753: MN Preventable Deaths Data, New PCO Survey

JANSON SILVERS: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Thursday, September 19, 2024. I'm Janson Silvers.

Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

TANYA CARTER: 

Specifically in those ages between 20 to 39 is where we have seen the most decrease in deaths compared from 2022 to 2023.

SILVERS: 

In Minnesota, preliminary data for 2023 shows a decrease of about 70 preventable deaths in the state. Tonya Carter, with the Minnesota Department of Health, says a comprehensive approach has made a difference.

CARTER: 

Minnesota receives a combination of both federal and state dollars to support staff and communities for suicide prevention throughout the state. We are able to fund with those dollars regional suicide prevention coordinators that cover all 87 counties in Minnesota.

SILVERS: 

Carter says the state is also particularly focused on rural areas, which still see higher suicide rates than urban communities. One way they are addressing the discrepancy is with two rural mental health specialists.

CARTER: 

These two individuals will meet families at their homes or wherever is convenient. I know some of them have taken rides and combines. They're really just there to meet the need of the individuals.

SILVERS: 

They are also going into rural communities and training "natural helpers" like faith leaders, to support those who are having suicidal experiences.

CARTER: 

We know oftentimes those faith leaders in rural areas are seen as those natural helpers but aren't necessarily given the skills to assist when somebody is feeling suicidal. So, we've seen that's played a significant role, I think, in helping at least train some of those natural helpers within our rural communities.

SILVERS: 

Minnesota has a news release with all the data on preventable deaths. The link is in the show notes.

ASTHO and the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health recently completed a 2024 survey on primary care offices, or PCOs. Here's ASTHO's Chikamso Chukwu.

CHIKAMSO CHUKWU: 

This survey, hopefully, will help both state and local entities understand more about PCOs and what they do, and make those connections that might assist in understanding the state's picture of healthcare shortages to hopefully address them and improve the quality of life of residents and citizens.

SILVERS: 

Chukwu says the data from the assessment gets used in several ways.

CHUKWU: 

It's used by the National Committee of PCOs, which is a representative body of PCOs across the country, to understand the workforce situation and how the work is being done in different states, so that they can best support their members, as well. It's also used by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to best support PCOs in their work, as PCOs are partially funded through a HRSA cooperative agreement.

SILVERS: 

Chukwu adds that the work of PCOs is vital to improving access to care in this country.

CHUKWU: 

I would encourage anyone listening to reach out to your jurisdictions PCO to learn about how they work and what challenges they face. Those connections that are made can really go a long way.

SILVERS: 

ASTHO has the full results of the survey on its website. The link to view it is in the show notes.

An ASTHO brief has five recommendations to enhance governmental public health workforce recruitment and hiring. A PDF of the infographic is online now. Use the link in the show notes to download it today.

Also today, as we get closer to October, which is emotional wellness month, the CDC has a toolkit that promotes emotional well-being during the month and beyond. Bolster your emotional wellness month communication efforts by clicking the link in the show notes.

Finally, in tomorrow's show the journey to address health disparities in our territories and freely associated states.

KARL ENSIGN: 

They have very severe challenges in terms of population health challenges with respect to communicable and non-communicable disease. And so it's imperative that we focus on that, the social determinants of health, or focus on health equity.

SILVERS: 

ASTHO's Karl Ensign takes us through the work that ASTHO and the CDC have done to close the gaps. Follow the show, and you'll have the episode on your mobile device at 5am. Tap the plus sign in the upper right corner of the screen you're looking at right now.

That'll do it for today. We're back tomorrow morning with more ASTHO news and information.

I'm Janson Silvers. You're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition.

Have a great day.