Desert Messenger

April 19, 2023 www.DesertMessenger.com 21 • Birth • Obituary • Anniversary Place it FREE in the: Desert Messenger! 928-916-4235 Got something to share? Rising Inflation is Impacting Mental Health - How the Country is Coping (StatePoint) It's no secret that the country is feeling the pinch from in- flation and the rising costs of goods and services, with 48% of Ameri- cans struggling to make ends meet financially, according to the latest data from Dynata's Global Consum- er Trends survey. That's up from 34% in August of last year. These circumstances are having a significant impact on wellness, with 53% of respondents attribut- ing financial difficulties as being an extremely or very important con- tributing factor to their worsening mental health since before the pan- demic. Women are feeling the im- pacts most. Nearly six in 10 women – 57% – say financial difficulties are the largest contributor to a decline in their mental health vs. 44% of men who say the same. Many Americans however are find- ing new ways to ease the burden on their mental health. Here are a few of the habits and attitudes that have helped those who report having bet- ter mental health now than they did pre-pandemic: • Exercise. Getting more exercise has helped 78% of respondents achieve better mental health during this time of financial uncertainty. • Spending more time with hob- bies and interests. Seventy-four percent of respondents have seen an improvement in their mental health by spending more time and focus on their hobbies and indus- tries. Whether it's knitting, playing a sport or bird-watching, taking on a new hobby can be an effective way to better your mental health. • Spending time with loved ones. The pandemic was a long period of separation for many, but with life back to normal, spending time with loved ones has been a proven way to boost mental health, with 74% of re- spondents seeing an improvement. • Rest. Now is a great time to sit back and take some time to relax, as 73% reported an improvement in their mental health from just taking time to rest. • Cooking and healthy eating. The pandemic gave many a chance to spend more time in the kitchen cooking their favorite meals. Sev- enty-two percent of respondents attribute cooking and healthy eat- ing to helping improve their men- tal health. During these difficult fi- nancial times, spending more time Healthy Living PHOTO SOURCE: (c) shurkin_son / iStock via Getty Images Plus in the kitchen can be a great way to help ease stress, save money on meals and of course, reap the physi- cal and mental benefits of a good, balanced meal. • Work-life balance. This has been a stressful time for employees, with news of layoffs coming almost dai- ly, on top of the already existing fi- nancial stressors. However, 72% of respondents attribute achieving a better work-life balance to lowering stress levels and improving their mental health. For full survey results, visit https:// www.dynata.com. While many Americans are feeling the pinch right now, the good news is that proven coping strategies can help lighten the mental load. Lost dog By Jennifer Le Almost 3 weeks since our car ac- cident. We put 100+ more flyers up this weekend for a total of 300+ all over Quartzsite I'm worried that people are assuming he belongs to someone in the RV parks and are not giving him a second thought. If you see a dog without a human, PLEASE help that dog. Please, if he approaches you, gen- tly hold him by the collar or harness and call me 504-319-5515 or my friend Melynda Petrie (435) 830- 0390 immediately. If you see him, TAKE A PHOTO, and call me or Melynda immediate- ly. Do not chase him if he is running from you. Some important phone calls have still been coming DAYS late - PLEASE call IMMEDIATELY if you see something. Other times the phone calls are like "I see your dog" but people are un- able to describe the dog they see. PLEASE take a photo. Most of the recent sightings called in have not been my dog. I appreciate getting phone calls for any sightings, but please be prepared to describe it. I'm not making any assumptions that the dog you see IS my dog until I have proof. Thank you all who have been taking the time to search for him. Please keep your eyes open.

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