According to the Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH), 1 in 5 Mississippi youth ages 13 to 18 will experience a severe mental disorder at some point in their life. Teens can take on a lot of stress, some of which can negatively impact their mental health. Things like puberty, peer pressure, sexuality, and personal…

Classes may be starting this month, but at Fact Not Fiction, school’s always in session. Regardless of what your extracurriculars involve, sex is a popular topic that is often full of misinformation, especially if it’s coming from the school gossip mill.    Googling certain terms and questions can also pull up inaccurate info, especially if…

With 50% of young adults between 18 to 29 years old using TikTok, it’s not surprising that doctors would use the popular platform to teach young people about things like sexual health and contraception. At Fact Not Fiction, we’re dedicated to connecting you to expert advice, which is why we’ve rounded up some of our…

Happy Pride Month! Before you make plans for Pride, read this article for insight into one of the biggest issues impacting queer youth today: access to care. In Mississippi, 19,000 teens aged 13 to 17 identify as being part of the LGBTQ+ community. We want each and every one of them to have access to…

May is all about Teen Pregnancy Prevention. In Mississippi, where teen pregnancy rates are some of the highest in the nation, it’s important to continue prevention efforts all year round. In this post, we’re getting real about some factors keeping teen pregnancy rates high–especially those that are a cultural part of our state.   Abstinence…

#SAAM is one of the top hashtags this month, and for good reason. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), a time for activists, communities, and health organizations from all over the country to raise awareness around preventing sexual violence.  RAINN defines sexual assault as any sexual contact or behavior that occurs without explicit consent…

You’ve probably heard someone say: “if you don’t know, just Google it”. And while this is a great way to learn a little-known fact, or to jog your memory, Googling answers about sex (especially if it’s after the fact) is not the best idea. We get it though. In Mississippi, it can be embarrassing to…

Sometimes, it’s hard to feel the love on Valentine’s Day. Whether you’re single and feel pressured to be in a relationship or have a partner and feel anxious about their expectations for the 14th, it’s important to remember that you, and your health, come first.  Here are a few ways to center and celebrate yourself…

Many people take time during the new year to set new goals for themselves and their health. And sometimes, those health goals include trying a new form of birth control. In Mississippi, especially for teens and young adults, that can be a difficult goal to reach.  Our state’s contraception deserts, and prevalence of abstinence-only education,…

In celebration of #CervicalHealthAwarenessMonth, we’re sharing a few tips to keep in mind when maintaining your cervical health. These must-dos are great to add to your list of health resolutions for the year!    Know How It Works Taking the time to learn more about how your cervix functions is a must. You’ll be able…