November 10, 2021 - Pittsburgh City Paper by Pittsburgh City Paper

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NOV. 10-17, 2021

FIRSTSHOT BYY JARED WICKERHAM

Friends of Nique Craft, one of the most recognizable figures in Pittsburgh’s Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, gathered in South Side’s Color Park during a vigil for the local activist who passed away on Tue., Nov. 5.

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NOV. 10-17, 2021 VOLUME 30 + ISSUE 45 Editor-In-Chief LISA CUNNINGHAM Director of Advertising JASMINE HUGHES Director of Operations KEVIN SHEPHERD Managing Editor RYAN DETO A&E Editor AMANDA WALTZ Staff Writer DANI JANAE Photographer/Videographer JARED WICKERHAM Editorial Designer LUCY CHEN Graphic Designer JEFF SCHRECKENGOST Digital Marketing Coordinator DARYA KHARABI Sales Representatives ZACK DURKIN, OWEN GABBEY, HANNAH MORAN-FUNWELA Circulation Manager JEFF ENGBARTH Featured Contributors REGE BEHE, MIKE CANTON, LYNN CULLEN, TERENEH IDIA Interns TIA BAILEY, ISABELLA DIAZ, YASH MITTAL, JASON PHOX National Advertising Representative VMG ADVERTISING 1.888.278.9866 OR 1.212.475.2529 Publisher EAGLE MEDIA CORP.

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9/23/21 PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER NOVEMBER 10-17, 2021

3:45 PM

HEALTH ISSUE BY LISA CUNNINGHAM // LCUNNING@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

S THE PANDEMIC APPROACHES its

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second anniversary, the number of people affected by COVID continues to take over news headlines across the globe. But it’s not just people’s physical health at risk. The pandemic brought on a “mental health tsunami,” according to American Psychological Association CEO Arthur Evans Jr. Results from a recent APA nationwide survey showed that the number of Americans seeking treatment for anxiety and depression has risen dramatically during the pandemic, along with other mental health issues, including substancerelated disorders. And, according to U.S. News and World Report, psychologists have not been able to meet the increased needs of those seeking treatment. This year, Pittsburgh City Paper has been working to bring more attention to mental health issues in the region as part of “Pittsburgh’s Missing Bridges,” a collaborative reporting project by the Pittsburgh Media Partnership, a group of local media outlets focused on inequality in the region and potential solutions. The partnership’s current work explores the public health system’s response to mental health and how our communities can coordinate better care.

For our second annual mental healththemed Health Issue, you’ll see some of our project’s collaborative reporting, including stories from our partners WESA, Unabridged Press, and Soul Pitt. You’ll also read a ﬁrstperson comics essay, co-published with PublicSource, written and illustrated by a local Pittsburgher who came face-to-face with her substance abuse during the pandemic. Over the past several years, we’ve seen our city lose a number of important people in the arts community due to mental health issues. A&E editor Amanda Waltz has a story on breaking the stigma of the “tortured artist” and looks at ways people in need can get help. Columnist Tereneh Idia has a personal story on childhood abuse and a return to therapy after years of denial. And staff writer Dani Janae speaks to the owners of a new mental health-themed Oakland eatery who are offering more than just juice with their orders. While physical health is important, we believe it’s important to focus our attention locally to mental health in the hopes that changemakers and policymakers will realize the need for more resources. What’s promising, said Dr. Vivian Pender, president of the American Psychiatric Association, in U.S. News and World Report is that “more attention is being paid to mental health and well-being than ever before.”

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.ARTS.

CREATIVE CRISIS BY AMANDA WALTZ // AWALTZ@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

Editor’s note: This story contains references to suicide.

N HER ACCLAIMED 2018 stand-up special Nanette, Australian comedian Hannah Gadsby recounts how a man came up to her after a show to comment on her revealing that she took antidepressants. “He said, ‘You shouldn’t take medication because you’re an artist. It’s important that you feel,’” she says. He then went on to say that if painter Vincent van Gogh had taken medication, the world wouldn’t have his famous work “The Sunﬂowers.” Gadsby, who studied art history, is quick to explain that not only did van Gogh self-medicate with alcohol, but took

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prescribed medication, a derivative of the foxglove plant that intensified how he saw the yellow hues in “The Sunflowers.” She mentions that he also painted portraits of psychiatrists who were, in fact, treating and medicating him. “So perhaps we have “The Sunflowers” precisely because van Gogh medicated,” she concludes to a laughing and applauding crowd. This bit speaks to a stigma that has long plagued the arts community, where the stereotype of the “tortured artist” who must suffer for their art can affect how creative types are perceived, and lead to

consequences for those struggling with mental illness. This is compounded in the U.S. by a system that, due to economic conditions and employment status, leaves many working artists without health care, therapy, and other resources needed to access treatment or crisis help. Pittsburgh is not exempt from this issue, which has become apparent in the number of local artists who have died by suicide or mental health-related reasons in recent years. This has been magniﬁed by the pandemic breaking down a sense of community or ﬁnancial security for many of these individuals.

For Brett Yasko, experience with the issue goes back even before the pandemic, during his friendship with John Riegert, a Pittsburgh artist who died by suicide in November 2018. Before his death, Yasko created a 2016 exhibition that made Riegert, who struggled with bipolar disorder and depression, and had previously attempted suicide, the subject of over 250 portraits by other artists. In a tragic turn, one of the participating artists died by suicide in August. The Pittsburgh arts community has mourned the untimely loss of others, like grafﬁti artist Daniel Montano, who

PHOTO: STEPHEN CARUSO

A portion of the 250 pieces of artworks created of late Pittsburgh artist John Riegert for 2016 exhibition at SPACE Gallery

reportedly died of a heroin overdose in 2017, and Alexandra Oliver, an arts educator and activist who died by suicided that same year. Though it’s impossible to calculate the percentage of artists lost to mental healthrelated deaths, the issue has become dire enough that Pittsburgh filmmaker and musician Julie Sokolow decided to try and do something about it. Sokolow, who documented Yasko’s Riegert exhibition with her film, The John Show, has been an advocate for increased health care access to working artists. From 2012 to 2014, she produced Healthy Artists, a series of short profiles showing how uninsured or underinsured Pittsburgh artists survived without health care. After seeing the devastating impact of COVID-19, she decided to pursue a degree at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work, where she is currently training to become a mental health therapist. “I definitely felt more called to it because of the pandemic and the rising rates of depression and anxiety and substance abuse,” she says. “It’s a crisis.” She agrees that artists, compared to those working in other fields, are potentially more vulnerable due to a number of factors. For one, she says audiences may equate an artist’s visibility with success, without understanding the nuances and difficulties of the industry. “I think the general public in a lot of cases will look at an artist’s show or music concert or film screening and assume that that person is highly successful because they put on a well attended show, or they

were in the newspaper, and they’ll assume that that person is supported and making good money, and it’s just not the case,” she says, adding that band members may have to split $20 between each other after playing a gig. She says artists often face a lot of stressors from having to cobble together a livelihood.

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“Artists tend to have precarious situations as far as piecing together several jobs for income and needing to take an adjunct teaching gig here, some freelance opportunities there, that can lead to feeling pretty unsupported,” she says. “A lot of other folks might get to work a full-time job that has health beneﬁts. And I think a lot of artists are deprived of that opportunity to feel supported in that way.” Yasko and Sokolow also believe that, due to their profession, artists tend to be more isolated, as they often lack the ofﬁce environment and other communal aspects that come with more mainstream, 9-to-5 type jobs. Yasko says that, as an instructor

annabis has been consumed for centuries, but only recently have we been able to properly understand the compounds that work together to provide various experiences which include the medical benefits we appreciate today. Cannabinoids, also known as phytocannabinoids, are naturally occurring chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant and many others such as piper nigrum (black pepper) and cacao. With delta-8 THC becoming widely available in CBD stores around the country, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is returning to forefront of the medical marijuana conversation. Both Delta-8 and delta-9 are forms of THC, but when people are talking about THC in general, they are referring to delta-9. Delta8 THC is a minor cannabinoid that is produced naturally by the cannabis plant in insignificant amounts. It has become popular because of its similarity to delta-9 THC, the cannabinoid that provides the psychoactive effect or “high” that cannabis is known for. However, for all the similarities, there are still major differences between delta-9 and delta-8 THC. Delta-9 THC is found in abundance in the marijuana plant thus making extraction simple and affordable. On the other hand, concentrated amounts of delta-8 THC are typically synthesized from hemp-derived cannabidiol or CBD with the use of solvents due to its low presence in the cannabis plant. Manufacturing delta-8 THC from hemp is not only easier, but it also allows products that include the compound to be sold outside of medical marijuana dispensaries because it is technically legal on a federal level. The Farm Bill, which legalized hemp production in 2018, does not forbid deriving delta-8 THC from hemp and creating products with it. One of the main differences between delta-9 and delta-8 is the level of potency. Delta-9 THC is significantly more potent than Delta 8 and has more pronounced effects. Some com-

