- 7 weeks ago
New health care laws and policy changes are reshaping who can access critical services, coverage, and resources. As eligibility requirements shift, millions of people may be affected, many without fully understanding what is changing or what options remain available to them.
This session will help attendees understand the latest changes to health care access, what they may mean for individuals, families, and communities, and how to navigate available tools, services, and resources. From eligibility and enrollment to prevention, care coordination, and community-based support, this conversation will offer practical guidance on how people can protect their health in a rapidly changing environment.
This session will help attendees understand the latest changes to health care access, what they may mean for individuals, families, and communities, and how to navigate available tools, services, and resources. From eligibility and enrollment to prevention, care coordination, and community-based support, this conversation will offer practical guidance on how people can protect their health in a rapidly changing environment.
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LifestyleTranscript
00:00A conversation urgent and deeply important. We're breaking down what's changing in health care policy.
00:08Joining the Global Black Economic Forum stage for a Declaration of Independence discussion, please welcome
00:15Shanley Sheehan, Senior Health Editor at U.S. News and World Report.
00:21Dr. Umamu Tomlinson, M.D., Chief Executive Officer at Vituity. Dr. Markita Willis, M.D., American Psychiatric Association.
00:34And Dr. Malicia Whit-Glover, Chief Executive Officer, the Council on Black Health.
00:53Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to our conversation, Health Care Under Attack, What You Need to Know.
01:01My name is Shanley Chen. I'm a Senior Editor of Health at U.S. News and World Report.
01:06And at U.S. News, our mission is to help our audiences of consumers and industry leaders alike make better
01:15choices
01:16and make better informed decisions, particularly around health care, for the people that it impacts.
01:23So I am very excited to be here with you all today to discuss this critical issue of health equity
01:29and access.
01:31In 2026, health care costs are climbing as federal subsidies end and Medicaid rollbacks take effect.
01:39In fact, newly released data shows that about 3 million fewer people were enrolled in health insurance coverage under the
01:47Affordable Care Act.
01:48And in fact, many of these changes disproportionately affect black and other underserved communities the hardest due to systemic economic
01:57disparities,
01:58forcing many to choose between life-sustaining medical costs and life-sustaining essentials like rent, utilities, groceries, and health and
02:08child care.
02:09As an Asian American, I recognize that these policy changes do not affect every population equally,
02:17which is why I want to be very clear about my role here today.
02:21I'm not here to speak on the communities, on the lived experiences.
02:26I'm here as an ally to help facilitate this incredibly important conversation
02:32and to ensure that we amplify the voices of black medical and public health leaders.
02:38So without further ado, I'd like to introduce our very distinguished panel.
02:43We have Dr. Moo Tomlinson, CEO of Vituity and president of the Vituity Cares Foundation,
02:50who directs major initiatives in emergency care delivery and health equity.
02:55Dr. Markita Wills, CEO and medical director of the American Psychiatric Association,
03:01who leads national efforts to expand mental health care and access, as well as reducing barriers to care.
03:10And we have Dr. Malisha Witt-Glover, CEO of the Council on Black Health,
03:15whose research and advocacy focus directly on the structural and public health changes
03:21that shape daily life in black communities.
03:23Welcome, everybody.
03:29There's a famous saying that goes,
03:31when America catches a cold, the black community catches the flu.
03:34And right now, as major health insurance subsidies expire and coverage costs skyrocket,
03:41data shows that black households are being hit first and foremost.
03:45From your respective roles in emergency care, mental health, and public health,
03:51what does this current attack on health care look like on the ground
03:55for black and other underserved patients, families, and communities?
04:02Hey, everybody.
04:03How are you doing?
04:04Yeah.
04:05So I think the major part that I see in respect to what's happening now
04:10is that there's a lot of confusion.
04:12And I think when you have confusion when it's related to health care, that's a big problem.
04:16And people want to be empowered about how they care for their health,
04:20how they care for their families.
04:22And when you don't know where to go, what's the right place to care,
04:26what's the right place to get the screenings that I need,
04:29or what's the right place to be cared for in an emergency,
04:32that creates a chaos that is not good for our communities
04:35and not good for health care in general.
