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hesperian.org
Hesperian Health Guides
@hesperian.org
61 followers 72 following 45 posts
Non-profit public health organization based in Oakland, CA. We create and share easy-to-understand health books, apps, and free online resources. Publisher of the Safe Abortion (SA) app and Where There Is No Doctor.

https://bit.ly/m/hesperian
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hesperian.org
If you're planning to attend APHA's 2025 Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, we'd love to connect with you!
Check dates and times below:
apha.confex.com/apha/2025/me...
apha.confex.com/apha/2025/me...
apha.confex.com/apha/2025/me...
October 30, 2025 at 11:53 PM
hesperian.org
Our Safe Pregnancy and Birth app is now available in Portuguese on Google Play and the Appstore!
Developed for midwives, and community health promoters, this free app offers practical, easy to understand information about pregnancy, birth and care after birth.
hesperian.org/gravidez-e-p...
A split-screen image with a phone screen on the left displaying the home page of the Safe Pregnancy app. In the right column, text in English and Portuguese reads "Now Available in Portuguese! The Safe Pregnancy and Birth app offers clear, trustworthy information about pregnancy, birth and care after birth."
October 16, 2025 at 5:31 PM
hesperian.org
In honor of Labor Day, here are some tips you and your colleagues can use to promote worker health and safety. Read our free resource “Workers’ Guide to Health and Safety” for tips on how you and your colleagues can advocate for safe and healthy working conditions. en.hesperian.org/hhg/Workers%...
A square social media graphic with a light peach colored background. There are lineart images of a hard hat, abstract shapes, and gears against the background. There are two illustrations: one of a woman’s hand holding up a megaphone, and one of a woman with her back turned to the viewer flexing a bicep with a confident look. Title of the graphic says “5 Tips for Promoting Worker Safety”. There are 5 individual numbered boxes with the following text: 1. Learn. Educate yourself and provide others with the information and advice they need to take action. 2. Identify. Observe your workplace to identify problems and find the right resources to solve them. 3. Cooperate. Build relationships with friendly OSH professionals to help you and your coworkers. 4. Organize. Workers are their own best advocates and will benefit the most from working together. 5. Support. Encourage workers who are ready to organize around issues relevant to them. Read our free resource “Workers’ Guide to Health and Safety” today to learn how to organize and advocate for better working conditions. URL goes to www.hesperian.org/hhg/HealthWiki
September 2, 2025 at 10:37 PM
hesperian.org
Find Hesperian resources in the format and language you need at our new online bookstore! To celebrate, Hesperian is offering 25% off all its titles with the discount code DIRECT25 now through the end of August!
store.hesperian.org?utm_source=b...
A graphic featuring a computer screen and a smartphone. The headline reads “Hesperian Health Guides has a New Storefront!”The subtitle reads “Save 25% with code DIRECT25.” Both screens display books for sale in the Hesperian store (store.hesperian.org)
August 15, 2025 at 5:13 PM
hesperian.org
Hesperian is announcing a generous donor match of up to $3,000 in gifts from Returned Peace Corps Volunteers to fund our Gratis Books Program. This initiative sends thousands of books to teachers, health workers, and RPCVs.

Please share with the RPCVs in your life!
hesperian.org/get-involved...
Hesperian board member Sarah Jane Holcombe sits behind a table lined with Hesperian books. On either side of the table, banners advertise Hesperian's "Where There Is No Doctor" and the suite of reproductive health apps with a link to www.hesperian.org
August 11, 2025 at 7:28 PM
hesperian.org
While it’s tempting for outsiders to impose their own healthcare ideals on the communities they serve, it’s far better and more sustainable to empower locals to take charge of their health in ways that align with their culture. Here are some tips from “Doing Global Health Work” by Kirk Scirto
July 16, 2025 at 9:54 PM
hesperian.org
Whether they’re too young, nonverbal, or disabled, children can’t always tell us when they’re in pain, and it’s up to their caregivers and other adults to pay attention to any signs of discomfort. Here are some tips for how you can identify pain in children so you can take immediate action. #Health
A square social media graphic with an illustration of a mother wearing overalls with a young toddler in her lap. She is sitting on the floor comforting a slightly older, sad looking child with an outstretched hand, touching his head. Title reads: “Identifying Pain in Children”. A paragraph below the title states, “Children are not always able to tell us about the pain they’re experiencing. Here are some signs to look for.” A bulleted list follows: “Cries or moans when touched or moved. Restless or unable to sleep. Fast heartbeat or breathing rate. Holds or refuses to move a part of their body. Keeps to themselves, is sad, or is very quiet. Refuses to eat or play.” Below is a URL “Learn more at: Hesperian.org/hhg/Disabled_Village_Children”
