556: New Suicide Prevention Policy Statement, Testing Could Curb Newborn Syphilis Cases

ROBERT JOHNSON: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Monday, December 4, 2023. I'm Robert Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

MARK LEVINE: 

This is a very important policy statement because it recognizes the nation's suicide and mental health crises, that were, of course, further exacerbated by the pandemic.

JOHNSON: 

Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine is talking about ASTHO's new policy statement on suicide prevention. He says it recommends building better data systems to identify factors that influence suicide.

LEVINE: 

Next at the policy level, supporting policies that create protective environments. Things like reducing access to lethal means with firearms for people who are at risk, or investing in programs and policies that address risk factors like substance use and increasing funding going towards mental health.

JOHNSON: 

Levine says it's also critical to improve access to health care services for those at highest risk.

LEVINE: 

This can involve things like improving mental health provider availability in rural and underserved areas through workforce initiatives. There can be telehealth services for mental health and crisis support in support of comprehensive suicide care programs like Zero Suicide and the 988 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

JOHNSON: 

ASTHO has released five policy statements on important public health issues. We've been reporting on them since last Tuesday. You can listen to those conversations on this channel, and you can read all five statements using the link in the show notes.

Syphilis among newborns is 10 times higher today than in 2012. According to new data from the CDC, Dr. Robert McDonald says most of those cases might have been prevented with testing and treatment during pregnancy.

ROBERT MCDONALD: 

So, for this, we're asking people to think about using rapid testing when they're going to see somebody who may have trouble getting back into the provider's office. These rapid tests will allow for rapid identification of syphilis and the opportunity to treat syphilis, so people do not miss the opportunity to have syphilis treated during pregnancy.

JOHNSON: 

McDonald says it's also important to make testing available in more places.

MCDONALD: 

This means perhaps testing for people for syphilis in emergency departments, syringe service programs, substance use treatment programs, or maternal child health programs.

JOHNSON: 

The data, according to McDonald, sends a clear signal about the actions that need to be taken to reduce infection rates.

MCDONALD: 

And then what these data show us is that we really have to think more about syphilis, and providers have to make sure that they're screening for syphilis on a regular basis and people who are going to see their doctors need to make sure that they ask their provider to test them for syphilis if they're sexually active.

JOHNSON: 

You can read the CDC report using the link in the show notes.

Also today, North Carolina's recent discovery of lead in some pureed fruit pouches is testament to the impact of public health on communities. This is North Carolina's Assistant Secretary for Public Health, Dr. Susan Kansagra.

SUSAN KANSAGRA: 

You know, again, what we saw in what happened in this particular lead investigation is just one example of the work that state and local public health teams do every day to protect the health of kids, and family members, and communities, and oftentimes, that work happens behind the scenes. People don't realize it, but it is such critical public health infrastructure that keeps us safe, keeps us healthy, keeps our communities healthy.

JOHNSON: 

The investigation resulted in the recall of some fruit pouches. Kansagra says this work wouldn't happen without public health.

KANSAGRA: 

Another example of that is we work really closely with long-term care facilities to provide support around infection prevention to help prevent an outbreak, and oftentimes, the impact of that is not seen as readily because when you prevent an outbreak, well, nothing happens. People don't notice, but you've prevented an outbreak because you've gone into that facility. You've done that work. 

JOHNSON: 

You can read about North Carolina's lead recall investigation using the link in the show notes.

Finally, this morning, stay in touch with policy actions happening across the country and in Congress when you sign up for ASTHO's Legislative Alert emails. There's a link in the show notes.

Before we go, we'd like to remind you to follow this newscast on your podcast player and ASTHO on social media. We're on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. That'll do it for today.

We're back to tomorrow morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Robert Johnson. You're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great day.