mon side effects can include paranoia and increased anxiety, confusion, and impaired motor skills. Nonetheless, delta-9 THC has a host of medical benefits that include analgesic, antiemetic, antitumor, antispasmodic, antianxiety, and neuroprotective properties. In comparison, Delta 8 has become a favorite because it provides a milder experience that is described as clear minded, euphoric, and relaxing thus making it great for people managing conditions such as anxiety. It also lacks the couchlock or lack of focus that one may face upon consuming traditional delta-9 THC. Another benefit cited by delta-8 consumers is that the experience is not accompanied by anxiety or increased appetite. However, the mild psychoactive nature of delta-8 has resulted in a restriction on the sale and production of Delta 8 products by several state governments. Delta-8 is currently banned in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Kentucky, Idaho, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Washington. While Delta-8 THC is not banned in Oregon, hemp-derived products with 0.5 milligrams of delta-8 THC or any other products containing “intoxicating cannabinoids”, or “artificially derived cannabinoids” and marijuana products are now both considered adult use items to be sold in dispensaries. Legislative bans and regulatory clarifications are currently being considered in several states including Alabama, Illinois, and Oklahoma. Delta-8 THC products were once on the shelves of Delta 9 PA and other Pennsylvania dispensaries, but for now it remains to be seen if they will return or continue to thrive in our CBD markets. Delta 9 PA serves medical marijuana patients in Pittsburgh and Greensburg. Learn more at www.delta9pa.com

CONTINUES ON PG. 8

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER NOVEMBER 10-17, 2021

CREATIVE CRISIS, CONTINUED FROM PG. 7

PHOTO: JOEY KENNEDY/COURTESY OF BRETT YASKO

Late Pittsburgh artist John Riegert

at the School of Design at Carnegie Mellon University, he saw the toll isolation took on young arts students forced to participate in classes over Zoom, and how the statewide shutdown, which saw the closing of nonessential businesses like galleries and other arts venues, put artists in a tough position. “All the places that were a way for them to show what they were working on, all of that just went away so fast, like almost overnight,” he says. “In perfect times, the idea that you’ve got to come up with stuff that you’re going to then put into a gallery, and then you’re going to hope for a reaction from someone, to me, that’s stressful enough. But then for that to just all go away, literally within a week, for a long period of time? It just goes without saying that that was a huge, huge thing.” Studies trying to correlate mental health and artistic talent have only solidified harmful stereotypes. In 2015, major news outlets reported that a study from deCODE, a genetics company based in Reykjavik, Iceland, argued that those with a higher genetic risk of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia were more likely to pursue creative professions. Detractors were quick to point out, however, that the research behind the study was too narrow and flawed to draw any real conclusions. In a 2019 article for Psychology Today, author Ewan Morrison examined how conflating creativity with mental illness could lead to artists depending on producing art as a treatment, or refusing to medicate themselves for fear that it will affect their ability to create. Even when artists do pursue treatment, Sokolow says the process of obtaining and

Follow a&e editor Amanda Waltz on Twitter @AWaltzCP

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sustaining it can be difﬁcult. Yasko speaks to this, saying that while Riegert was able to obtain disability support and medication, and went to therapy multiple times a week, he also felt that assistance could be stripped from him at any point. “His disability was always tenuous,” says Yasko. “He had to sort of reapply for it, and it was a long process, and he sort of had to ﬁght for it in order to have money to eat and everything like that. … It’s funny, because he was always taken care of, but I think that was a burden on him, of worrying that there would be a day where it wouldn’t be taken care of. He talked about that a lot.” Sokolow believes that addressing this would mean switching to a universal health care model, but until then, she points to some services in Pittsburgh that could help. This includes the Duquesne University Psychology Clinic, which she says is available to uninsured and underinsured patients at a sliding scale, UPMC’s resolve Crisis Services hotline and walk-in center, and Center for Victims. Yasko believes part of the resolution lies in eliminating the stigma of mental illness, not only for artists, but for people in general. He also thinks artists living with mental illness should be recognized for contributing, whether through their art or through work they do in their community. “A lot of people maybe take that for granted about just how much energy it takes, if you are struggling to make it through the day, and then, on top of that, you’re doing amazing things,” he says. “So I just thought they should be applauded and that should be appreciated.”

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outdoors and online, healthy meals and SilverSneakers® classes for seniors, and community public health initiatives, such as blood drives and COVID-19 testing and vaccinations. Members have regular access to: •Temperature-controlled indoor pools and outdoor Olympic-size pool at the JCC’s Family Park in Monroeville for summer use •State-of-the-art cardio equipment •Weight training rooms equipped for Crossfit, Selectorized Circuit by Cybex and free weights •Virtual and in-person group exercise classes •Full-court gymnasiums •Pristine locker room facilities The JCC’s focus on health & safety supports each person’s sense of well-being. In addition to following the most recent guidelines from national and local health authorities, one-time proof of vaccination is required for all age-eligible members. The JCC is open and accessible to everyone, regardless of age, race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or special need, welcoming individuals of all backgrounds under its communal tent.

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER NOVEMBER 10-17, 2021

CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

Uzima juice bar owners Mayan and Sheronica Marshall

.BLACK-LED COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT.

AMAZING GRACE BY DANI JANAE // DANIJANAE@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

HERE’S A LOT that goes into main-

taining a healthy lifestyle. But being healthy isn’t just hitting the gym ﬁve days a week or eating greens — though those things are important, they aren’t everything. Mental health is an aspect of holistic wellness that is often overlooked. When Mayan Marshall and his wife Sheronica moved back to the U.S. from Angola, Africa, they both decided to address mental health head on. In October, the couple opened Uzima, a juice bar in Oakland that combines their love of customer service with addressing issues that affect them and their community. This comes through in some of the nonfood amenities offered by Uzima, a name that, according to the business’ website, means “Tree of Life” in Swahili. Customers can borrow free books on mental health from an in-store “Jubilee Library,” or check out the Depression Cloud, a physical bulletin board that allows customers to “post anything from an inspiring quote or song,

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to a book, recommended psychologists, to a homegrown technique that someone uses to get through difﬁcult periods.” The website also describes Uzima as a “Designated Oakland Chill Zone,” a place for people to relax, where patience, positivity, and kindness are valued above all else.

UZINMA 3400 Fifth Ave., Oakland. uzima.live

The Marshalls, who have now lived in Pittsburgh for ﬁve years, haven’t always worked in the business of wellness. Previously, Mayan worked in the gas industry for Chevron, stationed in Angola. After the industry saw a decline, and there was a push to get expats out of the country, the couple relocated to Pittsburgh because Mayan has family in the area. The couple knew they wanted to pivot to working for themselves, and before opening Uzima, they managed the Salud Juicery, also

located in Oakland. Mayan says they knew they didn’t want to invest in a fast-food venture, but wanted to work with something that had more substance. At Salud, they served nutritious food and drinks to a constant ﬂow of university students. “We really fell in love with the concept of Salud, and then the location in Oakland, we thought was just perfect for us,” says Mayan. “We just were really into the diversity.” It was here that Mayan says he began to see the far-reaching effects of mental illness, not only in his own family, but in others. “We’ve had mental illnesses very close to us,” says Mayan, who adds he’s gone through a long journey of mental illness himself. Around that time, he says he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and also struggled with major depression and generalized anxiety. “My wife has had situations as well. We’ve had our kids struggle with mental illness and, interestingly

CBD and Anxiety

W CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERAM

Uplifting handwritten notes hung up by customers hung on Uzima’s “Depression Cloud”

ONCE PATRONS COME IN AND SEE SOME OF THE QUOTES ON THE WALL ... THEY REALIZE THAT IT’S MORE THAN JUST AÇAÍ BOWLS AND SMOOTHIES. enough, when we were managing Salud Juicery — we had been for about two and a half years or so — all the employees for the most part were all students from Carlow University or the University of Pittsburgh. And I’d tell you what, I’d probably say about half of them had mental illness, and this was pre-COVID.” Both Mayan and Sheronica believe that community is important, a lesson they say they learned back in Angola. Mayan shares that many in Angola live in extreme poverty, with clean, running water hard to come by, and people dying of diseases that had been essentially eradicated in the U.S. Mayan says that, despite the state of poverty in Angola, there was still so much vibrance and life, a focus on community that he ﬁnds lacking in the U.S. He says their approach to addressing mental health is very “community-based.” Uzima isn’t like any other juice bar in Pittsburgh. Mayan says that once patrons come in and see some of the quotes on the wall, including one that reads “I have depression but I prefer to say, ‘I battle depression,’ instead of ‘I suffer with’ it because depression hits, but I hit back,

battle on!,” they realize that it’s more than just açaí bowls and smoothies. Still, you can ﬁnd delicious food and drinks there. Mayan says the most popular smoothie is one called Grace, that contains banana, cashews, protein, cinnamon, and agave, and has an overall taste like vanilla. It comes in different variations, with added peanuts and chocolate (Amazing Grace), espresso (Saving Grace), spinach (Green Grace), or strawberries (Pink Grace). The second most popular drink is Love, which contains mango, strawberries, banana, passion fruit, and coconut H20, followed by Unite, a classic açaí bowl with banana, strawberries, blueberries, granola, and almond milk. “What’s beautiful about the names, and what’s popular, is you have Grace, Love, and Unite, and it just echoes the heart of the community,” says Sheronica. “When you come together in unity, you long for grace because none of us have it all together. And then that place of love where you’re loved unconditionally because we don’t have it all together. So it is like our top three: Grace, Love, and Unite. It really just echoes community.”

