Health Equity Digest – September 2023: Mental Health Crisis in the Latino Community, Raising the Profile of Sickle Cell Disease
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A persistent gap in mental health aid has left Latino communities unprepared for crisis: The Mental Health for Latinos Act has been introduced to address cultural stigma around mental health and to fix health care disparities. Rep. Grace Napolitano, D-Calif said, “The legislation is intended to develop and implement outreach and education strategies to promote mental health services and reduce the stigma of using them, as well as identify gaps and involve consumers and community members in addressing them.”
From Mental Health America:
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There is a perception in Latinx/Hispanic communities, especially among older people, that discussing problems with mental health can create embarrassment and shame for the family, resulting in fewer people seeking treatment.
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Research shows that in the Latinx/Hispanic population, older adults and youth are more susceptible to mental distress relating to immigration and acculturation.
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Serious mental illness rose from 4 percent to 6.4 percent in Latinx/Hispanic people ages 18-25, and from 2.2 percent to 3.9 percent in the 26-49 age range between 2008 and 2018.
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Major depressive episodes increased from 12.6 percent-15.1 percent in Latinx/Hispanic youth ages 12-17, 8 percent to 12 percent in young adults 18-25, and 4.5 percent to 6 percent in the 26-49 age range between 2015 and 2018.
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In 2018, 56.8 percent of Latinx/Hispanic young adults 18-25 and 39.6 percent of adults 26-49 with serious mental illness did NOT receive treatment.
READ:
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How the Henrietta Lacks settlement challenges biotech’s view on ethics: Bioethicist Robert Klitzman talks about the Henrietta Lacks lawsuits and the consequences such cases can have for the biotech industry.
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How Eugenics Shaped the U.S. Prenatal Care System: Black women in the U.S. are far more likely to die from complications related to pregnancy and birth than White women. Two scholars explore how the discrediting of Black midwives helped create these racial disparities—and call for alternative models of prenatal care.
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How this mom is raising the profile of sickle cell disease for Black women everywhere: Akilah Coleman, alongside Teonna Woolford and Dr. Kim Smith-Whitley share their mission to reduce the health inequities Black women face.
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Suicides Among U.S. Veterans Jumped 10-Fold in Decades After 9/11: September shines a light on suicide prevention with National Suicide Prevention Week (Sept. 10-16) and World suicide Prevention Day (Sept. 10). Accessibility remains a major obstacle in equitable mental health care. Many deaths by suicide are related to psychiatric disease; however, anxiety, personality, eating, and trauma-related disorders, as well as organic mental disorders, also contribute.
LEARN:
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Recent data reveals that more than 5.4 million Medicaid enrollees have been disenrolled as of August 24, 2023, across 46 states and the District of Columbia. This disenrollment rate is staggering, varying dramatically from state to state, with Texas experiencing a 72% disenrollment rate. Whether stemming from early renewal targets, renewal policies, or system capacities, addressing these disparities is vital to ensuring that those who remain eligible can maintain healthcare coverage. Advocating for transparent and efficient Medicaid renewal processes is essential to protect healthcare for millions of vulnerable individuals.
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Child care has been silently crushing women farmers for generations. That may change soon.: The upcoming farm bill is poised to prioritize child care for the first time. It could mean welcome relief for families in an industry that has historically brushed the issue aside.
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No OB-GYNs left in town: what came after Idaho’s assault on abortion: In Sandpoint, Idaho, the maternity ward closed down. Within months, medical care for women in the rural community was hollowed out.
RESEARCH:
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Possible connections between racial discrimination and adiposity in children have been demonstrated, according to Association of Racial Discrimination With Adiposity in Children and Adolescents, research recently published in JAMA Network Open. This study has suggested that, on top of socioeconomic determinants of health, racism is a possible risk factor for developing childhood obesity. “Though the link between racism and obesity has long been assumed, this was a clear confirmation in children,” said Adolfo Cuevas, lead investigator on the study.
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Fact or Fiction: Social Media Health Disinformation: Health misinformation and disinformation about COVID-19, cancer, diabetes, and obesity are health topics that are saturated with inaccurate information. In a 2021 report by the Pew Research Center, 19 countries were surveyed about their views on social media and its impact on democracy. Many countries see social media as making it easier to manipulate people with false information or rumors — 85% of U.S. residents agree this is the case.
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A catalyst for childhood obesity: How racism has 'huge implications' for health trajectory: The prevalence of childhood obesity has reached alarming levels. According to the CDC, of the 14.7 million children in the United States, 19.7% of children and adolescents are being diagnosed as obese. Social determinants of health in their many forms are a prominent driver of childhood obesity. The highest prevalence of obesity was seen among Hispanic male and Black female youth, based on statistics from the American Heart Association. These communities represent a strong intersection of sociocultural and environmental risk factors often facilitated by living in under-resourced neighborhoods due to structural racism. September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month.
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On the topic:
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American Heart Association News, Summer break weight gain is real, with Latino children especially at risk
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PubMed, The State of the Summer: a Review of Child Summer Weight Gain and Efforts to Prevent It
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WATCH:
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What's Faith Got To Do With It? Lessons from the Faith Health Alliance: Recently NMQF’s Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity launched the Faith Health Alliance. This nationwide network of churches works to promote health equity in their congregations and communities. The discussion explores how faith-based organizations promote health and wellness.
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Measure What Matters – Examining Variation in Health Equity Tracking & Measurement Practices: The webinar highlights insights from survey study and was presented at the CMS Health Equity Conference. The goal of the study was to assess the current state of measurement at a system and executive level, inventory existing system level operations, and identify barriers and facilitators to implementation.
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Equitable RSV Preparedness: Recent Wins & Fight Ahead: The conversation explores the new innovations, including monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and their prevention of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). The panelists explore the strategies for populations at risk and next steps to ensure all children are covered.
LISTEN:
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Vaccine Trust in Marginalized Communities With Children's National Hospital: This episode features Claire O'Connell Boogaard, M.D., Children’s National Hospital pediatrician and COVID-19 vaccine program medical director. The discussion highlights the hospital's efforts to build trust in the COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, especially in historically marginalized communities.
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The Flint Water Crisis & Beyond: Improving Patient Care with Social Determinants of Health: This episode features Karly Saez, Operations Manager, and Dr. Farhan Khan, Medical Director of Professional Medical Corporation (PMC). The conversation explores the impact of social needs on private practices and strategies to address social determinants of health.
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Anchor Strategy – A Place-Based Approach for Health Equity: This episode explores the Anchor Strategy, an approach to building community health and wealth by means of local hiring, investing, purchasing, and community engagement.
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Geeta Nayyar, MD, MBA, on misinformation, rebuilding patient trust and good healthcare marketing: This episode, Dr. Geeta Nayyar discusses how healthcare leaders can use new technologies like AI and existing social media platforms to reach new patients, rebuild trust in the community, stop the spread of medical misinformation, and combat the anti-science movement.
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