Save our Children, our next generation leaders. Mental Health, Suicide, and Substance Use

 

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Mental Health, Suicide, and Substance Use The latest research and expert insights about mental health, opioids, and recovery issues.
	The Impact of COVID-19 on Youth Mental Health: An Interview with Leigh Fischer   Emerging research suggests the COVID-19 pandemic will have a lasting impact on the mental wellbeing of young people. Leigh Fischer discusses the potential rise in suicidal thoughts and behaviors, mental illness, and substance use—and what providers and communities are doing about it.

 

Measuring Recovery-Oriented Services   Recovery-oriented mental health services and programs are essential for veterans with mental illness. Leigh Evans worked with the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop a tool to assess recovery-oriented climate and culture in mental health programs for veterans.

 

Managing Opioid Use and Misuse in Older Adults   Older adults are twice as likely as the general population to have pain, and clinicians often rely on opioid treatment to address that pain. As a result, opioid use, misuse, and opioid use disorder have increased among older adults, who are vulnerable to adverse reactions. Working with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), we’re collecting needed information to help providers improve pain management for older adults.

 

Four Strategies to Improve Mental Health During COVID-19   COVID-19 is hitting younger adults, racial/ethnic minorities, essential workers, and unpaid adult caregivers particularly hard, with disproportionately worse mental health outcomes and increases in substance use and suicidal thoughts. Lisanne Brown discusses four community-level activities key stakeholders should consider.

 

	Screening Tool to Reduce Adverse Drug Effects   How can we reduce the risk of adverse drug events among older adults? In this article, funded by AHRQ, Tara Earl and colleagues explained how de-prescribing interventions—and use of the Screening Tool of Older Persons’ potentially inappropriate Prescriptions (STOPP) criteria—could reduce multiple drug use and associated adverse drug events.

 

Youth Exposed to Fewer Alcohol Ads on Cable TV   Our new study, conducted with the Boston University School of Public Health, found that youth exposure to alcohol ads on cable TV in the U.S. declined from 2018 to 2019. Reducing exposure may be associated with reductions in underage drinking.

 

Justice begins where inequality ends.

 

RACIAL JUSTICE Investing in racial justice     Our historic social bond was meant to meet these extraordinary times. This month, Fortune featured our announcement of $180 million in funding for organizations addressing systemic racism in the US, doubling our commitment to this critical work.   Learn more     CITIES & STATES ¡Viva Puerto Rico! Three years after Hurricane Maria, Puerto Ricans are still rebuilding their homeland. To help them restore the island, we’ve committed $10 million as part of a coalition to support an inclusive recovery. Learn more.   WEST AFRICA A lifeline for local media In West Africa, COVID-19 and Ebola have demonstrated that accurate information from local media can be life-saving. With the Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa, we’re working to strengthen these vital platforms and counteract misinformation. Learn more.   NATURAL RESOURCES & CLIMATE CHANGE The Amazon has seen our future Many of our world's most pressing problems are already being experienced by the people living in the Amazon. In this New York Times interactive collection, our grantees Sonia Guajajara and Valerie Paye share what’s happening in the region and how to protect the planet’s future. Explore now.   LEADERSHIP Welcome, Ambassador Power! We’re delighted to share that Amb. Samantha Power has joined our Board of Trustees. From her days as a journalist in Bosnia and Sudan to serving in the United Nations and as a member of President Obama’s cabinet, she has a long record of fighting for justice. Meet Ambassador Power.     CREATIVITY & FREE EXPRESSION Provoking a better future     We asked creatives how they’d transform their fields to meet this moment. Creative Futures, our new series of 40 provocations across the arts, documentary, and journalism, presents possibilities for big changes. Too radical, or has their time come? You decide.   Explore now       Justice begins where inequality ends. Discover more stories at fordfoundation.org and on our social media

CISA offers the following resources to share in your communities

CISA offers the following resources to share in your communities and with your stakeholders for National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM) and beyond:

CISA's Telework Resources - Telework Guidance and Best Practices

CISA's Cybersecurity Hub - Assessments, Prevention, and Response Resources

CISA's Cyber Essentials - Cybersecurity Awareness and Best Practices Resources

CISA's #Protect2020 - Election Security and Disinformation Resources

National Risk Management - Mitigating Cyber Risks To The Nation's Critical Infrastructure

NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP)’s “Progress in Research” webinar series.

The NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP)’s “Progress in Research” webinar series featuring the Superfund Research Center grants awarded in 2020. SRP Center grants support problem-based, solution-oriented research teams integrating projects in biomedical sciences, environmental science & engineering, data management, community engagement, research translation, and graduate training. This series highlights the research underway in these Centers, providing an overview of the complex issues each Center addresses as well as highlights of each of the projects and cores. The webinars are free and open to the public.
 
Registration is open for all remaining sessions (dates/times here, full descriptions are at the end of this email):
 
October 28, 1 – 3 PM EDT
Session II - Legacy and Emerging Contaminants (PAHs, PCBs, PFAS)
Featuring U Kentucky, Oregon State U, and Baylor College of Medicine
Session II Registration
 
November 9, 2 – 3:30 PM EST
Session III – Vulnerable Populations
Featuring Northeastern U and U Alabama - Birmingham
Session III Registration
 
November 19, 2 – 4 PM EST
Session IV – Emerging Exposures
Featuring North Carolina State U, U Iowa, and Louisiana State U
Session IV Registration
 
Archives will be available a few days after the webinar on the respective registration pages (our October 21 webinar on Metals will be posted soon). We encourage you to invite your colleagues, and we hope you can make it!
 