Follow staff writer Dani Janae on Twitter @figwidow

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hile there’s no magic bullet to banish anxiety for good, managing anxiety symptoms is a commonly stated reason why people take cannabis – medical or otherwise –with CBD showing particular promise in preliminary studies. Right now, it’s estimated 264 million people worldwide have some kind of anxiety disorder, with approximately 40 million of them residing in the United States. Due to their complex and often individualized nature, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to treating anxiety disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT is often combined with anti-anxiety drugs like SSRI antidepressants or benzodiazepines, known as tranquilizers, like Xanax and Ativan for a more immediate calming effect. While they may lull patients into a state of anxiety-free calm, taken long term they can result in addiction. Life is filled with external stressors – pollution, poor sleep, that argument with your boss, the 24/7 news reports about the millions of people dying worldwide from the coronavirus. Thankfully, the (Endocannabinoid System) ECS works as a buffer to ensure our organisms don’t develop some kind of illness as a result. It also plays a crucial role in regulating fear, anxiety and how we cope with stress. Activating CB1 receptors in the brain and central nervous system has been found to calm feelings of anxiety, which explains why consuming cannabis tends to chill people out. The more you smoke Marijuana, the more anxious you may feel, as higher doses of THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, can actually be anxiety inducing. Enhanced signaling between CB1 receptors and the endocannabinoid anandamide in the amygdala, an area of the brain key to processing fear, has been shown to help mice forget frightening experiences. That’s something of clinical interest for the treatment of anxiety disorders where frightening events of the past become indelibly marked in a patient’s memory, fueling future feelings of anxiety. Chronic stress itself can eventually impair our endocannabinoid system. Prolonged exposure to stress downregulates CB1 receptor signaling in brain regions involved

in emotional processing. Chronic stress also increases levels of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), the enzyme that breaks anandamide down in the body, resulting in lower concentrations of the feelgood endocannabinoid. With weakened endocannabinoid signaling, we are more vulnerable to developing anxiety and depression. Indeed, one study showed a clear inverse relationship between anandamide levels and anxiety severity in women with major depression; So, in basic terms, the more anandamide deficient we are, the more anxious we may become. Cannabidiol (CBD), the non-intoxicating compound found in cannabis, has been shown to inhibit anandamide reuptake and delay its metabolism by FAAH. Several studies confirm that administering CBD enhances CB1 signaling, in turn promoting the creation of new neurons in the hippocampus, which scientists believe further contributes towards the compound’s anxiolytic effect. However, CBD’s anti-anxiety action extends beyond increasing endocannabinoid signaling. Animal studies show how CBD interacts with serotonin 5-HT1A receptors in the brain, which are tried and tested targets for anti-anxiety medication. While more still remains to be discovered about the mechanisms behind CBD’s anxiolytic effect, in certain US states and countries where medicinal use of cannabis is legal, doctors are treating their patients with CBD-rich cannabis strains for anxiety disorders. Right now, a number of clinical trials to study the effectiveness of CBD for anxiety are in the process of recruiting, including one using 25mg of full spectrum CBD soft gel capsules over a period of twelve weeks; and a phase II clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of CBD for social anxiety, which will also measure changes in endocannabinoid levels. In the meantime, in a bid to minimize any damage to our endocannabinoid system caused by daily living stressors and coronavirus stress which may make us more vulnerable to anxiety disorders now and in the future, using a HighQuality Broad-Spectrum CBD daily is a smart addition to our daily self-care routine.

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.MENTAL HEALTH.

Abby Rickin-Marks

TEEN LEADER BY CLAIRE LINDSEY // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

Editor’s note: This story contains references to suicide.

EFORE SHE COULD EVEN WALK or

speak, Abby Rickin-Marks was anxious. Each night at six o’clock, she would begin to cry. It would go on for 15 to 30 minutes, and her parents couldn’t identify the cause. Her mother took her to the doctor. “The doctor said, ‘No, she’s just an anxious baby. She needs to cry it out,’” says Rickin-Marks. By the time she was 10, though, RickinMarks says she saw her future as a short timeline of school, then work, then death. She believed the negatives of life outweighed the positives. “I was a mess,” Rickin-Marks says. “It wasn’t like, ‘Oh I’m sad.’ It was more

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existential type stuff. I always felt like I was so small in comparison to the world.” She explains that drastic changes in the world made her feel like she couldn’t make a difference on her own. Because her family had experience dealing with mental illness and her father is a psychiatrist, Rickin-Marks felt comfortable opening up about her struggles. “I expressed the fact that I essentially wanted to kill myself, or at least not be in existence,” she says. In ﬁfth grade, she was diagnosed with anxiety and depression and, with her family’s support, Rickin-Marks received therapy and medications to make her mental illnesses more manageable.

If it seems hard to believe that a person so young would be so troubled, consider this: half of “all lifetime mental illnesses develop by age 14,” according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. During the height of the pandemic, between April and October, mental healthrelated emergency room visits increased by about a quarter among children ages 5-11 compared to the previous year, according to a study from the Centers for Disease Control. Rickin-Marks’ family members have dealt with mental illness for generations. She attributes this to intergenerational trauma. Her grandmother was a Holocaust survivor, and Rickin-Marks believes that the resulting trauma was passed down.

The American Psychiatric Association backs this up. “Many Holocaust survivors experience mental health disorders, including PTSD and survivor guilt,” according to its website. “Even second and third generation descendants of Holocaust survivors also show a higher prevalence of PTSD and other psychiatric symptoms.” Additionally, the American Psychiatric Association and other sources point out that Anti-Semitism has risen in recent years, evidenced by social media studies and even the Tree of Life massacre. Rickin-Marks says there are speciﬁc kinds of anxieties that many Jewish people experience.

“WE NEED BETTER MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN SCHOOLS. WE NEED BETTER MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR MINORITIES. WE NEED BETTER MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PERIOD.” “If something happens, who’s going to hide us? What’s the plan?” she says, adding that this mindset can take a toll on a person’s mental health. Rickin-Marks continued to go to therapy and take medicine. By the time she was in middle school, she says she felt like she had more control over her own mental health. She admits that she’s aware that not everyone has a dad who’s a psychiatrist and that schools could do better with providing mental health services. “You want your kids to be able to talk about their feelings,” she says. “Once they’re in elementary school, we should teach them things like, ‘Here is what you should say if you see someone who is really sad.’” She says she wanted to help others with their mental illnesses. “I deﬁnitely was not fully recovered,” she says. “But I thought, ‘This will make me feel so much better.’” Rickin-Marks started small, just supporting peers and friends who needed help. In 2018, she started volunteering with the Jewish Healthcare Foundation’s PA Youth Advocacy Network. “I jumped in,” she says. “It was at their beginning, so I’m very lucky to have started when they were starting.” She represented the foundation at

State Rep. Dan Miller’s annual Disability and Mental Health Summit. “We need better mental health services in schools,” she said at the last summit. “We need better mental health services for minorities. We need better mental health services period.” Rickin-Marks helped write a proclamation signed by Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania ofﬁcials naming May 23 “Teen Mental Health Awareness Day” to “increase awareness of mental health issues for teenagers and eliminate stigmas surrounding preventative mental health.” During the summer of 2021, after graduating from Fox Chapel High School in June, she worked with the media company iGeneration Youth to create a COVID-themed mental health toolkit that was distributed over the fall to Pittsburgh Public Schools. Rickin-Marks, who is currently attending Oberlin College in Ohio, majoring in sociology and Jewish studies, says she is glad she’s been able to manage her own mental health while helping others. “If you’re tied between so many things and you try to juggle as much as you can to make the biggest impact, you can forget about yourself,” she says. “I am so proud that I am able to do all the work I’m doing while taking care of myself.”

•

This story was copublished with Unabridged Press and supported with funding from the Pittsburgh Media Partnership and All-Abilities Media — both based at the Center for Media Innovation at Point Park University.