04:37So I think, you know, I'll start and explain more of what I think we can do to fix that.
04:41But I think right now it just seems like a really chaotic time.
04:48I'll echo that I agree.
04:49And I think the confusion, a lot of the reason that people are losing coverage
04:53is because of paperwork.
04:55And so when people are confused about how to make sure that they have access to care,
04:59that also creates chaos.
05:00And there are lots of people that are eligible,
05:02but they lose access because they don't understand the system.
05:06And so I agree with you.
05:07And I think we're going to talk a little bit more about how we can make sure
05:10that people understand how to access care,
05:12how to make sure they know what their benefits are,
05:14and then how to make sure that they're taking advantage of those.
05:17Yeah, and with H.R. 1, which was also known as the big, beautiful bill,
05:24Medicaid got cut.
05:26And as we know, many of the mental health benefits are paid for by Medicaid.
05:33It's the largest payer of benefits for mental health and substance abuse treatment.
05:39And so that's a big concern for us,
05:42and certainly a concern for communities of color.
05:45As you said, America gets the cold,
05:48the communities of color get the flu.
05:51We are very concerned and bracing for a crisis within a crisis on mental health
05:58because of some of these cuts.
06:02Absolutely.
06:03And as we're talking about a lot of those cuts
06:05and really the financial reality of how losing coverage can affect families,
06:10so if someone in this room gets hit or their loved one gets hit
06:13with an unexpected premium hike or coverage cancellation this year,
06:19what are the exact actionable steps that they can take
06:24to navigate the system without going into medical debt?
06:29I would say the number one theme for me in this problem and others is patient agency.
06:35And I'll describe what I mean by that.
06:36All of you out there have the ability to take ownership of your care.
06:40So I get it, right?
06:42Premiums, what premiums, what paperwork do you have to fill out?
06:44But the first step is to ask questions.
06:47The first step is to be disagreeable and challenge not just your physician
06:51or your primary care provider,
06:54but you need to challenge your insurer.
06:56You need to say, if that's not covered, why?
06:58What else can I do to get the care and the coverage that I need?
07:02So the other thing I'd say is look for alternative ways
07:04to engage in the health care system.
07:07We have so many opportunities now with telemodels and other models
07:11to get engaged in the health care system
07:13that is not just with the traditional models that we've had in the past.
07:17So be disruptive.
07:18Go try to pursue your health care in other ways
07:21and also ask questions.
07:23Be disagreeable.
07:23And there are places within our health care system
07:27where folks can find care even if they don't have insurance.
07:33So there are clinics.
07:37There are clinics such as federally qualified health centers
07:42who take folks regardless of insurance status.
07:45So if you or a church member, a loved one, find yourselves in that situation,
07:52remember there are places where you can still go get your preventive care.
07:56And what I would say is, in addition to what you all are saying,
08:00is for those of us that understand how to navigate these systems,
08:03we need to help other people in our communities.
08:05And so if there's a federally qualified health center or another clinic
08:09or ways to access paperwork,
08:11one of the things that we do in the Council on Black Health
08:14is we train people who help navigate, help others navigate,
08:18what we call trusted navigators,
08:19people in communities who understand how to navigate systems.
08:23Because if I'm a part of the community,
08:25if I know how to navigate something,
08:26then everybody around me should also know how to navigate that.
08:29And by us working together,
08:30that's how we can make sure that people stay covered.
08:32It's already an extremely confusing landscape already,
08:36the health care system.
08:37So being able to navigate it is actually a very critical part
08:41of advocating for your own health
08:44and making sure that you're getting the right health care in the first place.
08:48But even before then,
08:49I know a lot of health and medicine experts
08:51really emphasize the importance of prevention,
08:54whether it's getting your annual checkup
08:57or going for screenings before medical issues worsen.
09:01But taking preventative measures can inherently be challenging
09:05when there are already systemic barriers,
09:08including access to care and healthy food,
09:10that make going to see a doctor
09:12and even just living a healthy lifestyle very challenging already.
