NEWS
RSPH report on new public health Green spaces positively affect workforce structure wellbeing “Health decisions are being made based on politics not evidence” concludes a new report from the Royal Society for Public Health, which is based on a survey of more than 250 health professionals working in local authorities. The survey respondents comprise a broad range of the public health workforce, including directors of public health, consultants in public health, public health specialists and health improvement practitioners from all areas of England. Although it is widely understood that the transition of public health into local authorities has great potential to provide improvements in the public’s health, in this survey commissioned by RSPH only 15% of public health professionals believed that the changes have currently had a positive impact on health improvement outcomes, and nearly three quarters of respondents suggested that financial restrictions are impacting upon their team’s ability to deliver health improvement initiatives. Looking to the future in light of these raised concerns, over 80% of respondents suggested that additional influencing skills would aid them in demonstrating their effectiveness in this new public health environment. Shirley Cramer CBE, RSPH Chief Executive, summarised what these findings mean for future public health workforce development. “While we recognise that it will take time for a new system to be fully functional, this report has highlighted some areas of concern. We must provide the support the public health workforce needs to be effective in this new environment and increase transparency about budgets and decision making. We want to ensure that public health remains at the top of local authority agendas if we are to make a dent in health inequality. Training, shared learning and effective communication are all key tools which must be promoted and encouraged to provide an environment for the workforce to remain positive and motivated to improve the health of our communities.” For more information: www.rsph.org.uk
India declared polio-free The World Health Organization (WHO) is expected to certify India’s status as a polio free country, after testing the final samples from the country. This is being hailed as one of India’s greatest public health successes so far, with this year marking three years since the last reported polio case. An eradication programme via immunisation is responsible for this success: India has maintained a regular and sustained immunisation plan which vaccinates over 170 million children in every round and numbers of cases have been falling every year for the past few years. There were 741 reported cases in 2009, and this fell to just one case in 2011, with none since. This comes shortly after the WHO removed India from the list of polioendemic countries in 2012, following initial breakthroughs – a list that still contains countries such as Nigeria and Pakistan. However experts warn that we must be careful as polio, a disease capable of causing disability or even death within hours, could re-emerge in other countries such as those with ongoing conflict, where immunisation campaigns may have got lost. WHO Director-General Margaret Chan has stated that “the lessons from India must now be adapted and implemented through emergency actions to finish polio everywhere”. For more information: www.who.int/mediacentre/news/release/2012/ polio_20120113/en/index.htm
Research conducted by the University of Exeter has revealed that living near green spaces in towns and cities can have a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing. One of the first studies to consider the effect of green space over time, this study shows that moving to a more green urban area is beneficial to mental health – with improvements being sustained for up to three years. While other factors can also have a positive effect on mental health, such as pay rises and promotions, exposure to green spaces is different in that it gives significant improvements that can last for years while other factors offer short-term benefits only. Lead researcher, Dr Ian Alcock, said that “these findings are important for urban planners thinking about introducing new green spaces to our towns and cities, suggesting they could provide long term and sustained benefits for local communities”. As this research shows, access to good quality urban parks can be beneficial for public mental health and our natural outdoor environments could impact as vital resources in the future to improve health and wellbeing. Currently, the group are planning a further study to look at marital relationships in different areas which could prove a further link to mental health and wellbeing. The more green space an individual lives near, the less stressed they should be as they will be receiving significant mental health benefits over people in more built-up areas. This means that they are more likely to be able to make sensible rational decisions and communicate better with their partner, therefore leading to lower divorce rates in greener areas. Should this link be found, it could have further influence over our understanding of mental health. Source: Longitudinal Effects on Mental Health of Moving to Greener and Less Green Urban Areas. Environmental Science & Technology, 2014. DOI: 10.1021/es403688w
March 2014 Vol 134 No 2 l Perspectives in Public Health 59 Downloaded from rsh.sagepub.com at RUTGERS UNIV on April 4, 2015
521935 research-article2014
RSH0010.1177/1757913914521935NewsNews
NEWS
Pioneering online resource to become the ‘go-to’ for child and adolescent mental health At least 850,000 children aged 5–16 in the United Kingdom are known to have a mental health problem. This equates to around three schoolchildren in every class, which, if undiagnosed and untreated, puts some of our most vulnerable young people at future risk of alcohol and drug misuse, self-harm, neglect and, in extreme cases, at risk of suicide. Mental health problems can affect every aspect of a young person’s life including their ability to engage with education, make and keep friends, enjoy family relationships and, ultimately, make their way in the world. Early detection, treatment and support for children with mental health problems are vital in setting them on the best path in life. Expert advice is vital but is often not immediately available. This is why a Consortium of experts, hosted by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, is developing a £3.7 million website which contains free education to help adults identify and understand children and young people with mental health issues. Due to launch in Spring 2014, MindEd will provide a suite of e-learning packages, individually tailored to equip each audience group with the skills to identify children battling a mental health condition and provide information about the services and evidence-based therapies available to help. Clinical Lead for MindEd, Dr Raphael Kelvin, said: “It’s clear that many adults, be it in education, social care or voluntary settings, do not feel comfortable or have the skills necessary to address mental or physical health issues in children and young people. From lack of confidence in a subject comes a fear of ‘making things worse’, and it is this gap we want to bridge with MindEd.
