My journey as a first-time mom was filled with doubt, fear, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Just like you, my body, mind, and spirit felt disconnected when I first held my baby in my arms even after so much preparation and research LOL. Looking back, there are a few things I would have appreciated to aid in my breastfeeding journey and looking after a little human being that was now under my care. I hope they help you as you navigate your breastfeeding journey:
Your birthing experience doesn’t define the mother that you are for your baby- I gave birth through a c-section and that felt like a failure for me. It made me feel inadequate about not birthing vaginally and my milk supply dipped because I was stressed and thinking too hard about it. So be gracious with yourself, your body needs to feel safe and calm before it can produce milk to nourish your little one.
Trust your body- with all the bodily changes that come with pregnancy and eventually birth, I hated my body and that slowed my healing process and eventually my milk production. Giving birth is no easy feat and probably the hardest thing your body will ever have to do. So, give your amazing body a little extra love to heal and do the amazing things it needs to do for you and baby.
It’s okay to supplement with formula milk- I remember feeling guilty and ashamed each time I made a bottle for my daughter because of how uninformed I was about breastfeeding. Not producing milk immediately after birth is normal and our bodies function differently so, no pressure, new momma! Your body will find natural ways to rise to the new occasion.
You can do it all, but you don’t have to- since I felt inadequate as a mom, I overcompensated by doing everything on my own. I did not allow anyone to help me with feeding, changing, bathing and taking my baby to sleep. My milk supply was still under the gutter and my back paid the price to date. It’s okay to allow your immediate family to support you as much as they can.
Don’t forget to eat and rest- when your milk supply doesn’t occur naturally, a little help goes a long way. Drink lots of fluids, fruit, veggies, nutritious foods and most importantly, sleep.
Keep latching- keeping the baby on the breast may seem like a waste of time, but a newborn needs colostrum before your breast milk supply improves. Putting the baby on the breast stimulates your body to produce more milk.
Walk your own journey- I know it gets overwhelming with all the advice and different views and opinions, but really, breastfeeding is an individual journey. It could be lonely, but nothing as hard as making decisions based on other people’s experiences other than your own.
Your milk will come overflowing, eventually- unless it’s a medical issue, you will get your milk two to three days after birth like I did. Or a few hours later, or maybe a few weeks after. Some women start producing milk before birth and for some mommas with two or more babies, breastfeeding becomes a continuous growth process. Be patient with yourself and prepare.
You can thrive at work and being a mom- Pumping and storing breastmilk at work is essential to keep the flow going. I used to hide in the most ridiculous places to pump because I didn’t want to make others uncomfortable. Other times my boobs would swell, leak until I got home. Scratch that! You don’t have to feel embarrassed or hide, breastfeeding is part of the cycle of life. At Lady Askari, we’re provided with a nursing kit that includes a breast pump, storage bottles, a storage bag, an ice cooler pack when expressing and storing milk at work or away from home and a breastfeeding cover to feed your little one in style and privacy. We are empowered to embrace our beautiful boobs and our breastfeeding journeys.
Happy breastfeeding- it’s a new experience and has its challenges, and if it’s a second or third or fourth time, each experience is uniquely different. Breastfeeding is the second most empowering thing we do as women, for ourselves and our babies. I enjoyed breastfeeding and the bonding time I spent with my little one while doing it. I know you enjoy it too, and maybe not so much when they start teething and biting through the nipple. But by then, you will have become a pro at managing it as you go. So, let’s celebrate our boobies today. Lets thank them for what they do for us and the life they sustain. I’m giving mine a big kiss!
So, momma, I promise you it gets better. Mine got better and I nourished my baby as much and as long as I saw fit and despite a glitch at the beginning, we got an overflowing happy ending. You got this!
Over the last decade, many people have become aware of the vital role that mental health plays in their lives. A healthy mental state contributes to the productivity of an individual and the organization where they work. Poor mental health causes personal suffering, physical ailments, and harmful behaviors. It can also negatively affect an individual’s family, their organization, and the community at large.