09:17So Dr. Whit Glover, you know,
09:19the Council on Black Health focuses very deeply
09:22on the structural issues like food access
09:25and community disinvestment
09:26that impact the well-being of black neighborhoods.
09:31With these new federal laws cutting back on health care access
09:34and disproportionately affecting black communities,
09:37what preventative measures can families take
09:40to prioritize their wellness before these issues come up?
09:45What are your three pro tips?
09:47So I think the three main ones are the ones that we always hear about.
09:51So healthy eating, moving your body, and then controlling stress.
09:56One of the things that we've been focusing on at the Council on Black Health
09:58is understanding our goal is to achieve optimal health in black communities.
10:03And when we ask people what that looks like,
10:06it is joy, it is contentment, it is those kinds of things.
10:10And when we ask people what's preventing us from being there,
10:13the number one thing is us being connected to each other.
10:16So when you think about financial wellness,
10:19when you think about emotional wellness,
10:20when you think about physical wellness,
10:21it is us being connected to each other as communities
10:24that can help us to be healthier.
10:27So when you think about stress reduction,
10:30us being connected to people who are like-minded being in community,
10:34that's going to reduce stress.
10:35So that's going to improve health.
10:37When you think about things like exercising, physical activity,
10:40us being outside and being connected with people in our communities
10:44and our neighborhoods, that's when we're moving our bodies.
10:46It's not just, you know, going to the gym and punishing ourselves.
10:49It's that natural joy being connected to each other.
10:53And the same thing with food.
10:55I think eating healthy foods, eating whole foods,
10:58buying from our communities, buying from,
11:00I shop a lot at farmer's markets now,
11:02but those kinds of things will help us to be able to achieve the care,
11:08health before we have to go to the doctor's office.
11:11And building on what the good doctor said,
11:13there's actually a relatively new field of medicine called lifestyle medicine.
11:18And the three pillars that the doctor mentioned,
11:23healthy eating, stress management, are absolutely important.
11:29There are a couple more as well.
11:31Sleep.
11:32Getting six to eight hours of sleep every night is critical.
11:36People don't prioritize sleep enough.
11:38But our brains need to rest in order to be optimized
11:42and in order for us to be our best selves
11:44for what we have to face for the next day.
11:46So sleep is absolutely important.
11:49Cutting down on risky substances.
11:51If folks smoke, quit.
11:53I mean, that's just one of the most important preventative things.
11:57If folks smoke cigarettes or inhaling anything,
12:01whether it's vaping, which hasn't been studied,
12:04whether it's marijuana,
12:08the smoke in and of itself is not healthy for us,
12:11and we need to quit that.
12:14And then last but not least is, believe it or not,
12:19it ties in with stress management, healthy connections.
12:24And so the healthy connections that we have with our family,
12:27and notice I said healthy.
12:29There are some connections that we have with other people that drain us.
12:35And it's a chronic drain because we aren't getting along with somebody.
12:40Learning to love folks from a distance is important.
12:43And all of those things, all of those six things,
12:46the three that she discussed, the three that I discussed,
12:48are the pillars of lifestyle medicine.
12:50And I personally like to add a seventh.
12:53And my seventh is how we interact with our world,
12:57how we interact with the globe, putting our feet in dirt.
13:01I know it sounds silly, but hugging a tree, getting outside,
13:05being a part of nature, that's also part of wellness.
13:08We're part of a global ecosystem.
13:10We interact with the planet around us.
13:13And so being intentional about that is important as well.
13:17Yeah, I would just, I agree with all of those.
13:20And I'm listening to you, and I'm thinking about how many things that I'm guilty of.
13:24And three physicians up here in some ways can sound like we're telling y'all,
13:29you know, sort of what to do.
13:31So I want to give y'all a little grace in this,
13:33and all of these things that you're supposed to do.
13:36It's okay to falter.
13:38Clearly, I am faltering.
13:39And so it's okay to falter a little bit, but ultimately you want to get to point Z.
13:45But it's okay to struggle a little bit.
13:47We struggle with it, you know, different aspects of it,
13:50and you are going to struggle with it.
13:51So it doesn't have to be that you snap your fingers and all of a sudden you're 100% healthy.
