Being a woman can be scary.
 |  | By Stephanie Cornwell, Editorial Assistant | | Being a woman can be scary. Don't run alone at night, don't drink too much, don't be too friendly—you have to always be prepared for the worst case scenario. Some establishments even feature drink orders that alert staff when you're in trouble.
But there are situations, like domestic violence, that are more nuanced. Helping someone in this situation is not as easy as interrupting a conversation at a bar. | | | Today's Top Story | | A Safe Way to Ask for Help |  | Recently, TikTok users popularized a distress hand signal that's meant to help someone at risk of abuse.
The gesture, where you tuck your thumb into your palm and then close your fingers around it, was created by the Canadian Women's Foundation to support people at risk of abuse during the pandemic. It means "reach out to me safely."
The discrete nature of the signal is helpful to someone who may be closely monitored or watched, so it's understandable why some people are sharing the gesture. However, others are hesitant to promote it, saying that the widespread knowledge of the signal renders it ineffective. If enough people know the signal, women may not feel safe using it in public. | | Know More | | Research has shown an increase in domestic violence in certain states during the pandemic. Women can create a secretive system with friends and family—a hand gesture or coded text—to alert them if they need help. | | Feel Better | The original hand gesture wasn't intended to instruct people to call the authorities right away. If you see someone use this distress signal, the Canadian Women's Foundation advises you to let them take the lead in how to help them. If they're in immediate danger, you should call the police.
If you or someone you know needs help, visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline or the National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma & Mental Health. | | |  | | White House Announces New COVID Strategies | | With several confirmed cases of the COVID-19 Omicron variant in the U.S., the White House is doubling down on efforts to curb the virus. The goal is to get more people vaccinated before winter, when indoor gatherings may lead to higher exposure. President Biden's announcement included updated guidance from the CDC on booster shots, increased vaccine accessibility, school safety improvements, and expanded testing. | | | | New HIV cases in the U.S. Are Dropping–But Not for All | | A recent CDC study shows that HIV cases are dropping in White gay and bisexual men, but not for Black and Hispanic gay and bisexual men. The report found that Black and Hispanic men were less likely to be diagnosed with HIV, undergo treatment, or use PrEP to prevent the virus, compared to White men. Experts say we need systemic changes to reduce disparities in access to preventative care and treatment. | | | | | | | |  | | Nolan R. Williams, MD, the Director of the Stanford Brain Stimulation Lab, shared in an interview with Verywell a new method of brain stimulation treatment from Standford University that led to unheard-of remission rates in patients, about 79%, with moderate to severe depression. |  | | We've just gotten used to something working for 25% of people and getting really excited about that, | |  |  | Nolan R. Williams, MD
Director of the Stanford Brain Stimulation Lab
| | | Keep Reading | | | ■ | The New Luxury Vacation: Being Dumped in the Middle of Nowhere. The New Yorker | | | | | ■ | Surgeon General Warns of Youth Mental Health Crisis. The New York Times | | | | | ■ | What Does a Healthy Rainforest Sound Like? NPR | | | | | | | |  |     | You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the Verywell Health newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here.
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