for an essay about threats to our health

Essays About Health: Top 5 Examples and 7 Prompts

Almost everyone would agree that health is the most important thing in life. Check out our guide on writing essays about health.

The concept of health is simple. It is the condition where you are well and free from disease or illness. When we are healthy, we are happier, more productive, and able to live a full life. There are many types of health, each helping us to survive and excel in different areas of our life, including physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional health.

In the same ways, there are different ways to stay healthy, such as exercise, socialization, and self-care. These areas of health may not all be equally important, but each of them plays a vital role in making us the best versions of ourselves we can be. You might also find our medical words list helpful.

5 Top Essay Examples

1. essay on how to keep healthy by diwakar sharma, 2. what it’s like living with depression: a personal essay by nadine dirks, 3. the advantages of eating healthy food by lindsay boyers.

• 4.  A Helping Hand: An Essay On The Importance Of Mental Health Parity by Sydney Waltner

5. ​​Stop Trying to be Happy: Improving Your Emotional Health by Jacquelynn Lyon

7 prompts for essays about health, 1. what is the most important type of health, 2. do television and video games negatively impact mental , 3. freedom and public health, 4. how can you live a healthier life, 5. what causes depression, 6. mental health and eating disorders, 7. is “spiritual health” really necessary.

“I think there is no use in earning money in such a way that denies our health. Money is not important than health as it cannot return health and fitness back once we are ill. Thus health is always preferred over money as good health keeps us happy and free from various health issues. If we are healthy we can earn whole life but can’t earn if the health gets deteriorated.”

Sharma discusses the importance of health and ways to stay healthy, including eating nutritious food, drinking water, keeping a good sleep schedule, and exercising. In addition, he notes that it is essential to prioritize your health; do not work too hard or chase money to the extent that it affects your health negatively. You can also check out these articles about cancer .

“I was pleasantly surprised when—after around three weeks—I started feeling results. My intense feeling of overwhelming sadness and hopelessness slowly started to lift and the fears I had about not feeling like myself dissipated. I had worried I would feel less like myself on fluoxetine, but instead for the first time, in a long time—I felt more like myself and able to function throughout the day. Receiving treatment and building healthy coping mechanisms has allowed me to continue to function, even when a depressive episode hits.”

Depression is one of the first things people think of concerning mental health. In her essay, Dirks reflects on her experiences with depression, recalling her feelings of hopelessness and sadness, putting her in a dull, lethargic mood. However, she got help by going to a doctor and starting medication and therapy. Dirks also lists down a few symptoms of depression, warning readers to get help if they are experiencing a number of them.

“A healthful diet is just as good for your brain as the rest of your body. Unhealthy foods are linked to a range of neurological problems. Certain nutrient deficiencies increasing the risk of depression. Other nutrients, like potassium, actually involved in brain cell function. A varied, healthful diet keeps your brain functioning properly, and it can promote good mental health as well.”

Boyers discusses some benefits of healthy eating, such as weight control, reduced risk of diabetes and cancer, and better brain function- an unhealthy diet is linked to neurological problems. She gives readers tips on what they should and should not eat in huge quantities, saying to avoid sugary foods and drinks while eating lean meat, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. You might also be interested in these essays about nursing and essays about obesity .

4.   A Helping Hand: An Essay On The Importance Of Mental Health Parity by Sydney Waltner

“For three years I was one of those people hiding my illness. I was quietly suffering from depression and an eating disorder. My whole day revolved around my eating disorder and hiding it from everyone. This caused a lot of sadness, anger, and loneliness. I not only hid it from others, but I also tried to hide it from myself. I tried to convince myself that nothing was wrong because I did not fully understand what was happening.  I did not know what was making me hurt myself and why I could not stop.”

Waltner writes her essay about the importance of mental health and how it can also affect one’s physical health. She recalls her experiences with hiding her depression and eating disorder; they led to her immense suffering, but her parents discovered her illness before it was too late. She is grateful for how her life is now and encourages others to break the stigma around mental health issues and speak up if something is wrong with them. 

“Beautiful people, smart people, funny people, leaders, lawyers, engineers, professional clowns, everyone you’ve ever looked up to — they have suffered in their lives, and probably will continue to suffer at some point.”

The obsession with making yourself happy will forever have you either not valuing the present or will lead to despair when you do find it — and it’s still not enough. This cycle of self-abuse, dissatisfaction, and emotional isolation can paralyze us, hinder our actions, and mar our self-perception.

Lyon reflects on something she discovered in her first year of college: that it’s fine if you’re not always happy. She says that society’s pressure for everyone to be positive and happy 100% of the time is detrimental to many people’s emotional and mental health. As a result, she gives readers tips on being happy in a “healthier” way: happiness should not be forced, and you should not constantly compare yourself to others. 

There are many types of health, each playing an essential role in helping us live well. If you were to pick one, which do you believe is the most important? You can choose mental well-being, physical well-being, or spiritual well-being. Use your personal experiences in defending your choice; be sure to support your stance with sufficient details. 

For a strong argumentative essay, write about the correlation between “screen time” or video games and television with mental health. Are they that bad for people’s mental health? Perhaps they are good for the mental health of some people. Research this topic and support your response with credible sources- there is no wrong answer as long as it is well-defended. For an interesting piece, conduct interviews to gather information.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many argue that some freedoms must be given up for the greater good. These include mask mandates, vaccine mandates, and stay-at-home orders. Write about whether or not public health should be prioritized over “individual liberty” and why. If so, to what extent? Answer this question in your own words for a compelling argument.

Like many of our cited essay examples above, you can write your essay on how to stay healthy. Give your readers some mental, physical, or social guidelines for being healthier, and explain why they are important. You can even do a more well-rounded guide; give a few tips for each type of health if you wish. 

As stated previously, a prevalent health issue is depression, which can stem from various factors. Look into the different causes of depression and explain how they lead to depression. In this essay, you can share your research on social factors, economic factors, and health conditions that can make a person more susceptible to depression. As this is a medical-related topic, use credible sources for your research. 

Many believe there is a correlation between mental health and obesity, anorexia, and bulimia—research how mental health issues can cause these issues or vice versa, depending on what you find. In your essay, explain the link between mental health issues and eating disorders and how they can affect each other.

A type of health commonly listed is spiritual health, which many religious people value. Should it be classified as something different? Many believe the components of “spiritual health” already fall under mental, social, emotional, and social health, so there is no need to classify it as something different. Reflect on this issue and discuss your stance. 

For help with this topic, read our guide explaining “what is persuasive writing ?”

If you’re stuck picking an essay topic, check out our guide on how to write essays about depression .

Martin is an avid writer specializing in editing and proofreading. He also enjoys literary analysis and writing about food and travel.

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Why climate change is still the greatest threat to human health

Polluted air and steadily rising temperatures are linked to health effects ranging from increased heart attacks and strokes to the spread of infectious diseases and psychological trauma.

People around the world are witnessing firsthand how climate change can wreak havoc on the planet. Steadily rising average temperatures fuel increasingly intense wildfires, hurricanes, and other disasters that are now impossible to ignore. And while the world has been plunged into a deadly pandemic, scientists are sounding the alarm once more that climate change is still the greatest threat to human health in recorded history .

As recently as August—when wildfires raged in the United States, Europe, and Siberia—World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement that “the risks posed by climate change could dwarf those of any single disease.”

On September 5, more than 200 medical journals released an unprecedented joint editorial that urged world leaders to act. “The science is unequivocal,” they write. “A global increase of 1.5°C above the pre-industrial average and the continued loss of biodiversity risk catastrophic harm to health that will be impossible to reverse.”

Despite the acute dangers posed by COVID-19, the authors of the joint op-ed write that world governments “cannot wait for the pandemic to pass to rapidly reduce emissions.” Instead, they argue, everyone must treat climate change with the same urgency as they have COVID-19.

Here’s a look at the ways that climate change can affect your health—including some less obvious but still insidious effects—and why scientists say it’s not too late to avert catastrophe.

Air pollution

Climate change is caused by an increase of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere, mostly from fossil fuel emissions. But burning fossil fuels can also have direct consequences for human health. That’s because the polluted air contains small particles that can induce stroke and heart attacks by penetrating the lungs and heart and even traveling into the bloodstream. Those particles might harm the organs directly or provoke an inflammatory response from the immune system as it tries to fight them off. Estimates suggest that air pollution causes anywhere between 3.6 million and nine million premature deaths a year.

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“The numbers do vary,” says Andy Haines , professor of environmental change and public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and author of the recently published book Planetary Health . “But they all agree that it’s a big public health burden.”

People over the age of 65 are most susceptible to the harmful effects of air pollution, but many others are at risk too, says Kari Nadeau , director of the Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy and Asthma Research at Stanford University. People who smoke or vape are at increased risk, as are children with asthma.

Air pollution also has consequences for those with allergies. Carbon dioxide increases the acidity of the air, which then pulls more pollen out from plants. For some people, this might just mean that they face annoyingly long bouts of seasonal allergies. But for others, it could be life-threatening.

“For people who already have respiratory disease, boy is that a problem,” Nadeau says. When pollen gets into the respiratory pathway, the body creates mucus to get rid of it, which can then fill up and suffocate the lungs.

