The Suicide, Overdose, Adverse Childhood Experiences Prevention Capacity Assessment Tool (SPACECAT) compiled a national report and accompanying infographic, that break down the biggest findings from the data, and highlight the biggest barriers facing health agencies today.
Following disruptions to daily life caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, emergency departments saw an increase of mental health-related visits. A June 2021 study showed a significant increase of mental health-related visits among 12–17-year-olds compared to the previous year. States and territories that implement a comprehensive public health approach to suicide prevention across all domains of life—an approach known as the socio-ecological model—can reduce contributing risk factors.
Though COVID-19 has dominated public health over the past year, other communicable diseases are still occurring at troubling rates. The CDC recently released data in their Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance, 2019 report, showing that the reported cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis continued to increase for the sixth consecutive year and are among the most reported diseases in the United States. As STD Awareness Month comes to a close, below is a breakdown of key takeaways from CDC’s surveillance report and tips for how state health officials can address rising STD rates through leadership, communications, and policy.
Although suicide was a critical public health issue in the U.S. long before the COVID-19 pandemic began, Americans are now reporting increased mental health challenges like depression, anxiety, and suicidal behaviors. In addition, millions have experienced financial hardships, social isolation and loneliness, and increased stress—all of which are shared risk factors for mental health conditions, suicidal behaviors, and substance misuse. State public health officials have taken bold action over the past 12 months to mitigate the physical impacts of COVID-19, and the same swift action should be applied to mitigate the acute and potential long-term mental health, suicide, and substance use impacts. The National Response’s "An Action Plan for Strengthening Mental Health and Prevention of Suicide in the Aftermath of COVID-19" provides a roadmap for addressing the mental health, suicide prevention, and substance misuse prevention needs spurred by COVID-19.
This June marked the 40-year anniversary of the first five cases of what later became known as AIDS reported in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Since then, more than 32 million people have died from the disease worldwide and nearly 38 million currently live with the HIV virus (including 1.2 million people in the United States). Over that period, tremendous strides have been made in HIV testing, prevention strategies, and treatment of individuals living with the virus to ensure that they can lead healthier and longer lives. While these advancements have led to significant progress in reducing HIV/AIDS-related deaths and new infection rates, HIV/AIDS continues to be a persistent problem in the United States. The federal government and state legislatures are taking significant steps toward ending the HIV epidemic, including steps to reduce new infections, combating stigma, and advancing access to care and HIV prevention
As in any sector, there is often talk in the public health field of “working upstream,” or addressing problems at their source. If public health is going to be a changemaker in the world, its leaders must be equal parts nimble and innovative.
The adage “what gets measured, gets done” has had staying power for a reason. When we can accurately describe conditions, quantify impact, and elucidate connections, we have a better chance at taking collective (and effective) action to tackle even the most challenging problems facing our communities. The National Survey of Children’s Health is a powerful tool to provide this critical information to researchers, policymakers, and state-level decision makers.
