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Social and Behavioral Health

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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Creating a Shared Approach to Suicide and Overdose Prevention

A tool to help states and territories build comprehensive prevention strategies that target common factors shared by suicide and overdose.

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State Strategies for Advancing Viral Hepatitis Elimination

Synthesizes key actions and proven strategies for public health leaders to consider as they approach elimination planning.

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Prevention for the Next Generation: Addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences, Suicide, and Overdose

This podcast covers why understanding the intersection of suicide, overdose, and ACEs is critical to helping people—especially youth—live happy and healthy lives.

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Latest Resources

In focus in the foreground, a hand holds up a white paper square, the center of the square has the shape of a handgun cut out. An out-of-focus-crowd is in the background
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Men and Firearms: Proven Public Health Interventions to Curb Violence

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States Using Policy to Remove Barriers to HIV Testing

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Using Medicaid Datasets to Measure Tobacco Use: A Review

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A Black teenage boy sits sadly, back pressed against a stone wall, head in hands
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Youth Suicides and the Mental Health Crisis: What Congress Is Doing

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Tobacco Control Network: 2022 Policy Recommendations Guide
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Tobacco Control Network: 2022 Policy Recommendations Guide

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Understanding the Updated Women’s Preventive Services Guidelines

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Improving Youth Behavioral Health Through School-Based Strategies

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New ASTHO Report Outlines 10 Strategies to Improve Behavioral Health in Schools

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Collaborations

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.