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Healthy Living 182 results
Students in the American Studies class at Bloomington’s Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship were asked to identify their sense of place. Each student made a video to learn about their special place’s “larger connection to our shared home of southern Indiana.” Above, a screenshot from the video by Andjoli C. Badger.

What Is ‘A Sense of Place’? Bloomington Students Explain — and Share Theirs The 2024 “Sense of Place” project by students at the Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship is here!
Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship Students
Students in the American Studies class at Bloomington’s Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship were asked to identify their sense of place. Each student made a video to learn about their special place’s “larger connection to our shared home of southern Indiana.” And as ASE students have done since 2016, they’ve shared their videos with us. Watch their “sense of place” videos here.
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Mindfulness originated in ancient Buddhism, but the practice has expanded to companies that offer some form of mindfulness training for their workers. Artists and sisters Nina (left) and Sonya Montenegro own The Far Woods, a creative studio that reflects their dedication to mindful living. Other local businesses make it part of their everyday approach, as well, by taking into consideration “the well-being of the environment, the consumer, and the business owner alike.” | Courtesy photo

Mindfulness Widens Its Sphere from Personal Mantra to Business Practice
Shannon Livengood
Though mindfulness originated in Buddhism, the practice has expanded to companies that offer some form of mindfulness for their workers. And, as Shannon Livengood writes, several local businesses have made it part of their everyday approach “in obvious and maybe not-so obvious ways,” taking into consideration “the well-being of the environment, the consumer, and the business owner alike.” Become more mindful here.
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The licensed mental health professionals on the Social Support Services Team at the Bloomington Police Department say they offer types of help that uniformed police officers aren’t trained to provide. (l-r) Dayona Cunningham, BPD Social Work Intern; Melissa Stone, MSW, LCSW; Mallory Swanson, MSW, LCSW; Pamela Flick, MA, LMHCA. | Limestone Post

Goal of BPD and Social Support Team Is ‘To Help People’ Deep Dive: WFHB & Limestone Post Investigate Police Social Support Services Team
Haley Miller
The Police Social Support Services Team at the Bloomington Police Department has helped thousands of people since 2019. Critics say police and social workers have differing views of justice — criminal versus social — but the team’s licensed mental health professionals say they offer support that uniformed police officers aren’t trained to provide. Click here to read a Deep Dive on social support services.
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A study conducted in part by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy surveyed teens about the most common sources of distress in their lives. IU Storyteller Nikki Livingston explores both the key findings from the survey and how teens can combat distress and burnout.

American Teens Feel Pressure in 6 Areas of Life How can they address burnout and ‘grind culture’?
Nikki Livingston
What are the most common sources of distress among teens? A study conducted in part by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy surveyed teens about specific pressures they face. IU Storyteller Nikki Livingston explores key findings from the survey and how teens can combat distress, burnout, and “grind culture.” Find out how to address the distress.
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Indiana’s poorly written abortion ban has led to dangerous consequences for pregnant Hoosier women. Despite most people wanting more access to abortion, Indiana legislators have prevented doctors from taking proper care of their patients. (above) In September 2022, community members gathered at the Monroe County Courthouse for a protest vigil a few hours before Indiana’s near total abortion ban went into effect. | Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian

The Harmful Consequences of Indiana’s Badly Written Abortion Ban
Rebecca Hill
Indiana legislators have not clarified critical language in the state’s abortion ban, which has led to serious negative consequences for women’s healthcare, including endangering the lives of pregnant women. In part 2 of Rebecca Hill’s in-depth look at Indiana’s abortion ban, she writes about the problems that the majority of Hoosier lawmakers choose to ignore. Click here for the article.
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Activists gathered at the Monroe County Courthouse in 2022 for the “Take to the Streets — Defend Roe!” rally and march. Later that year, the U.S. Supreme Court ended federal protection of abortion rights across the country. Indiana then became the first state to pass an anti-abortion law, which, according to advocates for women’s health, has created confusion among doctors and endangered the lives of pregnant women. | Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian

