NCHCMM 2025: New App, Free Headshots, Career Workshop & More
The 2025 National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing, and Media (NCHCMM) is almost here, (next week!) with exciting updates for public health communicators! The new event app—sponsored by NORC—makes it easy to explore sessions, connect with peers, and stay informed.
Conference registration has been extended through July 22, with day passes available through July 25—ideal for studen…
A New Study on Teens, Phones, & Mental Health
A recent study published in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities analyzed data from 100,000 young adults and found that owning a smartphone before age 13 is linked to poorer mental health outcomes, including suicidal thoughts, aggression, dissociation, and hallucinations.
This research, part of the Global Mind Project with over 2 million participants worldwide, highlights complex…
What the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Offers and How it's Used
The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (988), launched three years ago, has become a critical resource in U.S. public health, with an estimated 1.6% of the population using it from July 2022 to December 2024. The lifeline connects callers, texters, and chat users to local crisis centers staffed by trained counselors, providing timely mental health support beyond traditional 911 services.
De…
FDA Reverses Course on Juul
The FDA has reversed its 2022 ban on Juul e-cigarettes, allowing the company to sell its original devices and tobacco- and menthol-flavored cartridges for adults 21 and older after an extensive scientific review. The agency found the benefits for adult smokers switching from combustible cigarettes outweigh risks to non-smokers, citing Juul’s claim that 2 million adults have quit smoking using t…
Take the Quiz: Surprising Ways to Outsmart Mosquitoes
Think bug spray is your only defense? Think again. Entomologists Dr. Sammy Ramsey and Dr. Brian Byrd teamed up with NPR’s Life Kit to share lesser-known, science-backed strategies to prevent mosquito bites.
The interactive quiz reveals surprising facts—like how your clothing color or personal scent might make you a mosquito magnet. Public health professionals can use this engaging tool to pro…
Measles Surge Spurs Call for Public Health Emergency Declaration
Measles cases in the U.S. have reached a record high in 2025, with 1,288 confirmed infections and three deaths—the first in a decade. The majority of cases stem from a regional outbreak in the Southwest.
Senator Chuck Schumer has urged the Health Secretary to declare a public health emergency to mobilize federal resources and enhance response efforts. Such a declaration could accelerate acces…
Nicotine Poisonings Soar in Babies and Toddlers
A new study in Pediatrics highlights a sharp 763% rise in nicotine poisonings among children under 6, driven primarily by the growing popularity of nicotine pouches like Zyn. From 2010 to 2023, U.S. poison centers recorded over 134,000 cases—most involving toddlers and nearly all occurring at home.
While most cases were minor, two toddlers died after ingesting liquid nicotine used in vapes. T…