Volunteer stars recognized
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point announced the recipients of its third quarter volunteer Star Awards.
Elizabeth Briggs has volunteered for more than 14 years with over 1,750 accumulated life hours. She has served the hospital’s visitors giving information and visitor passes, and has helped the marketing department with tutorials.
Bob Williams has been at the hospital as a volunteer for more than 15 years. He began as a courier and is now a courtesy cart driver. He has more than 3,600 accumulated life hours.
Elizabeth Bridwell has served as a volunteer courier every Friday afternoon for more than 13 years, and has accumulated over 2,200 life hours and 2,300 merit hours.
Breast Cancer Foundation gets $15,500
Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano’s five offices partnered with the Florida Breast Cancer Foundation to help raise funds and awareness of breast cancer, its symptoms and treatments.
The five branches promoted the sale of the “End Breast Cancer” specialty license plates, as well as the voluntary check-off donations on automobile registrations.
Forty-three plates were sold. Combined cash donations of $15,500 also was raised.
National Hospice Month
The Board of County Commissioners for Pasco County proclaimed the month of November as National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, and commended the staff from Gulfside Hospice & Pasco Palliative Care for their service to the residents of Pasco County.
District 1 Commissioner Ron Oakley visited Gulfside’s Center for Hospice Care in Zephyrhills to present the proclamation.
In the last year, Gulfside’s staff of more than 300 interdisciplinary professionals has cared for 2,701 patients facing a life-limiting illness in Pasco County.
Nationally, more than 1.6 million Americans living with life-limiting illnesses, and their families, received care from the nation’s hospice programs in communities throughout the United States.
Children’s mental health
Florida KidCare reminds parents that checking in on a child’s mental well-being is critical, and does not have to be intimidating.
Behavioral or mental health is just as important as a child’s cardiovascular health, weight and other physical developmental benchmarks.
Children often feel as much stress as adults following stressful situations, such as natural disasters like a hurricane.
Kids’ symptoms can be subtle, so a few key signs to be mindful about include:
- If your child is having trouble sleeping or having a loss of appetite
- If your child is reluctant to cooperate
- If your child is angry or irritable
- If your child’s grades are suffering
- If your child becomes less interested in an activity they once enjoyed
Being a kid today comes with a lot of pressures and that is why starting the conversation early is key.
Mental illness is like any other disease — the earlier it is identified and treated, the better the health outcomes.
Florida KidCare says parents should consider their child’s pediatrician or family doctor as a partner in starting the mental health conversation.
