Preventing Late Life Suicide: National Institutes of Health Initiatives

2001 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane L. Pearson
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Late Life ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
National Institutes Of Health ◽  
Prevention Strategies ◽  
Chronological Order ◽  
Public Health Perspective ◽  
Health Initiatives

From a public health perspective, late life suicide is seen primarily as a consequence of untreated mental disorder, particularly depression. However, due to the stigma and agism surrounding mental disorders in late life, there has been limited public awareness that the elderly have the highest rates of suicide, and that they often have treatable depression prior to their suicide. Late life suicide is slowly gaining attention in both the scientific and public arenas. This article reviews in chronological order a number of efforts that have led to heightened awareness and initial public health policy development of late life suicide prevention strategies. The next steps for NIH-sponsored research in late life suicide are described.

scholarly journals A Systematic Literature Review on Water Insecurity from an Oregon Public Health Perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 1122
Author(s):  
Cordelia Schimpf ◽  
Curtis Cude
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Community Education ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Drought Risk ◽  
Human Right ◽  
Water Insecurity ◽  
Public Health Perspective

This paper systematically reviews existing United States-based water insecurity literature with the goal of understanding the evidence base for developing public health water insecurity intervention strategies in Oregon. The authors conducted the systematic literature review using an adjusted PRISMA reporting checklist to document the review process. Results find 11 public health-related water insecurity interventions including surveillance practices and indicator and policy development. Research on water insecurity health impacts and solutions is still an emerging field. Nevertheless, state agencies perceive a risk to communities from inadequate safe water and are taking steps to assess and reduce these risks. From the review, strategies include improving water affordability, carrying out community education events, documenting drought risk and water loss, and tracking improvements in safe drinking water compliance. The review finds opportunities to take varied approaches that are community-specific, partnership-based and culturally relevant. Recommendations for Oregon include characterizing communities experiencing water insecurity, assessing community needs, tracking regional water scarcity and recognizing the human right to water in Oregon.

scholarly journals A Review of Cases of Marijuana and Violence

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 1578
Author(s):  
Norman S. Miller ◽  
Redon Ipeku ◽  
Thersilla Oberbarnscheidt
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Illicit Drug ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
The United States ◽  
Personality Change ◽  
Health Policies ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Public Health Perspective ◽  
Public Health Policies ◽  
Loss Of Contact

Marijuana is the most consumed illicit drug in the world, with over 192 million users. Due to the current legalization push of marijuana in the United States, there has been a lack of oversight regarding its public health policies, as marijuana advocates downplay the drug’s negative effects. This paper’s approach is from a public health perspective, focusing specifically on the cases of violence amongst some marijuana users. Here, we present 14 cases of violence with chronic marijuana users that highlight reoccurring consequences of: marijuana induced paranoia (exaggerated, unfounded distrust) and marijuana induced psychosis (radical personality change, loss of contact with reality). When individuals suffering from pre-existing medical conditions use marijuana in an attempt to alleviate their symptoms, ultimately this worsens their conditions over time. Although marijuana effects depend on the individual’s endocannabinoid receptors (which control behavioral functions, like aggression) and the potency level of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the drug, scientifically documented links between certain marijuana users and violence do exist. Wider public awareness of the risks and side effects of marijuana, as well as a more prudent health policy, and government agency monitoring of the drug’s composition, creation, and distribution, are needed and recommended.

Youth gambling: A public health perspective

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen Messerlian ◽  
Jeffrey L. Derevensky
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Treatment Programs ◽  
Public Health Approach ◽  
Youth Gambling ◽  
Public Health Perspective ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
Support Research

Over the last decade research in the area of youth gambling has led to a better understanding of the risk factors, trajectories and problems associated with this behaviour. At the same time, governments have begun to recognize the importance of youth gambling and have offered to support research and treatment programs. Yet, public health and prevention in the realm of youth gambling has only recently drawn the attention of researchers and health professionals. Early work by Korn and Shaffer (1999) set the groundwork for a public health approach to gambling. This paper attempts to apply health promotion theory to youth gambling and describes a conceptual framework and model. Strategies focus on addressing risk and protective factors through community mobilization, health communication, and policy development. It is anticipated that this paper will provide future directions and serve as a starting point for addressing youth gambling issues from this new perspective.