July 15, 2025 at 5:03 PM
hesperian.org
Vaccines prevent illness, prevent disability, and save lives, but there are many factors that can prevent people from getting the care they need. Even preventable diseases like polio are still common in some countries because of political, economic, and logistical factors. #HealthTips #Vaccines
A square social media graphic with a yellow background. The background also has a lined globe, and on one side an illustration of a germ with a cross through it, on the other side is an illustration of a healthcare worker giving a child a vaccination shot in the arm. Title reads “Effective Vaccination Depends on Many Factors”. Below is the sentence, “Despite the availability of vaccines, preventable diseases are still common in many countries for a variety of reasons.” A list of factors follows: “ECONOMIC Community leaders need to be convinced that the costs associated with stopping a disease are worth it. MANAGEMENT Logistics around transportation and distribution need to be planned in advance. PRESERVATION In many countries, ⅓ of vaccines are spoiled by the time they reach people. EDUCATION People must understand the value of vaccination and want to cooperate. POLITICAL Vaccination programs are most successful where the government fairly represents the people and has their full participation in countrywide vaccination campaigns.” On the left hand lower side is a call-out box that says “Learn more about how vaccines prevent illness and disability hesperian.org/hhg/Disabled_Village_Children”
July 8, 2025 at 5:24 PM
hesperian.org
In order to learn and grow, children need regular interaction, stimulation, and ample opportunities to use their senses to interact with the world around them. Here are some ways you can help encourage children to explore and develop their bodies and minds. #EarlyChildhood
With many people living in poverty or without regular access to healthy food, cooking nutritious meals that feature a variety of foods as well as contain essential vitamins and minerals can be difficult. Here are just some suggestions for ways you can stretch your budget and get the most nutrition from what’s available.
July 5, 2025 at 7:04 PM
hesperian.org
When living in poverty or without regular access to healthy food, it can be difficult to cook healthy, nutritious meals. Here are some suggestions for ways you can stretch your budget and get the most from the food that’s available. Do you have any other tips? Share in the comments! #HealthTips
A square social media graphic with a medium yellow background with an illustration of beans behind the text. There is an illustration of a windowsill vegetable growing box growing heads of lettuce and onions. Above it are some other vegetables: bell pepper, broccoli, green onion. Text reads “Eating Well When You Have Little: Poverty and hunger often go hand-in-hand, but there are ways to cook healthy, nutritious meals even on a tight budget.” A bulleted list is as follows: Buy inexpensive, nutritious foods like beans and grains. Avoid expensive and heavily-processed, factory-made foods like white bread, cereals, and tinned soups. Grow your own vegetables in containers or a garden. Save the nutritious broth from cooking beans, meat, or vegetables to drink or cook with. Bulk buy ingredients rather than single-serving packages. Learn more at: Hesperian.org/hhg/HealthWiki
July 3, 2025 at 10:38 PM
hesperian.org
Becoming a refugee is not a choice, but choosing acts of kindness, inclusion, and solidarity towards people fleeing their homes is. By welcoming refugees into your community, you are helping people escaping from war or violence regain their dignity and rebuild their lives. #WorldRefugeeDay
A social media graphic with a silhouetted illustration of refugees walking left to right across the bottom of the graphic. A world map is in the background. Text reads: “World Refugee Day June 20, 2025: How You Can Support Refugees in Your Community. Every act of welcome and inclusion, no matter how small, brings us closer to a world where every person can find belonging, purpose, and hope.” A bulleted list follows: “Advocate for policies that protect and support people forced to flee their homes. Share refugee stories with your friends and family. Offer your time or provide them with a job to help them rebuild their lives. Welcome them to become part of your community through words and action.”
June 20, 2025 at 7:25 PM
hesperian.org
As summer approaches, community gatherings are a great way to build connections and boost collective mental health. Here are some questions to ask to ensure all are welcome to your event. Comment with your suggestions to make public events more inclusive!
