Books

New Mystery and Thriller Books to Read | October 20

Published 10 mins ago - iNFO Vi

Hold on to the edge of your seat as we hunt for clues and solve the case with these exciting new mystery and thriller books for the week! There are so many bestselling authors with new novels for you to dive into this week including Molly Fitz, Thomas Scott, Daco,...
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The post New Mystery and Thriller Books to Read | October 20 appeared first on NewInBooks.

New Romance Books to Read | October 20

Published 15 mins ago - iNFO Vi

Looking to fall in love with some new romance reads? You’ll adore these exciting new novels! This week you can get your hands on books by bestselling authors Willow Winters, Lauren Blakely, Nana Malone, Ivy Smoak, Amanda Uhl,... More »

UK coronavirus live: Greater Manchester deadline passes without deal announcement; 59,079 deaths involved Covid

Published 17 mins ago - iNFO Vi

Government’s noon deadline passes without news of a deal; latest ONS figures show Covid deaths‘Scarred for life’: Sage experts warn of Covid impact on the youngBurnham condemns late-night Greater Manchester ultimatumFirm gets... More »

New Books to Read in Literary Fiction | October 20

Published 20 mins ago - iNFO Vi

Literary fiction readers are in for a treat. This week’s latest releases list is full of intriguing reads you won’t want to miss! The new releases list includes so many bestselling authors like Debra Doxer, Don DeLillo, Chris... More »

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Entertainment

A Mom on Maternal Mental Health For Women of Color: “Society Holds This False Expectation”