Security is one of the least researched industries when it comes to mental health. This leaves security professionals vulnerable to the adverse effects of poor mental health. There aren’t adequate policies to help workers deal with mental issues at work. Mental health is also not a focal point for most security managers. This was proven by a recent study that found that almost 40 percent of surveyed security guards exhibit symptoms of PTSD.
Keep reading to learn more about the factors that affect mental health in the security field.
Factors That Negatively Impact Mental Health in The Security Industry
There are over 20 million private security frontline workers worldwide. They are typically the first people you encounter when you walk into a building. You will find them at the access points, reception, and inquiry desks. Below are some factors that negatively impact the mental health of security professionals.
Difficult Clientele
Security personnel is the first to deal with visitor grievances. This puts them in emotionally tense or even violent situations. IFSEC Research showed that 64.6% of security workers get abused at least once a month. No matter how strong and resilient security professionals seem, their experiences at work make them vulnerable to mental health problems.
Long Working Hours
Studies have also linked poor mental health among security workers to long working hours, leading to fatigue and burnout. Prolonged fatigue throws workers off balance. If managers don’t handle their workers’ burnout, the consequences can lead to a total mental breakdown.
Limited Social Life
Most security professionals work in shifts, isolating them from the world. These shifts vary from night or day shifts and with a limited number of off days. This can limit social interactions, thus making it more difficult to establish meaningful relationships. It is essential to understand that one way to deal with depression is to have healthy social interactions.
Low Wages
Poor pay has also been listed as a reason why security professionals find it difficult to handle stress. Low wages make it hard to meet daily needs, create limited access to medical services, and may hinder one’s ability to have leisure time.
How Can We Improve Mental Health in the Security Sector?
May is mental health awareness month. This is an opportunity for organizations to educate their staff on the benefits of protecting their mental health. Security firms can create a supportive culture by ensuring that communication channels are always open for employees to air grievances. Companies must also provide feedback on any issues raised. This shows employees that their company values their input and has heard their concerns.
Final Word on Mental Health Awareness in the Security Field
Although companies can take steps to create a workspace that supports mental health, employees have a personal responsibility to monitor their mental status and rate their well-being. People should develop healthy lifestyles that keep them from stressors. They should also build supportive social circles that can help them destress.
Finally, employees should air grievances for resolution rather than bottling up negative emotions and feelings. Remember, it is okay not to be okay and ask for help.
Oftentimes people and/or organizations outside the security industry, and sometimes even security professionals mix up the terminology of threat, vulnerability and risk. It is crucial to understand the relationships between threats, vulnerabilities and risks to build effective security policies and keep your organization safe from various cyber and physical attacks.
We want to highlight the differences in definitions of threats, vulnerabilities, and risks within the context of security;
Threat
A threat is anything that has the potential to disrupt or do harm to an organization. Threats can be natural, intentional or unintentional. Natural threats are hazards such as earthquakes, floods and wildfires, which are random in terms of duration and impact. Intentional threats are actions done on purpose like to steal or damage computer resources, equipment, and data. Unintentional threats are attributed to human error, e.g. leaving the door to IT servers unlocked, or leaving the front door of the organization containing sensitive information unmonitored.
Vulnerability
A vulnerability is a weakness or gap in a security system, which can be exploited by threat actors in order to achieve their goals. A vulnerability assessment is a systematic review of weaknesses in a security system and evaluates if the system is susceptible to any known vulnerabilities, it should assign severity levels to those vulnerabilities, and then recommend remediation or mitigation, if and whenever needed. Vulnerabilities show themselves via several avenues:
Current employees: Social interaction, customer interaction, discussing work in public locations, taking data out of the office (e.g phones, laptops), emailing documents and data, installing unauthorized software and apps, opening spam emails, connecting personal devices to office networks, writing down passwords and sensitive data, losing security devices such as ID cards, lack of information security awareness.