Even healthy people can have similar outcomes if pollen levels are especially intense. In 2016, in the Australian state of Victoria, a severe thunderstorm combined with high levels of pollen to induce what The Lancet has described as “the world’s largest and most catastrophic epidemic of thunderstorm asthma.” So many residents suffered asthma attacks that emergency rooms were overwhelmed—and at least 10 people died as a result.

Climate change is also causing wildfires to get worse, and wildfire smoke is especially toxic. As one recent study showed, fires can account for 25 percent of dangerous air pollution in the U.S. Nadeau explains that the smoke contains particles of everything that the fire has consumed along its path—from rubber tires to harmful chemicals. These particles are tiny and can penetrate even deeper into a person’s lungs and organs. ( Here’s how breathing wildfire smoke affects the body .)

Extreme heat

Heat waves are deadly, but researchers at first didn’t see direct links between climate change and the harmful impacts of heat waves and other extreme weather events. Haines says the evidence base has been growing. “We have now got a number of studies which has shown that we can with high confidence attribute health outcomes to climate change,” he says.

Most recently, Haines points to a study published earlier this year in Nature Climate Change that attributes more than a third of heat-related deaths to climate change. As National Geographic reported at the time , the study found that the human toll was even higher in some countries with less access to air conditioning or other factors that render people more vulnerable to heat. ( How climate change is making heat waves even deadlier .)

That’s because the human body was not designed to cope with temperatures above 98.6°F, Nadeau says. Heat can break down muscles. The body does have some ways to deal with the heat—such as sweating. “But when it’s hot outside all the time, you cannot cope with that, and your heart muscles and cells start to literally die and degrade,” she says.

If you’re exposed to extreme heat for too long and are unable to adequately release that heat, the stress can cause a cascade of problems throughout the body. The heart has to work harder to pump blood to the rest of the organs, while sweat leeches the body of necessary minerals such as sodium and potassium. The combination can result in heart attacks and strokes .

Dehydration from heat exposure can also cause serious damage to the kidneys, which rely on water to function properly. For people whose kidneys are already beginning to fail—particularly older adults—Nadeau says that extreme heat can be a death sentence. “This is happening more and more,” she says.

Studies have also drawn links between higher temperatures and preterm birth and other pregnancy complications. It’s unclear why, but Haines says that one hypothesis is that extreme heat reduces blood flow to the fetus.

Food insecurity

One of the less direct—but no less harmful—ways that climate change can affect health is by disrupting the world’s supply of food.

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Climate change both reduces the amount of food that’s available and makes it less nutritious.   According to an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) special report , crop yields have already begun to decline as a result of rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events. Meanwhile, studies have shown that increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere can leech plants of zinc, iron, and protein—nutrients that humans need to survive.

Malnutrition is linked to a variety of illnesses, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. It can also increase the risk of stunting, or impaired growth , in children, which can harm cognitive function.

Climate change also imperils what we eat from the sea. Rising ocean temperatures have led many fish species to migrate toward Earth’s poles in search of cooler waters. Haines says that the resulting decline of fish stocks in subtropic regions “has big implications for nutrition,” because many of those coastal communities depend on fish for a substantial amount of the protein in their diets.

This effect is likely to be particularly harmful for Indigenous communities, says Tiff-Annie Kenny, a professor in the faculty of medicine at Laval University in Quebec who studies climate change and food security in the Canadian Arctic. It’s much more difficult for these communities to find alternative sources of protein, she says, either because it’s not there or because it’s too expensive. “So what are people going to eat instead?” she asks.

Infectious diseases  

As the planet gets hotter, the geographic region where ticks and mosquitoes like to live is getting wider. These animals are well-known vectors of diseases such as the Zika virus, dengue fever, and malaria. As they cross the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, Nadeau says, mosquitoes and ticks bring more opportunities for these diseases to infect greater swaths of the world.

“It used to be that they stayed in those little sectors near the Equator, but now unfortunately because of the warming of northern Europe and Canada, you can find Zika in places you wouldn’t have expected,” Nadeau says.

In addition, climate conditions such as temperature and humidity can impact the life cycle of mosquitoes. Haines says there’s particularly good evidence showing that, in some regions, climate change has altered these conditions in ways that increase the risk of mosquitos transmitting dengue .

There are also several ways in which climate change is increasing the risk of diseases that can be transmitted through water, such as cholera, typhoid fever, and parasites. Sometimes that’s fairly direct, such as when people interact with dirty floodwaters. But Haines says that drought can have indirect impacts when people, say, can’t wash their hands or are forced to drink from dodgier sources of freshwater.

Mental health

A common result of any climate-linked disaster is the toll on mental health. The distress caused by drastic environmental change is so significant that it has been given its own name— solastalgia .

Nadeau says that the effects on mental health have been apparent in her studies of emergency room visits arising from wildfires in the western U.S. People lose their homes, their jobs, and sometimes their loved ones, and that takes an immediate toll. “What’s the fastest acute issue that develops? It’s psychological,” she says. Extreme weather events such as wildfires and hurricanes cause so much stress and anxiety that they can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder and even suicide in the long run.

Another common factor is that climate change causes disproportionate harm to the world’s most vulnerable people. On September 2, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released an analysis showing that racial and ethnic minority communities are particularly at risk . According to the report, if temperatures rise by 2°C (3.6°F), Black people are 40 percent more likely to live in areas with the highest projected increases in related deaths. Another 34 percent are more likely to live in areas with a rise in childhood asthma.

Further, the effects of climate change don’t occur in isolation. At any given time, a community might face air pollution, food insecurity, disease, and extreme heat all at once. Kenny says that’s particularly devastating in communities where the prevalence of food insecurity and poverty are already high. This situation hasn’t been adequately studied, she says, because “it’s difficult to capture these shocks that climate can bring.”

Why there’s reason for hope

In recent years, scientists and environmental activists have begun to push for more research into the myriad health effects of climate change. “One of the striking things is there’s been a real dearth of funding for climate change and health,” Haines says. “For that reason, some of the evidence we have is still fragmentary.”

Still, hope is not lost. In the Paris Agreement, countries around the world have pledged to limit global warming to below 2°C (3.6°F)—and preferably to 1.5°C (2.7°F)—by cutting their emissions. “When you reduce those emissions, you benefit health as well as the planet,” Haines says.

Meanwhile, scientists and environmental activists have put forward solutions that can help people adapt to the health effects of climate change. These include early heat warnings and dedicated cooling centers, more resilient supply chains, and freeing healthcare facilities from dependence on the electric grid.

Nadeau argues that the COVID-19 pandemic also presents an opportunity for world leaders to think bigger and more strategically. For example, the pandemic has laid bare problems with efficiency and equity that have many countries restructuring their healthcare facilities. In the process, she says, they can look for new ways to reduce waste and emissions, such as getting more hospitals using renewable energy.

“This is in our hands to do,” Nadeau says. “If we don’t do anything, that would be cataclysmic.”

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These are the 10 biggest global health threats of the decade

Global warming and conflict zones are among the main obstacles. Image:  REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic - RC186A78C7A0

.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo{-webkit-transition:all 0.15s ease-out;transition:all 0.15s ease-out;cursor:pointer;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;outline:none;color:inherit;}.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo:hover,.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo[data-hover]{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo:focus,.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo[data-focus]{box-shadow:0 0 0 3px rgba(168,203,251,0.5);} Johnny Wood

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Stay up to date:, global health.

• The WHO released the top 10 global healthcare challenges in the coming decade.
• Global warming, conflict zones and unfair healthcare provision are among the main obstacles.
• Many healthcare challenges are interconnected and will require a coordinated international effort to overcome.
• Experts are concerned governments around the world are failing to invest sufficient funds in overcoming these issues.

The world can’t afford to do nothing – that's the World Health Organization’s message on the release of its report listing the most urgent health challenges for the coming decade.

All of the health challenges on the WHO list are urgent – and many are linked. And each challenge requires a coordinated effort from the global health sector, policymakers, international agencies and communities, the organization says. However, there is concern global leaders are failing to invest enough resources in core health priorities and systems.

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These are the main challenges on the list.

1. Elevating health in the climate debate The climate crisis poses one of the biggest threats to both the planet and the health of the people who live on it.

Emissions kill around 7 million people each year, and are responsible for more than a quarter of deaths from diseases including heart attacks, stroke and lung cancer. At the same time, more – and more intense – extreme weather events like drought and floods increase malnutrition rates and help spread infectious diseases like malaria.

2. Delivering health in conflict and crisis

The already difficult task of containing disease outbreaks is made more challenging in countries rife with conflict.

Nearly 1,000 attacks on healthcare workers and medical facilities in 11 countries were recorded in 2019, leaving 193 medical staff dead. Despite stricter surveillance, many healthcare workers remain vulnerable.

For the tens of millions of people forced to flee their homes, there is often little or no access to healthcare.

3. Making healthcare fairer

The gap between the haves and have-nots is growing, especially in terms of access to healthcare.