Central Outreach Wellness Center named Best Health Advocacy Group in Best of Pittsburgh Readers’ Poll 2021

ach year, Pittsburgh City Paper hosts the Best of Pittsburgh Readers’ Poll which has various categories celebrating the different people, places and businesses in Pittsburgh. The poll, completely nominated and voted on by readers, has become over its two decades in existence, something that readers participate in year after year to make sure their voices are heard. Categories change year to year based on what is going on in the city as well as community categories that become important to highlight. This year one of the new categories was Best Health Advocacy Group. Inclusive, top quality health care has been a topic of conversation for a long time but has only started taking the spotlight as it becomes more obvious how important this type of care for all people is. In this category’s first year, First Place went to Central Outreach Wellness Center. Central Outreach Wellness Center opened in July of 2015 in a modest 2,000 square foot medical clinic with six patient rooms and three employees. Central Outreach Wellness Center is the largest LGBTQIA focused medical center in Pennsylvania. Five medical facilities across two states, over 57,000 square feet of space for health care, and 115 employees, Dr. Lane has grown Central Outreach to advocate and care for people regardless of their circumstances. There are now offices in Pittsburgh, Aliquippa, Erie, Washington (PA), and Cleveland. Central Outreach offers free STD, HIV, and Hep C testing; the cure for Hep C; HIV(+) care; transgender health care; primary care; personalized pharmacy services and discounts; laser hair removal; massage therapy. Walk-in patients are always welcome, and no insurance is necessary at Central Outreach. When the leaders at Central Outreach Well-

ness Center were asked what it meant to them to achieve this win, they expressed their excitement and the honor the community bestowed on them. “It was an honor to be nominated twice: Best Pandemic Relief Campaign and Best Health Advocacy Group. We are happy to receive recognition for the hard work we did in service of the community over the past year, and we thank the readers for making us winners as the Best Health Advocacy Group in Pittsburgh,” the marketing director Alex Young said. Dr. Stacy Lane, D.O. has been leading Central Outreach since its inception, stepping out as a leader in the community to ensure these services have not only been made available to all who need it but in more and more areas, not just the City of Pittsburgh. When asked to share, Dr. Lane said, “Central Outreach Wellness Center is healthcare targeted at those on the fringe of society: LGBTQIA, the artists, the swingers, and those with addiction. The City Paper has been the publication that targets these same communities.” “To win a ‘Best Of’ award from the City Paper tells me that COWC is doing well to hit its mark. The people that matter to us have spoken. We don’t want an award from UPMC or Highmark. We don’t care what the mainstream thinks, because we are not for them.” - Dr. Stacy Lane, D.O. Central Outreach is committed and will continue to be culturally competent, and push themselves as an organization to help even more people than they have before. Recently, they have expanded their services into Cleveland, Ohio to support priority populations there with quality medical care and community. “Of course, we want to win Back-to-Back Best of Pittsburgh awards too.”

centraloutreach.com PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER NOVEMBER 10-17, 2021

.VIEWS.

HEALING TIME BY TERENEH IDIA CPCONTRIBUTORS@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

Editor’s note: This story contains references to child abuse and suicide.

HIS IS MY STORY ALONE. It doesn’t

reflect the experiences of my five siblings. You will not read these words and gain any insight into the lives of my brothers and sisters. In fact, you may not even gain a deeper understanding of me. This is my story alone, my truth. And I hope it will inspire someone to get the help they need faster than I did. “I didn’t think you cried.” A friend said this to me a few years ago when I talked about going through a difficult time. I was so taken aback, I do not remember how I answered. Now, my response is, “Of course I cry.” I am human. “You are so strong, I didn’t think you needed help.” A family member said this when I admitted I needed someone to talk to. “I am strong not because I want to be,” I think I said. “I have had to be strong to stay alive.” Sometimes I had to protect myself from those who should have protected me. Sometimes even from myself. “That is not a good enough reason to want to harm yourself.” I was sitting in a circle of doctors, with this one white male doctor right in front of me. I was 14 or 15 years old. I was outnumbered. Even now, I can still recall the feelings of despair as my stomach recoils and my fists ball up. “What would be a good reason?” I ask myself. If that was a counseling session to help me, it did not work. The straw that broke my teenage back was sitting in a room talking to lawyers about not wanting to be placed in my mother’s custody. A mom who I am sure loved me at one time, but had become emotionally and physically abusive to me. Looking back, I think she did this in a convoluted way to protect me; or, maybe abuse was all she knew? I remember how the abuse started, it was when I got my first period as we watched the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. My life with my mom and, in many ways, my life in total changed. Back in that courthouse room, I sat with lawyers and my mom’s sisters. I spoke with such eloquence, one of the attorneys suggested I become a lawyer.

CP ILLUSTRATION: LUCY CHEN

However, I did not impress my aunts who told me I was a bad daughter. The huge burn scar on my shoulder, the last time my mother hurt me physically, was not a good enough reason to want to avoid any more of her parenting. It seems abuse was the expectation, an inheritance I had the audacity to reject. Not ﬁnding love or nurturing from a mother or from most of my aunts, it was hard to determine where motherly love would come from. So I decided not to bother trying. I came very close to dying at 15. But something in me rejected that desire. I decided to protect myself in a way no one around me seemed capable of. At least I would be alive. So I became a kind of robot. I call it my automaton phase. I would not hurt, I wouldn’t feel pain because I wouldn’t feel anything. People saw this as strength, and I did too. Until I realized I wasn’t full. I had

replaced all of my internal organs with pain, and the pain fueled my life. But the worst thing is, I did not know it. Not until 2020, when a lot of great things in my life that were supposed to happen — a prestigious residency in West Africa, another in South America — were canceled or postponed. I was to turn an amazing corner in my relatively new creative life, but instead, I sat in the guest room of my father’s house not knowing what or how or when or why or anything. A depression and despair that I had not experienced since those teen years swept over me. The things that gave me joy — sewing, designing, reading — I could not do. Miracles were happening all around me. I fell in love, but I was not fully me. How do you go from age 15 to 50 broken? While I had been able to gather much of my insides back into my body, the pain was still pulsing through

Follow featured contributor Tereneh Idia on Twitter @Tereneh152XX

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my veins. I had not healed. I was angry at myself for being depressed. Until I had my second therapy session. When I was writing in my journal reﬂecting on the session, these words came out through my hand. It wrote: “This depression is a gift to you. It is a sign that you want more, that you’re not healed, but that you can be. Get healed, I love you.” My depression is not a punishment. It is a sign that my healing is not ﬁnished, but I am on the path now. It is not a simple path, but it is necessary. I want to look inside myself and see joy and love pulsing through, not pain and abuse. Love is the inheritance I wholeheartedly accept. (Thanks to Steel Smiling, a Pittsburgh organization that aims to bridge the gap between Black people and mental health, for their love and support on this journey. Learn more at steelsmilingpgh.org.)

•

Western PA buy local

Holiday Shopping Guide 2021

Food Truck-a-Palooza

Events & Farmers Markets

Monroeville Convention Center goodtastepittsburgh.com/ food-truck-a-palooza November 13 11am-5pm

Greensburg Holiday Market South Pennsylvania Avenue, Greensburg, PA

Bedner’s Farm & Green House Community Market Days McDonald, PA bednersgreenhouse.com November 13 10am-2pm November 20 10am-2pm November 27 10am-2pm, SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY December 4 10am-2pm December 11 10am-2pm December 18 10am-2pm

fb.me/e/1SJjpFsWw

Christmas in the Mountains on the Farm

Bloomfield Saturday Market Friendship Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA bloomﬁeldnow.org/ bloomﬁeld-saturday-market November 13 9am-1pm November 20 9am-1pm

Have a Merry Local Christmas

Leeper Meats Acme, PA

Lone Oak Farm Marion Center, PA

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fb.me/e/1V1WnC5Bt

December 4 9am-4pm

Santa will be making an appearance The Community Market is every Saturday from 11am-2pm! July 17 through December 18, there is a variety of activities for you to enjoy! Each week, they have: Local Goods, Guest Vendors, Food Trucks, Live Music, Pick Your Own Veggies (U-Pick Experience - From Our Fields), Wine & Beer Tastings, Cooking Workshops, Gardening Workshops, DIY & Children Activities, and plenty more!