13:56It's going to be fits and starts, and that's okay.
13:58And we're here to support you along the way.
14:02So I'm going to ask all three of you a question that I didn't include in our preparation questions.
14:09Personally, what is the number one thing that you have done or adopted
14:14to prevent and ensure that you live a healthy lifestyle?
14:18What is your number one lifestyle habit that you personally adopted?
14:21My number one, I can say this unequivocally, it has transformed my life.
14:27And that has been yoga and meditation.
14:30That has just actually transformed my life in every aspect.
14:36It allows me to be, as Dr. Tomlinson said, more sick to these things that we're saying more.
14:44You can tell that I don't miss meals either.
14:48But portion control has been important, and that mindful eating, mindful interactions
14:54has just been a lifesaver for me in terms of balancing work and home responsibilities.
15:01So for me, it's yoga and meditation.
15:03I wish we had more time and we're wearing appropriate clothes to have you lead us through a yoga session.
15:10I'm going to give you two.
15:12One is I started drinking water.
15:14I used to go all day and never drink anything.
15:17Look at you opening the water.
15:18But I started drinking water.
15:19The second thing is I'm really highlighting the social connection and being connected with people.
15:25I want to give a shout-out to a group in North Carolina called Let's Get Social Raleigh,
15:30which has done phenomenal work to connect adults with other adults so that we are not isolated and being alone.
15:37And that, by itself, lowers stress, lowers cortisol, gives you a healthier outlook.
15:42And that has gotten me out of my house.
15:44So drinking water but not minding my business.
15:48Drinking water and then being out with other people.
15:50Those are two really good ones.
15:52I was hoping that you would skip to the next question.
15:56I struggle with sleep.
15:57I don't, you know, sleep is a struggle for me, to be honest.
16:00But what I try to do is I try to do something active every day.
16:04I try to be active.
16:05And I think where I fall in the trap is I want it structured, like, oh, let's go and, you
16:09know, run three miles or let's go and lift these weights.
16:13But what I've found is that when I'm active, when I do things even for a short period of time,
16:17I feel better.
16:18And ultimately it's easier to, you know, to manage my weight and blood pressure and all those things.
16:22And all of these things add up to living a healthier lifestyle and making sure that you don't have chronic
16:30health issues later on down the line.
16:32It's a lot of preventative steps, but it's so good for your mental health as well.
16:36So talking about mental health, obviously that's our next topic here.
16:41When people lose coverage or face uncertainty or even just, as you were saying, navigating the health care system, which
16:48is very confusing,
16:49there's a lot of stress and anxiety that goes with that entire process.
16:54So, Dr. Wills, as the CEO of the American Psychiatric Association, you've spoken out about how many in the black
17:02community carry very unique layers of stress and trauma.
17:07Yet mental health care is often the first thing that's sacrificed when affordable and equitable access becomes even more challenging
17:15and limited.
17:16So what can people in this room do to protect their mental health right now?
17:22And how can they find culturally competent care that truly understands them and allows them to feel seen and heard?
17:34Great question, and thank you for the opportunity to chat with folks about that.
17:39Mental health is truly our gift to ourselves to unlock wellness in all other aspects of our life, whether that
17:50be our vocation, our finances, our spirituality, our physical health.
17:56We need our mental health to be optimized in order to be our best selves.
18:02And in order to do that, to me, one of the most important things that people can do if they
18:09don't want to go get formal treatment truly is exercising.
18:16Exercising is the number one thing, and I'm not talking, you know, you don't have to run a marathon.
18:21It can be a 30-minute brisk walk, 30 minutes of putting on music in your house and dancing, you
18:30know, 30 minutes of going to a pool and walking.
18:33I know I do that a lot.
18:34I go to my community pool center.
18:36I don't want to get my hair wet, but I walk in the water, and that helps me stay active
18:42and fit.
18:43So the number one, because when we do release, I mean, when we do exercise, our brain releases endorphins, and
18:52those endorphins are happy juices that keep our mental health going.
18:57So people underestimate how inextricably tied our physical health is to our mental health, but exercise, for me, is the
19:05number one thing that we can do to improve our mental health.
