Between 2009 and 2011, two tribal communities located approximately 3,000 miles apart—an American Indian tribe on a reservation in New Mexico and a group of closely knit Alaska Native villages in western Alaska—experienced clusters of youth suicides. Across these communities, 25 young people, all American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AN), took their own lives. At least 28 others attempted suicide, 19 of whom […]
Research / journal article
Health of the States: How U.S. States Compare in Health Status and the Factors that Shape Health
The Health of the States (HOTS) project is a detailed analysis of state rankings on 39 health outcomes, and correlations between those health outcomes and 123 determinants of health spanning five domains: health care, health behaviors, social and economic factors, the physical and social environment, and public policies and spending. The project was conducted by […]
Childhood Trauma and Illicit Drug Use in Adolescence: A Population-Based National Comorbidity Survey Replication–Adolescent Supplement Study
Research from a national sample of almost 10,000 U.S. adolescents found psychological trauma, especially abuse and domestic violence before age 11, can increase the likelihood of experimentation with drugs in adolescence, independent of a history of mental illness. The research, led by Mailman School of Public Health postdoctoral fellow Hannah Carliner and Associate Professor Silvia […]
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Mental Health Care for Children and Young Adults: A National Study
One in five Americans is estimated to have a mental health condition at any given time. But getting treatment remains difficult — and it’s worse for children, especially those who identify as black or Hispanic. That’s the major finding in research published in the International Journal of Health Services. The study examines how often young […]
No Place for Youth: Girls in the Adult Justice System
This report focuses on the growing population of girls younger than 18 in adult correctional facilities. The bulletin summarizes current research, incorporates input from practitioners, and offers recommendations for improving conditions and outcomes for girls who are sentenced to adult facilities. Population of focus: Girls younger than 18 in adult correctional facilities Links to resource: […]
National Survey of Prison Health Care: Selected Findings
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), and the US Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics have released a new report — National Survey of Prison Health Care: Selected Findings. This report presents selected findings on admissions testing for infectious disease, cardiovascular risk factors, and mental health conditions […]