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Is Social Media Impacting Your Mental Health?

2 years 11 months ago
Over the last decade, social media has become an important tool for connecting with loved ones, keeping busy, and staying informed on local and world events, with social media usage increasing even more during the COVID-19 pandemic. Simultaneously, it is having a negative impact on the mental health of people across the country, causing an increase in anxiety and depression for many. Studies around the world have shown the impact of social media on mental health, which brings along with it an increase in anxiety and depression. “Right now, there are so many people who spend an inordinate amount of time on social media just because some people are stuck at home and kids are not going into schools. I think, in general, mental health can depend on what you are consuming on social media,” explains Marybeth Evans, an OSF HealthCare licensed clinical social worker. Evans warns to proceed with caution when scrolling through social media. Many people tend to highlight only th

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Students Become Scientists Through SIUE's STEM Center Programs 

2 years 11 months ago
EDWARDSVILLE – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Center for STEM Research, Education, and Outreach is inspiring area middle and high school students to see themselves as scientists, to become critical thinkers, problem solvers and innovators, by presenting them with opportunities to engage in authentic scientific research. The STEM Center, along with the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Environmental Sciences, the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior’s Department of Applied Health, the East St. Louis Center’s (ESLC) Upward Bound Math and Science (UBMS) Collinsville High School program and a colleague from the University of Southern Maine’s Public Health Program, engaged with students during hands-on learning sessions held in June and July. “Through these programs, we aimed to support student interest in science by engaging them in authentic science experiences,” said Carol Colaninno, PhD, research associate

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McKenna Vereeke Reflects On Her Outstanding Miss Illinois Runner-Up Performance

2 years 11 months ago
EDWARDSVILLE - McKenna Vereeke, the Miss Illinois Runner-Up from Edwardsville, and a University of Illinois-Springfield student, released photos and information about her competition in earlier July this week. McKenna is an Edwardsville High School graduate. “After winning the title of Miss River Valley in 2021, I have been anxiously awaiting Miss Illinois Week,” she said. “I competed in Private Interview, Red Carpet, On Stage Interview, and Talent phases of competition. These past few months I’ve put in blood, sweat, and tears into preparing for this week. I am so proud to say that my hard work paid off. Not only did I receive the Preliminary On Stage Interview Award, but at 20 years old, my first time at state as a Miss candidate, I made first runner-up to Miss Illinois 2022, and received $3,500 in scholarships. “I am so proud of myself for this achievement! I am so thankful for those who helped me on my journey there, and for the friends, I made

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Pneumonia: A Disease Without a Season

2 years 11 months ago
PEORIA - Summer is a time when people are typically thinking about fun in the sun and less about guarding themselves against diseases that typically come in the wintertime. However, there is at least one common illness that people can contract any time of year: pneumonia. That’s why area doctors are encouraging older adults to protect themselves from the malady now. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), each year about 900,000 Americans get pneumonia, a lung infection caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Dr. Brian Curtis is an OSF HealthCare physician in Peoria, Illinois. He says the best way to prevent the disease is by getting vaccinated, and for certain populations, not getting vaccinated comes with major risks. “It could cause you to be admitted to the hospital. And at times when that happens, the pneumococcal bacteria gets into your bloodstream and you develop what we call sepsis, and people have been admitted to the ICU, placed on th

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