19:09Now, look, we all get stressed, we all get sad, but how do we know when things move from being
19:15anxious, because I'm walking on a stage talking to these illustrious folks that I'm with today, versus having an anxiety
19:24disorder, or being sad versus being clinically depressed.
19:28And the first couple places that I think people should go, if someone is having challenges, if you're noticing that
19:37loved ones are having challenges, number one, your primary care physician, that's probably the best portal of entry, if you
19:46will, into accessing mental health care, should you need more than sort of everyday community supports that we all enjoy.
19:54And number two, church, church is a great place to go to your pastor, or your deacons and deaconesses, to
20:03talk about what's going on with you, and they oftentimes can navigate you to therapists, or higher levels of care
20:12if they're required.
20:14So, that would be the way that I would begin to access care for mental health services, if I needed
20:21it.
20:21You know, I think that really brings up an interesting topic, because I feel as though I would be very
20:27remiss if I didn't bring up AI and health.
20:31So, I'm going to turn to everybody in this audience right now and see how many of y'all actually
20:39have used ChatGPT or some other AI to ask questions about their health.
20:45I know I have. I literally did it this morning.
20:49So, let's talk about the role of AI in healthcare, whether it's mental health, emergency care, or public health, because
20:57it is starting to help bridge certain gaps, huge gaps in healthcare, especially getting good healthcare information and navigating the
21:06healthcare system.
21:07But it's still a very much emerging technology. So, there's a double-edged sword. So, from your respective backgrounds and
21:15experiences, I'd love to learn more about what role AI plays and how people should use it to navigate their
21:25care.
21:27So, I'm going to compete with the auction going on over here.
21:32You know, I think for me, AI is important for us to dive into. I would encourage everybody to dive
21:39into it, to participate in it, because you can't understand it if you don't participate in it.
21:44I know a lot of people say, hey, it's not fully loaded. Hey, it's not something that's good for black
21:48folks. I get that. But if you don't know what it is, you're even at a greater disadvantage.
21:53And I would say this. How many of you trust your doctor empirically? Some of you, right? Challenge your doctor
22:02and make sure that you hold them accountable.
22:05But we also have to hold the AI accountable. Don't just trust it empirically. Understand that it is another source
22:12of data, but hold it to the same level of accountability that you hold anybody you talk to about your
22:18healthcare.
22:18Ultimately, you are in charge. This is another tool, but the decisions that you are going to make are based
22:24on you looking at all that data, hopefully with someone like us facilitating that conversation, and then making a prudent
22:31decision based on the outcomes you want.
22:33How damaging is it to trust AI without asking or pushing back on it? What are some of the implications
22:42of just trusting it blindly?
22:44Say that again.
22:45What are some of the implications of trusting AI blindly without asking questions?
22:49Yeah, I think trusting me blindly is bad. You know, I mean, I think you don't want to trust anything
22:56blindly. You want to interrogate it. You want to make sure that it makes sense. You want to double check
23:01it. You know, go to your doctor and say, hey, ChatGPT told me to do X. Is that right?
23:07Right. I think you want to make sure that you always don't just take it for face value and really
23:13put some scrutiny behind the information you're getting.
23:16At the APA, instead of calling AI artificial intelligence, we use the term augmented intelligence. I get the question asked
23:26of me all the time, Doc, do you think that AI is ultimately going to replace therapists, social workers, psychiatrists,
23:36those who deliver mental health care?
23:37Because people right now are already using ChatGPT for psychotherapy, so-called psychotherapy. And my answer to that is, I
23:47don't think that AI is going to replace clinicians, but I do think that clinicians who use AI are going
23:55to replace clinicians who don't.
23:57And so it's important that clinicians get comfortable with AI so that they can understand it and share with their
24:04clients, with their patients, the good ways to use it.
24:08As the good doctor said, how to test it, when to interrogate it again, repeatedly, how to interrogate it again.
24:16So I know at the APA, we're actually developing tools to help people understand how to use AI.
24:22I will say this unequivocally. Right now, this is still an emerging technology. It is not ready for solo use
24:31on prime time. I'll say it again.
