The Young Associates Committee wants you to take mental health seriously

Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Uncategorized

This blog post originally appeared on The Child and Family Institute Notes.
 

The Young Associates Committee for Mental Health and Addiction Awareness (YAC) is a newly formed group of young professionals who are interested in working together to destigmatize mental illness and addiction. We organize events and activities to support the much-needed mental health and addiction treatment services provided by The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at St. Luke’s and Roosevelt Hospitals.

The reason I am a YAC member is simple – this is my passion. Working towards ending the stigma surrounding mental illness has been my mission since I was in high school. Not only have I dealt with my own struggles with major depression and anxiety for more than a decade, but I have also seen the devastation that untreated mental illness can lead to. Think of how many lives could be saved every year if society were more accepting and willing to help people affected by these disorders.

Mental illnesses are invisible diseases that affect the brain, so to the average person on the street you may appear fine because you don’t look physically sick. Some people even function and go to work every day, but fight a silent, dark battle because it is unacceptable to be out in the open with their disease. It’s the stigma that surrounds these illnesses that often prevents people from seeking treatment. I know it came into play for me. I was young and physically healthy – I should have been able to control my brain and just make myself feel better. If I couldn’t, then just imagine how weak I must have been. This is just one of the stereotypes that are out there.

Along with other YAC members, I want to help make mental health a priority for everyone. With increased awareness, education and understanding, we can all make the world a better place for those who deal with these diseases. I want to live in a place where, if you tell someone you have bipolar disorder, the first word that pops into their head is not “crazy!” I want to live in a place where these illnesses are not a joke to people. And, I want to live in a place where everyone has a chance to live a healthy life because they aren’t afraid to get the help they need. I think that place is something all YAC members are striving for and, with more of us out there, it may come true in our lifetime.

To find out more about YAC, please “like” our Facebook page and consider joining our efforts. We are a group of young people who like to have fun and support a very serious and meaningful cause while we’re at it.

This blog was written by YAC member Katie Gerenski Gallo.

Low-Testosterone and ED: A Complicated Connection

Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Men's Health, Sexual Health, Uncategorized, Urology

Guest blog post by Doron S. Stember, MD, Urologist at Beth Israel Medical Center.

At some point in their lives, nearly half of American men experience erectile dysfunction (ED), the inability to achieve or maintain an erection.  While the major male hormone, testosterone, is important for overall male health, including maintaining muscle strength, bone density and sense of well-being, the relationship between testosterone and ED is less straightforward.

ED Isn’t Always Caused by Low Testosterone

While testosterone is closely linked to libido, or sexual drive, many men who complain of ED may have normal erectile function, but decreased libido. On the other hand, a major study showed that men with low testosterone who failed to have a response to Viagra had a significantly improved response to Viagra when their testosterone levels were treated.

The Bottom Line

There is a common misconception, even among physicians, that treating low testosterone will significantly improve erections in men with ED. It’s a good idea to screen for testosterone levels if you have ED, especially if you have failed to respond to Viagra or a similar medication. Treating a low testosterone level, however, should rarely be considered as the first-line or only therapy for ED. Low testosterone may not be causing your ED and treatment for low testosterone has potential side effects and implications that should be carefully discussed.

Talk to Your Doctor

If you have problems with erectile function, libido or both, consult with your doctor.  He or she can help define the cause of the problem, as well as help you understand your treatment options. The good news is that there are many ways to address erectile function and low libido and the best choices can be customized to your specific issues and goals.