Former employees: Those who are working for competitors, retaining company equipment and data, or discussing company matters.
Technology: Social networking, file sharing, saving data on mobile devices such as mobile phones, Internet browsers, computers or other devices.
Partners and suppliers: Disruption of telecom services and utility services such as electric, gas, water, hardware and software failure, lost mail and courier packages, supply disruptions, sharing confidential data with partners and suppliers
Security Systems: Faulty cameras, sensors, or other security devices. Broken or unfollowed security policies or procedures.
While most organizations implement some type of security, hardly any consider the numerous security weaknesses that exist in their current circumstance. You ought to consider physical security, report the weaknesses in your environment, and make business choices about how to keep those weaknesses from compromising the security of your organization.
Risk
A risk is the effect of uncertainty on objectives. It’s usually expressed in terms of risk sources, potential events, their consequences and their likelihood.
A risk assessment is the overall process of risk identification, risk analysis and risk evaluation. Organizations should invest in a risk assessment program to better understand, measure and prepare for risks to their operations. A risk assessment involves evaluating not only the physical site but also how business is done which could create additional threats and vulnerabilities. These assessments offer numerous benefits including;
Helping to identify which parts of your security measures are weak and what security threats face your organization. This enables you to address vulnerabilities and enhance your company’s security.
See if your organization’s security measures meet the requirements put in place by the government / international bodies.
Enable you to have a clear vision of how efficient your security controls are and how you can upgrade them.
Remember, risk does not end once the basic security systems have been put in place. Risk assessments should take place regularly as threats and vulnerabilities are constantly changing and a risk assessment is like a snapshot of the current risk. A well planned risk assessment program will save your organization from undesirable losses.
How to protect your children from online child exploitation during COVID-19
The COVID-19 global lockdown has subjected a large number of youth to online abuse and violence. The screen time of kids has increased to a high level because of the dependence of education on online technology and too much leisure time spent on social media, and gaming. The interaction with these online platforms has increased so much that, during the last six months there has been a noticeablechange in kids’ behaviorsand personality development. In such conditions, the kids belonging to underrepresented communities are subjected to online criticism that has proved to be toxic for their mental health and upbringing.
The sense of exclusion, divide and hate has increased among youthbecause of the absence and scarcity of laws and regulations on social media. This has also largely impacted the psychological and socio-economic risk factors at the individual, family, interpersonal and cultural levels. The increased frustration inside the family systems, negligence and ignorance of parents towards their duty of supervising has made children more vulnerable to Online Child Sexual Exploitation (OCSE) as well.
The lockdown confined families to their homes, so any entertainment has also only taken place at home during this period. Now everyone has a device in their hands, a lot of leisure time, a unique set of ideas to produce content and upload it for the world at no cost. The absence of human content moderators, and reliance upon technology, has allowed predators to upload explicit content on mediums like Youtube, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. The less reliable automated systems allowed more time for such content to spread on their platforms.
There has been very little check and balance of sexual exploitation content being uploaded, rather many of the platforms’ algorithms encourage kids to bring out such content as it generates lots of likes, comments, and engagement. This is not just sexually exploiting but also becoming a cause of hate speech and exploitation of underrepresented communities. Traffickers have taken advantage of the situation, by making fake accounts and posting fake jobs on them to reach educational websites and apps to get data that they can use to exploit children online.
Few bits of Advice for parents
★ Look out for predators who are trying to trap your child by showing affection and opportunity in online commenting. For example, there are comments like “I love you”, “I can make your life better”, “I’ll make you successful”, and “I’ll protect you” should be an alarming situation for you and point where you need to talk to your child about it.
★ Be aware of Pop-up ads and scam alerts because they can be a source through which you could lose information that you might not feel is important but it is definitely a source of exploitation for predators.
★ Always be aware while giving access to the apps you are using. The permission you give for tracking location can be used against your child.
★ Emojis that are mostly used by youngsters can be an opportunity for predators as they can transfer information through emoji without being detected by scanners and moderators.
