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Dr. Sameer Vohra, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health and an ASTHO Member, details Illinois’ latest report on infant mortality; Allison Corr, manager for the Suicide Risk Reduction Project at The Pew Charitable Trusts, explains trends...
Dr. Sameer Vohra, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health and an ASTHO Member, details Illinois’ latest report on infant mortality; Allison Corr, manager for the Suicide Risk Reduction Project at The Pew Charitable Trusts, explains trends surrounding suicide; and you still have time to sign up for ASTHO’s Performance Management System Vendor Showcase on October 30.
Pew Web Page: Suicide Risk Increasing and Many High-Risk People Don’t Receive Mental Health Care
ASTHO Web Page: Vendor Showcase – Performance Management Systems
JANSON SILVERS:
This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Tuesday, October 29, 2024. I'm Janson Silvers. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
SAMEER VOHRA:
The good news is that the new report points to real progress in reducing the infant mortality rate.
SILVERS:
Dr. Sameer Vohra, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, and an ASTHO member, says Illinois' new report shows a drop in the infant mortality rate, but it also highlights some challenges the state still faces.
VOHRA:
The other thing is that the report highlighted significant disparities in people who are experiencing, and families who are experiencing, the loss of an infant, a child before their first birthday.
SILVERS:
Illinois has made infant and maternal health a priority for the entire state.
VOHRA:
We're working on a statewide strategic plan and distribution of birth equity resource-building grants to support the needs of community-based reproductive health care providers.
SILVERS:
Vohra says millions of dollars are being invested and a lot of work is being done to ensure progress continues to be made with infant mortality.
VOHRA:
We're supporting birthing hospitals through a regionalized perinatal system designed to improve birth outcomes through training, technical support, and risk-appropriate care. We do ongoing data surveillance and collection, including having fetal and infant mortality reviews and working comprehensively with coroners' offices and medical examiners to identify the underlying causes.
SILVERS:
Vohra also wanted to highlight the importance of community initiatives, home visiting programs, and birth equity grants. You can read more about the state's successes in the full report. Just use the link in the show notes.
Pew Charitable Trusts recently published an article along with interactive charts that identify trends and disparities surrounding suicide. Here's Allison Corr with Pew Charitable Trusts.
ALLISON CORR:
From this research, we learned that there are stark disparities, especially by race and ethnicity for suicide attempts and by age for suicidal ideation, and we learned that only half of people experiencing suicide risk receive mental health care.
SILVERS:
While the numbers are troubling, Corr says there is a way public health can insert themselves to help the problem.
CORR:
Unfortunately, we know that less than half of individuals in high-risk groups are receiving mental health services, but over 80% are receiving general health services, which means there are critical opportunities for health systems and providers, and not just mental health providers, primary care, emergency department and others, to identify individuals experiencing suicide risk and connect them to life-saving care.
SILVERS:
Public health can also assist youth in getting the help they need.
CORR:
State health departments can help schools implement evidence-based practices and policies so they can provide developmentally-appropriate screenings and the appropriate crisis and trauma interventions for kids who screen positive and need immediate help.
SILVERS:
You can read the full report by clicking the link in the show notes.
Also today, there is still time to register for ASTHO's Performance Management Vendor Showcase. The event is tomorrow, October 30, from 12:30 to 5 p.m. ET.This is your chance to see what a performance management system can do for your team or upgrade your current system. Use the link in the show notes to register.
Finally, this morning, ASTHO wants to remind you about its Public Health Weekly newsletter, the perfect compliment to the Morning Edition newscast. Each installment covers the latest public health news, ASTHO's work with Congress and the White House, policy happenings in the states and territories, and much, much more. You can sign up using the link in the show notes.
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.