November 21 12-4pm Dec 19 12-4pm

Christmas on the Farm Freedom Farms Butler, PA freedomfarmspa.com/ christmas-on-the-farm December 5 - 6 11am-4pm

Farmers’ Market Cooperative of East Liberty Pittsburgh, PA facebook.com/Farmers-MarketCooperative-of-East-Liberty November 13 5am-12pm November 20 5am-12pm November 27 5am-12pm December 4 5am-12pm December 11 5am-12pm December 18 5am-12pm

December 4 10 am- 2pm December 11 10 am- 2pm

Holiday Outdoor Farmer’s Market Community Pavilion, Washington, PA fb.me/e/2NMEJknfo November 20 10am-2pm Dec 11 10am-2pm Over 30 vendors will be in the Community Pavilion selling local food and alcohol directly to you for your holiday entertaining! Meet the farmers and producers that make your food and support their businesses directly. Heaters will be in place, if necessary, to provide a comfortable shopping experience. This event is brought to you by The Marketplace at Emerald Valley, The Ivy Green and Main Street Farmer’s Market.

Lawrenceville Farmers Market Lawrenceville, PA facebook.com/ lvillefarmersmarket November 16 3pm-7pm November 23 3pm-7pm November 30 3pm-7pm December 7 3pm-7pm December 14 3pm-7pm

Lynchfield Park Farmer Market

Pleasant Lane Farms fb.me/e/2qp0OEXNG Open House and Out of the Vat November 13 10am-2pm

Somerset County Market Somerset, PA

November 13 9am-12pm November 20 9am-12pm

Monroeville Lions Farmers’ Market Monroeville, PA facebook.com/Monroeville LionsFarmersMarket November 13 9am-12pm November 20 9am-12pm

Mt. Lebanon Uptown Winter Market Mt. Lebanon, PA fb.me/e/1dZWGoq5O

I Made It! Market Robinson Pop-up Mall at Robinson

somersetcountyfarmers market.com November 13 9am-12pm November 20 9am-12pm

Greensburg, PA fb.me/e/10Gb7VMTP

retail stores

Latrobe, PA

Squirrel Hill Farmers Market Squirrel Hill, PA facebook.com/Squirrel-HillFarmers-Market446643962171081

imadeitmarket.com Thursday through Sunday November 4 – Jan 2 A Pop-Up Boutique within the Mall at Robinson that selling high quality handmade items, local food products and vintage items. Special Events throughout the run of the store.

Philson & Friends Artisanal Wares

November 14 9am-1pm November 22 9am-1pm

Grove City Premium Outlets, Store #730

Taste of Harvie

facebook.com/ PhilsonAndFriends

Lawrenceville, PA pgh.harvie.farm/learn/ december 4 12pm-4pm Holiday Farmers’ Market featuring live music and showcasing the incredible variety of local food offered by Harvie partners.

December 11 11am-3pm Featuring live music, local farms, food producers, artists and makers in addition to your favorite Uptown Mt. Lebanon shops!

Bringing together local artisans and homebased businesses in one store to market local products for the holidays. Open November and December.

• • • • • • • • •

Bedners – Bower Hill Road East End Food Coop Janoskis JP’s Market – Hunker, PA Kitasco Farm Shenot Farm Simmons Farm Soergels Orchard The Marketplace at Emerald Valley • Trax • Yarnick’s

CHRISTMAS TREE FARMS Allison Christmas Trees

Mytrysak Family Tree Farm

Aliquippa, PA

Indiana, PA

allisonschristmastrees.com

mytrysakfamilytrees.com

Open daily Nov 26 - Dec 11 • 9:30am-6:30 pm

Nov 26, 27, 28 and Dec 4, 5

Cut your own tree, wagon ride and Christmas Market, Call for wagon ride schedule

Cut your own tree, Wagon Ride, Kids Corner, Christmas Shop

Pine Hill Farms Candle Tree Farm

Evans City, PA

Washington, PA

pinehillfarms.net

candletreefarm.com Open daily beginning November 26

Open weekends starting the day after Thanksgiving • 9am-5pm

Cut Your Own Tree

Cut your own tree, wagon ride and Christmas Market

Cypher’s Christmas Tree Farm arm m Butler, PA ctreefarm.com Open Daily November 26 - December 5 Cut your own tree and Christmas Shop

Greenwood Tree Farm Johnstown, PA facebook.com/GreenwoodChristmasTrees ree es Every weekend after Thanksgiving until Christmas Ch hristmas pending stock of trees. Cut your own tree and visit the local vendor shop

Hozak Christmas Tree Farm m Clinton, PA hozakfarms.com/ Open Daily November 26-December 23 Cut your own tree & Christmas Market

Lake Forest Gardens Fombell, PA lakeforestgardens.com Open Daily starting the day after Thanksgiving • 8am-6pm Cut your own tree, wagon ride and Christmas Market

Over The Phone Medical Marijuana Certifications Photo by: Rockstitute

Delta 8 and now Delta 10 THC, What’s the difference? (Spoiler Alert: Delta 10 is not stronger) By Hippie & French y now you’ve probably heard about Delta 8 THC (a cousin of Delta 9 THC) that produces a less intense high; people are referring to Delta 8 as “Diet Weed” which is a good analogy. We’ve been selling a lot of Delta 10 THC lately too. The question that I get asked most every day is “What’s the difference between Delta 8 and Delta 10?” There’s a common misconception that D10 is stronger and we can assure that is not the case, in fact Delta 10 often feels less potent than Delta 8. If you’ve been introduced to the world of cannabis you’ve probably heard of the terms “indica” (think IN-THE-COUCH because indicas are very relaxing) and “sativa” which are the opposite, usually energizing. Delta 8 THC is very comparable to a mellow indica high while Delta 10 THC is very comparable to a mild sativa high. We usually encourage people to use a Delta 8 product for anxiety, pain issues and trouble sleeping. While we encourage people to try Delta 10 THC for daytime use, as an alcohol alternative or if they prefer sativas in general. The industry is evolving so quickly and new scientific advances in cannabinoids are being made almost daily. You can have your choice of delivery methods in both Delta 8/ Delta 10 THC and more. One of our best sellers are our Hippie & French Sleep Angels (gummies) which are specifically formulated for people who have trouble sleeping. This Delta 8 vegan gummy contains Delta 8 THC, CBN, Melatonin, Chamomile Extract, Passionflower Extract, Lemon Balm Extract to help you feel well rested. We always recommend that customers quarter the gummies initially until they know how they’ll respond. We also have a very effective one-to-one ratio pen that is great for anxiety. It is a vape distillate product with 350mg of Delta 8 THC and 350mg of CBD. The delivery method of vaping is a lot more controllable than edibles. Plus it

works much quicker, which can be useful when a client is having an anxiety attack and needs relief fast. The one-to-one products are less intoxicating than the pure Delta 8 THC too, which can make them ideal for daytime use. If you’re looking for something to replace alcohol; Delta 10 can be a great fit. Customers are really liking the D10 for social use because it gives you an upbeat euphoric feeling. We have Delta 10 pens that people really love. A mixture of Delta 8 and Delta 10 is really nice too. The mixture of Delta 8 and Delta 10 can be particularly helpful for treating pain during the day. If you’ve already established a tolerance to THC and are looking for something a little stronger; THC-O might be a better fit for you. THC-O can be helpful for pain relief for customers who are looking for something stronger than Delta 8/ Delta 10. THC-O is also a cannabinoid derived from hemp, but the high from this one will feel closer to Delta 9 THC, maybe slightly stronger and more spiritual. We offer this in a vape cartridge, a disposable and gummies. Please remember that these are all THC products. If I get any initial feedback from my customers, it’s that they’re stronger than they expected. So we caution people to start with maybe 5-10mg of either Delta 8 or Delta 10 for their first experience. If you’re consuming an edible the full effects may not kick in for 2 hours so always proceed with caution. You can always take more, but it’s impossible to go back in time and take less. There is no one-size-fits all model for cannabis use though. Most often customers need to try a few different products before they find one that they like best. At Hippie & French; we are inclusive AF and everyone will be more than welcomed into our store. We would love to talk to you about some of the issues you’ve been having and find a product that might fit you best.

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER NOVEMBER 10-17, 2021

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CONTINUES ON PG. 22

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER NOVEMBER 10-17, 2021

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This comic was co-published by Pittsburgh City Paper and PublicSource. Andrea Shockling is a Pittsburgh comics artist and storyteller. You can follow more of her work at andreashockling.com.

Herbal Care Rx Provides Options for Those Struggling With Anxiety ave you felt more and more anxious or overwhelmed recently, struggling to accomplish what once was easy for you? You’re not alone. The last two years have been challenging to so many people throughout the Pittsburgh region and beyond.

tients, with discounts to $75 for new patient veterans or SSI/Disability, and $75 for all renewals. Compare our prices to the competitors and see for yourself. 3) It’s convenient. Herbal Care Rx makes sure that the process isn’t a confusing one. We have patient advocates to assist you every step of the way. All the appointments are over the phone, and Dr. Maury is friendly, easy to talk to, and knowledgeable.

