of a generation of lawyers, and what the industry can do to effectively improve employee wellbeing.

The body of research into the legal professions problems with mental health is growing. Colliers latest addition to it is a study funded by the charity Anxiety UK. Anxiety and Wellbeing Amongst Junior Lawyers: A Research Study documents the findings from interviews with people who have under five years of post-qualification experience. It raises questions about how law firms respond to evidence of the complex relation between mental health and the workplace, the scale of poor lawyer wellbeing, the need to work in more efficient, effective and safer ways; and the greater willingness of young lawyers to be open about mental health issues.

Many of Colliers findings flesh out research carried out in the 2019 Junior Lawyers Division (JLD) Resilience and Wellbeing Survey. The JLD survey received 1,803 responses from UK lawyers, and produced alarming figures for the industry: high workloads, client demands and expectations caused 74% of respondents to regularly or occasionally feel stressed, causing experiences of disrupted sleep, anxiety, emotional upset and fatigue, negative and depressed thoughts, and self-harm. 14% of those experiencing mental ill-health reported experiencing suicidal thoughts.

The problem is rooted deep within the way our legal institutions work and how theyre failing to account for this growing issue. Exemplary of this, 78% of respondents thought their organisation could be doing more to provide support to employees.

More than one problem

Although the two reports focus on junior lawyers, Collier is quick to note how widespread the issue is across all demographics. We cant generalise in discussing the laws wellbeing problem. The specific issues relating to corporate firms (working hours, etc) can be very different from in-house and high-street firms, or legal aid lawyers. He continues: It is also important to remember our individual experiences of wellbeing can be shaped by boundaries of age, gender, sexuality, class, ethnicity, race, and stage of career and so on (and as the JLD research shows, some distinctive pressures can face early career solicitors).

Despite problems as myriad as the people they affect, tracing a narrative of the issues is not an insurmountable task. Whilst theres no one problem, there are shared themes across the community. Concerns about stigma around mental health issues, the importance of speaking out and being supported when they do, issues about work life, long hours, the competitive culture, even the personality attributes of lawyers: the particular kinds of insecure overachievers and perfectionists its been suggested that the career attracts. And perhaps especially the impact here of the dominant form of billing of much legal work.

On the surface, it seems that issues of mental ill-health at work are being prioritised like never before. Its almost impossible to get through a day without interacting with a volley of wellness initiatives. Meditation, yoga and wellness breaks frequently show up in the language of committee action in big city firms. These are good signs, Collier believes, because the culture around mental health is tangibly changing.

However, Collier is sceptical how universal a salve the wellness trend is. When wellness is prioritised, the onus is often shifted onto the employee and their capability for resilience. The focus is on individuals to change what theyre doing themselves, which is quite limited. Theres going to be kickback from individuals who dont need to see a mindfulness poster but need a change of work culture. Thats where conversations about billing, the dominant culture, and also mens dominance at upper levels in the profession start to appear.

These solutions couldnt come soon enough. In Colliers research, hes come across countless examples of people struggling to match the demands of the job with their lives. Why does this matter? The health of lawyers should be a concern for society. If you scratch the surface of the data, he says, you realise theres a lot of suffering out there. To recognise the need for cultural change does not mean the many initiatives that have been introduced to support lawyers are unwelcome. Were also not saying that a career as a lawyer isnt incredibly rewarding, personally, intellectually, and certainly financially for some at least. But Collier is still adamant that the profession needs a serious rethink.

At the heart of many issues is stigma. Long hours cause lawyers to lose a work-life balance while feeling unable to speak out to their personal needs, regularly due to the same refrain. Although some will say its just part of the package deal you buy into, more and more arent accepting that, perhaps especially junior lawyers; there is a generational change taking place in attitudes to wellbeing and mental health Collier says. Theres lots of evidence that for all the potentially high financial rewards in some areas, there can be other sides to an outwardly successful career.

Intersection of gender

While flexible working schemes are now showing up at the big firms, many others still lag behind. The intersection of gender is unavoidable at this point from the conversation. Taking wellbeing seriously entails engaging men given their continued dominance at upper echelons in providing leadership, speaking out about their own experiences, in driving this agenda forward; this is why the recent turn to better engaging men in gender equality is so significant. Collier notes. Theres still gender disparity at the top of the profession. You have to talk about men and how the men at the top of this culture need to change.

In fact, acceptance of the status quo is one of the first things Collier wants to challenge. The danger is, if you dont address this, youre going to lose a lot of good lawyers, and traditionally it has been more women are leaving the profession in this equation than men. More women (63%) reported mental ill-health had a negative impact on their physical health than men (50%) in the JLD study.

However, to think that these issues disproportionately affect women in the profession would be myopic. The JLD study also found a higher proportion of men (20%) suffering suicidal thoughts than women (12%). One of Colliers other focuses is on the way men exist in the legal profession. Hes extensively researched the ways mens attitude to fatherhood has evolved over time, from a simple breadwinner character to someone that wants to be present in their childrens lives.

Collier relates a typical comment from a study he did on fathers at major law firms: Some see it as the costs of the package deal of this life. I didnt see the boys grow up, but Ive got the big car and the big house. Yet many are finding this trade-off to be deeply unsatisfying. All the more reason for the model to change, particularly at the top: The equality, diversity and inclusion aspect is not talked about enough in relation to the wellbeing debate, he says.

