#9 - November Newsletter
A summary of the month's insights, stories and a flavour of what's to come
Health and wellness are rarely straightforward. This past month has brought events and stories that challenge us to think deeper—from the passing of the End of Life Bill in the UK to candid discussions about mental health and navigating medication.
Understanding them requires stepping back, seeing the connections, and examining the broader systems of care—or the gaps and failures within them—that shape these decisions. Assisted dying, seeking medical help or navigating medication aren’t isolated choices; they’re part of a larger, interwoven fabric of humanity and care. We need to hear multiple stories, multiple perspectives.
And yes, sometimes it requires that extra bit of hard work, like willingly gulping down a spoon of cod liver oil, let alone a second! The announcement of the new US president elect surely tasted like one.
What Caught My Attention This Past Month?
The Assisted Dying Bill Passed - This is monumental. It raises important questions about care, choice, and the societal frameworks that support—or fail to support—those in need.
Hannah Betts' recent article on SSRIs, depression, and suicide is a must-read for anyone navigating mental health or supporting someone who is. Hannah Betts’s nuanced take challenges us to rethink the way medication and care are approached.
On a similar note, “Hey! Remember Sad Blob?” from our editor, brings us a personal and reflective narrative on her journey with Sertraline, an SSRI commonly prescribed for depression, PTSD, and anxiety. She says:
“Taking Sertraline has not become more significant or revelatory of anything more than taking Cetirizine when pollen is high.”
3 Days of Healing, Hope and ‘Snake Oil’ With the Wellness Elite highlights the growing allure—and pitfalls—of the wellness industry, especially for those who feel underserved by traditional healthcare. While the Florida event drew criticism for its promotion of pseudoscience and high-ticket remedies, it also underscored the hunger for accessible, holistic health solutions. Seeking innovative approaches and maintaining critical discernment is a tightrope to walk.
“Skepticism of information sources is healthy, but wholesale disregard of scientific discovery is not, and ‘trust your body’ is insufficient as a sole metric of meaningful health decisions.”
UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson shot outside a Manhattan Hilton (New York City, USA). UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s murder has stunned many. The chilling detail: shell casings inscribed with the words “delay” and “deny.” Reactions have ranged from outrage to grim humour, reflecting the frustrations with for-profit healthcare. In her incisive piece, Deborah Copaken explores her personal ordeal with health insurance denials and reflects on the broader implications of a system prioritising profit over care. Her poignant question resonates:
“What happens when those most impacted by systemic injustice lose faith in reform and demand accountability in unimaginable ways?”
What We’ve Been Up To
Reflections on Assisted Dying: After a candid discussion with Shabnam Rakhiba discussing the motives behind the End of Life Bill and her personal experiences with chronic illness, it became clear InflamMed needed to support her story. Shabnam shares her journey with chronic pain and raises critical questions: Are systemic healthcare failures coercing the vulnerable? How might biases in care shape decisions about life and death? Why must we redefine dignity to value interdependence and all lives?
The key message, which Shabnam puts so eloquently herself:
“Let’s talk about living well first, before talking about dying well.”
LUCKY, lucky – An Immersive Journey: The last chapter of Ebony Gregg’s BED 6 story is live! This collaborative piece brings Ebony’s poignant words to life with Kate Alger’s prints and Elaine Lillian Joseph’s voice.
Ebony’s story of resilience and reconnection challenges us to rethink recovery, support, and community inclusion. 📢 Don’t forget to unmute!
Stay tuned for the Digital Health Revolution for Chronic Inflammation series launching on Tuesday.
Let us know your thoughts on the stories and questions raised in this newsletter. Challenge us or cheer us on. Because if we can’t say it at Christmas, hey?!
Until next time,
Natasha and The InflamMed team
P.S. If you found this newsletter meaningful, share it with someone who might need to hear these stories.