Urinary incontinence in men over 50

2002 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-68
Author(s):  
Christer Edlund ◽  
Ralph Peeker ◽  
Magnus Fall
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Urinary Incontinence ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Effective Therapy ◽  
Public Health Strategy ◽  
Male Population ◽  
Health Strategy ◽  
The Individual

Although urinary incontinence (UI) in men is an increasing problem, it has not been investigated to the same degree as that in women. In an urbanised environment, with diverse demands on health professionals, incontinence remains a problem difficult to solve not only for the individual patient but also in terms of a public health strategy, since costs related to urinary incontinence are impressive. The prevalence of UI is increasing since this complaint is much more common in the elderly - and this section of the population is increasing in Western societies. Greater public awareness and education are further increasing demands for effective therapy for the male population.

Chapter 13: TBE as a matter of public health

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Kunze ◽  
Wilhelm Erber ◽  
Martin Haditsch
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Individual Risk ◽  
Public Health Perspective ◽  
Payer Perspective ◽  
Vaccination Recommendation ◽  
Public Health Officials ◽  
Endemic Areas ◽  
Severity Of The Disease

The incidence of TBE ranges from ‘only single sporadic cases’ to >50/105 per year depending on the region and on the year of analysis; it is usually 1-10/105 in endemic regions in central Europe. This number may be considered as ‘low’ – not only as an individual risk but also from a public health perspective. If an individual does contract TBE, however, the disease may deeply change her/his life due to the need for acute hospital care and due to potentially severe and long-term sequelae. In 1–2% (-20%) of cases, TBE may even result in death. No specific treatments exist for TBE. The severity of the disease and high frequency of long-term sequelae result in high public awareness and concerns about tick bites in endemic areas. Public health officials in TBE-endemic areas need to address these concerns; moreover, they need to address the concerns of travelers at risk. The principal public health measures aim at reducing TBE cases by reduction of exposure and preventive vaccination. Recommendation/reimbursement of TBE vaccination still is under discussion from side of healthcare payer perspective as well as from the individuals perspective considering long term sequelae.

Disease Prevention, Health Care, and Economics

2011 ◽  
pp. 554-577 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Hall
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Economic Analysis ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Utility Maximization ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Prevention Policy ◽  
Prevention Strategies ◽  
Policy Issues ◽  
A Current

This article attempts to take on the policy issues and explores the economic analysis of prevention that can add to policy development. It discusses prevention and draws on the economic concepts of human capital and utility maximization. It provides a framework for investigating the reasons for people making the decisions and their response if their incentives or constraints alter. This approach can yield useful insights into behavior and answer various questions such as the reasons for smoking and the rise in the obesity level. Thus economic analysis can provide a basis for designing prevention strategies. This article addresses the issue of whether there is a current under-investment in prevention. For many policymakers and public health advocates, this question is about whether more prevention will save on care expenditure. Furthermore, the article turns to the special challenges in building an evidence base for prevention policy.

scholarly journals A scorecard for local body election candidates in New Zealand

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
P Stone
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Voter Turnout ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Public Information ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Local Elections ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
District Health ◽  
Public Health Perspective ◽  
The Public