MindEd aims to be the ‘go-to’ resource for the one million adults who come into contact with children and young people in the UK. By equipping these adults with the skills to help identify and help a child or young person with a mental health condition, we can reduce the time it takes to refer a child to the most appropriate professional. This means the condition can be treated earlier which in turn will support and protect the child’s physical and mental wellbeing from a much earlier age.” Upon accessing the website, the user will be offered an e-learning pathway and a set of sessions that they, or their organisation, can select as being of most interest and relevance to their needs. This will maximise engagement and appeal, as users will be able to construct their own learning plans. The e-learning sessions are being written by leading experts in the field, are informed by a wide range of key stakeholders including the targeted users, and are structured so that each module is linked to address a comprehensive range of key issues, using accessible and digestible language. Modules focus on normal development from infancy through to young adults and explain what ‘red flag’ signs to look out for which indicate when something is wrong, what helps, where to go for more help (including further reading, self-help and specialist referral guides) and when to act urgently or consider child protection issues. The British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP) is working in partnership with MindEd to develop 45 accessible, engaging, outcome-focused and evidence-based e-learning sessions, which will support counsellors working with children (5–11 years old), young
60 Perspectives in Public Health l March 2014 Vol 134 No 2 Downloaded from rsh.sagepub.com at RUTGERS UNIV on April 4, 2015
people (12–18 years old) and young adults (19–25 years old), across a range of education and community settings. In its second stage, MindEd will focus more deeply on targeted and specialistlevel material to complement the training taking place in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). In addition, it will link very closely with a sister project, now in its early stages, which will address neurodevelopmental and disability issues more specifically. As with MindEd, this is being developed with a similar Consortium-based intercollegiate, cross-sector approach. MindEd is funded by the Department of Health and is being delivered by a Consortium of experts including the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the BACP, the Royal College of Nursing, the Royal College of General Practitioners, the British Psychological Society, the National Children’s Bureau and Young Minds. Health Education England e-Learning for Healthcare is also involved in the development of the programme. If those who come into contact with young people with mental health problems – including policemen, youth workers, clergy, teachers and many others – utilise the advice and information contained within MindEd on their tablet, laptop or smartphone, then the potential public health benefits of improved mental and physical fitness and self-esteem are likely to be substantial. For more information, visit www. minded.org.uk or contact minded@ rcpch.org.uk
521928 research-article2014
RSH0010.1177/1757913914521928DiaryDiary
Diary
Diary 21st March 2014, The University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL
Public Health Nursing: Contacts that Count Aimed at the public health nursing workforce, this programme developed by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Public Health Forum will discuss the recommendations made by the National Health Service (NHS) Future Forum. Healthcare professionals have a core responsibility to make every contact count with every individual they come in contact with as an opportunity to help improve their mental and physical health and wellbeing. For more information: http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/event_details/rcn_ eventsms/rcn_public_health_forum_conference_and_exhibition
3rd April 2014, 28 Portland Place, London, W1B 1LY
The Science and Behaviour behind Hand Washing – at Home, Work and on the Move Surveys of hand washing have often shown how often this simple measure is ignored. This conference will examine whether some sectors of society are disadvantaged by poor provision of hand washing facilities, address ways of promoting both these and good hand washing practice and look at ways to measure the health and economic consequences of the failure to wash hands. Chaired by Dr Lisa Ackerley and Dr Rosalind Stanwell-Smith, this conference provides an excellent opportunity for those working in the hand hygiene and hygiene design industries, healthcare, food, education and public health to catch up on research and current thinking on hand washing, with experts from the health protection, food safety, behavioural and economical fields. For more information contact Kim Butler, [email protected]
8th April 2014, John Snow House, 59 Mansell Street, London, E1 8AN