Luckily, there are more and more options for people struggling with anxiety and other mental health issues, with one of those being medical marijuana. While it won’t be the answer for everyone, Herbal Care Rx provides a starting So what does this all mean for point for those looking to understand you? It means that if you’ve considmore about how this option may be ered medical marijuana as an option, able to help them. schedule an appointment with Herbal Care Rx today. You can schedule an Herbal Care Rx believes that canna- appointment with Dr. Rebecca Maury bis is medicine. Since it was legalized by visiting the website www.herbalcarfor medical use in 2017 in the state erx.com, or by calling/texting (215) of Pennsylvania, it has helped many 671-6929. people dealing with issues including anxiety, PTSD, and Opioid Use disorder With her interest in the healing (as well as many others- a full list of potential of cannabis dating back to the eligible conditions can be found at the early 1990’s, Dr Maury has been www.herbalcarerx.com) at the forefront of the cannabis movement every step of the way; she has Here are three reasons you should look also been a practicing physician with into the power of medical marijuana, and board certifications in Internal Medihow Herbal Care can help you do so: cine and Hospice/Palliative medicine for over 20 years. 1) It is natural. While cannabis isn’t necessarily the solution to every probThe past two years have brought lem, it is a naturally occurring plant many challenges, and it’s expected that doesn’t contain ingredients that and normal to feel impacted by the can cause harm like so many other challenges. But that doesn’t mean medications. there should be obstacles to getting 2) It is affordable. Getting your medi- help. Herbal Care believes in compascal card should not be cost prohibitive. sionately assisting those who are interHerbal Care Rx offers the lowest prices ested in cannabis as medicine. Try it in the state for MMJ card certification. for yourself, and see what it can do for This means $125 for new medical pa- you.

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Go to herbalcarerx.com, or reach us at 215.671.6929, and get started on getting the relief you’re looking for. PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER NOVEMBER 10-17, 2021

FEATURED ON INK MASTER :ANGELS

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CP PHOTO: JARED WICKERHAM

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INCREASED ANXIETY BY SARAH BODEN // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

ENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

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have reported surging demand from people seeking therapy since the start of the pandemic. To learn more about how things have changed, Pittsburgh’s NPR News Station WESA’s health and science reporter Sarah Boden spoke with psychiatrists, therapists, and social workers about what they’re observing in their own practices. In the following conversation, Boden spoke with Kristen Walker of the Counseling and Wellness Center of Pittsburgh. Walker is a cognitive behavioral therapist who focuses on treating anxiety disorders, which can cause people to ﬁxate on worst case scenarios.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity. In many ways, COVID-19 and other recent events have conﬁrmed our greatest fears. How do you help patients navigate this? One of the things that can be really effective is helping people focus on what they can and can’t control: “Well, I have control over wearing a mask. I have control over whether I exercise. I have control over whether I eat a healthy meal.” And all those things help manage some of that external anxiety.

I know that clinicians want to be careful to not over-pathologize a patient. But I do wonder, since March 2020, are more people developing anxiety disorders? In my experience with folks I’ve been seeing, yes. I mean, in order to have that anxiety disorder, there are clinical markers that need to be met: feelings of being on edge, constant worry, difﬁculty sleeping, having a startle response, maybe avoidance of people in situations. All of those different kinds of things are hallmarks of what we would consider an anxiety disorder.

IT’S GOING TO TAKE TIME TO REACCLIMATE TO BEING OUT THERE IN THE WORLD AGAIN ... IT’S GOING TO REQUIRE SUPPORT, PATIENCE, CARE, GENTLENESS FOR EACH OTHER. And are we just talking generalized [anxiety]? Or are you seeing all different types of anxiety disorders? All different kinds. The social anxiety disorder has been tough for folks. One of the things we typically encourage folks with social anxiety disorder to do is to go out there, get in public, meet people, do things to do those exposures. And that’s been pretty limited with COVID. Besides social anxiety disorder, I’m wondering how the pandemic has impacted other anxiety disorders like, for example agoraphobia, which is a fear of leaving your home, being in, I guess, unfamiliar places or places you can’t control the environment. People with agoraphobia tend to not leave their home or I mean, if they do leave their home, they tend to stick close to a routine. Somewhere where they know that they can get out safely. So it’s harder for people to kind of rationalize for themselves. “Oh, even though this feels really uncomfortable, this is going to be a good thing for me to go,” because now there’s this added layer of COVID-19. Yeah, it’s so interesting. You’re talking about the sort of exposure therapy, I guess you could call it, [that] in some ways the exact opposite of what the public health guidance was at certain points earlier in 2020. Yes, yes. That’s completely contraindicated for somebody with agoraphobia, or social anxiety. I also want to ask about obsessivecompulsive disorder. I think in media, we might see this portrayed as somebody who’s constantly washing their hands, or always on the lookout for some sort of danger or calamity in the real world. How have people with this diagnosis been impacted by the pandemic? The pandemic has been really tough. If somebody does have more of a fear of germs, for example, when they wash their hands they immediately feel better. And what that does is it brings down the anxiety for a temporary time period. Eventually

it spikes back up and higher. Now, all of a sudden there’s the CDC guidelines coming out, especially early on in the pandemic where you were being told, wipe down your groceries, leave your deliveries outside for a couple of days, make sure you’re washing your hands. So that was really tough to navigate. I suppose, really with any anxiety disorder, the behaviors are not always irrational. It’s just calibrating that sort of alertness or protective behaviors to the situation. But suddenly we’re in a situation where a lot of those behaviors are being reinforced. Right. Right. Because it reinforces the need or the urge to isolate. Looking towards the future, what do you think the long term effects will be of the pandemic on your clients? It’s going to take time to reacclimate to being out there in the world again. So I think it’s going to require support, patience, care, gentleness for each other.

•

This story was produced as part of “Pittsburgh’s Missing Bridges,” a collaborative reporting project by the Pittsburgh Media Partnership.

Western Pennsylvania’s Premier Medical Marijuana Dispensary Group Gives Back and Doubles Down on Research this Holiday Season hough the days get shorter and the weather cools down, Fall is a busy time of the year with community events and holidays filling up our calendars. The Healing Center and The Healing Research Center have always been committed to their mission of providing compassionate care to Pennsylvanians. This mission extends beyond providing holistic medicinal solutions and revolves around their dedication to supporting their local communities, as well. With Thanksgiving just a couple weeks away, The Healing Center and The Healing Research Center are hosting a non-perishable food drive at each of their five Pennsylvania dispensary locations in an effort to help end hunger in our communities and provide a holiday meal to fellow Pennsylvanians in need. Patients who bring in five non-perishable food items will receive a discount on their order that day, as a token of appreciation. “There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing our patient community come together to help those in need during the holiday season. We have historically seen an overwhelming turnout with our food drives and look forward to helping fill holiday tables for Pennsylvanians in need this year,” said Chris Kohan, CEO and Founder of The Healing Center. In addition to their month-long food drive, The Healing Center and The Healing Research Center will also be honoring our Veterans this Veterans Day, November 11, 2021. For Veterans Day 2021 all Healing Center and Healing Research Center locations will be offering 30 percent off all orders for Veteran patients. In addition, a portion of that day’s sales will be donated to Balanced Veterans Network for their work in creating a safe space for the education, advocacy, and empowerment of alternative therapies for Veterans. All locations will have educational information and light refreshments on hand that day. “Veterans are an essential population with which we serve, and we’re honored to offer them an everyday discount all year. We look forward to celebrating our Veterans this year at The Heal-

ing Center and The Healing Research Center. We understand the sacrifice that our Veterans have made, and we’re proud to offer them even greater savings and comfort for our gratitude this Veterans Day,” said Chris Kohan, CEO and Founder of The Healing Center. In addition to their seasonal efforts, The Healing Research Center is proud to continue their partnership with Drexel University’s Medical Cannabis Research Center to conduct evidenced-based research on the effects medical cannabis has on patients with specific medical and behavioral conditions. This partnership serves to better educate the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Program and the medical community at large to make better clinical decisions for its patients. As the state of Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Program continues to evolve and expand, with 23 current qualifying conditions including anxiety, G.I. issues, opioid dependence and chronic pain, the work The Healing Research Center is conducting with Drexel University will be able to help legislators and medical professionals to gain an even better understanding of the medicinal uses of cannabis and which methods work best for different maladies. “Education is key in the medical cannabis world. We must fully understand each individual’s needs and what methods and dosage serve to best relieve those specific ailments. We’re proud of the groundbreaking work that our team is conducting with Drexel University, one of the country’s most comprehensive global research universities,” said Chris Kohan, CEO and Founder of The Healing Center. The Healing Center and The Healing Research Center pride themselves on being a full-service medical marijuana dispensary group which connects patients with certifying physicians in their area, offering free consultations with on-site medical professionals at each of their locations, as well as staffing the most knowledgeable group of professionals to address all patient questions and concerns. Contact us today to better understand what cannabis can do for you.

www.thehealingcenterusa.com www.thehealingresearchcenterusa.com PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER NOVEMBER 10-17, 2021

PHOTO: RICCO J.L. MARTELLO

Kay Bey shares her story during “Mental Health Talk — Discussing Challenges and Overcoming Stigma.”