People in wealthy nations can expect to live 18 years longer than their poorer neighbours, and wealth can determine access to healthcare within countries and individual cities, as well. Rising global rates of diseases like cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory conditions have a greater impact on low- and middle-income countries, where medical bills can quickly deplete the limited resources of poorer families.

4. Expanding access to medicines Although many in the world take access to medication for granted, medicines and vaccines are not an option for almost one-third of the global population.

The challenge of expanding access to medicines in areas where few, if any, healthcare products are available includes combatting substandard and imitation medical products . In addition to putting lives at risk by failing to treat the patient’s condition, these products can undermine confidence in medicines and healthcare providers.

5. Stopping infectious diseases

Infectious diseases continue to kill millions of people, most of them poor. This picture looks unlikely to change in the near future.

Preventing the spread of diseases like HIV, tuberculosis and malaria depends on sufficient levels of funding and robust healthcare systems. But in some areas where they are most needed, these resources are in short supply.

Greater funding and political will is required to develop immunization programmes, share data on disease outbreaks and reduce the effects of drug resistance.

6. Preparing for epidemics

Airborne viruses or diseases transferred by mosquito bite can spread quickly, with potentially devastating consequences.

Currently, more time and resources are spent reacting to a new strain of influenza or an outbreak of yellow fever, rather than preparing for future outbreaks. But it’s not a question of if a dangerous virus will come about – but when.

Epidemics are a huge threat to health and the economy: the vast spread of disease can literally destroy societies.

In 2017, at our Annual Meeting, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) was launched – bringing together experts from government, business, health, academia and civil society to accelerate the development of vaccines against emerging infectious diseases and to enable access to them during outbreaks.

Our world needs stronger, unified responses to major health threats. By creating alliances and coalitions like CEPI, which involve expertise, funding and other support, we are able to collectively address the most pressing global health challenges.

Is your organisation interested in working with the World Economic Forum to tackle global health issues? Find out more here .

7. Protecting people from dangerous products

Many poorer parts of the world face malnutrition and food insecurity, while at the same time, global obesity levels and diet-related problems are on the rise. We need to rethink what we eat, reduce the consumption of food and drinks high in sugar, salt and harmful fats, and promote healthy, sustainable diets. To this end, the WHO is working with countries to develop policies that reduce our reliance on harmful foodstuffs.

Health workers are in short supply the world over. Sustainable health and social care systems depend on well-paid and properly trained staff who can deliver quality care. WHO research predicts that by 2030, there will be a shortfall of 18 million health workers, mostly in low- and middle-income countries.

New investment is needed to properly train health workers and provide decent salaries for people in the profession, it says.

9. Keeping adolescents safe

Every year, more than 1 million adolescents – aged between 10 and 19 – die. The main causes include road accidents, suicides, domestic violence and diseases like HIV or lower respiratory conditions. But many of these premature deaths are preventable. Policymakers, educators and health practitioners need to promote positive mental health among adolescents, to prevent illicit drug use, alcohol abuse and self harm. Programmes that raise awareness of things like contraception, sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy care help address some of the underlying causes of adolescent fatalities.

10. Earning public trust Delivering safe, reliable healthcare to patients involves first gaining their confidence and trust; a trust which can be undermined by the rapid spread of misinformation on social media. For example, the anti-vaccination movement has led to an increase in deaths from preventable diseases. But social media can also be used to spread reliable information and build public trust in healthcare. Community programmes are another way to boost confidence in healthcare provision and practices that prevent the spread of diseases, such as vaccinations or condom use.

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License and Republishing

World Economic Forum articles may be republished in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License, and in accordance with our Terms of Use.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.

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Addressing Threats to Public Health Practice

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• Date: Oct 26 2021
• Policy Number: LB21-01

Key Words: Public Health Workforce, coronavirus, pandemic, Community Health Programs

Abstract While the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has exacerbated known and long-standing challenges to the nation’s public health system, including a neglected infrastructure and inadequate funding, new actions to limit the authority of public health in an environment of mistrust and disregard for public health science, public health measures, and public health officials add to the complexity of challenges we are facing. The ability to determine whether public health measures are needed to address issues that pose significant risks to the health and well-being of communities has been dramatically limited or reassigned to elected officials without any requisite knowledge of science or public health. Public health professionals who have promoted and worked to implement evidence-informed public health measures have been contradicted or ignored by elected officials and others while being harassed or threatened for doing their work. A significant number of professionals have been fired, have retired early, or have terminated their employment as a result of fear for themselves and their families, an inability to protect the communities they have served, exhaustion, and a bleak forward-looking picture. Public health’s mission to ensure conditions in which all people can be healthy has been overshadowed, eclipsed, and minimized by assorted national, state, and local policymakers and community residents. Public health’s future rests on our work to understand and address these challenges, to strengthen systems that are lacking, and to be innovative in looking forward and implementing what is needed to carry out our mission to protect the health of the public we serve.

Relationship to Existing APHA Policy Statements

• APHA Policy Statement LB20-03: COVID-19 and the Education Sector: Early Lessons from the Pandemic
• APHA Policy Statement 20171: Supporting Research and Evidence-Based Public Health Practice in State and Local Health
• APHA Policy Statement 201511: Impact of Preemptive Laws on Public Health
• APHA Policy Statement 201015: Securing the Long-Term Sustainability of State and Local Health Departments
• APHA Policy Statement 200911: Public Health’s Critical Role in Health Reform in the United States
• APHA Policy Statement 20063: Preparing for Pandemic Influenza
• APHA Policy Statement 20034: Protecting Essential Public Health Functions Amidst State Economic Downturns
• APHA Policy Statement 200023: The Need for Continued and Strengthened Support for Immunization Programs

Problem Statement While the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has exacerbated known and long-lasting challenges facing the country’s public health system, such as neglected infrastructure and inadequate funding, new actions to limit the authority of public health in an environment of mistrust and disregard for public health science, public health actions, and public health officials add further concerns and complexity.[1]

Recent dramatic increases in legislative actions to limit the power of public health have been reported by the Network for Public Health Law and the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO).[2] As of mid-September 2021, more than half of U.S. states had passed legislation that limits public health authority, and bills limiting public health authority have been introduced in the remainder of the states. Idaho now allows county commissioners to override countywide public health orders.[3] At least nine states now have laws that ban or limit mask mandates (Florida, Texas, Arkansas, Arizona, Iowa, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, Montana), and five states have executive orders or court rulings that limit mask requirements.[4] In at least 16 states, the power of public health officials to order mask mandates, quarantines, or isolation has been limited. Many governors have opted not to implement mask mandates and are relying on local public health agencies to determine whether mandates are needed and to implement them. Seventeen states have passed laws banning COVID vaccine mandates or vaccine passports or have made it easier to get around vaccine requirements.[2]

Other state-level policies include limiting public health’s ability to close businesses to prevent the spread of disease (Kansas), banning the use of quarantine (Montana), stripping authority from local health departments and local governments to respond to local emergency conditions (Texas), blocking state universities from requiring vaccinations for students and employees (Arizona, Georgia), prohibiting hospitals from requiring employees to be vaccinated (Arizona), setting arbitrary time limits for emergency orders (Florida), and shifting power from state and local public health agencies to legislatures (Ohio, Indiana). Lawsuits have been filed in a number of states including California, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Virginia claiming that state or local restrictions on religious gatherings are in violation of the First Amendment right to free exercise of religion. Some states have classified religious gatherings as “essential” to elude public health recommendations.[5] On a national level, at least 24 governors are threatening to sue President Biden over his vaccine mandates, as the governors perceive the mandates to be overreaching.[6,7]

The judicial branch has typically upheld delegations of authority under public health powers. The U.S. Supreme Court, in the 1905 Jacobson v. Massachusetts case, ruled in favor of the state to require that Reverend Henning Jacobson be vaccinated for smallpox or pay the required $5 fine, recognizing that the public good outweighed the rights of the individual.[8] Over the years, the courts have continued to grant public health agencies substantial deference in imposing requirements to control preventable diseases, for example by requiring childhood vaccinations for school entrance. In using the power from the Jacobson court ruling, public health authorities should not merely be reasonable and transparent in their actions but should also “adopt the least restrictive alternative that will meet the public health goal.”[9]

Opposition to science-based public health measures that have been utilized during the pandemic has taken a number of forms. In some locales, public health agencies have gone to court to ensure enforcement of public health orders, as these agencies do not have other ways of enforcing compliance. For example, Dr. Dawn Comstock, executive director of Jefferson County Public Health (Colorado), issued a public health order to require masks in schools. Three private schools in the county did not comply with the order, nor did they allow Jefferson County Public Health to enter the school buildings unannounced to determine whether the order was being followed. A court hearing was held in September 2021. The judge decided to allow the order to stand temporarily. The cost of the court hearing was borne by Jefferson County (personal communication between Dawn Comstock, PhD, and Linda Degutis, DrPH, September 2021).

