Jessica Ioannou’s Post

At CSH, we recognize the long-term impact of housing stability on health and well-being. A recent study by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health sheds light on the impact of childhood housing insecurity. Did you know housing insecurity in childhood is linked to anxiety and depression in adulthood? Read more about the study: https://hubs.la/Q02wrgFd0. #ChildrensMentalHealthAwarenessDay #HousingInsecurity

Safe and secure housing is foundational in one’s life, upbringing and stability.

KFF Health News #2YearsAgo : #Social #Media #Posts #Criticize #the #988Suicide #Hotline #for #Calling #Police. Here’s What You Need to Know "One Instagram post said, “988 is not friendly. Don’t call it, don’t post it, don’t share it, without knowing the risks.” The post, which had garnered nearly a quarter of a million likes as of early August, went on to list the #risks as #police #involvement, #involuntary #treatment at emergency rooms or psychiatric hospitals, #and the #emotional and #financial #toll #of #those #experiences." "In previous years, before the 988 number launched, emergency services were dispatched in 2% of the hotline’s interactions, the service reported. With about 2.4 million calls a year, that means emergency services were initiated for roughly 48,000 calls. Those services #can #be #mobile #crisis teams, consisting of people trained in mental health and de-escalation, 💡💡 #but #in #many #rural #and #suburban #communities, #it #is #often #police."

Last April, the Australian Child Maltreatment Study team published the primary outcomes of their study - the first Australian study of its kind. The study aimed to identify how many Australians in the general population experienced any of the five types of child abuse and neglect. The Australian Childhood Maltreatment Study also found that: - 28.5% of Australians experienced sexual abuse - 30.9% experienced emotional abuse - 8.9% experienced neglect - And 39.6% were exposed to domestic violence against another family member. While the findings are confronting, this knowledge confirms the importance of delivering trauma-informed care. Learn more about the report here: https://lnkd.in/gJiHdagc [Image description: a young boy with light brown hair is looking at the camera and wearing robot pyjamas. There is a purple rectangle shape on the bottom left with yellow and white block text that says, "32% of Australians have experienced physical abuse during childhood."]

*** We are WORTH SAVING. STOP CRIMINALIZING MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE. **** There’s a sweeping movement happening across the country right now. Harm reduction and public health is under attack. The “new” solution”? The archaic, failed, iron law of prohibition. Funding from the Opioid Settlement Funds, in several states, in being withheld from groups who work directly with our most vulnerable populations, providing public health services & proactively providing evidence based practices. Instead, these long awaited funds slated for overdose prevention, treatment, recovery & harm reduction are being reallocated for police enforcement in a multitude of ways. Stand in solidarity for harm reduction, public health & social justice. Please share and stand up for humanity. #harmreduction #harmreductionsaveslives #publichealth #socialjustice #endstigma #incarceration #wedorecover #philly #staysavage

"Solitary confinement, when prolonged, can become a form of psychological torture," says former UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Juan Méndez. In this video, he discusses the Mandela Rules, a critical framework designed to protect people deprived of liberty from the severe impacts of isolation. The Rules call for restricting solitary confinement—particularly for vulnerable groups like children, pregnant women, and individuals with mental health conditions—and set a roadmap for its eventual abolition. 📽️ Watch the full video below.

Witnessing the recent incident where two police officers were caught beating a 16-year-old is deeply troubling. This event underscores the urgent need to address disparities in how different communities are treated by law enforcement. As someone with a background in public health and mental health advocacy, I understand that such traumatic experiences can have long-lasting impacts on the mental well-being of young individuals and communities. The trauma from such encounters can lead to increased stress, anxiety, and mistrust in authorities, which perpetuates a cycle of fear and inequality. We need to advocate for comprehensive mental health support for those affected by these traumatic events and push for systemic changes that address the root causes of these disparities. By raising awareness and promoting policies that ensure equitable treatment, we can work towards a future where all individuals, regardless of their background, feel safe and supported. In public health, it’s crucial to address these systemic issues head-on. Let’s continue to work together to promote justice, mental well-being, and equity for all. https://lnkd.in/gMZJUg_e

2024 has started out opening a new front for addressing #parentalalienation as a potentially deadly #coercivecontrol threat to family relationships with evidence-based public health policy and suicide prevention. I am thrilled and honoured to join the Board of Directors of two peak bodies, the international PASG (Parental Alienation Study Group) and Parents Beyond Breakup (for dads, mums and grandparents in distress) here in Australia. Parents Beyond Breakup is pioneering #suicideprevention in the alienation space. Together with the PASG and other organisations, now is the time to drive the dialogue in policy development, social justice and structural change to address the deadly threat parental alienation and alienating behaviour poses. #familyviolence #domesticviolence #domesticabuse

More than 20% of 13-year-old girls in Scotland show clear signs of problematic social media addiction, a crisis highlighted by the World Health Organization. Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO’s regional director for Europe, has issued a stark warning: the situation is poised to worsen unless urgent action is taken. This is not just a matter for parents—it’s a public health crisis that demands immediate government intervention. Let’s be clear: 20% of children hooked on anything would spark an outcry, yet when it comes to social media, society remains dangerously complacent. This should be unacceptable. Politicians need to wake up. If this were any other substance, emergency measures would already be in place to protect our youth. Why are we allowing them to fall victim to digital dependency? The evidence is overwhelming, and the consequences on mental health, academic performance, and social development are dire. The time for empty promises is over—our children cannot wait. We need a regulatory framework now to protect the future of an entire generation. The solution is simple, but the stakes are enormous. We cannot stand by any longer. It’s time for political action, real safeguards, and social responsibility. #safescreens  #regulatesmartphones #childrensmentalhealthawareness #schoolmentalhealth #kidsmentalhealthmatters #screentimeforkids #teendepression #childrenmentalhealthmatters

Poverty can create additional barriers to staying healthy and accessing health care services, including mental health treatment and lifesaving medications. Civil legal aid organizations ensure people with low incomes have access to essential health care services. They also help people solve problems that impact their overall health and well-being. Learn more about the intersection of law, justice, and health care in our new fact sheets: https://loom.ly/tkJknns #civillegalaid