News & Events

NAMI 2012 Walk

May is Mental Health Month Paolo del Vecchio, Acting Lead, Recovery Support Strategic Initiative, Acting Director CMHS, wrote this in a SAMHSA blog post about Mental Health Awareness Month: “May marks Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States. This is a time when we reflect on research, weigh in on prevention measures, and encourage Americans to think about and act on their mental health and wellness. The link between trauma and behavioral health (mental health and substance use) is still not universally recognized, yet… Continue Reading

Ira f Combs receives Outstanding Award

Ira Combs was awarded the Whitney M. Young Award at the Mid-America Council Annual Recognition Luncheon on April 19, 2012, held at the Scott Conference Center. The purpose of the Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award is to recognize outstanding service by an adult individual or an organization for demonstrated involvement in the development and implementation of Scouting  opportunities for youth from rural or low-income urban backgrounds – this is in fulfillment of Dr. Young’s dream of just and equality for all. Ira F. Combs… Continue Reading

The Great Plains Public Health Training Center

Public Health in the National News – The UNMC College of Public Health is pleased to announce the Great Plains Public Health Training Center (PHTC), a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)-funded PHTC. PHTCs are partnerships between accredited schools of public health, related academic institutions, and public health agencies and organizations. The PHTC program is designed to improve the nation’s public health system by strengthening the technical, scientific, managerial, and leadership competence of current and future public health professionals. The Great Plains PHTC will address… Continue Reading

Dr. Rautiainen Focuses on Agricultural Health and Safety

Spotlight on Research at COPH “Farmer run over and pinned under rear wheel of a tractor,” “Rancher knocked down by a cow while moving cattle on ranch,” “Two workers overcome by toxic gases when pumping manure between lagoons.” These are examples of serious agricultural injuries in Nebraska last year. Agriculture is the most hazardous industry in the nation, yet we rarely hear about it in the news. If there is a major mining incident, it is front-page news worldwide—and rightly so. But while in 2010… Continue Reading

Take a Deep Breath–You’ll Feel Better

Public Health Community Advisory by Stacia Urbauer, Accountant, Office of the Dean We are in the midst of the holiday season, and stress has set in for the winter. You can feel it in your shoulders as they reach toward your ears, you can even feel it in your toes. But not all stress is bad; there are wonderful stress situations—reuniting with family and friends, eating your favorite dessert, and time off of work! In order to remain healthy during the holiday season and energized… Continue Reading

Improving Police Interactions with People with Mental Illnesses

Public Health in the National News by Shinobu Watanabe-Galloway, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Steve Ryan, and Kate Watkins Persons with severe mental illness or developmental disorders have long faced incarceration in jails or prisons as the alternative to hospitalization. Today, the Bureau of Justice Statistics estimates that 64% of jail inmates in the United States have mental health problems. The absolute numbers of persons with severe mental illness are greater in American jails and prisons than in our hospitals, making jails the largest… Continue Reading

Foodborne Disease Risk During the Holidays

Public Health Community Advisory – Foodborne Disease Risk During the Holidays KM Monirul Islam, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology Several holidays that many people in the United States will be celebrating are right around the corner. Many people will get together with family and friends, often to share a meal. Unless we’re careful, holiday meals may pose health risks and injuries to those we care about. Dr. Islam, who has been an infectious disease practitioner and currently teaches infectious disease classes in the… Continue Reading