Another difficulty that health departments face with respect to public health orders is that in many situations the agency, in its efforts to enforce an order, has a single option for action if the order is violated. For example, if there is a mandate for mask wearing in schools and there is a report to the health department that a school is violating the public health order, the health department will investigate to document compliance or noncompliance. If the school is found to be noncompliant, the only choice that may be available to the health department is to shut the school down, thereby preventing the children attending that school from participating in in-person learning. This differs from the types of actions that might be undertaken in restaurant inspections, in which the department inspects a restaurant and identifies levels of compliance with food safety regulations. The restaurant will receive a score, and, if the score is below a specified level, the restaurant will be given a warning and will be reinspected within a short time frame. If its score remains low, the restaurant may be fined, and continued noncompliance may result in closure. This stepwise process provides an opportunity to take corrective measures that help to ensure that patrons of the restaurant are not at risk of illness because of food storage, preparation, and service.

Actions to strip public health of its ability to take measures to protect the public have included harassing and threatening public health officials and limiting or restricting the release of data related to the pandemic by public health officials.[10] News accounts report on a substantial number of personnel who have voluntarily left their positions or been fired at local and state levels. NACCHO has tracked more than 250 public health officials who have left their positions.[11]

Attacks have come not just from elected officials but from the public in the form of physical threats directed at public health workers and their families. Vitriolic postings on social media, radio attack ads, armed protesters, suspicious packages left on door steps, vandalized cars, and demonstrations at clinic sites have exacted a toll as documented by a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention summer 2021 survey of mental health among state, tribal, local, and territorial public health workers. The results document self-reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and suicidal ideation.[12] In addition, a systematic review and meta-analysis linked psychological stress at work to mental health symptoms and increased absenteeism, high turnover, lower productivity, and lower morale.[13]

A Boots on the Ground post[14] suggests that public health borrow the concept of “moral injury” from combat medicine to describe the psychological, behavioral, social, and/or spiritual distress experienced by an overworked and undervalued public health workforce.

The disappearance of experienced public health professionals through resignation or dismissal results in the loss of institutional memory, expertise, and experience. The Association of State and Territorial Health Officers (ASTHO) determined that 33% of the state health officer turnover that had occurred as of August 2020 could be attributed to conflicts with elected officials and/or threats of physical harm and harassment from the public.[15] The already short tenure of state health officers has been exacerbated by COVID-19 and warrants serious consideration as the country emerges from the pandemic.

Assuming that new leaders can be found, having to replace leadership is an unwanted, unnecessary detraction. Recruitment of new personnel is a daunting task when the last office holder’s home was the staging ground for gun-toting protesters, as was the case for one state health commissioner.[16] There are particular challenges to recruitment of new leaders and personnel in rural and remote areas.

Collaborators have lost trusted colleagues. The community’s trust in public health and public administrators has eroded.[17] Observers suggest that public health learn from consumer product research that emphasizes the importance of transparency in sharing known and unknown risks. When made, errors should be acknowledged.[18] Distrust was amplified when, rather than attempting to provide an understanding of a new, evolving virus, early statements were used to reinforce a message of not being truthful, of incompetence, or of politicization of the pandemic.

People’s view of public health and the pandemic was also shaped by the data they received. Initial data terms were confusing[19] and left the public unsure of data’s value. Policymakers needed public health data. Jurisdictions across the country had data gaps and inadequate and inconsistent data definitions. Reporting timetables varied, as did access to data, and in some jurisdictions data were underreported or not reported at all.[20]

Disparate systems at state and local levels continue to challenge data’s usability and accuracy. During the pandemic, data systems struggled with disaggregation by key characteristics. COVID laid bare the patchwork of U.S. mortality tracking systems, including issues related to accuracy, completeness, and timeliness.[21] Challenges with data exchange between hospitals and public health agencies included both technology and workforce shortfalls.[22] The public health system, out of necessity, engaged academics as well as private sector consultants in assisting with data analysis and visualization, but valuable time was lost and lack of coordination across states led to varying case definitions and methods of measuring COVID-19-related deaths.[23] International comparisons were hampered by inconsistencies across countries. The pandemic has provided an incentive to develop a dynamic data system, a system called for in a 1995 report in Science.[24]

The pandemic has also elevated the need to rethink public health services and systems. We need to take a critical look at current activities and priorities and examine what we can do better, do differently, or stop doing. While public health continues its mission of protecting the health of the public, the system might benefit from a reexamination of structure and function and apply lessons learned during the pandemic. Organizations that serve to support state, regional, tribal, and local health departments and their leaders and staff can collaborate to identify model structures and functions that will contribute to the redesign and evolution of the public health system.

Evidence-Based Strategies to Address the Problem The best means of communicating public health messages is an area of research across the country. Recently, Cornell researchers tested strategies to increase source credibility through strategic message design in the context of vaccine hesitancy.[25] Research has established that there are three core components of source credibility: expertise, trustworthiness, and caring/goodwill. The authors found that messages designed to convey source expertise produced greater perceived trustworthiness and reduced vaccine hesitancy. Observing that perceptions of credibility of sources differed, they called for more research on how strategic messaging might serve to increase the credibility of a specific source. The researchers noted that while perceptions of caring/goodwill may be of particular importance for those who distrust institutional science, this is an underresearched area.[25] Only relatively late in the pandemic has there been a focus on seeking recommendations from one’s trusted health care provider.

The APHA Code of Ethics provides a framework for analyzing public health actions and speaks to, among other points, the need to enforce public health laws: “While coercive legal measures limiting behavior can be ethically justified in certain circumstances, overall the effective and ethical practice of public health depends upon social and cultural conditions of respect for personal autonomy, self-determination, privacy, and the absence of domination in its many interpersonal and institutional forms. Contemporary public health respects and helps sustain those social and cultural conditions.”[26] This code provides a foundation for engaging in public health actions to create and sustain healthy communities and for designing the future of public health that updates structure and function.

In public health, evidence has a number of different audiences: practitioners; local, state, regional, tribal, national, and international policymakers; nongovernmental stakeholders whose mission is to improve health; researchers/academics; and the public.[27] Evidence should inform our policies, programs, and systems. The systematic development and synthesis of evidence for these audiences has been ongoing, but there is much yet to learn coming out of this pandemic, particularly about the interface of evidence with policymakers and the public. The public’s lack of understanding or recognition of the progression of science regarding the SARS-CoV-2 virus has interfered with acceptance of changing “facts.” Some policymakers and members of the public are dismissive of accumulating science and evidence. How we deal with those with hardened positions going forward warrants careful study. McKinlay and Marceau maintain that public health workers, motivated by humanism and utilitarianism, deserve to get somewhere by design, not just by perseverance.[28] Just what is that design?

Opposing Arguments/Evidence Opposing views or arguments essentially consist of a dominant concern for oneself rather than others, reliance on readily available misinformation, locus of control regarding promulgation of public health measures, a pattern of distrust in government, politicization of a public health issue, and perceptions of overreach in the implementation of public health measures.

Much of the legal basis for public health measures, orders, and emergency orders resides within the authority of states. As definitions and assignments of authority lack uniformity across states, policies and practice also differ from one state to another. Decisions about what strategies are appropriate in order to prevent or mitigate a public health emergency are dependent upon the designated decision maker’s knowledge and understanding of the issue at hand. If the decision maker lacks the background or knowledge of public health and health issues and does not have a knowledgeable and reliable set of advisors on the issue (or may not heed the advice of knowledgeable public health advisors and leaders), decisions may be based on factors or outcomes that, although having an impact on the community, are not health outcomes. The outcomes that may be of concern to the decision maker may be economic, social, or community related. When public health experts are prohibited from exercising their authority to construct science-based public health orders and initiatives, the health of the community may be threatened and undervalued as other aspects of society are prioritized at the expense of the health of the public.

A prime example of the denigration of public health, as well as the inadequate response by some public health leaders, occurred at the beginning of the pandemic, when the White House set the stage for an unprecedented circumvention of public health agencies. Politicians rather than public health officials communicated with the public about the pandemic and the associated health risks. There were repeated denials of the potential severity of illness and risk of death as politicians continued their communications. Heads of federal agencies that focus on public health and health research—the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health—were not called upon to present the evidence for effective mitigation measures. Politicians promoted “cures” and treatments that were not only unproven but dangerous (e.g., hydroxychloroquine, bleach).

Early criticism from the White House of the CDC’s guidance made it appear politicized, eroding public trust in both the organization and its messages. Four former CDC heads penned an editorial appearing in the Washington Post titled “We Ran the CDC. No President Ever Politicized Its Science the Way Trump Has.” They noted that over their collective tenure at the CDC, spanning both Democratic and Republican administrations, they could not recall a single instance when political pressure resulted in a change in the interpretation of scientific evidence.[29] The secretary of the Department of Education described CDC guidelines for reopening schools as an impediment rather than characterizing them as actions to protect the safety of children and staff.[30]

According to Brown, public health interventions often stir controversies about the legitimate role of the state vis-à-vis individual autonomy and liberty and about the scope of personal versus social responsibility.[31] Public health measures implemented during the pandemic have relied on collective action to derive the most benefit, but a portion of society has a deep-seated belief that individual freedom trumps such actions. The breadth of the government’s action angered this population, as evidenced by their behavior toward public health officials and policymakers.[5,32–34]

During the pandemic, some political leaders decided to trust that their constituents would make the best decisions about protecting their health and the health of their community, regardless of their understanding of the evolving science of the pandemic and the efforts being made to end it. In addition, various sectors, including political groups, the media, and social networks, promulgated statements and theories that reinforced opposition to evidence-based public health measures and the continued erosion of public health authorities.

