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SPOTLIGHT ON SPH STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS
Our School’s strategy map identifies five strategic directions—cities and health; climate, the planet, and health; health inequities; infectious diseases; and mental and behavioral health—that are of critical importance to the public’s health and are areas of strength and potential for growth for the School. These strategic directions emerged from broad consultation both internal and external to the School.
Mental and Behavioral Health
At SPH, researchers are at the forefront of mental and behavioral health, approaching the issue from a variety of angles to better understand and address the impact of mental illness, trauma, and substance use on health.
“Breaking down stigma and viewing mental health as public health is critical for reframing our approach and creating a system that prioritizes prevention.”
Jaimie Gradus (SPH’04’09)
Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Mental and Behavioral Health Faculty Lead
Think.
“Even though people may view purpose as a ‘psychological’ factor, its impacts on health cannot be explained solely by processes that operate in our mind and biology. We need to consider how the psychological factor interacts with our social world and ultimately impacts our health.”
Koichiro Shiba
Assistant Professor of Epidemiology
“The major implication here is that retaining and increasing mental health staffing will have substantial benefits for veterans, especially in the most capacity-constrained facilities.”
Kiersten Strombotne
Assistant Professor of Health Law, Policy & Management
“I see many people in this suicide field discussing this decline as a positive sign—and it is—but we have to be aware that it is specific to one group of people and many other groups are not experiencing similar declines.”
Jaimie Gradus
Associate Professor of Epidemiology
“Now that there are surging numbers of children requiring behavioral health support following the COVID-19 pandemic, this is the type of model that needs to be replicated to ensure equitable access across the United States.”
R. Christopher Sheldrick
Research Associate Professor of Health Law, Policy & Management
Teach.
“Rhodessa Jones’ visit to the Trauma, Trauma-Informed Care, Recovery & Resilience class was a powerful living example of the way in which art, specifically dramatic performance of people’s lived experience, can aid in healing, in establishing community, and in building resilience. Public health students can benefit by ‘thinking outside of the box’ when working with populations who have experienced trauma.”
Carol Dolan
Clinical Associate Professor of Community Health Sciences
“Data are powerful in creating change in higher education, and for so long, there has been a lack of national data on the mental health of college and university faculty. The reality is many faculty members are struggling with their own mental and emotional health.”
Sarah Lipson
Assistant Professor of Health Law, Policy & Management
Do.
“Every fatal overdose is a policy failure in the sense that it could have been prevented with some sort of intervention, so I am really proud of the work that Never Use Alone is doing.”
Stephen Murray (SPH'22)
Community Implementation Specialist, Boston Medical Center
Murray was recognized at the 17th annual Boston University McCahan Education Day for creating an educational tool offered by SPH’s Population Health Exchange to support Massachusetts EMTs and paramedics in providing care for people who use drugs. To create the training, which Murray developed as part of his MPH practicum experience, he pulled from his knowledge and professional experience as a Lieutenant for Northern Berkshire EMS and his lived experience of being in recovery from substance use for over 10 years.
PUBLIC HEALTH CONVERSATION–STATEGIC DIRECTION SYMPOSIUM
"There are certain settings where it is really important to increase targeted screenings for traumatic brain injuries, such as substance use treatment settings, prisons and jails, and domestic violence organizations. It's important to have more direct awareness on this topic and on risks for secondary conditions, but also more integrated treatment and integration between mental health, rehabilitation, and primary care for substance use.”
Rachel Sayko Adams (SPH’08)
Research Associate Professor of Health Law, Policy & Management
Dig Deeper
As we continue our work on our School's Strategic Directions, we will post the most up to date research and articles online.
11 of 12 in our limited series, Spotlight on SPH, which highlights work across BUSPH. We welcome feedback, with our goal of being ever better at fulfilling our core purpose: Think. Teach. Do. For the Health of All. See our archive.
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