These past couple of days, there has been a firestorm of reaction to the new recommendations just released from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force about mammography and breast health.
The number of people in the last year who considered taking their own lives is frightening. The headline is: First-of-a-Kind National Study Reveals that 8.3 Million Adults in the U.S. had Serious Thoughts of Committing Suicide in the Past Year. That's incredible! And tragic.
Disabilities-acute and chronic, visible and hidden-are a fact of life for a significant number of American families. According to a July 19 report from the U.S. Census Bureau, 51.2 million-or 18% of the population-have some level of disability. In this issue, we explore how individuals of all ages and their families deal with disabilities on a daily basis, and we look at systems that support their efforts.
When faced with crises such as unemployment, illness, divorce, or natural disaster, families need the physical, emotional, spiritual, and financial resources to bounce back. In this issue, we explore programs and policies that can increase family resilience. And we look at families themselves and the ways they face difficult situations with strength and grace.
"There is no way to escape aging. I, too, will grow old." This is the first of five "remembrances" that form a daily Buddhist meditation, meant to remind practitioners of life's transitory nature. In this issue, we explore various aspects of aging and related issues, such as state and federal public policies, intergenerational equity, retirement, romance and sexuality, grandparenting, caregiving, and the transmission of wisdom through storytelling.
Family Focus on Substance Abuse Across the Life Span
"O God! That men and women should put an enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains," wrote Shakespeare in Othello. Today, people still drink to excess, but they also abuse a host of other substances that "steal away their brains." Articles in this issue of NCFR Report exlore substance abuse and associated issues, including children born with fetal alcohol syndrome, adolescents who smoke, college students in recovery, older alcoholics, and the need for services tailored to rural residents.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the International Year of the Family, this issue of NCFR Report presents perspectives from around the world. Such perspectives are essential. By 2025, over 80 percent of the world's population will live in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. In the United States, immigration from non-Western countries now accounts for a major share of population growth. It's time to develop a more comprehensive approach to our understanding of diverse families within the ever-changing demographic landscape.
"...no argument can stand that supports unequal opportunity or any intrinsic disqualification for sharing in the whole of life," wrote anthropologist Margaret Mead. Articles in this issue of NCFR Report-which complements the annual conference theme-explore inequalities that affect families. Some are external and lead to poverty and lack of civic participation. Others exist within the family itself as a result of divorce or gender roles.
Family Focus on Mental Health Over the Life Course
"Mental health" is more than the absence of mental illness. It is the balance among the social, physical, spiritual, and emotional aspects of life. Our mental health impacts our choices and our ability to life's challenges. In this issue, we explore the mental health of interracial couples; poor, rural mothers; noncustodial mothers; infants, and immigrant youth. We also include information on programs that connect families and individuals with mental health resources and mentoring programs.
