PrEP in Black America: A New Approach to Biomedical HIV Prevention Advocacy
In the U.S., Black communities have been disproportionately impacted by HIV. Between 1981 and 2019, an estimated 2.2 million people have been diagnosed with HIV, an overwhelming number of whom have been Black.
The Reimagining Nursing Initiative: Creating an Equitable Future by Investing in Nurse-Driven Solutions
When you think about improving health care, who do you envision leading the charge for a more equitable future? There are no wrong answers, but perhaps one that does not immediately come to mind—nurses. Representing the largest number of providers and serving as the most-trusted health care professionals (Brenan 2023), nurses’ front-line role in patient care makes them a natural force for expanding access to care and reducing health care disparities.
Let’s Close the Gap on Mental Health for Good in 2023
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, a mental health crisis was growing in America, with 1 in 10 adults reporting symptoms of anxiety or depression. Today, that number is 3 in 10. The recently launched 988 hotline—the mental health equivalent and alternative to 911—is a monumental step forward in changing how we acknowledge and respond to mental health needs nationally. It finally puts mental health on equal ground with physical health—a recognition long overdue—but it is only a first step in addressing the multitude of behavioral health needs.
Funding Health Advocacy in Turbulent Times: Three Practices to Adopt
Effective health advocacy is not an easy endeavor, but when executed correctly, the results can be game-changing. Health advocates, whether operating through organizations, coalitions, campaigns, or movements, are accustomed to spending long periods of time with no outwardly visible activity or tangible progress, followed by an immediate sense of urgency and action to seize a window of opportunity. In many ways COVID-19 was one of those windows with phrases like health disparities becoming crystal clear to many.