National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)

What are the benefits of vaccines? What drives vaccine hesitancy? How do social determinants of health impact access to vaccines?    Drs. Deborah Linares and Vanessa Marshall provide answers to these questions and more. Learn about their insights and strategies for how to increase vaccine uptake within your community. https://lnkd.in/ek9k9sB5   #NationalInfluenzaVaccinationWeek #NIMHDInsights 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “adults with disabilities report experiencing frequent mental distress almost 5 times as often as adults without disabilities.” People with disabilities face a range of health conditions that impact their quality of life. Find more research and resources on the mental health of people with disabilities: https://bit.ly/3Vos42v #InternationalDayOfPersonsWithDisabilities

Every year on December 3rd, the world unites to celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). This occasion not only brings attention to the challenges faced by persons with disabilities (PWDs) but also celebrates their achievements, resilience, and contributions to society. Since its inception in 1992, IDPD has served as a global reminder of our shared responsibility to create a world where everyone, regardless of ability, can prosper. This year’s theme, “Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future,” urges us to acknowledge and elevate the leadership of PWD’s in crafting a sustainable and inclusive world that leaves no one behind. Join us in acknowledging and championing the voices of persons with disabilities. Let’s work together for a more inclusive and equitable future! (Video alt text is in comments.)

Find actionable interventions that support the needs of your communities with the HDPulse Interventions Portal. This comprehensive repository holds a variety of evidence-based interventions, supporting materials, and contact information of intervention developers. Learn more and explore the possibilities. https://bit.ly/3X6Owxr

Among Native American people, access to heart care is limited due to factors that include time constraints, lack of transportation, rural location, clinician unavailability, and discomfort with newer drugs for heart failure. Guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT)—the recommended treatment for patients with heart failure—typically requires in-person clinic visits, which may be a driver for low GDMT uptake and poor health outcomes. Researchers made an important finding after they implemented a home-based phone GDMT among patients with heart failure in Navajo (Diné) Nation. https://bit.ly/3BdOMDB #NIMHDResearch

A new NIMHD-led study published in JAMA Network Open shows that removing sex disparities in physical activity and sports participation for youth could prevent more than 30,000 cases of obesity and other health conditions and save up to $780 million in lifetime health care costs. Key steps to address disparities include hiring more female coaches, showcasing women athletes as role models, developing mentoring programs, and investing in under-resourced schools and communities to create safe, supportive spaces for girls to stay active. The study was led by Dr. Kosuke Tamura, NIH’s Stadtman Investigator and NIH Distinguished Scholar, who directs the Socio-Spatial Determinants of Health Laboratory in NIMHD’s Division of Intramural Research. #NIMHDResearch Read more: https://bit.ly/3Z8u93A

🤔 Are you subscribed to NIMHD’s Weekly Funding Opportunities Digest? Be alerted to upcoming funding opportunities to support you in your career in minority health and health disparities research. Sign up today! https://bit.ly/3scwfmz

NIH needs your help! Join us for our final virtual community townhall to provide input on the development of the NIH Minority Health and Health Disparities Strategic Plan, 2026-2030. Your lived experiences and expertise are essential to ensure NIH’s research reflects the needs and aspirations of those most affected by health disparities. Be sure to also submit feedback to the Request for Information (NOT-MD-25-002). Learn more: https://bit.ly/48uW81O

Health care professionals now find large numbers of Latinx immigrant youth and families in their waiting rooms, yet there is relatively little published research on their mental health experiences and clinical needs. National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) Insights article highlights research by Amanda Venta, Ph.D., and insights from her work with the Office of Refugee Resettlement, where she provides psychological services for unaccompanied immigrant minors. With over a decade of research, her findings emphasize that immigrant health and well-being are deeply tied to interpersonal relationships. Family separation, an interpersonal risk, impacts mental health in youth, whereas Latinx cultural values like 𝑓𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑚𝑜 act as protective factors, fostering resilience and social support. Dig into Dr. Venta's research: https://bit.ly/4fIRcJ9

We’re recognizing researchers who are pursuing health equity by working with communities. We spoke with Dr. Denise Dillard, professor at WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. In this conversation, Dr. Dillard recognizes progress at NIH to improve the health of Alaska Native communities and acknowledges the distrust many Alaska Native communities experience toward researchers. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3AYUNUO #NIMHDResearch #AIANHeritageMonth