What We Learned at the Public Health TechXpo and Futures Forum ASTHO | Our staff's top takeaways from the TechXpo. astho, association of state and territorial health officials, public health techxpo and futures forum, public health leaders, u.s. public health system, public health policy, data sharing and modernization, population health, governmental health agencies, public health infastructure, workforce resilience, public health workforce, techxpo and futures forum, public health infrastructure, build workforce resilience, future of public health, health techxpo and futures, health leaders and experts, experts across the technology, health workforce, health outcomes, futures forum, health leaders, health departments, public health professionals, today and the future, public health services, public health techxpo Dylan Reynolds Marcus Plescia and Garfield Clunie present "The Future of Measuring Health Equity - A World of Evolving Data." Last month, ASTHO kicked off the Public Health TechXpo and Futures Forum in Chicago, an opportunity for some of the world’s top leaders in technology and to engage public health leaders on challenges and solutions for successfully modernizing the U.S. public health system. Over 600 participants were in attendance, with 200 more attending virtually from around the world. It was a packed three days. Our speakers demystified the world of public health policy, opened doors to new funding streams, and gave us a glimpse into the glittering future of data sharing and modernization. Heavy hitters from Amazon and Google weighed in as well, showing us how they’re working hand-in-hand with health agencies to change the way they approach population health and well-being. So as we look back on a busy week—and look ahead to our virtual follow-up event on June 15—here are some of the messages that stuck with us the most: "Standards are like toothbrushes. Everyone has one, and no one wants to use some else’s." The line from Gabriel Seidman, director of policy at the Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine, was met with a belly laugh from a crowded room during one of the week’s most well-attended sessions, a panel conversation on the future of measuring health equity. However, Seidman’s comparison was an apt one. There is certainly much to be said for a public health data system that is engineered to meet the specific needs of its target community. However, for public health experts to do their best work, they must be able to speak a common language—at a local, state, territorial, and national level. When each level of public health is operating with different standards in place and with a different definition of success, data gets lost and people get left behind. One of the loudest calls to action from the week was for governmental health agencies to break down these data siloes and establish common standards between agencies. The "Next Pandemic" is a Priority—But It's Not the Only One There is—understandably—mounting national attention on preparing for what many public health experts believe will be the inevitable "next pandemic." The COVID-19 pandemic showed us what a lack of preparedness could mean for population health, and there is so much unknown about what the future of pandemics has in store. However, experts at the TechXpo reminded us that public health is about more than responding to a singular crisis. "I think many of the conversations we're having are so focused on COVID-like pandemics," said John Auerbach (alumni-MA) "But if we look at the things that are still killing people, for the most part it's not infectious disease." Instead, Auerbach cited challenges that have long been a part of the public health story, such as diabetes, the fentanyl overdose crisis, and climate change. Before COVID-19 entered the national spotlight, public health’s day-to-day work was largely centered on chronic disease and behavioral health. Auerbach reminded us that amid all of the unknowns of our future, there is plenty we do know—and plenty we can be doing to address it. "Modernizing data systems is more than buying a big computer." While there were many versions of this message over the course of the forum, Auerbach perhaps said it most concisely of all. In other words, it doesn’t matter if a public health agency has a chrome-plated exterior and a cloud-based data system, so long as the underlying infrastructure isn’t sustainably and thoughtfully built. Whether it’s a matter of restricted funding, antiquated processes, or siloed thinking, health agencies and their leaders must have a plan to address these challenges before assuming that “buying a big computer” will catch their data dashboards up to speed. This was one of the ironies of this future-forward event: Amid so many exciting innovations and inventions, many of the challenges boiled down to basic, equity-centered questions about the best way to get this new technology in the right people’s hands. If public health is going to take a technological leap at a national level, then it must also be able to make a leap at a community level—in communities of color, in territorial health agencies, and in our policies. Jumping lightyears ahead doesn’t count if entire populations are still being left lightyears behind. Workforce Resilience Cannot Be Taken for Granted We cannot separate the future of public health from the future of its workforce. The COVID-19 emergency response has left many public health workers feeling burned out and harboring traumatic levels of toxic stress, pushing many of them to seek out jobs outside the field. In fact, according to a recent analysis of data from the Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey, 46% of state and local public health employees left their jobs between 2017 and 2021. For public health to reach its full potential in the future, we must begin investing in that workforce today. Over the course of the week, we heard often from mental health experts and senior health officials to learn about their priorities, challenges, and paths to improve workforce well-being in their health agencies. This included the unveiling of the PH-HERO Workforce Resource Center, which arms health agencies with the resources and knowledge they need to support their workforce. Whatever the future of public health holds, it begins with a workforce who is motivated to make that future a reality. More than anything, the TechXpo was a reminder that public health’s future is as multiple as it is uncertain. We are working toward a future that is more adaptable than ever before—with thought innovators and health experts who are constantly reflecting, pivoting, and adjusting to the moment. There are so many conversations yet to be had. For those who have not done so already, we invite you to register for our fully virtual TechXpo follow-up forum on June 15, and add your voice to the growing chorus. website yes