Kind regards,
Heather Henry
NIEHS Superfund Research Program
Phone: 984-287-3268
Mobile: 919-609-6061
Email: henryh@niehs.nih.gov
 
It is EPA's policy to make reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities wishing to participate in the agency's programs and activities, pursuant to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. 791. Any request for accommodation should be made to Jean Balent at balent.jean@epa.gov or 703-603-9924.
 
 
Full Descriptions:
 
October 28, 1 – 3 PM EDT, Session II - Legacy and Emerging Contaminants (PAHs, PCBs, PFAS), Session II Registration

• The University of Kentucky SRP Center, "Nutrition and Superfund Chemical Toxicity," explores human health challenges arising from exposure to halogenated organic substances such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethene, and per- and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS). They conduct research on lifestyle changes such as nutrition and exercise and the relationship with pollutant exposure and disease risk. Center scientists also study remediation systems and engineering solutions for toxicant removal. The goal is to develop prevention strategies for diseases associated with chlorinated organic contaminants through a combination of enhanced remediation and healthy lifestyle components.

• The Oregon State University SRP Center, "PAHs: New Technologies and Emerging Health Risks," investigates polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) mixtures before and after remediation. Center scientists work to track PAH movement through the environment, measure PAH exposure in individuals located near contaminated sites, predict the products of PAH transformation during remediation, determine the toxicity of complex PAH mixtures, and link PAH exposure to health outcomes.

• The Baylor College of Medicine SRP Center, "PAHs: Ultrasensitive Detection, Early-Life Exposures - Clinical Outcomes (Preterm Births, Chronic Lung Disease, and Neurocognitive Deficits), Prevention and Remediation," works in Harris County, Texas to explore maternal exposure to PAHs and the increased risk of preterm birth. They are investigating the molecular mechanisms behind the increased preterm birth risk after maternal exposure to PAH mixtures. Center scientists are also working to develop methods for detecting PAH-based compounds in air, water, and soil, remediation technologies to treat contaminated sediment, and strategies to prevent and reduce the health burden associated with PAH exposure.

 
November 9, 2 – 3:30 PM EST, Session III – Vulnerable Populations, Session III Registration

• The Northeastern University SRP Center, "Puerto Rico Testsite for Exploring Contamination Threats (PROTECT)," conducts research on pregnant mothers in Puerto Rico and the relationship between contaminant exposures in drinking water, socioeconomic factors, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. They study a variety of toxicants such as chlorinated volatile organic compounds, phthalates, metals, pesticides, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the mechanisms by which these chemicals can contribute to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Center scientists also investigate how extreme weather events can exacerbate exposures and work to develop methods to reduce exposure risk.

• The University of Alabama-Birmingham SRP Center, "Impact of Airborne Heavy Metals on Lung Disease and the Environment," studies airborne heavy metal pollution and its impact on respiratory health in the area surrounding the 35th Avenue Superfund site in downtown Birmingham. This community is predominantly African American and has higher levels of chronic lung diseases compared to neighboring control areas irrespective of smoking, socioeconomic status, or demographics. Center scientists are developing tools to measure toxicants in the field, studying the efficacy of materials for contaminant removal, and working to understand the connections between environmental degradation and lung health.

 
November 19, 2 – 4 PM EST, Session IV – Emerging Exposures, Session IV Registration

• The North Carolina State University SRP Center, "Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS," focuses on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) which are ubiquitous in the environment and have been associated with health effects such as cancer and thyroid, liver, and immune system toxicity. Despite this, these compounds have not been well-studied. Center scientists are investigating human exposure levels to PFAS in impacted areas, PFAS toxicity and the underlying mechanisms behind reduced thyroid and immune function, the potential for PFAS bioaccumulation, and effective remediation approaches for PFAS contamination.

• The University of Iowa SRP (ISRP) Center, "Airborne PCBs: Sources, Exposures, Toxicities, Remediation," explores polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and the health impacts stemming from inhalation of these toxic chemicals. Center scientists focus on neurodevelopmental and metabolic effects, particularly in adolescents, and the relationship to novel PCB exposure pathways in buildings such as schools. They aim to identify the mechanisms behind PCB interference with lipid metabolism, define the specific environments that contribute to inhalation exposure and its importance compared to dietary exposure, and develop cost-effective strategies to remove or reduce emissions.

• The Louisiana State University SRP Center, "Environmentally Persistent Free Radicals (EPFRs)," studies an emerging class of contaminants which are produced during thermal treatment of hazardous wastes and have been shown to induce cardiac and pulmonary dysfunction in exposed populations. They are investigating mechanisms of EPFR-induced health impacts, determining how EPFRs form, stabilize, and decay, and demonstrating a link between EPFR exposure and poor respiratory health in children. The research goal is to understand how to attenuate EPFR formation, facilitate EPFR decay, and limit exposure to EPFRs.

Global Health NOW: Is Isolation Killing the Elderly?

 

GHN News

 

Jeanne Fregeau, 93, in her room at a Marlborough, Mass. nursing home. August 26, 2020.  Image: Craig F. Walker/The Boston Globe/Getty

 

Is Isolation Killing the Elderly? “Sometimes the doors to their rooms are open, and you just see someone sitting in a chair with tears running down their face,” said geriatrician Louise Aronson of University of California, San Francisco.  For elderly people, COVID-19 restrictions designed to protect them may also be leading to deadly isolation. The data may be scarce, but the reality is tangible; researchers say it can include: accelerated aging and dementia more falls “sudden frailty” weight loss depression Deprived of his children’s weekly visits to his long-term care facility in Minnesota, 98-year-old Chester Peske passed away in June. The cause of death was listed as “social isolation / failure to thrive related to COVID-19 restrictions.”   The Quote: “In many respects, the side effects are worse than the potential harm of a slightly higher risk of infection,” said David Grabowski, a Harvard Medical School health policy professor.   NBC News