The World Health Organization is working to address unmet needs for mental health care in low- and middle-income countries, but a lack of research is making it hard to prioritize disorders and understand how best to reach individuals in need of care.
When it comes to nonviolent drug offenses, systems that favor treatment over incarceration not only produce better health outcomes, they save money, too. It’s yet another example of how investing in public health and prevention yields valuable returns on investment.
Researchers compare the calories purchased by teenagers at McDonald’s versus Subway.
Environmental Health
Colorado community demanded health impact review of 200 proposed natural gas wells
The residents of Battlement Mesa didn’t want their “Colorado Dream” to turn into a nightmare because of a proposed hydrofracking project. They turned to a Health Impact Assessment for help.
Government
Wage theft in South Florida: Nation’s first county with wage theft protections reports on progress and perils
Earlier this month, Florida lawmakers wrapped up their latest legislative session. And nearly 500 miles south of Tallahassee in Miami-Dade County, workers’ rights advocates breathed yet another sigh of relief.
Education
Newborn screening: One of public health’s greatest achievements celebrates 50 years and thousands of lives saved
On Feb. 13, 2012, Honey Stecken gave birth to her daughter Maren. Everything appeared perfectly fine — she ate and slept and did all the things a baby does. Even after a couple weeks at home in South Fork. Colo., with her newborn little girl, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Addiction & Substance Abuse
Study: Banning smoking in subsidized housing could save millions in health care costs
Another day, another study that shows investing in public health interventions can make a serious dent in health care spending. A new study has found that banning smoking in all U.S. subsidized housing could yield cost savings of about $521 million every year.
Education
Study: Peer-to-peer training can improve safety, knowledge among Hispanic construction workers
Eric Rodriguez and his colleagues at the Latino Union of Chicago quite literally meet workers where they’re at — on the city’s street corners. Many of the day laborers who gather there are hired to work construction at residential housing sites. Work arrangements are hardly formal and day laborers are frequently subjected to unnecessary and illegal dangers on the job. Unfortunately, worker safety is often kicked to the curb in the street corner marketplace.
Education
Cracking down on deadbeat bosses: Wage theft victory a milestone in Chicago’s worker center movement
For Angel Nava, Chicago’s newly adopted wage theft ordinance is particularly personal. Until recently, Nava had worked at the same car wash business in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood for 14 years. The 55-year-old employee did it all — washing, detailing, buffing — for about 50 hours each week. Then, his boss decided to stop paying overtime.
Researchers with Cornell University’s Food and Brand Lab observe diners’ behavior to predict the number of trips they’ll make to the buffet at all-you-can-eat Chinese restaurants.