Tag: health policy

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Mental Health

2022 Mental Health Awareness Month

Take Action for Mental Health
Take Action for Mental Health

Action is needed to help curb the growing realities of mental health issues among adults and youths. Today may be the last day of #mentalhealthawarenessmonth but our work to improve our mental health is something that extends more than a month – we must be aware and act everyday. 

For example, recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study shows evidence of ‘persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness’ growing among United States high school students throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Per @WHO, full death toll associated directly or indirectly with the COVID-19 pandemic (described as “excess mortality”) between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021 was approximately 14.9 million deaths (with a range from 13.3 to 16.6 million).

One of key takeaway from the @CDCgov study:
-> Poor mental health, persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors were LESS PREVALENT among those who felt CLOSE TO PEOPLE at school and were virtually connected with others during the pandemic.

🎥 Check out “Speaking on Mental Health” below – it was created by students & supported by @DirectChangeCA @takeactionformh @LACDMH

Categories
Crisis Public Health Research

1 in 6 Americans live in areas with significant wildfire risk – do you know your risk to wildfire?

Fire Risk Projections in US

1 in 6 Americans live in areas with significant wildfire risk – do you know your city’s risk for wildfire?

Latest modeling built by First Street Foundation shows estimates for America in 2052 along with developing a public estimation tool labeled Fire Factor. The First Street Foundation Wildfire Model incorporates information on fuels, wildfire weather, and ignition into a Fire Behavior Model, building upon and updating the 2016 U.S. Forest Service dataset. Last year, First Street Foundation reported about flood risk in the United States to grow exponentially in upcoming years due to climate change.

Did you know that supporting wildfire suppression at the local, state, and federal levels in the United States is among the most expensive wildfire protection efforts?

Currently, it is costing the US government about $2.0 billion annually. These costs are projected to increase, as recently modeling shows an increased risk to more areas, including areas where fire risks were not historically present but now are.

Categories
COVID-19 Pandemic Public Health

“No jab, No job” – latest on vaccine mandate in workplace

“No jab, No job” is being passed around the workplaces this week. Announcement is from Citi to adopt a COVID-19 vaccine mandate policy, marking first major bank with such policy.

Continue reading ““No jab, No job” – latest on vaccine mandate in workplace”
Categories
COVID-19 Pandemic Public Health

Retail shops reducing hours due to surging COVID-19 cases

Happy New Year! Last year ended with ongoing debate and even backlash about the COVID-19 vaccine mandates at many companies to help curb new infections at workplace. This year opened with retailers reducing hours regardless of vaccine status.

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Categories
COVID-19 Pandemic Public Health

SUSPENDED? OSHA pauses Emergency Temporary Standard for businesses

The enforcement of COVID-19 vaccine mandate for businesses is now suspended by U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, pending further court order.

Timeline of events: less than 2 months ago, news emerged about President Biden’s plans for large businesses (>100 employees) to have employees vaccinated for COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing. Less than 2 weeks ago, U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced January 4, 2022 as deadline to meet this requirement, labeling it as an Emergency Temporary Standard (https://publichealthdisasters.com/2021/11/12/new-us-covid-19-requirement-for-100-employees/).

Continue reading “SUSPENDED? OSHA pauses Emergency Temporary Standard for businesses”