ABHPC Prevention Pathways Monthly Bulletin for February 2024
Black History Month
February was officially designated as Black History Month in 1976. This annual celebration aims to recognize the accomplishments and influence of African Americans on American history. For this month’s bulletin, we’d like to highlight a few key players in improving health equity and increasing diversity in the public health space.
Dr. David Satcher was the 16th Surgeon General for the United States and simultaneously served as Secretary for Health in the Department of Health and Human Services. His list of accomplishments includes being Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the 1990s and being a four-star admiral in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. Dr. Satcher took his drive for systemic change and founded the Satcher Health Leadership Institute (SHLI) which aims to create systemic change towards equity by using a collaborative approach. The SHLI hosts a variety of programs, including the Medical Justice in Advocacy Fellowship, and provides networking opportunities and resources for aspiring leaders in the field.
Dr. Deborah Prothrow-Stith is Dean and Professor of Medicine for the College of Medicine at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles. During her time as a physician in Boston, she created a youth violence prevention curriculum for schools and communities. Dr. Prothrow-Stith has been published over 100 times including authoring Deadly Consequences, which was the first book to identify the public health perspective on violence. She was the first woman Commissioner of Public Health in Massachusetts and established the first Office of Violence Prevention and expanded prevention programs for HIV/AIDS and drug rehabilitation programs. Her research and public engagement have had a huge impact on spreading knowledge on the importance of violence prevention in community health and safety.
To learn more about Notable African Americans in Public Health, you can visit Trust for America’s Health. You can also check out Visit California for recommendations on events and locations such as museums and historic sites to celebrate Black History Month.
Co-Occurring Disorders Prevention Education – Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and Mental Health (MH) Diagnoses
Research indicates high rates of co-morbidity between SUDs and MH – approximately half of all people with a MH diagnosis will experience a SUD. Research suggests that rates are higher for adolescents in SUD treatment – over 60% also meet the criteria for at least one other MH diagnosis. It’s challenging to determine a specific reason for this phenomenon – an MH diagnosis might influence someone’s substance use behaviors, while substance use can contribute to the development of MH challenges.
Evidence suggests there are shared risk and protective factors between SUDs and MH diagnoses, including environmental factors such as income level, adverse childhood experiences, and community connectedness. It’s important to remember that environmental risk factors are not static, and by identifying and addressing them, we can influence the outcomes those have on future SUD and MH diagnoses.
The Community-Based Process component of the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention’s six prevention strategies is a helpful place to start addressing environmental factors. This component includes assessment, community buy-in, agency collaboration and coalition building, and prevention service implementation. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) provides in-depth guidance on how to develop successful prevention strategies through five steps: Assessment, Capacity, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation.
For more information about the SPF and other prevention approaches for co-morbid SUD and MH diagnoses, you can check out ABHPC’s Archived Trainings and interactive Online Training Courses.
Eating Disorder Awareness Week
This year, Eating Disorders Awareness Week (EDAW) is from February 26th to March 3rd. This year’s theme is “Get in the Know,” with a goal to educate people on the prevalence and treatment of eating disorders and help people recognize when someone should seek help. 9% of the U.S. Population will have an eating disorder in their lifetime. Eating disorders are among the top three behavioral health disorders with the highest mortality rates, with 10,000 people dying each year as a direct result.
Eating disorders are diagnosed across all ages, races, genders, and sexual orientations, but there are equity differences related to diagnosis and treatment. People of color with eating disorders are half as likely to be diagnosed or receive treatment, and females are twice as likely to have an eating disorder. SUDs are common among people with eating disorders, and the highest co-occurrence is alcohol use disorders and bulimia nervosa. There are financial implications to eating disorders, including costs of hospitalization and emergency care.
Misconceptions about eating disorders can be barriers to folks seeking or receiving treatments. Behavior Health Network Inc. identifies key signs to help recognize eating disorders, including warning signs to look out for in folks following “fad diets.” The National Eating Disorders Association has resources for EDAW including social media templates and pre-made presentations to share. In recent years, California has begun recognizing EDAW, with behavioral health organizations and universities participating in events to spread awareness.