In today's episode of the Public Health Report we discuss the Mental Health Aspects of Breast Cancer for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Read the new article from our PHPN Intern, Taisha Mathieu on this topic.

The newest webinar and information about the Environmental Justice Index are in this episode too.

We also discuss the news around the COVID vaccine and the status of its uptake and distribution.

Learn more about us at publichealthpodcasters.com

Reference Links:

HHS Bridge Access Program: https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/04/18/fact-sheet-hhs-announces-hhs-bridge-access-program-covid-19-vaccines-treatments-maintain-access-covid-19-care-uninsured.html

HHS Letter on Vaccine Distribution Challenges:

https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/09/22/letter-from-hhs-secretary-covid-19-vaccine-coverage.html

The Hill: More Than 7 Million People Vaccinated:

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/4252651-more-than-7-million-received-updated-covid-vaccine-hhs/

HHS: Where to Get Your Vaccine:

https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccines/index.html

About The Environmental Justice Index:

https://www.hhs.gov/climate-change-health-equity-environmental-justice/environmental-justice/index/index.html

Explore the Index:

https://eji.cdc.gov/launcher.html

Read the case study from ESRI, coauthored by Dr. Este Geraghty on the CDC Maps for Environmental Justice:

https://www.esri.com/about/newsroom/blog/cdc-maps-environmental-justice/

Register for the 10/18 Webinar: Advancing Environmental Justice through GIS, Data, & Visuals 

https://www.pathlms.com/health/courses/51587/webinars/34780

In today's episode of The Public Health Report, we discuss mental health challenges in youth suicide, workplace trauma, and the epidemic of loneliness and isolation.

We also share updates on the California Consortium for Public Health IT, the opportunity for you to access continuing education credits from viewing our 3 day event on Public Health Informatics and Technology. We also welcome you to our inaugural West Coast Public Health Conference happening March 14-16, 2024.

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month we also feature our recent episode of the Public Health Networker with Erik Cardenas of Zocalo Health.

References:

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), recently awarded $232.2 million in grants for suicide prevention and behavioral health care for at-risk communities:

https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/09/27/biden-harris-administration-awards-more-than-230-million-suicide-prevention-behavioral-health-care-programs-at-risk-communities.html

APA Work in America Survey: https://www.apa.org/pubs/reports/work-in-america/2023-workplace-health-well-being

Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf

The Recent CCPHIT Convening Event in Bakersfield: https://www.kccd.edu/events/ccphit-partners-convening.html

PHIAT Conference Access: https://phmedianetwork.thrivecart.com/phiat-2023-conference-recordings/

West Coast PH Conference: https://www.westcoastpublichealth.com/

Learn more about us and become a Career Network Member: publichealthpodcasters.com

We dedicate this episode to the topic of gun violence and mass shootings as a public healthissue.

Since May 7th, 2023, there have been more mass shooting events than days passed in the year. In this episode, your host Rainaclare Sibal discusses the impact of mass shootings on community health and what actions and discussions need to occur to treat this issue as the public health issue that it is.

References:

Carter, S. L., Crews, C., Lee, J., Li, X., & Noble, N. (2022). Acceptability of school shooting

prevention procedures among parents. Journal of Prevention (2022), 43(3), 359–374.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10935-022-00671-6

Gumas, E. D., Gunja, M. Z., & Williams II, R. D. (2023, April 20). The health costs of gun

violence: How the U. S. compares to other countries. The Commonwealth Fund.

https://doi.org/10.26099/a2at-gy62

Gahan, M. B., Goldman, A., Tumin, R., Fahy, C., & McCarthy, L. (2023, May 6). At least 9 dead,

including gunman, in shooting at texas mall. The New York Times.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/06/us/allen-mall-texas-shooting.html

Katsiyannis, A., Rapa, L. J., Whitford, D. K., & Scott, S. N. (2023). An examination of us school

mass shootings, 2017–2022: Findings and implications. Advances in

Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 7(1), 66–76.

O’Rourke, T. W. (2023). Reducing gun violence: Using an upstream/downstream incremental

and public opinion approach. American Journal of Health Education, 54(1), 1–9.

https://doi.org/10.1080/19325037.2022.2142707

Tiderman, L., Dongmo, N. F., Munteanu, K., Kirschenbaum, M., & Kerns, L. (2023). Analyzing

the impact of state gun laws on mass shootings in the United States from 2013 to 2021.

Public Health, 215, 100–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2022.12.001

Learn more about the Public Health Podcast and Media Network: publichealthpodcasters.com

In this episode of the Public Health Report, MPH student Alysha Jones shares 6 global health trends to look out for throughout 2023.