24:33AI is not ready for prime time on solo use without some type of clinician oversight.
24:40And I think all of us in our respective roles are using this time right now to really help define,
24:47from a medical perspective,
24:49when to use AI, what those guardrails are, what those barriers should be.
24:55But it's something that we're all going to have to contend with. And I agree with Moo here.
24:59Dr. Moo, we got to get in there and use it so that we can influence it and make sure
25:05that the models that sit behind it
25:08are not biased against those people who look like us.
25:13And I think it's, if you think about having a toolbox, you don't just have one tool in your toolbox.
25:19You have a hammer, you have a screwdriver, you have, that's the extent of my tool knowledge, so I'm going
25:23to stop.
25:24But you can use AI like a tool. And so if you think about it from the perspective of health
25:28care,
25:29no, it shouldn't replace your physician, but it can do things like, it can help you to understand
25:34which questions you should ask when you go in so that you have your list of questions,
25:37so you get everything answered. If you get information from your provider, you can use chat GPT or AI.
25:45You can use that to help break down and maybe explain things in ways that help you to understand it
25:50if you don't necessarily understand things. And that can help.
25:52I think it can help to strengthen the conversations with your providers.
25:56Just a shameless plug. If you guys want to experience what an AI sort of pre-physician can look like,
26:03you go to that back corner, we have an AI pre-physician tool that can help you ask your questions
26:09to your doctor.
26:10It's not a doctor, but it'll give you the framework to do that.
26:13So you can experiment here and see what that looks like if you're sort of nervous about trying it.
26:18So on that note, I feel like, you know, people here are a lot more inclined to trust AI than
26:26their doctors,
26:27especially when there's a lot of medical mistrust historically and systemically.
26:32So since you were just talking about that, Dr. Tomlinson, when a patient walked into an ER or a clinic
26:38in today's very high-stress environment, how can people advocate for themselves, for their health,
26:46to really ensure that their voices are heard and to make sure that they can trust their doctors and vice
26:51versa?
26:52Yeah, so I talk about, there's two words here, advocacy, which I think you're an advocate
26:58when you try to empower yourself or those you're in charge of their care.
27:02You say, I want the best for me.
27:04I like the word agency.
27:06Agency means that I am advocating for myself, but I'm using data and information and tools
27:12to double-check the people that are trying to help me.
27:15So I would say, when you go to the ER, and as challenging as it may be sometimes to work
27:20in that environment,
27:21come with your chat GPT explanation.
27:24Come with the tools.
27:25Bring the medical books with you and say, I was reading about this, sir, and I think I have this.
27:32And now that conversation is at a higher level than when you just walk in the room and say,
27:37doctor, please tell me what's wrong with me.
27:39So I would encourage agency, go out there, get the information.
27:42There was a time where, as a physician, I would give you all knowledge about yourself
27:48and about the care you're receiving.
27:50Now I'm your partner.
27:52Now I'm your facilitator.
27:53I'm helping you navigate.
27:55It's not just knowledge-based.
27:56So I would say, go out there, bring every piece of data you can to the doctor and say,
28:01hey, with this information, what more can you tell me about the condition I'm dealing with?
28:06So it really sounds like once you bring chat GPT into that conversation with your doctor,
28:11you can really challenge them in real time and have that conversation.
28:15Absolutely, and that's okay.
28:16I think all of us, we're excited about that conversation.
28:20It's no longer just about, okay, I'm going to tell you what to do and maybe you do it.
28:24Now you're engaged and empowered, and we see that the patients that are engaged and empowered,
28:29they follow through.
28:32Dr. Wicklover, I feel like there was something that you wanted to add to that as well.
28:38So let's talk about health as an act of resistance, you know, especially in the black culture,
28:44and the legendary writer Audre Lorde had famously written, caring for myself is not self-indulgence,
28:52it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.
28:56So for a community that has historically been neglected and ignored and exploited by institutions,
29:03choosing to prioritize your own health is almost an extraordinarily revolutionary act in and of itself.