The pandemic catapulted public health experts to the forefront of what was viewed as political decision-making with polarizing reactions. Little is known about what citizens think of expert involvement in political decision-making. A study conducted in Europe showed that citizens prefer independent experts over national elected representatives in the policy change and implementation stages but that such acceptance is linked to specific issues.[35]

Opposition has also been built on the massive amounts of misinformation available on social media platforms and discussions with others with similar views. Messaging about the pandemic changed in real time as more was learned about SARS-CoV-2. Acknowledgment of uncertainty related to lack of available data was viewed as a negative rather than an understanding of the legitimacy of evolving science.

Action Steps System APHA calls for Congress, governors, mayors, tribal leaders, local leaders, and boards of health to form and support a comprehensive, nonpartisan, multisector commission to assess public health actions taken at the federal, state, tribal, regional, and local levels during the pandemic to control the spread of COVID-19.

APHA calls on policymakers at all levels to:

• Defend existing statutes that allow public health officials to implement public health measures that will aid in protecting the community from the impact of public health emergencies.
• Reinstate authority to public health officials to control outbreaks and manage other emergent and ongoing threats to the public’s health.

Funding APHA calls for Congress and state, tribal, and local governments to fund:

• Transformation of the nation’s public health infrastructure at a level that allows the system to provide essential public health services to all.
• Development of dynamic data systems that are timely, accurate, and relevant; involve analyses that can be formatted for distribution to stakeholders and members of the community in a range of formats; and include interoperability for monitoring public health issues, emerging issues, and public health actions.
• A distinct, parallel public health Health Resources and Services Administration education and training program while including basic core public health training in all health professional programs.

Workforce Threats APHA calls on Congress to require a reporting system of threats and harassment against public health workers in the performance of their official duties to the CDC and the CDC to build a database to better understand these occurrences.

APHA calls on groups such as the National Council of State Legislators, the National Governors Association, ASTHO, and NACCHO to develop model legislation and advocate for all state governors and legislative bodies to endorse a policy condemning harassment of or threats against public health officials (e.g., Colorado’s governor signed a law making it a misdemeanor to threaten public health officials or their families and California’s governor instituted an executive order protecting the privacy of public health officials) and implement legislation to protect public health officials.

Research APHA calls on the National Institutes of Health, the CDC, the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and foundations to increase funding for research addressing public health crisis interventions with options for just-in-time funding to prospectively study actions during public health emergencies.

Education APHA calls on the Council on Education for Public Health to consider a mandatory requirement for inclusion of public health communication coursework to ensure that people who complete public health degrees are familiar with communication technology options and limitations, evidence-based communication strategies, crisis communication, communication with population subgroups, and communication with policymakers so that they can better understand and use evidence-based public health measures.

References 1. Weber L, Ungar L, Smith MR, Recht H, Barry-Jester AM. Underfunded and under threat: hollowed-out public health system faces more cuts amid virus. Available at: https://khn.org/news/us-public-health-system-underfunded-under-threat-faces-more-cuts-amid-covid-pandemic/. Accessed August 30, 2020. 2. Network for Public Health Law, National Association of County and City Health Officials. Proposed limits on public health authority: dangerous for public health. Available at: https://www.networkforphl.org/resources/proposed-limits-on-public-health-authority-dangerous-for-public-health-2/. Accessed April 15, 2021. 3. Legislature of the State of Idaho. Senate Bill 1060. Available at: https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2021/legislation/s1060/. Accessed April 15, 2021. 4. Vestal C. 10 states have school mask mandates while 8 forbid them. Available at: https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2021/08/10/10-states-have-school-mask-mandates-while-8-forbid-them. Accessed September 23, 2021. 5. Vestal C, Ollove M. Politicians shunt aside public health officials. Available at: https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2020/06/18/politicians-shunt-aside-public-health-officials. Accessed July 21, 2021. 6. Healy J, Fausset R, Goodman JD. Biden’s sweeping vaccine mandates infuriate Republican governors. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/10/us/republicans-biden-covid.html. Accessed September 20, 2021. 7. Romboy D, Roche LR. Why nearly half of states are threatening to sue President Joe Biden over the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for businesses. Available at: https://www.deseret.com/utah/2021/9/16/22678244/two-dozen-states-threaten-lawsuit-against-joe-biden-over-covid-vaccination-mandate-businesses. Accessed September 30, 2021.  8. Mariner WK, Annas GJ, Giantz LH. Jacobson v Massachusetts: it’s not your great-great-grandfather’s public health law. Am J Public Health. 2005;95(4):581–90. 9. Silverman RD. The role of law and ethics in recent preparedness and response for vaccine-preventable illness. Law Public Health. 2020;135(6):851–855. 10. Clark C. Insults, threats of violence still imperil public health leaders. Available at: https://www.medpagetoday.com/special-reports/exclusives/91357. Accessed September 23, 2021. 11. Kounang N. The pandemic has pushed more than 250 public health officials out the door. Available at: https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/23/health/public-health-officials-quit/index.html. Accessed June 20, 2021.  12. Bryant-Genevier J, Rao CY, Lopez-Cardozo B, et al. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicidal ideation among state, tribal, local and territorial public health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic—United States, March–April 2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2021;70(26):947–952. 13. Duchaine CS, Aubé K, Gilbert-Oulmet M, et al. Psychosocial stressors at work and the risk of sickness absence due to a diagnosed mental disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry. 2020;77(8):842–851. 14. Morrow C. Moral injury on the frontlines in public health: balancing the needs of our communities and ourselves. Available at: https://jphmpdirect.com/2021/08/19/moral-injury-on-the-frontlines/. Accessed August 23, 2021. 15. Halverson P, Yeager V, Menachemi N, et al. Public health officials and COVID-19: leadership, politics, and the pandemic. J Public Health Manage Pract. 2021;27(suppl):S11–S13. 16. Greenblatt A. Why public health officials are quitting during a pandemic. Available at: https://www.governing.com/search?q=Why+public+health+officials+are+quitting+during+a+pandemic#nt=navsearch. Accessed August 5, 2020. 17. Deslatte A. The erosion of trust during a global pandemic and how public administrators should counter it. Am Rev Public Admin. 2020;50(6–7):489–496. 18. Udow-Phillips M, Lantz PM. Trust in public health is essential amid the COVID-19 pandemic. J Hosp Med. 2020;15(7):431–433. 19. Aaltonen P, Troisi C. Coronavirus numbers confusing you? Here’s how to make sense of them. Available at: https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-numbers-confusing-you-heres-how-to-make-sense-of-them-142624. Accessed July 22, 2020. 20. Galaitsi SE, Cegan JC, Volk K, Joyner MJ, Trump BD, Linkov I. The challenges of data usage for the United States COVID-19 response. Int J Information Manage. 2021;59:1–9. 21. Cochran SD, Mays VM. To save lives, we need to improve the measurement of death. Am J Public Health. 2021;111(53):S45. 22. Walker DM, Yeager VA, Lawrence J, McAlearney S. Identifying opportunities to strengthen the public health informatics infrastructure: exploring hospitals’ challenges with data exchange. Milbank Q. 2021;99(2):393–425. 23. Dixon BE, Caine VA, Halverson PK. Deficient response to COVID-19 makes the case for evolving the public health system. Am J Prev Med. 2020;59(6):887–891. 24. Taubes G. Epidemiology faces its limits. Science. 1995;269(5221):164–165, 167–169. 25. Xu Y, Margolin D, Niederdeppe J. Testing strategies to increase source credibility through strategic message design in the context of vaccination and vaccine hesitancy. Health Communications. 2021;36(11):1354–1367. 26. American Public Health Association. Public Health Code of Ethics. Available at: https://www.apha.org/-/media/files/pdf/membergroups/ethics/code_of_ethics.ashx. Accessed September 2, 2021. 27. Brownson RC, Baker EA, Deshpande AD, Gillespie KN. Evidence-Based Public Health. New York: Oxford University Press; 2018. 28. McKay D, Heisler M, Mishori R, Catton H, Klober O. Attacks against health-care personnel must stop, especially as the world fights COVID-19. Lancet. 2020;395:1743–1745. 29. Frieden T, Koplan J, Satcher D, Besser R. We ran CDC. No president ever politicized its science the way Trump has. Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/07/14/cdc-directors-trump-politics/. Accessed July 21, 2021. 30. Mansour S. Dismissing ‘flexible’ CDC guidelines, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos doubles down on pushing schools to reopen. Available at: https://time.com/5865987/betsy-devos-school-reopening-coronavirus/. Accessed July 21, 2021. 31. Brown L. The political face of public health. Public Health Rev 2017;32(10):155–173. 32. Aguilar J. I am angry today: Jeffco’s top health official halts mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinics after medical staff harassed. Available at: https://www.denverpost.com/2021/09/08/jefferson-county-covid-vaccine-clinic-halted/. Accessed September 15, 2021. 33. McKinlay JB, Marceau LD. To boldly go... Am J Public Health. 2000;90(1):25–33. 34. Mello MM, Green JA, Sharfstein JM. Attacks on public health officials during COVID-19. JAMA. 2021;324(8):741–742. 35. Bertsou E. Bring in the experts? Citizen preferences for independent experts in political decision-making process. Available at: https://ejpr.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1475-6785.12448. Accessed August 1, 2021.