What should Parents do?
★ Be aware of what your kids are doing on social media. Take note of whom they are interacting with. You can always check their screen time on each app to track down the potential predators.
★ Educate your kids about the harms of excessive use of social media and depending on its information. Talk to your kids and converse with them the possible ways of protection from dangerous intentions of strangers. Let them come to their conclusions under your guidance.
★ Look for other interesting engagements and plays for your children to reduce their screen time. Bring them towards healthy activities organically.
★ Make sure that privacy settings and firewall software turned on to their maximum level on all the devices and apps they are using. Keep the check of age ratings of games, apps, films, and social networks to know if those are suitable for your kid’s age or not.
★ Use trusted monitoring technology such as Barkto keep your child protected.
★ Take precautionary measures while handing over the device to your kid. Supervise them while they browse information.
About Protect Us Kids Foundation (PUK)
Protect Us Kids Foundation is a non-profit that focuses on providing resources for youth within rural, underserved and marginalized populations globally; to include the development of critical targeted research of Online Child Sexual Exploitation (OCSE). Our goal is to not only bridge the digital divide by providing resources to protect youth online, but also leverage cyber research, intelligence, and analysis in an effort to provide relevant and impactful awareness that remains culturally sensitive to the global communities that we serve.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many organizations to set up remote working environments for their employees, without adequately preparing them from a cybersecurity perspective. Several vulnerabilities exist when working remotely, which cybercriminals are using to ramp up their attempts to gain access to data. In its 2020 report on COVID-19’s impact on cybersecurity, Deloitte has reported an increase in cybercrime since the pandemic started.
One of the main methods cybercriminals are using to access computers is phishing scams. This is where hackers pose as trusted companies, pretending to provide COVID-19 information via email or pop-up links. Once someone clicks on these emails or links, criminals are able to access confidential data on their targets and utilize this information in many ways such as identity theft or corporate espionage.
Cyberattacks can be very costly. Businesses and individuals around the world lose about $600 billion annually to cybercrime. Companies that get hacked also stand to lose clients and reputation due to lost trust from the public. Smaller businesses and individuals make easier targets for hackers as they may not have the budget for robust cybersecurity countermeasures.
Read on for Lady Askari’s thoughts on how you can secure your organization from cyber-attacks.
How COVID-19 And Remote Working Increases Cyber Risks
Working from home exposes organizations to cyber risks because employees may not have the same IT infrastructure at home that organizations usually have in place. Employees may also not be aware of the increased cybersecurity threats and how easy it is to be hacked. A recent study found that 66% of workers haven’t had any cybersecurity training in the last 12 months. On top of this, 77% don’t feel that they are vulnerable to cyberattacks.
Studies show that theft of trade secrets increases during economic downturns. Unfortunately, many people have lost their jobs due to the loss of business caused by COVID-19.
Disgruntled, desperate, or unaware employees are a major source of insecurity. Organizations must make sure that information management and intellectual property policies are adhered to by all, especially in situations where employees are distressed.
Access to company data must be immediately revoked once an employee leaves the company. This reduces the chances of your former employees exploiting vulnerabilities in your IT infrastructure.
Key Takeaway
COVID-19 has brought with it an increased risk of cyberattacks due to remote working arrangements. This is a critical time to review your cybersecurity and ensure that your organization and home networks are secured against unauthorized access. Remote working is here to stay and organizations must invest more in securing information and networks.
Companies have several cybersecurity options when it comes to safeguarding their data. These solutions must include working with employees to protect the organization because they are the main source of cyber risks. You should also invest in company-wide training and send out regular updates and tips to increase cybersecurity awareness amongst employees. Lady Askari offers Cyber Security Awareness Training that covers anti-phishing awareness, password best practices, and safe browsing methods on the internet, to name a few topics.
