CCC 28-1

NEWS & NOTES

MORE MEN ARE GETTING PLASTIC SURGERY With social media’s excess displays of chiseled physiques and lean bodies, more and more men are choosing plas tic surgery to deal with their insecurity regarding their looks. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in 2024, 1.6 million men underwent cosmetic surgery procedures, representing a 4% increase from 2022. The social pressures of having the “perfect” body in today’s world, which has become so appearance-ob sessed, are clearly apparent. Although women account for 94% of plastic surgeries in the U.S., the rates of eating disorders and body dysmorphia (2.2%) are rising more quickly among men than women. 1 WOMEN MORE LIKELY TO HAVE MENTAL ISSUES AFTER ABORTION THAN CHILDBIRTH “A new study in the Journal of Psychiatric Research found abortions were linked to over double the rate of hospital izations for psychiatric disorders and attempted suicide.” Although abortion narratives would likely differ, accord ing to this study, the odds of women suffering from

mental issues after having an abortion are much greater than if they had chosen life. According to the study’s authors, “In our study, preexisting mental illness was the strongest risk factor for mental health hospitalization in the long-term period after an abortion.” “Younger age at the time of abortion was an additional risk factor. Many mental health disorders appear during adolescence and early adulthood. Pregnancy at a young age is associated with socioeconomic disadvantage and adverse childhood experiences, further predictors of poor mental health.” 2 COUPLES IN HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT MATTER According to the author, a psychologist who studies cou ples, healthy couples engage in conversations that are “fresh, connected, and meaningful because they never stop learning about each other.” He lists five factors that many couples overlook in their daily communication that are necessary for happy relationships: 1) The state of their relationship. It is essential to check in daily to ensure your partner is happy, which helps avert minor

THESE TRENDS, FACTS, AND EMERGING REALITIES ARE INFLUENCING YOU AND YOUR CLIENTS’ WORLD TODAY!

32 Christian Counseling Connection