For a copy of the transcript version of this episode, visit: https://www.publichealthpodcasters.com/news/six-global-health-issues-to-watch-for

Learn more us at: publichealthpodcasters.com

PHPN intern Rainaclare Sibal interviewed SNAP-Ed nutrition educator, Stephanie Torres, who works with Catholic Charities in Los Angeles as part of the CalFresh Program, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP on the federal level. This episode of the Public Health Report highlights the meaningful work of Stephanie and SNAP-Ed (the educational branch of the program) in providing nutrition education to children and families.

For more information, please visit:

https://calfresh.dss.ca.gov/healthyliving/about-us

https://www.instagram.com/healthyliving.ccla/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D

https://www.facebook.com/HealthyLivingCCLA?mibextid=LQQJ4d

In this episode of the Public Health Report, we share the latest public health news including:

• National Sleep Awareness Month
• Featured PHIAT Speaker: Azizi Seixas
• COVID and Latinx Mental Health
• What the End of the Public Health Emergency Declaration Means
• RTI Press: Addressing Medical Misinformation
• Upcoming Events

To read the text version, access our newsletter: https://phpn.substack.com/p/phpn-midweek-newsletter

References:

The Science of Sleep Video:

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/event/the-science-of-sleep-exploring-the-connection-between-rest-and-health/

Learn more about National Sleep Awareness Month:

Read the PDF from Albany Medical College

Learn more about the PHIAT Conference:

phiatconference.com

Latino Mental Health and COVID:

Depression and Anxiety Among Latinos: Urgent Call for Mental Health Services:

According to LCH co-Director Leo S. Morales, MD, PhD, “COVID-19 has illuminated and exacerbated disparities in anxiety and depression impacting Latinos. WA state must do much more to provide accessible, and culturally and linguistically appropriate mental health services for all Latinos in our state, including rural and urban, insured and uninsured, migrant and non-migrant, and immigrant and non-immigrant.”

University of Washington Latino Center for Health

Why More Needs to Be Done for Latinx/Hispanic Mental Health:

“The COVID-19 pandemic has especially laid bare the health inequities affecting Hispanic/Latina/o immigrants, with recent reports indicating Hispanics have the highest age-adjusted infection rates than all other racial/ethnic groups, and COVID-19 cases are higher in areas with a larger proportion of Hispanics, undocumented individuals, and immigrants. Furthermore, Hispanics are at the highest risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection, hospitalization, and mortality.”

https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/pdf/10.1089/heq.2022.0041

Mental Health and COVID-19 Pandemic Stressors Among Latina/o/x College Students with Varying Self and Parental Immigration Status:

“Ultimately, we argue that the high-stress nature of the pandemic elevated mental distress across all student groups, but the structural exclusion of undocumented immigrants contributes to unique experiences of stress among Latina/o/x undocumented students and US citizen students with undocumented parents.”

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40615-021-01218-x

Mental health among rural Latino immigrants during the COVID-19 pandemic:

Abstract excerpt: “The mental health of the United States' Latino population significantly deteriorated during the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic, and Latino immigrants living in rural areas faced unique vulnerabilities. However, few studies have specifically examined the mental health burden and experiences of rural Latino immigrants during the COVID pandemic….Our findings suggest that mental health intervention models that engage with multiple family members, policies that support infrastructure for encouraging exercise and outdoor activity, and ensuring access

For our 22nd episode, we’re covering the controversial new practice guidelines for childhood obesity.

The CDC reported that the obesity prevalence for children and adolescents aged 2-19 was nearly 20%[1] from 2017-2020, and a predictive epidemiological study out of the New England Journal of Medicine found that the estimated risk of adult obesity at age 35 for this population could be as high as 57%. If that sounds like a serious cause for concern, that’s because it is. Undoubtedly, childhood obesity is a leading public health challenge. But, what exactly is obesity and what are the health risks associated with it?

References:

Childhood Obesity Facts (n.d.). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html

Ward ZJ, Long MW, Resch SC, Giles CM, Cradock AL, Gortmaker SL. Simulation of Growth Trajectories of Childhood Obesity into Adulthood. N Engl J Med. 2017 Nov 30;377(22):2145-2153. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1703860. PMID: 29171811; PMCID: PMC9036858.

Karnik S, Kanekar A. Childhood obesity: a global public health crisis. Int J Prev Med. 2012 Jan;3(1):1-7. PMID: 22506094; PMCID: PMC3278864.