VPNs (virtual private networks) are also a good way for organizations to protect their networks as employees work from home. A VPN helps keep your information secure by creating a secure tunnel within your existing network. Even when using a public internet service provider, private information such as your IP address, search history, websites visited as well as your location are not visible to third parties. Organizations that use a VPN must ensure that their VPN configurations are updated regularly.
For additional information on how Lady Askari can help you safeguard your information please contact us at info@ladyaskari.com or find out more information on our website at www.ladyaskari.com
Around the world, there has been an increase in domestic violence, especially against women and children. This is one of the many sad outcomes of the COVID-19 lockdowns. Over the last week alone, Kenyan media houses have reported a 30% to 42% increase in reported cases of domestic violence. This is not only a female issue but a societal issue as men and boys are also victims of domestic violence.
The increase in domestic violence has been partly attributed to the impunity abusers have. They know that victims have nowhere to run and the government is overstretched at the moment. Previously, schools and workplaces provided safe havens for victims, even if only for a few hours a day. But now, many vulnerable people are at the mercy of their abusers for days on end because they are forced to remain home due to government-imposed restrictions around COVID-19. A lot of Kenyans are out of work, or unable to go to work and these economic stressors have also led some people to release their frustrations on those closest to them.
Many victims decide not to report incidents of domestic violence because perpetrators are often the breadwinners of the household and their arrest may lead to a lack of household funds. Additionally, victims fear retaliation from perpetrators who threaten to kill them if they report or try to run away from the situation. In fact, 58% of all women that are killed globally were murdered by an intimate partner. For other victims, especially male ones, the stigma attached to domestic violence victims prevents them from asking for help or reporting their abusers.
The government has put in place measures such as the 7 pm -5 am curfew and movement restrictions to battle COVID-19. Unfortunately, very little is being done for domestic violence victims. Also, many of the hotlines for private organizations that help victims were not picked or were inactive when I tried to call them. Victims need somewhere they can turn to which is why activists are asking the government to set aside a budget to protect domestic violence victims.
Over 85% of documented domestic violence perpetrators have been men. Therefore there can be a significant reduction in domestic and sexual violence if men take part in discussions surrounding it. Not all men are abusers, and they can speak up against and have a zero-tolerance attitude towards domestic violence amongst their peers.
Additionally, the security industry is the protector of our society and should take a lead against domestic violence. Companies can help to reduce domestic violence through awareness training and zero-tolerance policies against violence and sexism. Additionally, victims can get support through the provision of jobs and economic empowerment programs.
A lot of us feel helpless when we read about cases of violence against women and children. Below are some ways that you can help reduce domestic violence during this outbreak and in the longer term.
Break the silence. Domestic violence thrives because many people choose to turn a blind eye when they see it happen. If someone you know is getting abused, report it to the police. Spread awareness about domestic violence by sharing posts and articles that condemn it. You can also educate yourself on how you can assist victims. Silence about violence allows the violence to continue.
Lobby for the National and County governments to increase funding for facilities and services that help victims of domestic violence.
Support organizations that help victims of domestic violence. You can do this through financial donations, free publicity or volunteer work.
If possible, continue paying your domestic employees even when they can’t work due to quarantine and curfews. Not receiving a salary can bring economic stress, which can lead to violence in the home.
Help victims to form a safety plan. The exercise of going through the steps that a victim can take in case they get attacked could help them come out of a dangerous situation. Each safety plan has to be tailored to the individual circumstances but could include having a safe place that they can run to e.g. a relatives’ home or a shelter, or a code word that they can use in calls to signify that they need immediate assistance.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call one of the below numbers for help.
Kenya Police Hotline – Dial 999 or 112
Childline Kenya – Dial 116 (Chat on WhatsApp between 7 am and 6 pm on 0722116116)
Wangui Kanja Foundation – SMS for free 21094 or Dial +254-722 790 404
Finally, if you know of any shelters or organizations that help victims of domestic and sexual violence please let us know so that we can add them as a resource.What are your thoughts on domestic violence? Let us know in the comments.