NEW HORIZONS: From Crime to Grime: Taking Music to Excluded Youth to Promote Mental Well-being Suitable for youth workers, public health workers, public health and mental health staff, academic researchers and musicians interested in working with youth, this event will explore the Mini MAC musical approach, which is specifically targeted towards providing opportunities for excluded young people to both deliver and be recipients of musical activity. The aim is to promote positive mental health, raise aspirations, broaden horizons and encourage long-term change in patterns of antisocial behaviour. Recent research and case studies on the topic will be presented and discussed, and there will also be an opportunity to take part in a Mini MAC workshop. For more information, contact Gina Mohajer, [email protected]
22nd May 2014, 28 Portland Place, London, W1B 1LY
Allergies on a Plate Food allergies, intolerances and coeliac disease affect the menu choices of millions of consumers in the United Kingdom, and the number of people being treated in hospital for allergic reactions to foods is on the increase. However, surveys have shown that workers do not always have access to detailed information about the ingredients that they handle. This conference, in light of the new European Union (EU) Regulation on the Provision of Food Information to Consumers, will provide a unique perspective on how to protect people with allergies and intolerances while ensuring compliance with both existing and new food law. The day will include both presentations and workshops by leading experts and experienced allergy trainers. For more information, contact Kim Butler, [email protected]
Action on sugar in food A new campaign group has been set up by the team behind CASH (consensus action on salt and health) with the aim of reducing the amount of sugar added to food and soft drinks in an effort to tackle the growing levels of obesity and diabetes in the UK. Action on Sugar is a group of specialists and expert advisors who believe that through helping consumers to avoid hidden sugars and getting manufacturers to reduce their use of sugar, a 20 – 30% reduction of sugar levels in foods is within reach in the next three to five years. Many well-known foods and drinks have been found to contain much more sugar than one might expect: currently, a 330ml can of CocaCola original contains the equivalent of nine teaspoons of sugar; 300g Heinz classic tomato soup contains four teaspoons; and a Muller Crunch Corner strawberry shortcake yogurt contains six teaspoons of sugar. The unveiling of these high sugar figures has come at a time when The National Obesity Forum has claimed that we are in danger of surpassing previous predictions and that more than half of the UK population will be obese by 2050. Avoiding hidden sugars is a key step in halting this obesity epidemic and reducing the incidence of chronic disease, says Dr Aseem Malhora, cardiologist and Science Director of Action on Sugar. “Added sugar has no nutritional value whatsoever and causes no feeling of satiety. Aside from being a major cause of obesity, there is increasing evidence that added sugar increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and fatty liver.” For more information: http://www.actiononsalt. org.uk/actiononsugar/
March 2014 Vol 134 No 2 l Perspectives in Public Health 61 Downloaded from rsh.sagepub.com at RUTGERS UNIV on April 4, 2015
521929
research-article2014
RSH0010.1177/1757913914521929Letter To The EditorLetter To The Editor
Letter To The Editor
Dear Editor, It was good to see a discussion on the option of including boys in the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme in Michelle Russell et al.’s article in the November issue of Perspectives.1 But the authors’ conclusions about this were too cautious in light of the mounting evidence for vaccinating both sexes. This evidence has led to the advocacy of vaccination of boys by the 22 patient and professional organisations, including the Royal Society for Public Health, that have joined together as HPV Action, as well as by Cancer Research UK, the Faculty of Public Health and the British Dental Association. Boys are now being routinely vaccinated in Australia and two Canadian provinces, and vaccination is also recommended by the Centers for Disease Control in the United States and the World Medical Association. Vaccinating boys would increase the protection of females from cervical, vaginal and vulval cancers (especially in communities where vaccination rates are relatively low), of males from penile cancer and of both sexes from head, neck and anal cancers, genital warts and recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. Vaccination is particularly important for men who have sex with men (MSM), for whom anal cancer is a rapidly increasing problem because they do not benefit from the ‘herd protection’ created by a female-only vaccination programme. Men with HPV are also more likely to become infected with HIV. But it is not feasible to vaccinate just MSM because a programme would be unlikely to reach most of this population and, more importantly, because optimal protection occurs only if vaccination is administered before sexual debut. It would be both practically and ethically impossible to target MSM at the age of 12 or 13. Recent research on the impact of female HPV vaccination on the incidence of genital warts also suggests that the
