Direct Relief News

On this episode of Direct Relief Connect, StephOfAnime, a Pokémon-focused content creator, and Erick Molina, a Program Manager for Latin America at Direct Relief, discuss the Pokémon community, the upcoming Pokéthon event, and the impact of Direct Relief’s work in Latin America. The upcoming Pokéthon event will take place September 3-5.

On this episode of the Direct Relief Connect podcast, Sab Irene, a video game saxophonist and music educator, and Paul Grankowski, Special Events Manager at Direct Relief, discuss personal growth through music and utilizing their skills for new philanthropic opportunities in the digital space. Paul also provides great insight into some lesser-known communities that Direct […]

Graham a.k.a. Tabetai Cooking, a Food & Drink content creator, and Rose Levy, Program Manager for Global Programs at Direct Relief, discuss the joys of creative home cooking and how it can be utilized to raise funds that help community health centers. Cooking livestreams, innovation awards for health centers, and “cooking easy things the hard […]

In the wake of the collapse, a team of clinicians and peer support members, led by Oxnard Fire Chief Alexander Hamilton, were deployed to provide mental health services to search and rescue teams.

Introducing Direct Relief Connect, a new podcast by Direct Relief. The show brings together highly skilled philanthropists and members of Direct Relief’s staff to provide an in-depth look at the organization’s work, as well as give a glimpse into guests’ personal journeys and how they came to support causes they are passionate about. For the […]

While those experiencing homelessness are some of the most vulnerable to Covid-19, the population faces substantial barriers to accessing vaccines. Many lack transportation to get to and from a vaccination site. Others live nomadically, making it difficult to commit to a second vaccine appointment. But according to homelessness activist Tasia Thompson, misinformation is the primary […]

Research suggests other factors at work, beyond diet and exercise. At Centre Volunteers in Medicine in State College, Pennsylvania, providers are integrating mental health services and chronic disease care to help patients better manage their medical conditions.

Chronic disease and poor mental health are both prevalent conditions that share a complicated relationship. While the two have been shown to be highly correlated, scientists are still exploring exactly how.

The link is believed to be bi-directional, meaning both contribute to one another. Research by the CDC shows nearly one-third of patients diagnosed with diabetes also experience depression, while those with depression are at higher risk of developing a chronic condition, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

The relationship is often attributed to behavioral factors, such as diet and exercise. But scientists say physiological changes due to depression and chronic disease could also play a role. "For a long time... it was thought that whatever happens in the body stays in the body," said Dr. Alan Kim Johnson, a professor of health psychology at the University of Iowa. But now, researchers have shown "profound communication between the brain and the body," said Johnson.

As theories on what causes these comorbid conditions develop, so has treatment. "In our culture, we really split people apart," said Dr. Tim Derstine, a consulting psychiatrist at Centre Volunteers in Medicine. Dersteine is involved in the clinic's effort to integrate mental health services and chronic disease care. "We try to look at it from 360-degrees," said Derstine.

On this episode of the podcast, we explore the relationship between mental health and chronic disease and speak with providers who are integrating therapies to more effectively treat their patients.

Getting treatment for an opioid use disorder can be complicated, often requiring daily visits to receive addiction medication under the supervision of a provider. While guidelines have been relaxed to reduce barriers for those seeking care, it’s not clear how effective the changes have been. “Their barriers are huge here,” said Kim Brown, the founder […]

Getting treatment for an opioid use disorder can be complicated, often requiring daily visits to receive addiction medication under the supervision of a provider. While guidelines have been relaxed to reduce barriers for those seeking care, it's not clear how effective the changes have been.

"Their barriers are huge here," said Kim Brown, the founder of Quad Cities Harm Reduction (QCHR), "and they've been exacerbated by the pandemic." QCHR distributes supplies, including Naloxone--the medication used to reverse opioid overdoses--to drug users across Illinois and Iowa.

On this episode of the podcast we speak with Brown about how the pandemic is affecting access to opioid treatment as providers navigate a new regulatory landscape.