Final Magazine PDF

Leilani Flemister-Sando
Columnist
Health issues and concerns encompass all aspects of
a person’s existence. From psychological, emotional
and mental health, to physical; a holistic approach
to health is the best strategy to maintaining a state
of well-being of the body. Health is classically
defined as a state of well-being, free from illness
or injury; according to a simple Google search. In
today’s world, questions beckon; are there
specific and crucial health considerations to be
addressed especially concerning women, girls, and
the youth? What concerns affect the cross section
of cultures, ethnicities and genders of our world
regardless of the socio-economic status of the
individual or family? What if the reality and analysis of
health are not limited to the tangible, but instead, includes
the physiological self and one’s environment?
In a review
of the definition of health, aside from illness, an injury is another angle
which must not be ignored. In fact, violence (physical and verbal) and rape interrupt the
homeostasis of the body, thereby compromising one’s health. The approach that is prevalent in
some homes, cultures, and areas of society is one of a myopic view and this is potentially
downright dangerous. For example, for some people, the injury of sexual abuse, violence of all
types, psychological abuse, and degrees of such do not necessarily bear the magnitude and
urgency of a health crisis; as compared to diseases such as breast cancer, hypertension,
diabetes and other chronic diseases, or even a simple headache. Some injuries are usually
treated as a one-time problem that a quick trip to the emergency room or clinic could fix, when
in fact; the true long-term effects of these complex health issues abound long after the physical
wounds have healed. The dictates of the approach to the attention and treatment of
physiological health issues vary by individual homes and cultures.
According to the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual al Assault (MCASA), depending on
what a woman’s previous experience in life has been, that very experience could influence or
dictate the response or type of reaction she might have to a sexual assault situation. From,
anger, frustration, and blame, to varying levels of fear, stress, and anxiety; the nightmare
scenario could spiral into a depression that could lead to long-term health repercussions.