Gun violence is plaguing the United States and our first piece this week discusses why improving mental health services is unlikely to reduce homicides and mass shootings. The authors share data from many countries indicating that no clear relationship between mass shootings and mental illness exists and present instead three other measures that could cut down on shootings. A wrap-up of the recent World Health Assembly meeting in Geneva shares highlights from the gathering and reviews the cautious progress being made toward global health reform.
An interview with Purdue University's Professor Tesfaye Mengiste, an expert in botany, looks at the regional and global implications of Russia's recent attack near a major seed and plant bank in Ukraine. Mengiste says, "Seed and plant banks are normally under the radar and underappreciated, but they are what drives global crop improvements and food security."
Our next article looks at the rising global burden of dementia and why accessing affordable, high-quality care will be harder than ever in the decades ahead as the number of people living with dementia explodes. Low- and middle-income countries, where nursing homes are not the norm for elder care, will be affected the most.
A new piece in our Young Voices in Global Health series discusses chronic power outages in South Africa and the danger they pose to hospitals, patients, and COVID-19 vaccination efforts.
As always, thank you for reading, and be well. —Thomas J. Bollyky and Mary Brophy Marcus, Editors
