April is about spring and renewal, a chance to start anew in our daily lives. This year, let’s resolve to use this month to begin exploring healthy sexuality and to having healthier relationships! April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and the theme this year is “It’s Time… To Talk About It.”  Most of us can identify unhealthy relationship behaviors but have difficulty defining what exactly constitutes healthy relationship behaviors. It’s time to start talking about it! The more we discuss healthy sexuality and relationship behaviors, the better we will understand them and the more likely we will be to practice and model them. And let’s not forget that the identification and promotion of consensual and respectful relationships and interactions naturally leads to the primary prevention of sexually violent behavior. That’s something we can all feel good about!

So what exactly is healthy sexuality? Glad you asked! According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC):

“Healthy sexuality means having the knowledge and power to express sexuality in ways that enrich one’s life. It includes approaching sexual interactions and relationships from a perspective that is consensual, respectful and informed. Healthy sexuality is free from coercion and violence.”

Visit www.nsvrc.org/saam for more information about the campaign and for ideas on how you can start the conversation in your own sphere of influence. Also, be sure to visit the Sexual Violence Primary Prevention Program page to learn more about what’s happening in Indiana!

This month also marks a nationwide focus on the health effects of alcohol with the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.'s campaign of "Healthy Choices, Healthy Communities: Prevent Underage Drinking." The World Health Organization calls attention to the issue by stating that "the harmful use of alcohol [is] a global problem which compromises both individual and social development.It results in 2.5 million deaths each year. Alcohol is the world's third largest risk factor for premature mortality, disability, and loss of health." And while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates the economic cost of alcoholism and alcohol abuse to be $223.5 billion ($746 per person), because of society's collective affection for beverage alcohol, we do not get overly alarmed. The CDC costs relate to a drop in workplace productivity, health care expenses, law enforcement expenses and motor vehicle crash costs from impaired driving.

In Indiana the statistics are equally concerning. The 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data show that 8.8% of female respondents reported having four or more drinks on one occassion and the highest rate was among women aged 25-34, notably of childbearing years, which showed that 13.7% of the women in this age range report having four or more drinks on one occassion. While moderate alcohol consumption may have some health benefits primarily related to reducing risk of cardiovascular disease, excessive drinking can lead to many adverse health and social consequences including injury, violence, risky sexual behavior, alcoholism, unemployment, liver diseases and various cancers. And, despite being less likely to binge drink or drink heavily, women tend to face alcohol-related problems at a lower drinking level than men do due to differences in body size and other biological factors.

The National Prevention Strategy, released in June 2011 by the National Prevention, Health Promotion and Public Health Council, recommends promoting efforts to encourage young people not to drink or use other drugs, and supports certain restrictions added to current alcohol policies and laws. The Council also recommends strategies to identify alcohol and other drug abuse disorders early and encourages providers to implement Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) services. Additionally, the Council has set a 10 year goal to reduce the proportion of adults aged 18 years and older who reported that they engaged in binge drinking during the past month to 24.3% from the current percentage of 27.0%.

To learn more about services and resources available to Hoosiers who seek information on addiction and/or mental health and recovery, please visit http://www.in.gov/fssa/dmha/index.htm.

The Indiana State Department of Health's Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity staff recently particpated in a webinar opportunity on empowering women to bicycle for transportation hosted by the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals. The session outlined how women are currently underserved in the United States as part of the bicycling public.

OWH found a website recommended to be a wealth of information for women interested in bicycling. The site includes a synopsis of a 2011 Washington Post Best Books winner on the history of women in the bicycling movement, results from a recent survey on women's cycling garnering 13,000+ responses and a link to the above-mentioned webinar. If you enjoy cycling already or are considering taking up cycling for recreation or physical activity, you will not want to miss this great resource: http://www.womencyclingproject.info/

For women who wish to feel more confident and learn about bicycle maintenance, the Evansville-area Trails Coalition has organized a Bicycle Maintenance and Safety Class for Women that will be free to attend and will include instruction from Sgt. Jason Cullum of the Evansville Police Department, a certified instructor. The class will cover the basics of bike repair, from how to change a tire to when to adjust the gears and is being offered on Saturday, April 14 at 10 a.m. at Garvin Park near the shelter by the greenway trailhead and on Monday, April 16 at 6 p.m. near the Evansville Museum parking lot in downtown Evansville. Helmets are required for participation. Sgt. Cullum will lead a bike ride at the conclusion of each class! To register, visit info@evansville-areatrailscoalition.org. Happy biking!

OWH staff thanks Jessica Martin, Indiana University School of Medicine student, for presenting findings and recommendations from her month-long HPV study at OWH's booth at the 2012 Joint National Public Health Week Conference last week!

Jessica studied the laws and policies of Rhode Island and other states with comparitively high vaccination rates to review what state laws or policies were in place to help increase HPV vaccinations. Jessica gave 10 recommendations for steps that Indiana might take to achieve similar results. We greatly appreciate her hard work.