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Essay on Health for Students and Children

500+ words essay on health.

Essay on Health: Health was earlier said to be the ability of the body functioning well. However, as time evolved, the definition of health also evolved. It cannot be stressed enough that health is the primary thing after which everything else follows. When you maintain good health , everything else falls into place.

Similarly, maintaining good health is dependent on a lot of factors. It ranges from the air you breathe to the type of people you choose to spend your time with. Health has a lot of components that carry equal importance. If even one of them is missing, a person cannot be completely healthy.

Constituents of Good Health

First, we have our physical health. This means being fit physically and in the absence of any kind of disease or illness . When you have good physical health, you will have a longer life span. One may maintain their physical health by having a balanced diet . Do not miss out on the essential nutrients; take each of them in appropriate quantities.

Secondly, you must exercise daily. It may be for ten minutes only but never miss it. It will help your body maintain physical fitness. Moreover, do not consume junk food all the time. Do not smoke or drink as it has serious harmful consequences. Lastly, try to take adequate sleep regularly instead of using your phone.

Next, we talk about our mental health . Mental health refers to the psychological and emotional well-being of a person. The mental health of a person impacts their feelings and way of handling situations. We must maintain our mental health by being positive and meditating.

Subsequently, social health and cognitive health are equally important for the overall well-being of a person. A person can maintain their social health when they effectively communicate well with others. Moreover, when a person us friendly and attends social gatherings, he will definitely have good social health. Similarly, our cognitive health refers to performing mental processes effectively. To do that well, one must always eat healthily and play brain games like Chess, puzzles and more to sharpen the brain.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Physical Health Alone is Not Everything

There is this stigma that surrounds mental health. People do not take mental illnesses seriously. To be completely fit, one must also be mentally fit. When people completely discredit mental illnesses, it creates a negative impact.

For instance, you never tell a person with cancer to get over it and that it’s all in their head in comparison to someone dealing with depression . Similarly, we should treat mental health the same as physical health.

Parents always take care of their children’s physical needs. They feed them with nutritious foods and always dress up their wounds immediately. However, they fail to notice the deteriorating mental health of their child. Mostly so, because they do not give it that much importance. It is due to a lack of awareness amongst people. Even amongst adults, you never know what a person is going through mentally.

Thus, we need to be able to recognize the signs of mental illnesses . A laughing person does not equal a happy person. We must not consider mental illnesses as a taboo and give it the attention it deserves to save people’s lives.

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Informing the Future: Critical Issues in Health: Fifth Edition.

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Managing Threats and Ensuring Healthy Communities: Health of the Public

Public health is fundamental to every individual’s health. An Institute of Medicine (IOM) committee in 1988 described the mission of public health as fulfilling society’s interest in assuring conditions in which people can be healthy. Yet each individual’s health and well-being are shaped by the interactions of genetic endowment, environmental exposures, lifestyle and food choices, social conditions, income, and medical care. Collectively, these factors shape health at the population level—the domain of public health.

As a reflection of its broad spectrum, public health is perhaps the most diverse area the IOM investigates.

As a reflection of its broad spectrum, public health is perhaps the most diverse area the IOM investigates. The studies deal with important—and sometimes contentious—challenges that affect people from every walk of life, in every part of the country.

• Preventing disease, early detection, and effective treatment

Since its founding, the IOM has consistently stressed the value of prevention of disease, a core tenet of public health. In studies ranging from core principles and needs in the field to specific issues such as health disparities, vaccine safety, smoking cessation, and reducing environmental hazards, the IOM continues to advance the best ways to ensure the public’s health.

Improving vaccines

In the United States and worldwide, vaccines have proved to be the most potent and cost-effective means of controlling infectious diseases. However, vaccines have yet to achieve their full potential.

In 1994, the U.S. government implemented a National Vaccine Plan that charted a route to more fully capture the promise of vaccines. Administered by the National Vaccine Program Office (NVPO) of the Department of Health and Human Services, the plan had four main goals: to develop new and improved vaccines; to ensure the optimal safety and effectiveness of vaccines and immunization; to better educate the public and members of the health professions on the benefits and risks of immunizations; and to achieve better use of existing vaccines to prevent disease, disability, and death. The plan, which offered more than 70 strategies for achieving its objectives, has recorded numerous successes since its implementation. But recent years also have kindled awareness that the plan needs to be modified to meet new challenges and opportunities.

Working in coordination with a number of federal agencies, the NVPO now is in the preliminary stages of updating the plan, and the partners turned to the IOM for assistance. Initial Guidance for an Update of the National Vaccine Plan: A Letter Report to the National Vaccine Program Office (2008) examines the goals, objectives, strategies, and anticipated outcomes of the original plan; explores how it was developed; and critiques the initial draft update that was proposed. Based on this analysis, the report identifies six specific “content” areas in which technical aspects of the 1994 plan might be improved and four “methodology” areas that might be strengthened in the process of updating the plan.

The report urges the inclusion of stakeholders beyond federal agencies in framing the plan’s scope, goals, and objectives. Additional contributors should include the pharmaceutical industry, insurers, health care providers and other purchasers of health care services, researchers across a range of basic and applied sciences, state and local public health agencies responsible for vaccine delivery, schools and day care centers, foundations and other not-for-profit organizations, the mass media, and, importantly, the public (including people with varying perspectives on the value of immunization), among others. Following the release of this initial guidance, the committee began its review of the draft update of the vaccine plan, which will be released late in 2009. It convened meetings of stakeholders in medicine, public health, and vaccinology to discuss the five goals laid out in the draft plan.

Federal advisory committees and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) agencies associated with vaccine- or immunization-specific programs. NOTE: This figure is intended to illustrate some aspects of the immunization system’s complexity, (more...)

For many years the IOM has been involved in evaluating evidence concerning adverse health effects that may be associated with specific vaccines covered by the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. In 2009, the IOM began a new study to review the epidemiological, clinical, and biological evidence relating to the health effects of varicella zoster vaccine, influenza vaccines, hepatitis B vaccine, human papillomavirus vaccine, and possibly others. The upcoming reports will consider whether a specific vaccine is related to a specific adverse event.

Helping to improve medication safety

Each year, people taking medications as outpatients experience more than a million harmful consequences that result in a trip to a physician’s office or an emergency room. Sometimes, such adverse reactions lead to hospitalization or even death. A patient’s first line of defense against medication hazards is the label on the drug’s container that provides information about the drug and how it should be taken. Yet research shows that nearly half of all patients have trouble understanding label instructions, either because of some type of literacy limitation or because the labels are poorly presented.

… research shows that nearly half of all patients have trouble understanding label instructions, either because of some type of literacy limitation or because the labels are poorly presented.

The IOM’s Roundtable on Health Literacy examined this safety issue in a workshop that brought together a diverse array of participants, including representatives from government, the pharmacy field, the health care community, the research enterprise, and the public, among others. Standardizing Medication Labels: Confusing Patients Less: Workshop Summary (2008) surveys what is known about how medication container labeling affects patient safety and describes participants’ various suggestions for fixing the problem.

Many patients do not understand current drug labels, but the best way to improve comprehension of medication instructions is unclear. Experts differ in their judgments about exactly what information should be included on a drug label and how that information should be presented. Although there have been some tests of various types of labels, workshop participants concluded that more research is needed to find answers that are both broader and more precise. There is also disagreement about whether regulation or a voluntary approach will best achieve label standardization, with some participants favoring each approach and arguing that the other has not been proven successful.

Patient Misunderstanding of Medication Instructions

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SOURCE: Standardizing Medication Labels: Confusing Patients Less: Workshop Summary, p. 15.

In providing a possible way forward, the report offers a list of questions for an expanded research program. What are the mechanisms by which standardization can be achieved? What would the process look like? What are the costs of standardizing? What level of evidence is needed to introduce a best practice? At the same time, care must be taken to ensure that steps to promote label standards do not detract from other efforts, such as education of both patients and physicians in matters of drug safety, that are needed to reduce medication errors.

• Reducing environmental and foodborne threats

Many public health concerns stem from some type of agent that humans release into the environment. This release may result from the activities of society—for example, from industries that emit chemical pollutants—or from the actions of individuals, as in the instance of cigarette smoking. In either case, the public has an interest in better understanding and eliminating all such hazards.

Reviewing Great Lakes pollution studies

The Great Lakes are magnificent—and environmentally critical—resources for both the United States and Canada. But many sections of the lakes are contaminated with a variety of potentially hazardous pollutants. In 1972, the two nations signed the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement to restore and maintain the lakes’ chemical, physical, and biological integrity. Under the agreement, the International Joint Commission monitors and assesses the nations’ activities, including efforts to protect human health from contaminants. In 2001, the commission asked the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to evaluate the public health implications of hazardous materials present in U.S. portions of the lakes. (The commission also has worked with Health Canada to document conditions in Canadian waters.)