29:12So with the health care system being harder to navigate because of how complex and confusing it is,
29:20how do you hope people in this room can prioritize their self-care,
29:25whether it's through preventative measures or through their community?
29:30As we approach this, how should they, what should they do to ensure that they are self-caring for themselves?
29:40Putting your health first really is an act of saying, I matter, I have value,
29:50I take up space on this earth, and I need to be my best self, because while I'm on this
29:58earth,
29:58I am going to contribute.
30:00And pouring into yourself in that way, with exercise, with good sleep,
30:08by avoiding risky substances, by going and getting your checkups,
30:12in some ways, in some ways is also a form of worship for those who believe.
30:19It is saying, I am going to take care of the temple that was gifted to me
30:24while I'm doing this journey on earth.
30:28And so that, just the belief that you, you, you, you, you are the most important person,
30:38that you have to protect yourself,
30:40that is a deep form of resistance.
30:43Again, in the face of people that say oftentimes that people who look like us don't matter.
30:49But taking that to its final degree, pouring into yourself,
30:54so that then you can pour into others with your gifts and talents from your overflow,
30:58is critically important.
31:00And so, I love that question.
31:02How is health tied to resistance?
31:04How is health tied to ensuring that we, as a people, are empowered?
31:09It starts with ourselves, and then we operate from our overflow into our families,
31:16into our churches, into our communities.
31:20So that's how I'd answer that question.
31:21I love that.
31:22And I would say, we have to believe that we deserve, that we deserve it.
31:27We have been surviving for a long time.
31:29We know how to survive.
31:30We have to believe that we deserve to thrive.
31:32And that's what I think that looks like, that resistance is us thriving and not just getting by,
31:38but living our full lives and being the happiest and healthiest we can be.
31:44And once we believe we deserve it, then it becomes less of resistance and more of this is what we're
31:49doing,
31:49because this is what we deserve.
31:51Yeah, Lassa, I would say just make goals.
31:54Make it real.
31:55Just make goals.
31:55You don't, you know, again, you're going to start, you're going to stop.
31:58Make goals, monthly, weekly, yearly goals, and keep your, hold yourself to account.
32:05So as we wrap up, because I know we're about at that time,
32:09what is your call to action for everybody in this room to really harness and mobilize their collective power
32:17to advocate for themselves, to empower themselves,
32:21and to have that agency to affect change for themselves, their own health,
32:25as well as for the people in their community?
32:30I would say just, again, I'll repeat, be repetitive.
32:33Take control of that interaction.
32:36Whenever you interact with health in any way, shape, or form,
32:39it could be the doctor's office, it could be the yoga that you're going to get.
32:45I think you just have to make sure that you take ownership of it and control of it.
32:49Don't let anybody tell you what to do.
32:51Work with them to figure out what to do together.
32:55And I'm a little biased, of course, being a mental health professional,
32:59but I believe that protecting one's health really starts with protecting one's peace.
33:05Protecting your peace against all the drama, ups and downs that come with life.
33:12Making sure that you maintain an appropriate distance and perspective from that
33:17so that you can then do everything you need to do to take care of yourselves
33:21and your loved ones who are immediately around you.
33:25Whether that means finding a few quiet moments to listen to your favorite song.
33:29Whether that means going walking with a friend.
33:32For me, it's finding that quiet solitude on the yoga mat.
33:37Whatever that is for you.
33:39Protect your peace and be vigilant about it.
33:44And I would, similarly, I would say stay connected.
33:47Make authentic connections with people.
33:50Because together, we can survive and we can be healthier.
33:54We can thrive.
33:55But I've heard somebody say it's going to take all of us to save us.
33:59We have to be connected with each other and be in community with each other
34:03so that we can all rise together.
34:05Well, Dr. Wicklover, Dr. Wills, Dr. Tomlinson,
34:08thank you so much for sharing your insights.
34:11Before we wrap up, is there anything else you want to say?
34:14Something that you want people to walk away?
34:17No, I just said thank you for the opportunity to speak to everybody.
34:21And I think we have some good messages and values here that they can take forward.
34:26No health without mental health.
34:29Stay connected to each other.
34:30Thank you so much.
34:32Thank you, everybody.
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