Published 25 mins ago - iNFO Vi

Editor's Note: At POPSUGAR, we recognize that people of many genders and identities can and do experience pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding: not just women. For this particular story, we interviewed an expert who generally referred to people with these experiences as women.
The coronavirus pandemic has brought on a slew of challenges for expecting women and new parents. With so much uncertainty, women must take care of their mental health. Because COVID-19 has disproportionally affected people of color, mothers in these communities need more support than ever, as people of color have less access to mental health services compared to white people. Moreover, when they do receive care, it is likely to be of poorer quality.
In honor of National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, we spoke with Shonita Roach, executive director and spokesperson for the 2020 Multicultural Maternal Mental Health Conference, to learn why discussing issues that directly affect maternal mental health will positively impact women of color.
"This awareness month is very dear to my heart, as I also lost my son to an accidental death nearly 18 years ago, and I suffered postpartum depression and even contemplated suicide," Shonita told POPSUGAR. "Through extensive therapy, parenting classes, and spiritual healing, I have been able to thrive, create a loving family with my three boys, and serve as an advocate for women and mothers."
Related: My Pregnancy Weight Gain Is Bringing Up a Lot of Uncomfortable Body-Image IssuesHow a Lack of Diversity in the Medical Field Is Affecting Black Maternity Health
It's widely known that Black women experience higher chances of maternal health complications than white women in the US, and unfortunately, the lack of diversity in healthcare professions isn't making it any easier for women of color to get the help they need.
"When you talk about mental health or seeing a therapist or even taking medication for the condition, there is a lot of judgment and misnomers," Shonita told POPSUGAR. "So when you take into account the implicit (and explicit) bias against Black women and healthcare, it makes it especially challenging. The lack of multiculturalism in mental healthcare, from a discrepancy in diverse professionals to the lack of community-based services, creates a major barrier that is difficult to overcome."
Additionally, having more nonwhite doulas and medical professionals can have a positive, lasting impact on maternal health across the board. "Studies show that having doulas of diverse backgrounds contributes to reducing maternal and infant mortality rates," she explained. "What I love about doulas is that they are community-based and do a lot more intimate, one-on-one work with women. They fill the gap where the traditional healthcare system lacks."
Related: Kate Beckinsale Opened Up About Her Pregnancy Loss, Sends Love to Chrissy TeigenHow COVID-19 Has Negatively Impacted Black Maternal Health
COVID-19 has disproportionately affected communities of color, and in turn, has extended to Black maternal healthcare. While Shonita is encouraging families to do whatever they can to limit their exposure to the virus, she knows that can be difficult to do when you're pregnant or have just welcomed a child.
"The entire situation is so unfortunate and does not create a conducive environment for a healthy state of mind."
"It's important that communities everywhere practice the safety precautions to reduce the spread of this deadly virus," she explained. "However, those same precautions, such as reducing the use of public transportation unless absolutely necessary, isolating yourself, and staying home puts further strain and stress on expecting and postpartum women."
"Not only that, the acceleration of the need for accessible technology and internet services proves to be paramount during the pandemic," she continued, noting how access to telehealth is a privilege and can be a challenge for marginalized communities. "The pandemic is also very isolating when it comes to prenatal visits: women are having to attend these alone without their partner or support system. Also, your friends and family are no longer allowed to visit the hospitals during and after delivery. The entire situation is so unfortunate and does not create a conducive environment for a healthy state of mind as you transition into motherhood, whether you're a first-time mom or a mother to multiple children."
Related: Photographer Is Raising Awareness of the Increased Maternal and Fetal Mortality Rate in Black CommunitiesBlack Women's Struggle With Accessing Reproductive Healthcare
We would be remiss if we didn't mention some of the historical and cultural reasons that Black women have struggled to get adequate access to reproductive healthcare in the US.
"Medical experimentation on the bodies of women of color and the oversexualization and degradation of Black breasts - which contributes to negative stigmas on Black breastfeeding - are just two examples of why it negatively impacts the sexual and reproductive health of Black women," she said. "This creates barriers of mistrust, misinformation about our bodies. All of this plays into the current disparities and stigmas surrounding reproductive health in marginalized communities."
"We need to examine how the current system contributes to the disparities in communities."
To challenge this narrative, Shonita believes women of color need to come together and discuss these pertinent issues that are directly affecting their communities. "One of the first steps to making change is starting the conversation, which is why forums like the 2020 Multicultural Maternal Mental Health Conference are necessary," she said. "We need to examine how the current system contributes to the disparities in communities, such as looking at where hospitals are located and what types of supportive services are offered, and how do we improve the quality of care afforded to women from diverse backgrounds."
Related: A Midwife Is Encouraging Women to Advocate For Themselves After Her Traumatic Birth ExperienceHow Can Talking About Infant Loss Be Therapeutic?
For many women, opening up about experiencing pregnancy loss can be incredibly difficult. Often grappling with a myriad of intense feelings, some women may feel judged for what they've gone through.
"I personally understand how talking about these topics can place you in a position of judgment," shared Shonita. "Even to this day, nearly 18 years after the loss of my child and after going through years of therapy, I am faced with negativity and that can be exhausting and detrimental to the mind. The necessity to speak about these traumas is very therapeutic. You need to be able to identify the areas of needs. Talking through it allows you to heal. You don't have to stay stuck in your pain and trauma; you can grow, learn, and thrive. And therapy allows you to do that."
"There's this element of invisibility about child loss that society upholds, and yet, it is so visible to any woman who has experienced it."
Moreover, Shonita knows the importance of taking stigmas head on. After all, the expectations that society places on mothers after they give birth are impossible to live up to, especially when it comes to infant loss.
"Society holds this false expectation for all women and mothers for us to go back to work quickly, lose the baby weight, get adjusted quickly to motherhood, and it doesn't take into consideration how life-changing, physically and mentally, having a baby is, not to mention any sort of loss like a miscarriage," she explained. "We're not allowed to grieve, nonetheless publicly. There's this element of invisibility about child loss that society upholds, and yet, it is so visible to any woman who has experienced it. We're expected to carry this unspoken trauma quietly and privately, but I believe that that is slowly tearing women apart inside."
Related: I Have a PhD in Education, but I'm Failing My Kids' Kindergarten ClassAccording to Shonita, there truly isn't a better time for an event like the 2020 Multicultural Maternal Mental Health Conference to take place. Now, she's encouraging women to attend the virtual event, which is aimed to help mothers "advocate for herself and others in healthcare, in business, in all areas of life."
"There are a number of reasons that prioritizing mental health is so important," explained Shonita. "In particular, expecting and postpartum women already face additional stress and anxiety, and now that we're living in a global pandemic, women are really struggling. Especially given the current social climate, more people are open to listening to the concerns of marginalized populations and are reaching out and advocating for those who may not have a voice."
Hosted in Madison, WI, the Multicultural Maternal Mental Health Conference will be broadcasted virtually between Oct. 22 and 24. Women who are interested in attending can buy tickets on the conference's website.