Learn more at hesperian.org/mental-health
An illustration of a dad holding a young boy on his shoulders, the boy is holding a blue kite. They are both facing away from the viewer. There are kites in the background. Text reads “5 Tips for Inclusive Community Events”. A checklist follows: Is the location easy to get to without a car? Can people with disabilities easily access the venue? Does the timing account for family and work schedules? Will families with young children feel welcome? Will non-English speakers be able to engage and participate? Below is a section that reads “Community Health is Mental Health. Get more tips for building community” with the URL hesperian.org/mental-health
June 11, 2025 at 10:31 PM
hesperian.org
Did you know that having somewhere else to go aside from work, school, or home is important for your mental health? Public spaces, also called “third places” encourage socialization and community engagement. What are some of your favorite third places in your own community? #MentalHealth #HealthTips
A square social media graphic with a light yellow/cream background and darker polkadots as the background. There is a ripped paper background behind the main text “What Is A Third Place?: Every community needs safe and free or inexpensive places that are neither home, work, or school to gather with friends or spend recreation time. These are called “third place”, and they can take many forms!” Below are different photographs of people enjoying these respective third places attached with tape and labeled: Cafe, Park, Church, Gym, Library, Public Pool. Bellow is text that reads “Gathering in community spaces can reduce isolation, anxiety, and distress, leading to improved collective mental health. Learn more in our HealthWiki: Hesperian.org/mental-health”
June 6, 2025 at 8:40 PM
hesperian.org
If you’re struggling, it’s okay to ask for help. Reach out to a friend, loved one, or trusted community member with what’s troubling you, and together you can work towards finding solutions. Always remember: you are not a burden, and you are not alone. #MentalHealth
An illustration of two people of indeterminate gender sitting underneath an umbrella. One person has their head in their hands looking upset with an emotion cloud emitting from their head, the other person has kind eyes and is holding up the umbrella to shield them both from rain drops. Text reads “If you feel something, say something. When you feel stuck or overwhelmed, it’s okay to ask for help. Even if it is difficult to talk about, opening up to someone you trust from school, church, your family, or even a counselor can help you feel less alone and start the process of getting the help you need.” Surrounding the people are word bubbles of quotes. “I’m having trouble sleeping” “I think I might have a drinking problem” “I’m overwhelmed by current events” “I don’t find joy in the things I used to love” “I’m worried I can’t afford next month’s rent” “Sometimes my partner scares me” “I’m struggling to meet expectations at work” “I’m having trouble concentrating”. Get more tips for promoting mental health in your community: Hesperian.org/mental-health
June 5, 2025 at 5:08 PM
hesperian.org
Your journey to a healthier lifestyle starts with the first step, no matter how small. By keeping your goals reasonable, you’ll gain the confidence you need to build healthier habits that are more likely to stick. What are some healthier habits you’ve adopted? Share in the comments! #HealthTips
A square social media graphic with an illustration of a girl with red hair in orange, yellow, and brown tones riding a bicycle moving left to right. The title of the graphic says “Simple Healthy Habits You Can Start Today. Next to the header is an illustration of an apple and a carrot. More text reads: “Building healthy habits takes time, but you can start with small, manageable changes in your daily life that promote better mental and physical health.” A list of habits follow: Walk 2-3 times a week, schedule friend visits, cook a new recipe, reduce screen time, drink more water. Get more community health tips at Hesperian.org/mental-health
June 4, 2025 at 11:44 PM
hesperian.org
📚Mark your calendars!📚
Hesperian will be at the Bay Area Book Festival in Berkeley, CA on June 1.
Pick up our latest health resources in person, talk to health promoters, and learn how you can support community health and education through our Gratis Book Program.
An event flier divided in two. The right side of the image is a stack of books. The left half has an illustration of a person showing off a table full of books. The text reads: "June 1. Bay Area Book Festival. Visit our booth to learn how you can help us distribute free community health books to health workers, teachers, and community leaders in underserved communities through our Gratis Book Program." Below are the URLs "bayareabookfest.org" and "hesperian.org"
May 27, 2025 at 6:57 PM
hesperian.org
This Memorial Day weekend, remember that sustaining history and culture promote community mental health. That includes clean-up and repair as well as removing or replacing monuments symbolizing harmful or incomplete ways of telling history.

Get more mental health tips on Hesperian.org
A graphic that has a background photo of an old woman’s hands holding up two black and white photographs of two girls smiling and holding hands. The text reads: “Community Mental Health Tip: Preserve and Restore Historical Sites. Celebrate community history by marking or restoring sites with historical meaning, and involving elders to pass that history on to youth.” A URL is included: hesperian.org/mental-health
May 23, 2025 at 5:19 PM
hesperian.org
There are only two days left until our free virtual Coffee Chat on mental health! Register below and join us May 22 to hear how our partners are using our new resource "Promoting Community Mental Health" in their work. docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
A graphic showing an event flyer. Headline text says "Promoting Community Mental Health virtual Coffee Chat." Details are listed on the right: "May 22nd, 2025 11am PDT/2pm EDT” with an invitation below: “Join us on Zoom to learn about a new community mental health resource and how it is being used.” The logos for the host (Hesperian Health Guides) and two participating partner organizations (Speak Out Sisterhood and Center for Empowering Immigrants & Refugees) are listed along the bottom of the graphic.
May 20, 2025 at 5:02 PM
hesperian.org
Engaging the youth in your community is a great way to promote mental health. Facilitating ways for kids, tweens, and teens to engage with one another, get out in nature, and play has a direct, positive influence on the future of your community.

