Department of Social and Behavioral Health News
Housed in the UNLV School of Public Health, the Department of Social and Behavioral Health consists of faculty who engage in research and develop and evaluate community-based programs that promote health and disease prevention. Our students learn to identify high-risk behaviors or trends in specific populations, as well as propose solutions that aim to improve overall public health in communities.
Current Social and Behavioral Health News
The students and faculty of UNLV are springing into headlines around the country.
After an unexpected start in public health, this professor of social and behavioral health is uncovering the complexities of substance misuse and childhood trauma.
Headlines and highlights featuring the students and faculty of UNLV.
A monthly roundup of the top news stories at UNLV, featuring the presidential election, gaming partnerships, and much more.
News highlights featuring UNLV students and staff who made (refreshing) waves in the headlines.
A collection of news stories highlighting UNLV’s dedication to community and research.
Social and Behavioral Health In The News
With the start of summer, there is abundant sunshine in most parts of the United States. This is the time to reaffirm an important behavior: sunscreen use. Skin cancer poses a significant public health problem in our country. Approximately 9,500 people in the US are diagnosed with skin cancer every day. The main types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma. Melanoma is the least common but the deadliest, and it can spread more easily. While skin cancers are more common in Whites, they can affect any race or socioeconomic status.
Dr. Manoj Sharma, a Professor of Social and Behavioral Health and Internal Medicine, answers queries about hoarding disorder.
May is Skin Safety Awareness Month. More than a decade ago, in 2014, the U.S. Surgeon General called skin cancer a public health crisis due to the alarming growth in cases. While Nevada ranks 33rd in the country for skin cancer, the American Cancer Society projects that more than a thousand Nevadans will be diagnosed with melanoma this year. So, is preventing it as simple as applying sunscreen? Or is that even simple?
Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis is a blue-green filamentous microalgae from the Cyanobacteria class that grows in fresh or salt water. It was consumed in ancient times by the Aztecs, but came to the limelight when NASA proposed that it could be grown by astronauts in space for food. It is a nutritious food and has been labeled as a “superfood.”
I’ve dedicated my career to understanding and improving the lives of older adults, including veterans. That’s why it was devastating to learn that a $1.4 million research grant, approved by the Department of Defense to study Alzheimer’s disease among veterans, was suddenly no longer going to be funded, with no clear explanation other than that our work no longer aligned with “agency priorities.”
Dr. Manoj Sharma, a Professor of Social and Behavioral Health and Internal Medicine, as well as President of Health for All, Inc., answers queries on caring for a loved one with epilepsy.