Kirkilas G. (updated 2022). Body-Mass Index (BMI) in Children, American Academy of Pediatrics: Healthy Children. Retrieved from: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/obesity/Pages/Body-Mass-Index-Formula.aspx

Sarah E. Hampl, Sandra G. Hassink, Asheley C. Skinner, Sarah C. Armstrong, Sarah E. Barlow, Christopher F. Bolling, Kimberly C. Avila Edwards, Ihuoma Eneli, Robin Hamre, Madeline M. Joseph, Doug Lunsford, Eneida Mendonca, Marc P. Michalsky, Nazrat Mirza, Eduardo R. Ochoa, Mona Sharifi, Amanda E. Staiano, Ashley E. Weedn, Susan K. Flinn, Jeanne Lindros, Kymika Okechukwu; Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Obesity. Pediatrics February 2023; 151 (2): e2022060640. 10.1542/peds.2022-060640

University of Michigan (2023). NEW CHILDHOOD OBESITY GUIDELINES MAY DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD, Futurity. Retrieved from: https://www.futurity.org/childhood-obesity-kids-health-2873042-2/

Radde K. (2023). New childhood obesity guidance raises worries over the risk of eating disorders, NPR. Retrieved from: https://www.npr.org/2023/02/15/1155521908/eating-disorder-obesity-guidance-risk-weight-loss

López-Gil JF, García-Hermoso A, Smith L, et al. Global Proportion of Disordered Eating in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis . JAMA Pediatr. Published online February 20, 2023. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.5848

Skerrett P. (2013). Overweight and healthy: the concept of metabolically healthy obesity, Harvard Health Publishing. Retrieved from: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/overweight-and-healthy-the-concept-of-metabolically-healthy-obesity-201309246697

University of Michigan (2023). NEW CHILDHOOD OBESITY GUIDELINES MAY DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD, Futurity. Retrieved from: https://www.futurity.org/childhood-obesity-kids-health-2873042-2/

Learn More About the Public Health Podcast and Media Network: publichealthpodcasters.com

Support our work for public health communications and career development, by subscribing to our newsletter: https://phpn.substack.com/subscribe?

Hi! Welcome to episode 21 of the Public Health Report, where we discuss current events in the public health sphere. I’m your host this week, Lizzie Wilson, and today we’re diving into the emerging public health threat that’s making a lot of headlines lately, and that is avian influenza H5N1.

On Wednesday, February 8th, the director of the World Health Organization made an announcement concerning H5N1 in minks, otters, and sea lions. Now, typically these avian influenza A viruses affect aquatic birds, but sometimes they also affect poultry and other animals as we see here.

You may have heard about the outbreak of H5N1 at a mink farm in Spain. It occurred in October and was reported on in Eurosurveillance on January 19th[i].

Here’s what happened: At the beginning of October 2022, mink farm workers noticed that the animal’s mortality rate jumped from 0.25% up to 0.77%. At this point, they began testing the animals for viruses, including H5N1 and SARS-CoV-2, and found that they tested positive for H5N1. The disease appeared to spread in hotspots around several pens, leading many minks to become infected with H5N1, and ultimately all 51,986 animals were culled. However, despite coming into contact with infected minks, no farm workers tested positive for the virus.

A news article published in Nature last week explains why this particular outbreak is concerning[ii]. Unlike in past outbreaks of H5N1, this one demonstrates mammal-to-mammal infection. Previously, all infections in mammals could be attributed to contact with materials contaminated with the virus, such as bird droppings or infected feed. But in this case, poultry farms supplying feed to the mink farm did not experience outbreaks of H5N1, and it is likely that infected wild birds—attracted by the mink’s food— entered these high-density open air cages were minks are kept, and the virus eventually jumped species and then spread amongst minks[iii].

Currently, H5N1 is not efficiently and sustainably transmitted between humans. And that bears repeating: The current threat to human health is low. In fact, the New York Times reports that globally only 10 cases of H5N1 have been reported in humans since December of 2021—notably with 0 reported cases of human-to-human transmissioniii. However, in cases of human infection of H5N1, WHO reports a 56% case fatality rate[iv].

There are some warning signs that could make human-to-human transmission (and a pandemic) more likely. Let’s briefly touch on those:

·      So first, H5N1 is infecting a larger number of migratory birds, which raises the risk of a new variant spreading to people.

·      Second, H5N1 infected minks, and likely spread mammal-to-mammal in October. This is unprecedented, and it’s especially alarming because the upper respiratory tract of minks is a very good conduit for humans[v].

·      Third, if a farmer infected with a different strain of influenza were simultaneously infected with H5N1, these viruses could undergo reassortment–a process of swapping genes during co-infection—and potentially create a virus that is more transmissible between people[vi]. Indeed, a 2021 study in Emerging Microbes and Infections found that minks are commonly infected with both human and avian influenza A viruses, making them an ideal species for reassorting these viruses—and these researchers recommend taking steps to minimize contact with raw poultry products as well as taking urgent steps to increase