Get more tips here: Hesperian.org/mental-health
A graphic showing a photo of 5 children playing tug-of-war in a park. Text reads: “Community Mental Health Tip: Facilitate Youth Activities. Invite and support young people to participate in music, the arts, and sports, and to have time outdoors and in nature.” A URL at the bottom goes to: hesperian.org/mental-health
May 19, 2025 at 7:27 PM
hesperian.org
Mental health and physical health often go hand in hand. By adopting these small healthy habits, you’ll be investing in a healthier you, both mentally and physically. What other easy habits do you think should be added to this list? #HealthTips #MentalHealth
A square social media graphic with the title “Stress Relief Ideas” and a subheading “These activities can prevent many physical and mental health difficulties associated with stress.” Below are 6 illustrations of different iconography related to the tips and are as follows: “Eat nutritious food” with an illustration of an ear of corn. “Get more exercise and move your body” with an illustration of a heart with a pulse line running through it. “Spend time talking with others” with conversation word bubbles. “Go outdoors and spend time in nature” with an illustration of a tree. “Drink more water” with an illustration of a bottle of water. “Get enough sleep” with 3 purple Zs indicating sleep. Below reads: Get more tips for managing stress and improving mental health: hesperian.org/mental-health”
May 16, 2025 at 10:21 PM
hesperian.org
Cultural celebrations with food, music, and dance are a great way to learn about other cultures and people in your community. Celebrating together and learning about each other boosts collective mental health and strengthens neighborly bonds.

Get more tips at Hesperian.org/mental-health
A woman in Japanese cultural dress in a parade for a spring cherry blossom festival. Text reads: “Community Mental Health Tip: Organize Cultural Celebrations. Celebrate culture by holding events with food, music, dance, different type of art and artists, presentations and films, and spiritual practices or rituals.” A URL is at the bottom: hesperian.org/mental-health
May 12, 2025 at 8:55 PM
hesperian.org
Join us on Zoom May 22nd at 11AM PDT for a virtual Coffee Chat to discussing our new resource Promoting Community Mental Health and highlighting ways that our partners are using this resource in their communities.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
A graphic showing an event flyer. Headline text says "Promoting Community Mental Health virtual Coffee Chat." Details are listed on the right: "May 22nd, 2025 11am PDT/2pm EDT."
May 6, 2025 at 10:54 PM
hesperian.org
Outside of work and home, communities need a “third place” for people to go to unwind, socialize, and enjoy their neighborhoods. Creating these shared spaces for various activities is a great way to promote mental health within your community.

Get more tips here: Hesperian.org/mental-health
A graphic showing a child holding a plant seedling in her hands while adult hands come in from off screen to help her plant it. Text reads: “Community Mental Health Tip: Create Shared Spaces for All to Enjoy. Find spaces in urban areas to create parks where children can play, adults and teens can relax and socialize, and groups can gather for tai chi or dancing, or to grow food in community gardens.” A URL is at the bottom: hesperian.org/mental-health
May 5, 2025 at 5:27 PM
hesperian.org
In honor of #InternationalWorkersDay, here are some tips you and your colleagues can use to promote worker health and safety. By advocating for safe and healthy working conditions, you can prevent occupational accidents and diseases. Learn more here:
en.hesperian.org/hhg/Workers%...
A square social media graphic with a light peach colored background. There are lineart images of a hard hat, abstract shapes, and gears against the background. There are two illustrations: one of a woman’s hand holding up a megaphone, and one of a woman with her back turned to the viewer flexing a bicep with a confident look. Title of the graphic says “5 Tips for Promoting Worker Safety”. There are 5 individual numbered boxes with the following text: 1. Learn. Educate yourself and provide others with the information and advice they need to take action. 2. Identify. Observe your workplace to identify problems and find the right resources to solve them. 3. Cooperate. Build relationships with friendly OSH professionals to help you and your coworkers. 4. Organize. Workers are their own best advocates and will benefit the most from working together. 5. Support. Encourage workers who are ready to organize around issues relevant to them. Read our free resource “Workers’ Guide to Health and Safety” today to learn how to organize and advocate for better working conditions. URL goes to www.hesperian.org/hhg/HealthWiki
May 1, 2025 at 7:03 AM
hesperian.org
Today we remember workers who have been killed or injured on the job and honor them by advocating for safer workplaces. Read our free resource “Workers’ Guide to Health and Safety” for tips on how you and your colleagues can collectively promote better #WorkerSafety en.hesperian.org/hhg/Workers%...
A square social media graphic with a red-orange background and a medium orange map of the world overlaid on it. Below the map are various multicultural workers of different industries standing together in solidarity. Text reads “April 28 Workers Memorial Day”. Below is a paragraph with the headline “A Day of Remembrance and Action”. Paragraph reads “Every worker has the fundamental right to a safe work environment, but knowing your rights is the first step. Read our free resource “Workers’ Guide to Health and Safety” today to learn how you and your colleagues can make lasting change.” URL goes to www.hesperian.org/hhg/HealthWiki
April 28, 2025 at 7:04 PM