Healing Program
What is Healing?
Healing’s definition is to make free from injury or disease (Merriam Webster, 2025). Healing is more than just recuperating from a medical procedure or accident. Its broader meaning involves the recuperation of mind, body, and spirit. Chronic Disease is one of the key issues inLouisiana communities, especially among communities of color. In addition, communities that suffer the most socially have a harder time receiving services, information, and resources that will help maintain good health.Tackling issues like diabetes, substance use, and mental/behavioral health work hand-in-hand with nutrition and healthy lifestyle.
Diabetes is Killing Louisianans
In Louisiana, food, family, and fun make it difficult to stay healthy. Lifestyle has a huge impact on our overall health. Poor diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use, and limited access to health care cause Louisiana to lead the nation to chronic diseases such as diabetes. Diabetes is a significant health concern in Louisiana with the state ranking 11th nationally for the incidence of diagnosed diabetes and having the 2nd highest diabetes death rate. In Louisiana, 15% of the population has been diagnosed with diabetes. As a point of reference, 15% of the population would fill theNew Orleans Superdome (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), 2022). Coincidentally, African Americans, who make up nearly 32% of Louisiana’s population have the highest incidence than Hispanics and Caucasians (medschool.lsuhsc.edu).
Diabetes prevention is essential in ensuring that the incidences do not continue to grow. Diabetes can be prevented and managed through cross-collaborative community initiatives, family support, policy leadership, education, and communication. Ultimately, healthy habits, health access, sustainable approaches, and other holistic wellness can prevent and manage diabetes where our residents live, work, learn, play and pray. (Diabetes | Prevention & Management| Well-Ahead Louisiana)
Mental Health and Nutrition
Have you ever been “hangry”? According to McLean Hospital (2025), modern scientific research is clarifying a food-mood connection. Your brain(one of the most important parts of the nervous system) relies on proper nutrition to send signals throughout your body and maintain a sense of balance.
A poorly functioning nervous system could lead to or worsen mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, among others. This complex system depends on nutrients to build proteins and create and maintain nerve fibers. This requires certain amino acids, minerals, fatty acids, and carbohydrates. When you’re not getting proper nutrition, you might feel very stressed in an otherwise mildly stressful situation. As a result, you may turn to less healthy foods for comfort or as a time saver to mediate the feelings. Many mental health experts see nutrition as an integral part of preventing the onset and worsening of mental health conditions and therapeutically managing the symptoms. Improving nutrition can directly affect mental health symptoms and improve overall mental wellness.
The USDA Nutrition Hub is partnering with mental health experts; nutrition counselors; substance use counselors; fitness trainers, and departments of social work in community, government, and academic settings to educate and research behavioral health linked to nutrition deficiency through programs like:
What Unites Us: A public safety project that unifies the community and public safety officials in understanding about the determinants that impact how community members are impacted by malnutrition and non-nutritive consumption. This can further explore how aggressive behaviors play a part in routine interaction with public safety officials and the outcomes that may impact a person’s livelihood.
Zen Foods and Lifestyles: This project explores foods and nutrients that can promote peace, relaxation, andhealthy environments through wellness conversations and physical activity.
Walk A Day in My Shoes: Realtalk about how environmental factors impact a person’s ability to thrive eachday. Simulations of daily life events offer a distinct perspective inunderstanding other’s lived experiences.
Resources: Type 2Diabetes Food List: What to Eat and to Avoid; https://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/nutrition