After a first unsuccessful attempt, the ATSDR produced a draft report in 2007. Even then, registry officials had concerns about the methods used and the conclusions drawn in the draft, and the registry released a revised draft report in 2008. This further revision attracted criticism of its scientific integrity, however, and the CDC asked the IOM to conduct an independent study. Review of the ATSDR’s Great Lakes Report Drafts: Letter Report (2008) concludes that both drafts have shortcomings that diminish their scientific quality and limit their usefulness in determining whether health risks might be associated with living near the lakes. The report itemizes a number of faults—often involving data selection—and explains their adverse consequences. Many of the problems appear to stem from the lack of a clear statement of objectives and an approach to reach those aims.

U.S. and Binational Great Lakes Areas of Concern. NOTE: AOCs = Areas of Concern.

The report suggests ways to approach similar tasks in the future. Such projects should begin by identifying the research questions to be answered or the tasks to be undertaken, and then should develop and document a detailed approach to answering those research questions. The group undertaking the project also should seek out other entities for partnering, such as federal agencies or state governments, as early in the process as possible.

Improving food safety

In support of strengthening the U.S. food safety system, IOM worked with the Division of Earth and Life Studies to help the U.S. Department of Agriculture to improve its risk-based inspection system. Additionally, a congressionally mandated review of the Food and Drug Administration’s role in ensuring safe food is underway and will be completed by summer 2010.

• Improving emergency preparedness

In today’s world, the United States must be prepared to respond to a variety of hazards, both natural events and deliberate actions taken by other nations or terrorist groups. Ensuring a high degree of preparedness remains a never-ending concern. The IOM recognizes that preparing for emergencies and disasters is crucial to protecting the public’s health. The organization has devoted many resources to helping federal agencies prepare for national emergencies that may arise, with particular focus during the past few years on emerging diseases.

In 2008–2009, the IOM held a workshop on the capacity of the health care system to treat an affected population in the case of a nuclear event; published a report discussing how the global health community can strengthen surveillance and response to emerging zoonotic diseases; and will release late in the year another report that evaluates the Department of Homeland Security’s BioWatch program, which is intended to detect airborne biological threats. Three previous IOM reports provide insights into how government might respond to an outbreak of pandemic influenza or other infectious disease threats. These reports speak to the use of face masks and other personal protective equipment in health care settings. All emphasize the vital importance of meeting the needs of the health care workers and other front-line personnel who provide care for others during an influenza pandemic.

Key Elements of Preparedness

A prepared community is one that develops, maintains, and uses a realistic preparedness plan that is integrated with routine practices and has the following components:

Preplanned and coordinated rapid-response capability

Health risk assessment . Identify the hazards and vulnerabilities (e.g., community health assessment, populations at risk, high-hazard industries, physical structures of importance) that will form the basis of planning.

Legal climate . Identify and address issues concerning legal authority and liability barriers to effectively monitor, prevent, or respond to a public health emergency.

Roles and responsibilities . Clearly define, assign, and test responsibilities in all sectors, at all levels of government, and with all individuals, and ensure each group’s integration.

Incident Command System (ICS) . Develop, test, and improve decision making and response capability using an integrated ICS at all response levels.

Public engagement . Educate, engage, and mobilize the public to be full and active participants in public health emergency preparedness.

Epidemiology functions . Maintain and improve the systems to monitor, detect, and investigate potential hazards, particularly those that are environmental, radiological, toxic, or infectious.

Laboratory functions . Maintain and improve the systems to test for potential hazards, particularly those that are environmental, radiological, toxic, or infectious.

Countermeasures and mitigation strategies . Develop, test, and improve community mitigation strategies (e.g., isolation and quarantine, social distancing) and countermeasure distribution strategies when appropriate.

Mass health care . Develop, test, and improve the capability to provide mass health-care services.

Public information and communication . Develop, practice, and improve the capability to rapidly provide accurate and credible information to the public in culturally appropriate ways.

Robust supply chain . Identify critical resources for public health emergency response and practice and improve the ability to deliver these resources throughout the supply chain.

Expert and fully staffed workforce

Operations-ready workers and volunteers . Develop and maintain a public health and health-care workforce that has the skills and capabilities to perform optimally in a public health emergency.

Leadership . Train, recruit, and develop public health leaders (e.g., to mobilize resources, engage the community, develop interagency relationships, and communicate with the public).

Accountability and quality improvement

Testing operational capabilities . Practice, review, report on, and improve public health emergency preparedness by regularly using real public health events, supplemented with drills and exercises when appropriate.

Performance management . Implement a performance management and accountability system.

Financial tracking . Develop, test, and improve charge capture, a accounting, and other financial systems to track resources and ensure adequate and timely reimbursement.

Charge capture systems collect and analyze charges for medical care.

As part of a national effort to ensure security, Congress in 2006 enacted the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act, which called for refocusing the research priorities of the network of Centers for Public Health Preparedness now operating at 27 accredited schools of public health nationwide. The federal government had created the centers in 1999 to provide expanded expertise to strengthen the nation’s emergency response systems, and the new law both refined and expanded that charge.

To help with this restructuring, the agency that oversees the centers, the Coordinating Office for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response (COTPER), which is part of the CDC, asked the IOM to develop a research agenda that can be carried out over the next 3 to 5 years. Research Priorities in Emergency Preparedness and Response for Public Health Sys tems: A Letter Report (2008) proposes that the centers give priority to four general areas. These include research (1) to design and implement emergency preparedness training and for translating the results into public use, (2) to communicate accurate information in a timely manner to diverse audiences, (3) to create sustainable community-based preparedness systems, and (4) to generate improved criteria and metrics for evaluating the performance of public health emergency response systems.

Less than a month after the IOM released its report, COTPER issued a request for applications for research grants that incorporated almost verbatim the report’s findings and recommendations. COTPER expects to award nearly $9 million to projects that “investigate the structure, capabilities, and performance of public health systems for preparedness and emergency response activities.”

• Cite this Page Institute of Medicine (US). Informing the Future: Critical Issues in Health: Fifth Edition. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2009. Managing Threats and Ensuring Healthy Communities: Health of the Public.
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Effects of Stress on Human Health

Introduction, stress and health.

Stress has an adverse effect on human health; it leads to numerous health complications if not effectively managed. When stressed, people risk suffering from stress-related complications. According to Ciccarelli & White, 2012, health can broadly be divided as physical health (free of diseases) and psychological health (being able to make sound decisions).

When under stress, an individual’s decision making capacity is hampered making the person psychologically unhealthy (Ciccarelli & White, 2012). This paper discusses the relationship between stress and human health.

There are numerous theories and researches on stress and health, they all agree that stress has an adverse effect on human health; the statement goes “a stressed man is an unhealthy man”. Although human life cannot be free of stress, it becomes unmanaged stress which causes havoc to human body and mind . According to psychologists, human body is “wired’’ to communicate with the state of the mind; the communication is meant to protect threats against predators and other aggressors.

The statements predators and other aggressors used to mean life threatening activities or actions which include meeting deadlines, fighting back, reacting to a certain situation, or making life challenging decisions. The challenge facing human kind is failing to understand the right way to manage stress; in most cases the activities they engage in lead to more stress (Ciccarelli & White, 2012).

When someone is stressed for a long period, he or she exposes his body to uncontrolled brain cortisol and other stress managing hormones, which in turn can result in health complications like eczema, obesity, depression, digestive problems, sleeping challenges, and heart diseases.

Human state of mind determines the kind of life decisions they make; in the event that someone is stressed, his or her mind will be hampered from making sound and reliable decision as their mind, soul, and body are not at peace with each other. Some day-to-day health feelings like fatigue, headaches, and boredom can be attributed to the state of the mind; state of the mind is unhealthy with stress.

Stress affects human body, thoughts and feelings, when the above have been affected, then the behaviors and to some extent the personality of an affected person change. When unchecked, stress results in health complications like high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes (Ciccarelli & White, 2012).

According to Ciccarelli & White, 2012, the human body responds differently to stress; some people are likely to show fast heath deterioration when stressed while others are likely to have slowed health complications. What remain constant is that prolonged stress without proper management will have a negative effect on human health.

Stressed people need to enroll in stress management classes/lessons where they can be trained on basic methods of preventing and managing stress. In the event that an individual is suffering from a certain ailment, and then happens to be stressed, the recovery rate of such an individual is low. There is much connection between the rate of recovery from health complication and stress that the patient has (Ciccarelli & White, 2012).

Stress is a common occurrence in human beings; well-managed stress is of benefit to human beings as it assists when making decisions. However when stress is not managed effectively, it has an adverse effect on human health. Some complications related with ineffective stress management include depression, heart diseases, and diabetes.

Ciccarelli, S. K., & White, J. N. (2012). Psychology. New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall.

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Essay on Health Awareness

Students are often asked to write an essay on Health Awareness in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Health Awareness

Understanding health awareness.

Health awareness is about knowing and understanding health issues. It’s like learning about different diseases, their causes, and how to avoid them. Health awareness helps us make better choices for a healthier life.