Abstract Local elections are held every 3 years in NZ for District Health Boards (DHB). The public has low capability to scrutinise candidates for their knowledge/experience in public health governance. As a result, there is low voting turn-out for elections. So, 3 PHA branches developed scorecards for 2019 candidates. Our aims addressed 3 problems: 1. How to raise public awareness about local DHB elections 2. How to engage voters and provide them with information about candidates from a public health perspective 3.Can we encourage candidates to discuss public health issues/ preventative measures publicly. We hoped to promote democracy by increasing informed voter turnout. Scorecards were based on candidates' responses to a survey with 3 dimensions: alignment with public health values; health sector governance experience; views on a specific public health issue (water fluoridation). Survey responses were scored by panels of branch members. Southern branch sent the survey to 28 DHB candidates across 2 DHBs, and 24 replied in time. Wellington branch sent it to 23 CCDHB candidates and 16 replied in time. Canterbury's response rate was just over 50%, 11 of 21 surveys were returned. We produced scorecards for results in formats for printing and sharing online. We shared them on PHA's website, social media and featured them in the e-newsletter. Each branch launched them at local Meet the DHB Candidate events where hundreds of paper copies were distributed. There was good online interest in the scorecards: 3453 previews, 287 downloads for further printing/distribution. Many candidates committed, if elected, to policy solutions presented them at our events. There was significant increase (684 in Southern, 698 in Wellington, 2006 in Canterbury) in DHB voter turnout in 2019, compared to last election with no scorecards. Not all top-scoring candidates were subsequently elected onto respective DHBs, but for Wellington and Southland all elected had high scores. Key messages PHANZ plays a role in supporting NZ democracy by filling a gap in public information about election candidates, whether they are fit for purpose when scrutinised through the public health lens. Election Scorecard are effective for raising public awareness, providing scrutiny of the candidates from a public health perspective, encouraging candidates to consider public health issues.

scholarly journals Social Quarantine and Its Four Modes: Conceptional Exploration and the Theoretical Construction of the Polices Against COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ka Lin ◽  
Ayesha Mumtaz ◽  
Mohammad Anisur Rahaman ◽  
Ka Ho Mok
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Community Action ◽  
Prevention Strategies ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
The Social ◽  
Policy Measures ◽  
Psychological Mode ◽  
Global Prevention

Building on the studies of health quarantine from a social perspective, this article explores the complex contexts of social quarantine as a mode of public health, a mode of community action and a behavioural and psychological mode of social distancing. To establish a conceptual investigation of the “social quarantine” issue, this study investigates four approaches to quarantine: public health, social administration, behavioural norms, and psychological effects. The study identifies the features of these modes and discusses their relationships. In addition, this study constructs a preventive framework for quarantine that embraces social and health policies to enrich the understanding of policy measures for social distancing and lockdown measures. On this basis, the study evaluates the strategies of policy development in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study concludes that these modes can reconstruct social relations and provide some basis for theoretical analysis about the features of social quarantine, which is vital for policymakers when considering national and global prevention strategies for public health.

scholarly journals Allergies and Asthma: Employing principles of social justice as a guide in public health policy development

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Behrmann
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Justice ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Health Benefit ◽  
Policy Assessment ◽  
Assessment Protocol ◽  
Health Initiatives ◽  
Public Health Initiatives ◽  
Allergy And Asthma ◽  
Asthma Triggers

The growing epidemic of allergy and allergy-induced asthma poses a significant challenge to population health. This article, written for a target audience of policy-makers in public health, aims to contribute to the development of policies to counter allergy morbidities by demonstrating how principles of social justice can guide public health initiatives in reducing allergy and asthma triggers. Following a discussion of why theories of social justice have utility in analyzing allergy, a step-wise policy assessment protocol formulated on Rawlsian principles of social justice is presented. This protocol can serve as a tool to aid in prioritizing public health initiatives and identifying ethically problematic policies that necessitate reform. Criteria for policy assessment include: 1) whether a tentative public health intervention would provide equal health benefit to a range of allergy and asthma sufferers, 2) whether targeting initiatives towards particular societal groups is merited based on the notion of ‘worst-off status’ of certain population segments, and 3) whether targeted policies have the potential for stigmatization. The article concludes by analyzing three examples of policies used in reducing allergy and asthma triggers in order to convey the general thought process underlying the use of the assessment protocol, which public health officials could replicate as a guide in actual, region-specific policy development.

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