benefits of herd protection for men who have sex with women may have been exaggerated in countries, like the United Kingdom, where many men have sexual relationships with unvaccinated women from elsewhere.2 HPV Action believes that the additional short-term costs of vaccinating boys will be outweighed by the longer term savings in the treatment of cancers and genital warts, as well as in the fields of welfare benefits, social care budgets and employers’ costs. The cost-effectiveness of vaccinating boys, even when the uptake of vaccination by girls is at levels similar to the United Kingdom, was confirmed by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee in Australia. The costs of vaccination may in any event be significantly reduced if it is established that a two-dose vaccination programme is as effective as the three doses currently administered in the United Kingdom. HPV Action does not believe that the decision to introduce gender-neutral vaccination should be made primarily on a financial basis; however, the opportunities for improving public health, tackling inequalities and reducing suffering provide, on their own, an overwhelming and decisive argument.3 Peter Baker, FRSPH Campaign Director, HPV Action
References 1. Russell M, Raheja V, Jaiyesimi R. Human papillomavirus vaccination in adolescence. Perspectives in Public Health 2013; 133(6): 320–4. 2. Baandrup L, Blomberg M, Dehlendorff C, Sand C, Andersen KK, Kjaer SK. Significant decrease in the incidence of genital warts in young Danish women after implementation of a national human papillomavirus vaccination program. Sexually Transmitted Diseases 2013; 40(2): 130–5. 3. HPV Action. It’s Time to Vaccinate Boys Too: The Case for Gender-Neutral HPV Vaccination. November 2013. Available online at: http://www.hpvaction. org/uploads/1/7/8/5/17850843/hpv_action.case_for_action.pdf (Last accessed 13th December 2013).
Unemployed young face mental health risk A new The Prince’s Trust Macquarie Youth Index report has revealed that more than 750,000 young people out of work are experiencing mental health symptoms including panic attacks, feelings of self-loathing and believing there is nothing to live for, as a direct impact of unemployment. The report also revealed that long-term unemployed people were more than twice as likely to have been prescribed antidepressants in the past than their working counterparts, with 32% having contemplated suicide in the past and 72% saying that they don’t have anyone to confide in. As a result, The Prince’s Trust is now calling on the government, health agencies and employers to help contribute to the work they do to help these young people who are trying to cope with mental illnesses, and they hope to help more people into work in the future. Three out of every four people that The Prince’s Trust is able to help move into education, training or work afterwards. Martina Milburn, Chief Executive of The Prince’s Trust, stated that “more than 430,000 young people are facing long-term unemployment, and it is these young people that urgently need our help. If we fail to act, there is a real danger that these young people will become hopeless, as well as jobless”. With research such as this now available, youth unemployment is becoming a public health issue and is one that experts are calling for to be solved sooner rather than later. For more information: www.princes-trust.org.uk/youthindex
62 Perspectives in Public Health l March 2014 Vol 134 No 2 Downloaded from rsh.sagepub.com at RUTGERS UNIV on April 4, 2015
RSPH report on new public health Green spaces positively affect workforce structure wellbeing “Health decisions are being made based on politics not evidence” concludes a new report from the Royal Society for Public Health, which is based on a survey of more than 250 health professionals working in local authorities. The survey respondents comprise a broad range of the public health workforce, including directors of public health, consultants in public health, public health specialists and health improvement practitioners from all areas of England. Although it is widely understood that the transition of public health into local authorities has great potential to provide improvements in the public’s health, in this survey commissioned by RSPH only 15% of public health professionals believed that the changes have currently had a positive impact on health improvement outcomes, and nearly three quarters of respondents suggested that financial restrictions are impacting upon their team’s ability to deliver health improvement initiatives. Looking to the future in light of these raised concerns, over 80% of respondents suggested that additional influencing skills would aid them in demonstrating their effectiveness in this new public health environment. Shirley Cramer CBE, RSPH Chief Executive, summarised what these findings mean for future public health workforce development. “While we recognise that it will take time for a new system to be fully functional, this report has highlighted some areas of concern. We must provide the support the public health workforce needs to be effective in this new environment and increase transparency about budgets and decision making. We want to ensure that public health remains at the top of local authority agendas if we are to make a dent in health inequality. Training, shared learning and effective communication are all key tools which must be promoted and encouraged to provide an environment for the workforce to remain positive and motivated to improve the health of our communities.” For more information: www.rsph.org.uk