April 1-30: Minority Health Month: Find out about events happening in the state of Indiana by visiting: http://1.usa.gov/IS6EzG

April 1-30: National Donate Life Month: www.organdonor.gov

April 1-30: Alcohol Awareness Month: For more information, please visit www.ncadd.org

April 1-30: Women's Eye Health and Safety Month: www.preventblindness.org

April 1-30: Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month: www.rainn.org

April 22-28: National Infertility Awareness Week: For information, visit www.resolve.org

April 17: Workshop: Aging in Place Seminar: Inside, Outside, All Around the Town. Limited to 75 attendees only. Intended for community planners, builders, architects, interior designers, aging services providers and neighborhood representatives. Come learn how to create communities that serve citizens of all ages. Wheeler Arts Community ~ Fountain Square, 1035 Sanders Street, Indianapolis. 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Registration required.

April 20: 2012 Statewide Sickle Cell Conference, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Indiana Landmarks Center, 1201 N. Central Ave., Indianapolis. For more information, please contact Felicia Williams at (317) 927-5158, x. 104.

April 23- May 11: Health By Design's Indiana's 2012 Walk and Bike to School Challenge, 15 Days of Fun on Your Feet! competition runs. This challenge is intended to encourage schools to promote walking and biking to school this spring. Please visit the Challenge website for more details, a list of prizes and plans for National Bike to School Day on May 9! http://bit.ly/Hz15Fr

April 24: Too Sweet For Your Own Good Diabetes Conference, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., Lake Station City Hall, 1969 Central Ave., Lake Station. Free testing, vendors, physician panel discussion, patient education, free lunch and raffles. Please contact the Lake County Minority Health Coalition for more information: (219) 926-1170.

April 25: National Crime Victims' Rights Week Reception from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. at the 10 W. Market Tower, 3rd floor, hosted by the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, the Indiana Office of the Attorney General, U.S. Attorney Southern District Indiana, Indiana Department of Correcti, Latino Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, and the Indiana Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

April 27: Indiana Cancer Consortium Annual Meeting at Joseph Walther Hall (IUPUI) from 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.The title for this year's meeting is "Hot Topics in Cancer Prevention." Visit http://indianacancer.org/ to view the agenda. For more information, please contact Caleb Levell at caleb@indianacancer.org.

WEDNESDAYS IN APRIL: Little Red Door Cancer Agency has launched a new series called Eat Well, Live Well! - offering healthy cooking demonstrations with local celebrity chefs at the Indianapolis City Market during the lunchtime hour (11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.) on Wednesdays in April, June and October! Learn about their Big Red Bash this summer (Saturday, July 14th) by visiting http://bit.ly/Hz4x2g.

And, if you happen to be planning to visit the Indianapolis City Market on April 25 over the lunchtime hour, you may be in for a special surprise. Stay tuned!

OWH is partnering with the Indiana Minority Health Coalition and the Lupus Foundation of America, Indiana Chapter, to bring stakeholders and community leaders together to learn of the devastating impact of Lupus on Indiana women and their families. This event, titled "Make Lupus Matter: An Educational Forum"will take place May 10, at the Governor's Residence, and will be co-hosted by Indiana Secretary of State, Connie Lawson, and President of the Indianapolis-Marion County City-Council, Maggie A. Lewis.

OWH will also host a mini-health screening event to encourage state personnel and the public to learn about their personal health status and receive education on the resources available to live healthier and stay healthy. This event will coincide with the National Women's Checkup Day on Monday, May 14, and will take place at the Indianapolis Artsgarden from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. We will offer bone density screenings at this special event, as May is also designated as National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month. Please contact Morgan E. McGill, OWH Director, for more information on other included screenings at (317) 233-2170 or mmcgill@isdh.in.gov.

On Thursday, May 17, Sarah Lyttle from the Fisher Institute of Gerontology will present a Lunch and Learn presentation to ISDH employees and ISDH lab personnel on the stress-minimizing benefits of laughter. Mrs. Lyttle will review the physiological effects of laughter and lead the audience through "Laughter Yoga" exercises!

OWH will be posting a list of events taking place in communities statewide on the OWH website at the end of April. Please check the site for the May Women's Health Calendar!

Please also encourage a “viewing” with friends and family of an HBO four-part series beginning Monday, May 14th and continuing on Tuesday, May 15th on “The Weight of the Nation.” This documentary series, spotlighting the national obesity epidemic, will include interviews with experts from public health institutes and with individuals and families struggling with obesity. Visit http://bit.ly/HFZBx5 to view the trailer!

*OWH invites you to visit http://bit.ly/IhySzQ to learn what Bartholomew County is doing to promote a healthy lifestyle in the schools, at worksites, and in the homes of Bartholomew county residents. Click on the "Reach" icon below to find ideas to improve your community!