.MENTAL HEALTH.

BREAKING THE STIGMA BY MARCIA LIGGET // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

ITTSBURGH COMMUNITY ORGANIZER

LYNNCULLENLIVE every Monday thru Thursday at 10 a.m. at lynncullen.pghcitypaper.com

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and activist Miracle Jones was only four years old when she started blaming herself for something that was clearly out of her control. Jones had asked her family to go out for ice cream, and on their way there, the sheriff stopped her family’s car and took away her father for six months, causing her to convince herself for years it was all her fault. Jones was one of a group of Pittsburghers who shared their stories during “Mental Health Talk — Discussing Challenges and Overcoming Stigmas,” a community storytelling event last month hosted by local media outlets Storyburgh and Soul Pitt Media at Point Park University’s Center for Media Innovation. “I know because I forgot to say goodbye, it’s not my fault that a person harmed themselves,” Jones said. She added that even though her adult self now knows thoughts like that are “ludicrous,” her fouryear-old self still sometimes ﬁnds a way to creep back and internalize every negative thing that happens. A total of seven storytellers shared their stories throughout the evening in an effort to reduce the stigma of mental health conditions and trauma. Participants were invited to share their experiences of living with a wide spectrum of mental health

issues with the goal of inspiring others while creating a broader opportunity to service underrepresented populations in the region. Kay Bey, CEO/Founder of Grind City Media, shared a personal story of family trauma and survival, and how she created hip-hop therapy, which serves as a powerful source of healing not only for her, but for all those who she helps work through trauma with her unique style of therapy. She invited the audience to ﬁnd their heartbeat, put their hand on it, then shout out, “I love me!” “That’s a little bit of hip-hop therapy for you,” Bey said. “That’s your beat. That’s your swag. That doesn’t come from anyone else.” Mary Beth Spang, a psychology student at Carlow University, a former mental health therapist, and current mental health editor at Storyburgh, described how she discovered she had OCD and how she overcame academic and mental health challenges. She emphasized the importance of self-care and serves as an example of what can be accomplished by seeking help, therapy, and treatment. “Being imperfect is OK,” said Spang. “More than OK. It’s inevitable, factual, it’s part of being human. It’s OK.” Professor Robert McInerney, founder of Mobile Thriving Respite and a professor of

“SOMETIMES THE THINGS WE ARE MOST AFRAID OF ARE THE THINGS WE MOST NEED TO TALK ABOUT.” psychology at Point Park University, urged the audience to recognize the importance of normalcy for our homeless neighbors, who may often be experiencing mental health issues themselves. DeAuntae Clark, entrepreneur, semipro football coach, and a father of six, explained how depression impacted his family. He shared how seeking professional help and being receptive to treatment options can be life changing, as it brought him closer to his children. DeAuntae urged people to help those in crisis. “Allow yourself to be the outlet that people can talk to,” he said. “Please, please, do not let depression take another soul.” Chelsea Chase, a full-time therapist at Duquesne University, adjunct professor of psychology at Point Park University, and mental health advocate, discussed her family history with mental health

battles, including having a bipolar father, and emphasized the importance of communication and loving people through difﬁcult times. She also explained why fear can be a good thing when kept in perspective. “Sometimes the things we are most afraid of are the things we most need to talk about,” Chase said. Sherris Richards, a wife, mother of two, educator, and certiﬁed health coach, co-founded the North Dakota Autism Connection with her husband Tony, an international motivational speaker. Her story of denial regarding her daughter’s diagnosis of Autism and their eventual acceptance served as a guide and source of strength for parents facing similar situations. To watch the full recording of t h e p r o g ra m , v i s i t t i ny u r l . c o m / SoulPittMentalHealthTalk.

•

PHOTO: RICCO J.L. MARTELLO

Miracle Jones shares her story during Soul Pitt Media and Storyburgh’s Mental Health Talk event at the Point Park University’s Center for Media Innovation.

This story was produced as part of “Pittsburgh’s Missing Bridges,” a collaborative reporting project by the Pittsburgh Media Partnership.

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER NOVEMBER 10-17, 2021

SEVEN DAYS IN PITTSBURGH

PHOTO: DAVID BACHMAN PHOTOGRAPHY

^ The Magic Flute at Pittsburgh Opera

THU., NOV. 11 ART • IRL Sound Series is back at the Andy Warhol Museum with weighted sky, a collaborative effort between slowdanger, MICHIYAYA Dance, and Baltimore-based sound artist Abdu Ali. All three acts will perform with original set pieces designed by Pittsburgh artist and sculptor Rob Hackett. The work is described as exploring “the collapse of capitalism and white supremacist structures on the bodies of people, nationally and globally.” Seeking to deconstruct “hustle culture” and create a process of active imagining for a queer future, weighted sky is more than just dance, sound, and movement. 8 p.m. 117 Sandusky St., North Side. $10-15. warhol.org

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FOOD • IRL The Pennsylvania Market will teach folks how to make new holiday drinks when it presents its Friendsgiving Cocktails class. Groups of friends can gather for an evening of boozy fall fun where they’ll learn three different cocktail recipes, all perfect for Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, or any event you want to show off your new skills. Must be 21 or over to attend. 6:30-8 p.m. 108 19th St., Strip District. $40. thepamarket.com/classes

FRI., NOV. 12 PETS • IRL Whether your companion is a doggo, catto, birdo, or snakeo, the Pittsburgh Pet Expo at the David L. Lawrence Convention

Center will have plenty to see and do. Touted as the second largest pet expo on the East Coast, the weekend-long event will feature tons of vendors, activities, and demonstrations for you and your best animal friend. Expect an array of dogs racing, diving, and getting groomed, a pet costume contest, and a bird show, as well as adoption opportunities. 5-9 p.m. Continues through Sun., Nov. 14. 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd., Downtown. $5-10, free for pets and kids 5 and under. pghpetexpo.com

SAT., NOV. 13 FOOD • IRL Learn about food insecurity in Pittsburgh with The Salon at Arsenal Motors. Food Summit 2021 will educate people about the issue with the help of 412 Food Rescue

and Contemporary Craft’s exhibition Food Justice: Growing a Healthier Community through Art. Curators of the exhibit will present 10 “tiny talks” from women working to end food waste, fight hunger, protect the environment, and more. There will also be a rooftop celebration featuring cider and treats made from rescued food. 1-6 p.m. 3706 Butler St., Lawrenceville. $25-40. thesalonpgh.com/events

COMEDY • IRL You may have seen him on the FX comedy series Dave, or heard one of his podcasts. Now, Andrew Santino comes to the Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall during his Tito Cheeto Tour. The stand-up comedian and actor co-hosts a popular podcast with Bobby Lee called Bad Friends, as well as a solo podcast titled Whiskey Ginger. His first hour-long stand-up special

5 Truly Unique Pittsburgh-made Gifts and Where to Find Them

T PHOTO: COURTESY OF PITTSBURGH PET EXPO

^ Costume contest at Pittsburgh Pet Expo

Home Field Advantage debuted on Showtime in 2017, along with his Comedy Central half-hour special. Expect lots of laughs. 7 p.m. 510 E. 10th Ave., Munhall. $35-45. librarymusichall.com

DANCE • IRL The Pittsburgh Dance Council kicks off its latest season with A.I.M by Kyle Abraham at the Byham Theater. Several dancers from Abraham’s A.I.M company will perform An Untitled Love, an eveninglength work drawing from the music of R&B legend D’Angelo, and co-presented by the Kelly Strayhorn Theater. Don’t miss this homecoming performance by Abraham, a Pittsburgh native who has gone on to become an award-winning choreographer. 8 p.m. 101 Sixth St., Downtown. $10-65. trustarts.org

SUN., NOV. 14 OPERA • IRL Follow young Prince Tamino as he embarks on a hero’s quest to rescue Princess Pamina from the evil Sarastro in Mozart’s final and most celebrated opera, The Magic Flute. Staged by the Pittsburgh Opera, the production stars David Portillo as Tamino and Adelaide Boedecker as Princess Pamina. Watch as Tamino, accompanied by his magic flute and sidekick Papageno the bird, learns that things aren’t always as they seem. 2 p.m. 2425 Liberty Ave., Strip District. $25-162.50. pittsburghopera.org

MON., NOV. 15 MUSIC • IRL Mr. Smalls Theatre hosts Fall Mixer, a concert presented by Opus One and 91.3 WYEP. Headliners include Hamilton Leithauser, frontman of indie rock favorite The Walkmen, and Kevin Morby, a singer-

songwriter with six solo albums, most recently Sundowner in 2020. Country artist Jess Williamson will be a special guest on this night of live music. Proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result in the past 72 hours will be required to attend. 7 p.m. 400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale. $30. mrsmalls.com/events