India declared polio-free The World Health Organization (WHO) is expected to certify India’s status as a polio free country, after testing the final samples from the country. This is being hailed as one of India’s greatest public health successes so far, with this year marking three years since the last reported polio case. An eradication programme via immunisation is responsible for this success: India has maintained a regular and sustained immunisation plan which vaccinates over 170 million children in every round and numbers of cases have been falling every year for the past few years. There were 741 reported cases in 2009, and this fell to just one case in 2011, with none since. This comes shortly after the WHO removed India from the list of polioendemic countries in 2012, following initial breakthroughs – a list that still contains countries such as Nigeria and Pakistan. However experts warn that we must be careful as polio, a disease capable of causing disability or even death within hours, could re-emerge in other countries such as those with ongoing conflict, where immunisation campaigns may have got lost. WHO Director-General Margaret Chan has stated that “the lessons from India must now be adapted and implemented through emergency actions to finish polio everywhere”. For more information: www.who.int/mediacentre/news/release/2012/ polio_20120113/en/index.htm
Research conducted by the University of Exeter has revealed that living near green spaces in towns and cities can have a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing. One of the first studies to consider the effect of green space over time, this study shows that moving to a more green urban area is beneficial to mental health – with improvements being sustained for up to three years. While other factors can also have a positive effect on mental health, such as pay rises and promotions, exposure to green spaces is different in that it gives significant improvements that can last for years while other factors offer short-term benefits only. Lead researcher, Dr Ian Alcock, said that “these findings are important for urban planners thinking about introducing new green spaces to our towns and cities, suggesting they could provide long term and sustained benefits for local communities”. As this research shows, access to good quality urban parks can be beneficial for public mental health and our natural outdoor environments could impact as vital resources in the future to improve health and wellbeing. Currently, the group are planning a further study to look at marital relationships in different areas which could prove a further link to mental health and wellbeing. The more green space an individual lives near, the less stressed they should be as they will be receiving significant mental health benefits over people in more built-up areas. This means that they are more likely to be able to make sensible rational decisions and communicate better with their partner, therefore leading to lower divorce rates in greener areas. Should this link be found, it could have further influence over our understanding of mental health. Source: Longitudinal Effects on Mental Health of Moving to Greener and Less Green Urban Areas. Environmental Science & Technology, 2014. DOI: 10.1021/es403688w
March 2014 Vol 134 No 2 l Perspectives in Public Health 59 Downloaded from rsh.sagepub.com at RUTGERS UNIV on April 4, 2015
521935 research-article2014
RSH0010.1177/1757913914521935NewsNews
NEWS
Pioneering online resource to become the ‘go-to’ for child and adolescent mental health At least 850,000 children aged 5–16 in the United Kingdom are known to have a mental health problem. This equates to around three schoolchildren in every class, which, if undiagnosed and untreated, puts some of our most vulnerable young people at future risk of alcohol and drug misuse, self-harm, neglect and, in extreme cases, at risk of suicide. Mental health problems can affect every aspect of a young person’s life including their ability to engage with education, make and keep friends, enjoy family relationships and, ultimately, make their way in the world. Early detection, treatment and support for children with mental health problems are vital in setting them on the best path in life. Expert advice is vital but is often not immediately available. This is why a Consortium of experts, hosted by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, is developing a £3.7 million website which contains free education to help adults identify and understand children and young people with mental health issues. Due to launch in Spring 2014, MindEd will provide a suite of e-learning packages, individually tailored to equip each audience group with the skills to identify children battling a mental health condition and provide information about the services and evidence-based therapies available to help. Clinical Lead for MindEd, Dr Raphael Kelvin, said: “It’s clear that many adults, be it in education, social care or voluntary settings, do not feel comfortable or have the skills necessary to address mental or physical health issues in children and young people. From lack of confidence in a subject comes a fear of ‘making things worse’, and it is this gap we want to bridge with MindEd.