Books

New Science Fiction and Fantasy Books | October 20

Published 25 mins ago - iNFO Vi

Set off on an adventure to new worlds this week! This selection of new science fiction and fantasy books will surely please! Science Fiction fans should be excited about the latest from bestselling authors Jared Chapman, Craig Martelle, Cixin Liu, and more. If Fantasy is what your library needs, you’ll...
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The post New Science Fiction and Fantasy Books | October 20 appeared first on NewInBooks.

Sports

Nicklas Bendtner reveals foul-mouthed training ground spat with Thierry Henry where Arsenal legend ‘put me in my place’ and ‘taught me a lesson’

Published 26 mins ago - iNFO Vi

Nicklas Bendtner has told talkSPORT he was ‘taught a lesson’ early in his Arsenal career by Thierry Henry, who tore him a new one in a training ground row. Bendtner arrived in north London as a talented, but cocksure, 17-year-old after leaving his hometown of Copenhagen and quickly made an impression in the youth ranks. […]

Tech

4 French students have been detained after a teacher who showed cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad was beheaded

Published 27 mins ago - iNFO Vi

Summary List PlacementFour students in Paris have been detained in connection to the beheading of a teacher who had shown his class cartoons mocking the Prophet Muhammad, according to Agence France-Presse. Samuel Paty, a 47-year-old history teacher, was kill... More »

Google Chrome retains your site data from Google and YouTube, even when you ask it to cover your tracks

Published 27 mins ago - iNFO Vi

Hundreds of NY test-takers said they were concerned about cheating in the virtual bar as online testing software company ExamSoft comes under fire

Published 30 mins ago - iNFO Vi

10 things you need to know before the opening bell

Published 32 mins ago - iNFO Vi

New Young Adult Books to Read | October 20

Published 30 mins ago - iNFO Vi

Are you an avid reader of Young Adult books? This week you are in luck! With all of these new novels, you’re bound to find a new favorite book to add to your reading list. This week includes new novels from bestselling author... More »

The 2020 election could permanently change how America votes

Published 35 mins ago - iNFO Vi

More than 29 million voters have already cast their ballots in the 2020 US elections, and we’re still more than two weeks from Election Day itself. At the same point in 2016, the number of early votes was about 6 million. But... More »

AI has exacerbated racial bias in housing. Could it help eliminate it instead?

Published 35 mins ago - iNFO Vi

Our upcoming magazine issue is devoted to long-term problems. Few problems are longer-term or more intractable than America’s systemic racial inequality. And a particularly entrenched form of it is housing discrimination. A ... More »

New Biography and Memoir Books to Read | October 20

Published 35 mins ago - iNFO Vi

Looking for some new biography and memoir books for your library? There are so many new releases this week that you’re bound to find a new favorite. You can pick up new books from Matthew McConaughey, Robert Lacey, Kara Goldi... More »

Goldman Sachs agrees to pay over $2 billion to the US Justice Department over Malaysia’s 1MDB scandal, report says

Published 40 mins ago - iNFO Vi

Summary List PlacementGoldman Sachs has reached a deal with the US Department of Justice to pay over $2 billion for its involvement in the 1MDB scandal, Bloomberg reported. The settlement, which would avoid a US criminal c... More »