TUE., NOV. 16 STAGE • IRL You work hard for the money, so spend it on a night of disco nostalgia when PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh presents Summer: The Donna Summer Musical at the Benedum Center. The jukebox musical follows the legendary singer from her roots in Boston to becoming the voice behind massive dance hits like “Last Dance,” “Hot Stuff,” “I Feel Love,” and many others. See the touring show scored to over 20 Donna Summer songs. 7:30 p.m. Continues through Sun., Nov. 21. Seventh St. and Penn Ave., Downtown. $33-115. trustarts.org

WED., NOV. 17 ART • IRL From now and throughout the winter, you can see work by local Pittsburgh artists during the Radical Survey, Vol. 2 show at Silver Eye Center for Photography. Featuring artists from within 300 miles of Pittsburgh, Radical Survey seeks to highlight and support artists from places often overlooked in the national conversation regarding the photography field. See images by Ryan Arthurs, Nakeya Brown, Anique Jordan, Njaimeh Njie, Jay Simple, Raymond Thompson Jr., Hannah Altman, and Nadiya Nacorda. Continues through February 2022. 4808 Penn Ave., Bloomfield. Free. silvereye.org

his year, skip the big boxes stores and discover one-of-a-kind handcrafted products from over 200 talented makers, artists, and craftspeople at the Handmade Arcade Holiday Market. Sure, you could just run over to Target for a pumpkin spiced candle or order the newest trending kitchen appliance on Amazon, but what if you could find a gift as memorable and unique as the recipient? Below you’ll find 5 such gifts all made right here in the Burgh and all found at the Handmade Arcade Holiday Market. Back in person at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center on December 4 and online November 27-29, Handmade Arcade’s highly anticipated annual Holiday Market features one-of-a-kind handcrafted products from over 200 talented makers, artists, and craftspeople. Best of all? Tickets are free with registration. This year, stop scouring the internet and standing in line at the big box stores and shop local handmade products that won’t get regifted. FOR THE CAFFEINATED SCIENCE-LOVER Product: Caffeine Molecule Earrings Price: Starts at $18.00 per pair Maker: Sorcery Science Now you can wear your caffeine fix! Part of Sorcery Science’s Molecular Structure Jewelry line, these handcrafted earrings are available in a variety of materials. Stop by their booth at the Handmade Arcade Holiday Market for a variety of other science-related gifts from Honeycomb and Bee Cufflinks to a Uterus Necklace. FOR THE PROUD PITTSBURGHER Product: Love is Love Pickle Pierogi Holiday Tree Ornament Price: $15 Maker: Pittsburgh Pottery Show off your Pittsburgh Pride with a TRULY unique handmade ceramic ornament from Pittsburgh Pottery. Featuring a strange but beautiful pickle/pierogi pairing, this one-of-a-kind ornament would be a wonderful addition to any Yinzers Christmas tree. Check out the Pittsburgh Pottery booth for more Pittsburgh-themed ceramics like mugs and shot glasses. FOR THE IMAGINATIVE EXPLORER (ADULT OR CHILD) Product: Topanga pack Price: Starts at $39 per pack Maker: PACKPACK Crafted by local maker PACKPACK, the colorful and versatile Topanga pack empowers wearers to explore the world in style. Available in both adult and child sizes, all of PACKPACK’s unisex packs are handpainted and designed to last a lifetime. Pick one up for the globetrotter in your life at their booth at the Handmade Arcade Holiday Market.

FOR THE SOAP-LOVING THESPIAN Product: King Lear - Lavender Patchouli Soap Price: Starts at $8.49 per bar Maker: Pip & Lola’s Everything Homemade That’s right—it’s Shakespeare’s classic tale in a luxurious bar soap! Scented with lavender and rich patchouli, King Lear soap is just one of many of Pip & Lola’s Shakespeare-inspired soaps. Stop by Pip & Lola’s booth and treat the theater lover in your life to English Tea Rose scented, Juliet soap, or musky harvest moon Macbeth soap. FOR THE ADVENTUROUS ART LOVER Product: Blue Bull art print Price: Starts at $36.99 per print Maker: Gabriela Ortiz Art and Design Channel the excitement of the Running of the Bulls with this vivid Blue Bull art print from Pittsburghbased artist Gabriela Ortiz. Available in a variety of sizes, this gorgeous print would make the perfect gift for the adventurous art lover in your life. Visit Gabriela Ortiz’s booth at the Handmade Arcade Holiday market, and you’ll find dozens of other spectacular prints and original paintings. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Find more truly unique gifts from indulgent candles to hand-forged knives, to sustainable handmade wallets at the Handmade Arcade Holiday Market. About the Handmade Arcade Holiday Market David L. Lawrence Convention Center So much more than just a market, this holiday extravaganza celebrates the region’s art and culture with everything from live glass blowing demonstrations to free take-and-make craft kits. Whether you’re shopping for the perfect gift or just looking to be inspired, Handmade Arcade’s talented maker community will surprise and delight with one-of-a-kind artwork, trendsetting home decor, funky jewelry, accessories, and rare treasures that you won’t find at the big box stores. Registration is required to attend and COVID-19 safety protocols include social distancing and a mask requirement for attendees older than two. See Handmade Arcade’s website for full details. FRIDAY NIGHT HAPPY HOUR: $35, DECEMBER 3, 5 –7:30 P.M. MAIN EVENT: FREE, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 11 A.M.–7 P.M. EARLY BIRD SHOPPING: $25, DECEMBER 4, 9:30–11 A.M. Plus, shop online from the comfort of home! The Virtual Holiday Market runs from 12:01 a.m., Saturday, November 27, to 11:59 p.m., Monday, November 29 on handmadearcade.org.

PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER NOVEMBER 10-17, 2021

NOSE-TO-NOZZE BY BRENDAN EMMETT QUIGLEY // BRENDANEMMETTQUIGLEY.COM

ACROSS 1. Paschal ___ 5. Redbox contents 9. With 66-Across, operatic singer with the hots? 14. Doughnut variety with a cookie flavor 15. Thinness measurement 16. Faster than light speed traveler, probably 17. Soap brand 18. “Oh, stewardess! I speak ___” (Airplane! joke) 19. Forest space 20. Texas rock trio commemorative coin? 23. Exasperated cry 24. Kinky stuff 27. With 39- and 46-Across, massive slice stack that’s about to topple? 31. Low naval rank: Abbr. 32. “Color me intrigued” 34. Mammal with webbed feet 35. Dog with exactly two black dots 37. Humerus neighbor 38. “Little strokes fell great ___” 39. See 27-Across 40. Locks in 41. Bend at the barre 42. Bank adjustment? 43. Treasury

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secretary Yellen 44. Female principle 45. Swallow completely 46. See 27-Across 48. ___ McAdoo (team captain on Ted Lasso) 50. Poetic time 51. Astronaut Aldrin getting ready to propose? 58. Two-inone utensil 61. Paul of Marvel Cinematic Universe 62. See 49-Down 63. Major disruption 64. It goes for a spin in a car 65. Not thinking clearly 66. See 9-Across 67. Good predictor 68. Fashion designer Browne

DOWN 1. City of central Poland 2. Kyrsten Sinema’s st. 3. 4-Down ingredient 4. Popular spaghetti sauce 5. New Orleans pianist with the 1974 album Desitively Bonnaroo 6. Self-obsessed 7. Star who is 6-Down 8. Toy that only goes in one direction 9. Hot rocks 10. Comic Cleghorne

11. Muhammad ___ ul-Haq, Pakistani President 1978-88 12. Letter after wye, in Wolverhampton 13. & 21. Weak poker hand 22. Fast-serving tennis star John 25. The Monkees’ drummer 26. Gabriella ___ (Vanessa Hudgens’s High School Musical character) 27. Kinda crazy 28. And others, in a bibliography 29. No-carbloading diet 30. Like hot fudge and caramel 31. Refrain from children’s songs 33. “I’m outta here” 36. She’s ISO love a

second time 37. 2008 & 2009 Track & Field News Athlete of the Year 39. Cease-fire 43. Computer graphic file format 45. The Girl with the Pierced Eardrum street artist 47. Les Paul rival 49. With 62-Across, city on the Cuyahoga river 52. Bullpen figures 53. Top quality 54. Wait to drive, say 55. [“This isn’t good”] 56. Big name in coconut water 57. ___ fatigue (online meeting burnout) 58. .edu user: Abbr. 59. Vietnamese bowlful 60. Punt blade LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS

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OFFICIAL ADVERTISEMENT

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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER NOVEMBER 10-17, 2021