MindEd aims to be the ‘go-to’ resource for the one million adults who come into contact with children and young people in the UK. By equipping these adults with the skills to help identify and help a child or young person with a mental health condition, we can reduce the time it takes to refer a child to the most appropriate professional. This means the condition can be treated earlier which in turn will support and protect the child’s physical and mental wellbeing from a much earlier age.” Upon accessing the website, the user will be offered an e-learning pathway and a set of sessions that they, or their organisation, can select as being of most interest and relevance to their needs. This will maximise engagement and appeal, as users will be able to construct their own learning plans. The e-learning sessions are being written by leading experts in the field, are informed by a wide range of key stakeholders including the targeted users, and are structured so that each module is linked to address a comprehensive range of key issues, using accessible and digestible language. Modules focus on normal development from infancy through to young adults and explain what ‘red flag’ signs to look out for which indicate when something is wrong, what helps, where to go for more help (including further reading, self-help and specialist referral guides) and when to act urgently or consider child protection issues. The British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP) is working in partnership with MindEd to develop 45 accessible, engaging, outcome-focused and evidence-based e-learning sessions, which will support counsellors working with children (5–11 years old), young
60 Perspectives in Public Health l March 2014 Vol 134 No 2 Downloaded from rsh.sagepub.com at RUTGERS UNIV on April 4, 2015
people (12–18 years old) and young adults (19–25 years old), across a range of education and community settings. In its second stage, MindEd will focus more deeply on targeted and specialistlevel material to complement the training taking place in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). In addition, it will link very closely with a sister project, now in its early stages, which will address neurodevelopmental and disability issues more specifically. As with MindEd, this is being developed with a similar Consortium-based intercollegiate, cross-sector approach. MindEd is funded by the Department of Health and is being delivered by a Consortium of experts including the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the BACP, the Royal College of Nursing, the Royal College of General Practitioners, the British Psychological Society, the National Children’s Bureau and Young Minds. Health Education England e-Learning for Healthcare is also involved in the development of the programme. If those who come into contact with young people with mental health problems – including policemen, youth workers, clergy, teachers and many others – utilise the advice and information contained within MindEd on their tablet, laptop or smartphone, then the potential public health benefits of improved mental and physical fitness and self-esteem are likely to be substantial. For more information, visit www. minded.org.uk or contact minded@ rcpch.org.uk
521928 research-article2014
RSH0010.1177/1757913914521928DiaryDiary
Diary
Diary 21st March 2014, The University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL
Public Health Nursing: Contacts that Count Aimed at the public health nursing workforce, this programme developed by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Public Health Forum will discuss the recommendations made by the National Health Service (NHS) Future Forum. Healthcare professionals have a core responsibility to make every contact count with every individual they come in contact with as an opportunity to help improve their mental and physical health and wellbeing. For more information: http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/event_details/rcn_ eventsms/rcn_public_health_forum_conference_and_exhibition
3rd April 2014, 28 Portland Place, London, W1B 1LY
The Science and Behaviour behind Hand Washing – at Home, Work and on the Move Surveys of hand washing have often shown how often this simple measure is ignored. This conference will examine whether some sectors of society are disadvantaged by poor provision of hand washing facilities, address ways of promoting both these and good hand washing practice and look at ways to measure the health and economic consequences of the failure to wash hands. Chaired by Dr Lisa Ackerley and Dr Rosalind Stanwell-Smith, this conference provides an excellent opportunity for those working in the hand hygiene and hygiene design industries, healthcare, food, education and public health to catch up on research and current thinking on hand washing, with experts from the health protection, food safety, behavioural and economical fields. For more information contact Kim Butler, [email protected]
