Dr. Kimi Cohen came to the Arizona State Hospital (ASH) in the mid-1990s to make sure her doctoral education in clinical psychology was well-rounded. After training in a community mental health center, an outpatient therapy clinic, and a family therapy clinic, she wanted to experience work in a psychiatric hospital. Twenty-six years later, she not [...]
The greatest reward for our Arizona Smokers Helpline (ASHLine) is when someone decides to live their best life free from dependence on nicotine. But it’s always nice to see recognition for the high-quality messaging that helps power this effort. Three public services announcements produced for ASHLine campaigns were nominated this week for Rocky Mountain Emmy [...]
While the monsoon rain Arizona has seen of late is welcome in so many ways, the standing water that follows – often in places you don’t think about around the yard – can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and the diseases they carry. The most-common mosquito-borne disease is West Nile virus. Most of those [...]
While public health is in the business of helping people live healthier lives, ADHS also provides a critical service to families by processing and issuing death certificates. It’s a mission our Bureau of Vital Records takes very seriously and does very well. We know a death certificate is essential for closing out the affairs of [...]
A new resource from ADHS aims to help everyone better understand the monkeypox outbreak affecting Arizona and other states. As of Aug. 6, Arizona had 118 reported cases of monkeypox, with most of those occurring in the Phoenix and Tucson areas. This rare viral infection, which had been rarely seen in people who hadn’t traveled [...]
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its COVID-19 guidance to focus on reducing the risk of severe illness and, in doing so, minimizing strain on the health care system. Perhaps the most notable change is eliminating the recommendation that someone isolate if they have been in close contact with someone who [...]
Being unable to leave your home shouldn’t be a barrier to getting vaccinated against COVID-19 or updating your protection through a booster dose thanks to programs offered by ADHS and others. Complementing programs offered by the Maricopa Department of Public Health and the Pima County Health Department, ADHS Office of Health Equity provides in-home vaccination [...]
For the approximately 67,000 new parents in Arizona who breastfeed their babies, each journey is unique. Many of us think breastfeeding should be easy, and to some people it is, but to others it is a challenging time filled with questions and doubts. With that in mind, ADHS is marking the 31st annual World Breastfeeding [...]
“Show me the data.” That’s a phrase I hear quite a bit from ADHS epidemiologists, and with good reason: Numbers may be a little difficult to follow sometimes, but they tell a story and they don’t lie. That’s why our epidemiologists update a report every month showing COVID-19 outcomes by vaccination status, including the update [...]
Many people wrongly believe that because much of the housing in Arizona was built after lead-based paint was banned in 1978, lead poisoning is not a concern in our state. It's important to know there are several sources of lead in the environment beyond lead-based paint. Here’s a real-world example: A 1-year-old child in Arizona [...]