Rethinking mental health and the workplace

Tackling stigma at the top of law firms has been the focus of a number of excellent campaigns. The Green Ribbon campaign, for example, saw law firms such as Freshfields don ribbons to indicate they or someone they knew had experienced mental ill-health. Elsewhere, mental health charity LawCare launched This is Me in 2016 to open up a dialogue for major industry personalities to talk about their experiences with mental health. Firms that have taken part include Baker & McKenzie, CMS, Herbert Smith Freehills, Hogan Lovells and Linklaters.

Campaigns such as these are good steps, but Collier argues structural change with wellness in mind is still necessary. You have to go beyond ticking the box, as the danger is wellbeing is just another measure that the universities and firms use. If it becomes a box ticking exercise, youre not changing the structures or key aspects of the causes of the problems in the first place. He adds, Its about rethinking the relationship between mental health and the workplace. Its raising fundamental questions about what being a good lawyer and employer is.

One of the areas in need of change, and identified by Colliers research, is manager training. Theres a key role for management. They need support themselves too. Many seem to be struggling. Support networks need to be set up for all lawyers as well as adequate education on the issues.

Traditionalists may worry that paradigmatic shifts in how the legal professions works sound nice, but dont consider the fundamental demands of the job. Its a valid concern law likely will always be a career more demanding than most. For this reason, the Mindful Business Charter was established. A collaboration between major banks and law firms, signing up to the charter indicates a firms awareness that the profession has high demands, but that measures need to be taken to mitigate any unnecessary sources of stress. Firms already signed up include Pinsent Masons, Ashurst, Clifford Chance and Simmons & Simmons.

The legal landscape is changing, and Collier is hopeful that a generational shift will see increasing change. However, one argument that he is particular to rail against is preluding these necessary changes with an appeal to the economic benefit. Although studies and research do support wellness schemes, diversity and inclusion policies, and work-life balance as financially valuable to firms, theres a risk it can then be de-prioritised were it ever proven to not make financial sense. Theres a bottom-line argument about the economic benefit. Collier says. But theres also an ethical argument here. Tackling wellbeing because its the right thing to do, he urges.

Colliers current research, funded by a fellowship from the Leverhulme Trust, will see him speak to members of the legal community for a project called Wellbeing, Law and Society: Policy Practice and Politics A Socio-Legal Study. He is also writing a book for Cambridge University Press on wellbeing in the profession.

For anyone feeling affected by issues raised in this piece, LawCares helpline can be reached at +44 0800 279 6888 from 9am 5:30pm Monday to Friday. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email[emailprotected]or[emailprotected]. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org.

The rest is here:
There's a lot of suffering out there leading academic warns of the legal profession's mental health problem - World Trademark Review

By: Lubaba Mahmud, Staff Writer

Diversity at SFU is not only represented in community events and in classrooms its found in the universitys sports scene too! For students looking to diversify their campus athletics experience, look no further than the SFU Kendo Club.

The SFU Kendo Club practices two forms of traditional Japanese martial arts: kendo and iaido. The club is active all year round and welcomes both experienced martial artists and beginners. Membership is not just limited to students, either, as members of the general public can join too.

Founded by Hirokazu Okusa (7th-dan), the SFU Kendo Club had a humble beginning in 2001 with only seven members. In kendo and iaido, dan refers to rank, with 8th-dan being the highest grade attainable. In 2010, an iaido component was added to the club under the leadership of Sandra Jorgenson (6th-dan) and Hirokazu Okusa. The iaido classes, according to the SFU Kendo Clubs website, focus on the Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei style and the Muso Shinden style.

For readers unfamiliar with kendo, its purpose is to guide improved health of both the body and mind through a disciplined routine of practice with a sword. According to the clubs website, it focuses on the following three components: the way of the body how to hold the sword, the way of the sword how to execute a strike at the right moment, and the way of the mind the correct mental attitude.

Similarly, the term iaido literally means, the path to finding harmony in any situation in which one finds oneself. The clubs website explains that, to practice, the student sits or stands quietly, draws out a blade, and cuts through the air, all in one motion. While this may create a false perception to the casual observer that the sport is easy to practice, iaido actually requires a great level of concentration to make precise motions with the sword.

Today, the club boasts a large membership, consisting of many dedicated swordsmen/swordswomen (kenshi) who regularly represent SFU in competitions. Members participate in an annual tournament with UBC and the University of Victoria, as well as other events through the British Columbia Kendo Federation and Canadian Kendo Federation. With their sister club, the University of British Columbia Kendo Club, the group also makes annual trips to Kelowna for training camp (gasshuku).

If youre interested in joining, the SFU Kendo Club accepts new members in January, May, and September. They hold a trial week on the second or third week of each semester, during which students can give either kendo or iaido a shot free of charge. If you have some experience in kendo, and have the requisite protective equipment (bogu), you can contact them to inquire about joining the club at other times as well.

Semesterly fees include a program registration fee of $74 and a $5 club fee. For your first training sessions, a bamboo sword (shinai) can be purchased from the club at a cost of $35. After the first semester, students are asked to purchase their uniform (hakama and kendogi), which costs approximately $100. The bogu can only be worn after permission is given by the instructor, and can range from $350 to $500 for a starter set.

For more information, visit the SFU Kendo Clubs website, email them at sfukendo@gmail.com, or contact them through their SFU Kendo Facebook Group.

Go here to see the original:
Strengthen your mind and body with the SFU Kendo Club - The Peak