8th April 2014, John Snow House, 59 Mansell Street, London, E1 8AN
NEW HORIZONS: From Crime to Grime: Taking Music to Excluded Youth to Promote Mental Well-being Suitable for youth workers, public health workers, public health and mental health staff, academic researchers and musicians interested in working with youth, this event will explore the Mini MAC musical approach, which is specifically targeted towards providing opportunities for excluded young people to both deliver and be recipients of musical activity. The aim is to promote positive mental health, raise aspirations, broaden horizons and encourage long-term change in patterns of antisocial behaviour. Recent research and case studies on the topic will be presented and discussed, and there will also be an opportunity to take part in a Mini MAC workshop. For more information, contact Gina Mohajer, [email protected]
22nd May 2014, 28 Portland Place, London, W1B 1LY
Allergies on a Plate Food allergies, intolerances and coeliac disease affect the menu choices of millions of consumers in the United Kingdom, and the number of people being treated in hospital for allergic reactions to foods is on the increase. However, surveys have shown that workers do not always have access to detailed information about the ingredients that they handle. This conference, in light of the new European Union (EU) Regulation on the Provision of Food Information to Consumers, will provide a unique perspective on how to protect people with allergies and intolerances while ensuring compliance with both existing and new food law. The day will include both presentations and workshops by leading experts and experienced allergy trainers. For more information, contact Kim Butler, [email protected]
Action on sugar in food A new campaign group has been set up by the team behind CASH (consensus action on salt and health) with the aim of reducing the amount of sugar added to food and soft drinks in an effort to tackle the growing levels of obesity and diabetes in the UK. Action on Sugar is a group of specialists and expert advisors who believe that through helping consumers to avoid hidden sugars and getting manufacturers to reduce their use of sugar, a 20 – 30% reduction of sugar levels in foods is within reach in the next three to five years. Many well-known foods and drinks have been found to contain much more sugar than one might expect: currently, a 330ml can of CocaCola original contains the equivalent of nine teaspoons of sugar; 300g Heinz classic tomato soup contains four teaspoons; and a Muller Crunch Corner strawberry shortcake yogurt contains six teaspoons of sugar. The unveiling of these high sugar figures has come at a time when The National Obesity Forum has claimed that we are in danger of surpassing previous predictions and that more than half of the UK population will be obese by 2050. Avoiding hidden sugars is a key step in halting this obesity epidemic and reducing the incidence of chronic disease, says Dr Aseem Malhora, cardiologist and Science Director of Action on Sugar. “Added sugar has no nutritional value whatsoever and causes no feeling of satiety. Aside from being a major cause of obesity, there is increasing evidence that added sugar increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and fatty liver.” For more information: http://www.actiononsalt. org.uk/actiononsugar/
March 2014 Vol 134 No 2 l Perspectives in Public Health 61 Downloaded from rsh.sagepub.com at RUTGERS UNIV on April 4, 2015
521929
research-article2014
RSH0010.1177/1757913914521929Letter To The EditorLetter To The Editor
Letter To The Editor
Dear Editor, It was good to see a discussion on the option of including boys in the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme in Michelle Russell et al.’s article in the November issue of Perspectives.1 But the authors’ conclusions about this were too cautious in light of the mounting evidence for vaccinating both sexes. This evidence has led to the advocacy of vaccination of boys by the 22 patient and professional organisations, including the Royal Society for Public Health, that have joined together as HPV Action, as well as by Cancer Research UK, the Faculty of Public Health and the British Dental Association. Boys are now being routinely vaccinated in Australia and two Canadian provinces, and vaccination is also recommended by