Advocates for Women’s Healthcare Have Plans for Stricter Bans Groups provide abortion access despite further restrictions
Rebecca Hill
Poorly written anti-abortion laws in Indiana and other states have forced pregnant women to leave home for life-saving healthcare. Many women rely on networks of groups to help with travel to medical clinics and access to safe medication. Some of those groups have taken cues from the underground networks of the early 1970s. Read the in-depth report here.
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Bloomington high school student Hazel Hammerstein founded the nonprofit Indiana Prevention Project. Above, Hazel and her sister’s mural for the Montana Meth Project, which inspired Hazel to start a similar project in Indiana when she and her family moved back to Bloomington. | Courtesy photo

‘Paint the State’ Anti-drug Mural Contest Started by Local Student Registration ends August 30
Hiromi Yoshida
Bloomington high school student Hazel Hammerstein founded the nonprofit Indiana Prevention Project to spread the message about the dangers of drug use. She and numerous supporters are running the Paint the State mural contest. Registration ends on August 30. Read about Hazel’s project, as well as the contest rules and timeline in this article by Hiromi Yoshida.
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Megan Snook had a fast-paced life of traveling the world as a photojournalist. Becoming a mother changed that. And tintype photography has helped her “to appreciate the things which are most precious in this life.” Above, Snook’s tintypes of James Seaver (left) and Stephanie Duckworth. See gallery below.

Tintype Photography Transformed a Photojournalist’s Way of Life
Megan Snook
Life as a world-traveling documentary photographer was fast-paced for Megan Snook. But, as she writes in this photo essay, becoming a mother “drastically changed my way of life.” Tintype photography helped with the transformation, and now she is “better able to appreciate the things which are most precious in this life.” Read Megan’s story and see her tintype photography.
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Monroe Lake is “the source of our drinking water, a destination for many outdoor activities, and home to a wide variety of critters and flora,” writes Michael G. Glab. This year marks the 60th anniversary of its dedication, and many events are planned to commemorate it. Above, swimmers enjoy the beach at Fairfax State Recreation Area. | Limestone Post

Celebrating Monroe Lake’s 60th Anniversary Series of events and programs planned for lead-up to October reception
Michael G. Glab
We couldn’t imagine living without Monroe Lake, writes Michael G. Glab. The reservoir is “the source of our drinking water, a destination for many outdoor activities, and home to a wide variety of critters and flora.” This year marks the 60th anniversary of its dedication, with many events planned to commemorate it. Read Glab’s article, featuring Interpretive Naturalist Jill Vance.
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Refugees who resettle in Bloomington rely on a patchwork of social service agencies to overcome a tight housing market, transportation limitations, and language barriers — all while navigating the immigration process and trying to make Bloomington their new home. | Photo by Paul Cooper, CC BY-NC 2.0

Resilience Amid Hardship: Refugees Find Challenges, Opportunities in Bloomington Deep Dive: WFHB & Limestone Post Investigate Refugee Services
Arnolt Center for Investigative Journalism
Refugees rely on a patchwork of social service agencies to resettle in Bloomington, but a tight housing market, transportation limitations, and language barriers create hurdles as they settle into their new homes. Three reporters from the Arnolt Center for Investigative Journalism prepared this report for our series Deep Dive: WFHB & Limestone Post Investigate. Read the report here.
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Josie Leimbach (left) and Lynae Sowinski met in Bloomington and got married in 2017. Their journey to parenthood has been similar to that for heterosexual couples in many ways, but the journey has also been more difficult emotionally, physically, and financially. | Courtesy photo

Celebrating Diverse Families: Our Journey to Queer Parenthood
Lynae Sowinski and Josie Leimbach
Preparing to have a child is similar in many ways for queer couples as for heterosexual couples, write Lynae Sowinski and Josie Leimbach, who got married in Bloomington in 2017 and now live in Georgia. But in a variety of ways, their parenthood experience has been different — and emotionally, physically, and financially more difficult. Read about their journey to queer parenthood.
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