During the COVID-19 pandemic many things taken for granted, like being able to visit a barber or a hair salon, weren't available.

For some the availability of professional hair care is something that is often a problem outside of pandemic times.  Ethnicity can play a role in the availability of good hair care.  Not all hair is the same, and depending on where one lives, finding someone that understands different hair types can be a challenge.

A former social worker and current salon owner discusses how hair, culture, and education are intertwined.

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One in Five American adults experience a mental health problem every year. But not that many seek treatment for mental health problems.  And the reluctance to seek help to maintain mental health is more pronounced in men.

Why men are less likely to maintain good mental health practices can have a lot to do with culture, stereotypes and “toxic masculinity.” Social pressures can come even more into play when it comes to African American men and also for Gay and Bisexual men.

Members of the Heartland Community College Counseling Services office weigh in on the barriers that many men face when maintaining mental health.

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Both healthcare professionals and patients themselves have to surmount communication hurdles when discussing health issues.

A long history of discrimination against LGBTQ+ people has created unspoken barriers in our healthcare system.

Dion McNeal, Founder of Hopeful in Victory, discusses the stigmas and the issues that LGBTQ+ patients face, including those like himself who are living with HIV.

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Not everyone one reaches their full potential on their own.  We need a little guidance, sometimes in the form of instruction, or mentoring. And then there is coaching.  

Be it an athletics coach, career coach, or life coach, knowing just the right nudges to give can make the difference between success and a lack of success.

Academic advisor Julie Navickas  teaches coaching workshops to help coach the coaches to find just the right way to help others find their path to success.

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Creativity can sometimes thrive in adversity.  Isolation can lead to deep thought.  But not always.

During the Coronavirus pandemic some people are spending more time alone. Others are looking for quiet time. Either way, it’s a new routine, which might be an opportunity for those looking to kick-start some creative writing.  

Zeke Jarvis has some tips on tapping into the creative process while sheltering in place, rearranging your schedule or even just looking for a way to make the most of the urge to write.

View the transcript here.

As the COVID-19 pandemic threatens our bodies with respiratory illness, the measures taken to prevent the spread of the virus also can take a toll on our mental well-being.

The prolonged public response to the pandemic has upended the daily routines of nearly everyone in America. Kids are home from school, adults are either sheltering in place or working at a heightened risk as essential employees.

The stresses that arise from these situations produce more than their share of mental stress. Clinical psychologist Dr. Jonathan Lindsey discusses how we can maintain positive mental health during this unusual time.

View the transcript here.

Traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress plague a number of veterans returning from war zones. 

Although progress has been made in how we treat these effects of war, many vets find it hard identify these lingering injuries and aren’t always sure how to seek treatment. This was the case for Richard Casper when he finished his service in Iraq and began to restart his civilian life by going to Heartland Community College.

A discovery Richard made in a college art class changed the course of his life, and eventually the lives of many other vets.

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Dr. Seshanand Rao is the co-recipient of the 2020 Heartland Community College Distinguished Alumni Award.  

When Dr. Rao came to the United States at age 20 he wasn’t on a path to become a medical doctor. His journey to medical school went through the Clinical Nursing Assistant program at Heartland Community College.

Dr. Rao discusses his path from the C.N.A. program to becoming an M.D., and how caring for patients as a nursing assistant made him think about healthcare.

Dr. Rao is currently Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital in Geneva, Illinois.

View the transcript here.

Getting from point “A” to point “B” is a little easier when you have a map.  But there isn’t a GPS to assist when the path is to attaining college degree or a dream job.

That’s where setting SMART goals can help.  SMART stands for Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound.  Another tool to navigate the steps of those goals is visualization.

Continuing Education workshop instructor Jennifer Caldwell discusses how she uses Vision Boards to help achieve SMART goals.

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Many parents are finding themselves sheltering in place to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.  Kids are home from school, preschool and daycare.  Adults are working from home.

Child Development Specialist Michelle Ruestman discusses ways parents can keep their kids learning and developing while staying at home. 

View the transcript here.