the Centers for Disease Control in the United States and the World Medical Association. Vaccinating boys would increase the protection of females from cervical, vaginal and vulval cancers (especially in communities where vaccination rates are relatively low), of males from penile cancer and of both sexes from head, neck and anal cancers, genital warts and recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. Vaccination is particularly important for men who have sex with men (MSM), for whom anal cancer is a rapidly increasing problem because they do not benefit from the ‘herd protection’ created by a female-only vaccination programme. Men with HPV are also more likely to become infected with HIV. But it is not feasible to vaccinate just MSM because a programme would be unlikely to reach most of this population and, more importantly, because optimal protection occurs only if vaccination is administered before sexual debut. It would be both practically and ethically impossible to target MSM at the age of 12 or 13. Recent research on the impact of female HPV vaccination on the incidence of genital warts also suggests that the
benefits of herd protection for men who have sex with women may have been exaggerated in countries, like the United Kingdom, where many men have sexual relationships with unvaccinated women from elsewhere.2 HPV Action believes that the additional short-term costs of vaccinating boys will be outweighed by the longer term savings in the treatment of cancers and genital warts, as well as in the fields of welfare benefits, social care budgets and employers’ costs. The cost-effectiveness of vaccinating boys, even when the uptake of vaccination by girls is at levels similar to the United Kingdom, was confirmed by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee in Australia. The costs of vaccination may in any event be significantly reduced if it is established that a two-dose vaccination programme is as effective as the three doses currently administered in the United Kingdom. HPV Action does not believe that the decision to introduce gender-neutral vaccination should be made primarily on a financial basis; however, the opportunities for improving public health, tackling inequalities and reducing suffering provide, on their own, an overwhelming and decisive argument.3 Peter Baker, FRSPH Campaign Director, HPV Action
References 1. Russell M, Raheja V, Jaiyesimi R. Human papillomavirus vaccination in adolescence. Perspectives in Public Health 2013; 133(6): 320–4. 2. Baandrup L, Blomberg M, Dehlendorff C, Sand C, Andersen KK, Kjaer SK. Significant decrease in the incidence of genital warts in young Danish women after implementation of a national human papillomavirus vaccination program. Sexually Transmitted Diseases 2013; 40(2): 130–5. 3. HPV Action. It’s Time to Vaccinate Boys Too: The Case for Gender-Neutral HPV Vaccination. November 2013. Available online at: http://www.hpvaction. org/uploads/1/7/8/5/17850843/hpv_action.case_for_action.pdf (Last accessed 13th December 2013).
Unemployed young face mental health risk A new The Prince’s Trust Macquarie Youth Index report has revealed that more than 750,000 young people out of work are experiencing mental health symptoms including panic attacks, feelings of self-loathing and believing there is nothing to live for, as a direct impact of unemployment. The report also revealed that long-term unemployed people were more than twice as likely to have been prescribed antidepressants in the past than their working counterparts, with 32% having contemplated suicide in the past and 72% saying that they don’t have anyone to confide in. As a result, The Prince’s Trust is now calling on the government, health agencies and employers to help contribute to the work they do to help these young people who are trying to cope with mental illnesses, and they hope to help more people into work in the future. Three out of every four people that The Prince’s Trust is able to help move into education, training or work afterwards. Martina Milburn, Chief Executive of The Prince’s Trust, stated that “more than 430,000 young people are facing long-term unemployment, and it is these young people that urgently need our help. If we fail to act, there is a real danger that these young people will become hopeless, as well as jobless”. With research such as this now available, youth unemployment is becoming a public health issue and is one that experts are calling for to be solved sooner rather than later. For more information: www.princes-trust.org.uk/youthindex
62 Perspectives in Public Health l March 2014 Vol 134 No 2 Downloaded from rsh.sagepub.com at RUTGERS UNIV on April 4, 2015
