Multiple intersecting social, psychological, and biological factors influence a person's well-being. Social behavioral health refers to the larger social constructs that influence behavior and impact individual, community, and population health.
The field of public health has an integral role in addressing behavioral health, which encompasses mental health, substance abuse disorders, and behavior change. While acknowledging the importance of a full continuum of services, public health often focuses on primary prevention and addressing the broader community, societal, and systemic factors essential to good health.
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Early Success Stories
Change can take time, but every success improves our capabilities to care for our communities. Explore these four powerful, successful programs.
A Roadmap for Using a Public Health Approach to Prevent Firearm Injury
This roadmap outlines a step-by-step guide for jurisdictions to enhance their efforts in firearm injury prevention, aligning with a modified version of the public health approach model developed by CDC and WHO.
Public Health's Role in Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention
This framework describes public health’s role in mental health promotion and suicide prevention and helps public health practitioners in communicating their role in mental health promotion and suicide prevention with multi-sector partners.
Adverse Childhood Experiences Prevention Policy Tool
This resource identifies strategies for preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), the role of public health in ACEs across levels of government, and policy development strategies to inform ACEs prevention.
How Health Care Providers Can Reduce Stigma to Improve Care for Patients Taking Long-Term Opioid Therapy
This resource aims to increase awareness among health care providers about the stigma surrounding long-term opioid therapy and emphasizes the importance of addressing it to ensure proper care for individuals dependent on these medications.
Public Health Legal Mapping Center
Explore ASTHO’s legal mapping work to plot the legal landscape for public health priorities, beginning with policies intended to prevent overdose.
Latest Social and Behavioral Health Resources
Responding to Disruptions in Access to Controlled Substance Medications: A Guide for State Health Departments and Their Partners
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Public Health Approaches to Preventing Suicide and Promoting Mental Well-Being
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Applying Boundary Spanning Leadership Principles to Overdose Data to Action Efforts
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Prevention and Response Policies to Reduce Overdoses Involving Synthetic Opioids
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Supporting Individuals Experiencing Prescription Controlled Substance Disruptions: A Quick Reference Guide for On-Site Support Personnel
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Tobacco Use in King County Washington: A Medicaid Data Analysis Report
Learn MoreCollaborations
ASTHO partners with federal, state, territorial, and non-profit agencies to address a variety of social and behavioral health topics. Key partners include state and territorial health agencies, the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health, the Safe States Alliance, the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, the American Public Human Services Association, the National Association of County and City Health Officials, and the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors.