NYSPHA President Message of Support for CDC

The New York State Public Health Association stands in support of CDC following the tragic shooting of six buildings at its Atlanta headquarters this past Friday. The work that CDC employees do every day to protect the health of Americans and others worldwide is nothing but heroic. We can only begin to imagine the frustration, fear, and trauma they must be feeling. The shooting led to the loss of DeKalb County police officer David Rose who sacrificed his life to protect others. We are saddened by this loss and extend our heartfelt condolences to his family.

There is no better time to consider how we present public health information and how we can prevent the spread of misinformation. Vaccination saves lives, and CDC employees and other public health professionals across New York State and the nation were on the front lines combatting the COVID-19 pandemic a few years ago. Because of false rhetoric, strong feelings, and misinformation, public health faced a lot of criticism, and there was frustration and burnout among those in the field, with many leaving the profession. It’s imperative that we do we what can to present the facts and protect our public health professionals.

It is important that we discuss the role that mental health plays as well. CDC and SAMHSA have prioritized mental health promotion and suicide prevention through funding streams such as Zero Suicide, Garrett Lee Smith, and Comprehensive Suicide Prevention programs offered in many states across the country. Through these programs, individuals are screened for mental health, identifying issues that would otherwise go undetected and connecting individuals to care. They also provide education and counseling around lethal means safety, including safe storage of firearms, which are critical for preventing harm to self or others. For those of you who are New Yorkers, please consider joining our Mental Health Workgroup to help us strategize how we can advance these efforts statewide. You can learn more on our website: https://www.nyspha.org/

Of course, times and situations like these can also take a toll on our own mental health. There are free resources available for mental and emotional support including the 988 Lifeline where you can call, text, or chat 988 to be connected with a trained counselor 24/7.

Stay tuned for upcoming opportunities to talk about these issues, voice your frustrations, and discuss a path forward through collective action; we will be hosting another series of Express Yourself for Public Health support circles this fall.