Importance of Health Awareness

Health awareness is important because it can save lives. It helps us know what’s good and bad for our health. With this knowledge, we can avoid harmful habits like smoking and eating junk food, and adopt healthy habits like exercising and eating balanced meals.

Health Awareness and Disease Prevention

Health awareness helps in preventing diseases. It tells us about vaccines and regular check-ups that help catch diseases early. Also, it teaches us about hygiene practices like washing hands to prevent disease spread.

Role of Schools in Health Awareness

Schools play a big role in health awareness. They teach students about nutrition, physical education, and hygiene. Schools also organize health camps and invite doctors to talk about different health topics.

Health awareness is a key to a healthy life. It helps us make wise choices, prevent diseases, and lead a happy, healthy life. So, let’s all be aware and spread health awareness for a healthier community.

Also check:

• Speech on Health Awareness

250 Words Essay on Health Awareness

What is health awareness.

Health awareness is about knowing and understanding health issues. It helps us make the right choices for our health. It is about learning how to stay fit, eat right, and take care of our bodies.

Why is Health Awareness Important?

Being aware of health is important for many reasons. It helps us live longer and better lives. When we know about health issues, we can prevent them. For example, knowing that smoking is bad for our lungs can stop us from starting to smoke.

How Can We Improve Health Awareness?

There are many ways to improve health awareness. We can read books, watch videos, or talk to doctors. Schools can also help by teaching students about health. Parents can set a good example by eating healthy food and exercising regularly.

Role of Media in Health Awareness

Media plays a big role in health awareness. TV shows, news, and social media can spread information about health. They can tell us about new research or health risks. But, we must be careful to check if the information is correct. Not all information on the internet is true.

In conclusion, health awareness is very important. It helps us make good choices for our health. We can improve health awareness by learning and sharing information. Let’s all try to be more aware of our health.

500 Words Essay on Health Awareness

Health awareness is knowing about the state of your body, how to keep it healthy, and what can harm it. It is like a guide to help you live a healthy life. It tells you about good habits like eating right, exercising, and getting enough sleep. It also warns you about bad things like smoking, drinking too much alcohol, or not getting enough exercise.

Health awareness is very important for everyone. It helps you stay healthy and avoid diseases. If you are aware of your health, you can take steps to prevent illness. For example, if you know that eating too much sugar can lead to diabetes, you can choose to eat less sugar. This can help you avoid getting diabetes in the future.

Health awareness also helps you know what to do if you get sick. If you are aware of the symptoms of a disease, you can recognize them early and get treatment. This can help you recover faster and prevent the disease from getting worse.

Ways to Increase Health Awareness

There are many ways to increase health awareness. One way is to learn about health from reliable sources. You can read books, watch videos, or talk to health professionals like doctors and nurses. You can also learn about health in school or at health awareness events.

Another way to increase health awareness is to practice healthy habits. This means eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and avoiding harmful substances like tobacco and alcohol. By doing these things, you can improve your health and learn more about how your body works.

Schools play a big role in health awareness. They teach students about health in science and physical education classes. They also provide healthy meals and opportunities for physical activity. Some schools even have health clinics where students can get check-ups and treatment.

Schools also organize health awareness events. These events can include health fairs, where students can learn about different health topics and get free health screenings. They can also include campaigns to promote healthy habits, like eating fruits and vegetables or walking to school.

In conclusion, health awareness is very important. It helps us stay healthy and avoid diseases. We can increase our health awareness by learning about health and practicing healthy habits. Schools play a big role in health awareness by teaching students about health and organizing health awareness events. By being aware of our health, we can live healthier, happier lives.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Health Promotion On Diabetes
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Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

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Mental Health Essay

Introduction

Mental health, often overshadowed by its physical counterpart, is an intricate and essential aspect of human existence. It envelops our emotions, psychological state, and social well-being, shaping our thoughts, behaviors, and interactions. With the complexities of modern life—constant connectivity, societal pressures, personal expectations, and the frenzied pace of technological advancements—mental well-being has become increasingly paramount. Historically, conversations around this topic have been hushed, shrouded in stigma and misunderstanding. However, as the curtains of misconception slowly lift, we find ourselves in an era where discussions about mental health are not only welcomed but are also seen as vital. Recognizing and addressing the nuances of our mental state is not merely about managing disorders; it's about understanding the essence of who we are, how we process the world around us, and how we navigate the myriad challenges thrown our way. This essay aims to delve deep into the realm of mental health, shedding light on its importance, the potential consequences of neglect, and the spectrum of mental disorders that many face in silence.

Importance of Mental Health

Mental health plays a pivotal role in determining how individuals think, feel, and act. It influences our decision-making processes, stress management techniques, interpersonal relationships, and even our physical health. A well-tuned mental state boosts productivity, creativity, and the intrinsic sense of self-worth, laying the groundwork for a fulfilling life.

Negative Impact of Mental Health

Neglecting mental health, on the other hand, can lead to severe consequences. Reduced productivity, strained relationships, substance abuse, physical health issues like heart diseases, and even reduced life expectancy are just some of the repercussions of poor mental health. It not only affects the individual in question but also has a ripple effect on their community, workplace, and family.

Mental Disorders: Types and Prevalence

Mental disorders are varied and can range from anxiety and mood disorders like depression and bipolar disorder to more severe conditions such as schizophrenia.

• Depression: Characterized by persistent sadness, lack of interest in activities, and fatigue.
• Anxiety Disorders: Encompass conditions like generalized anxiety disorder, panic attacks, and specific phobias.
• Schizophrenia: A complex disorder affecting a person's ability to think, feel, and behave clearly.

The prevalence of these disorders has been on the rise, underscoring the need for comprehensive mental health initiatives and awareness campaigns.

Understanding Mental Health and Its Importance

Mental health is not merely the absence of disorders but encompasses emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Recognizing the signs of deteriorating mental health, like prolonged sadness, extreme mood fluctuations, or social withdrawal, is crucial. Understanding stems from awareness and education. Societal stigmas surrounding mental health have often deterred individuals from seeking help. Breaking these barriers, fostering open conversations, and ensuring access to mental health care are imperative steps.

Conclusion: Mental Health

Mental health, undeniably, is as significant as physical health, if not more. In an era where the stressors are myriad, from societal pressures to personal challenges, mental resilience and well-being are essential. Investing time and resources into mental health initiatives, and more importantly, nurturing a society that understands, respects, and prioritizes mental health is the need of the hour.

• World Leaders: Several influential personalities, from celebrities to sports stars, have openly discussed their mental health challenges, shedding light on the universality of these issues and the importance of addressing them.
• Workplaces: Progressive organizations are now incorporating mental health programs, recognizing the tangible benefits of a mentally healthy workforce, from increased productivity to enhanced creativity.
• Educational Institutions: Schools and colleges, witnessing the effects of stress and other mental health issues on students, are increasingly integrating counseling services and mental health education in their curriculum.

In weaving through the intricate tapestry of mental health, it becomes evident that it's an area that requires collective attention, understanding, and action.

  Short Essay about Mental Health

Mental health, an integral facet of human well-being, shapes our emotions, decisions, and daily interactions. Just as one would care for a sprained ankle or a fever, our minds too require attention and nurture. In today's bustling world, mental well-being is often put on the back burner, overshadowed by the immediate demands of life. Yet, its impact is pervasive, influencing our productivity, relationships, and overall quality of life.

Sadly, mental health issues have long been stigmatized, seen as a sign of weakness or dismissed as mere mood swings. However, they are as real and significant as any physical ailment. From anxiety to depression, these disorders have touched countless lives, often in silence due to societal taboos.

But change is on the horizon. As awareness grows, conversations are shifting from hushed whispers to open discussions, fostering understanding and support. Institutions, workplaces, and communities are increasingly acknowledging the importance of mental health, implementing programs, and offering resources.

In conclusion, mental health is not a peripheral concern but a central one, crucial to our holistic well-being. It's high time we prioritize it, eliminating stigma and fostering an environment where everyone feels supported in their mental health journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the primary focus of a mental health essay?

Answer: The primary focus of a mental health essay is to delve into the intricacies of mental well-being, its significance in our daily lives, the various challenges people face, and the broader societal implications. It aims to shed light on both the psychological and emotional aspects of mental health, often emphasizing the importance of understanding, empathy, and proactive care.

• How can writing an essay on mental health help raise awareness about its importance?

Answer: Writing an essay on mental health can effectively articulate the nuances and complexities of the topic, making it more accessible to a wider audience. By presenting facts, personal anecdotes, and research, the essay can demystify misconceptions, highlight the prevalence of mental health issues, and underscore the need for destigmatizing discussions around it. An impactful essay can ignite conversations, inspire action, and contribute to a more informed and empathetic society.

• What are some common topics covered in a mental health essay?

Answer: Common topics in a mental health essay might include the definition and importance of mental health, the connection between mental and physical well-being, various mental disorders and their symptoms, societal stigmas and misconceptions, the impact of modern life on mental health, and the significance of therapy and counseling. It may also delve into personal experiences, case studies, and the broader societal implications of neglecting mental health.

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