New Resource Helps Public Health Partners Prepare Content for AI-Generated Responses
CDC released new guidance to help public health organizations improve how AI systems interpret, summarize, and cite digital health content.
The “Considerations for Generative Engine Optimization” resource applies established communication practices to AI-generated responses, emphasizing plain language, descriptive headings, direct answers to common questions, scannable content, and links to c…
CDC Report Highlights Disparities in Violent Deaths and Suicide
A new CDC report published finds that more than 72,000 violent deaths occurred across the 50 states and District of Columbia in 2023, with suicides accounting for 62.4% and homicides for 28.5%.
Data from the National Violent Death Reporting System showed substantial disparities: American Indian or Alaska Native people had the highest suicide rate, while Black males had the highest homicide ra…
New Data Show Continued Youth Use of E-Cigarettes and Nicotine Pouches
New 2025 National Youth Tobacco Survey data show that 5.2% of U.S. middle and high school students currently use e-cigarettes, while 1.7% use nicotine pouches. The analysis, published October 5 in Public Health Alerts, estimates 1.4 million youth currently vape and 3.7 million have ever used e-cigarettes.
Use was higher among high school students, with 7.1% currently vaping. Among current use…
Just One Small Serving of Ultra-Processed Food a Day Linked to Higher Disease Risk, Major Study Finds
Higher consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) is associated with increased risks of cardiovascular events, cancer, metabolic syndrome or diabetes, and death.
An analysis of nearly 8.8 million adults across the Americas, Europe, Asia and Oceania found that each additional 100 grams of UPFs consumed daily was associated with a 14% higher risk of cardiovascular events, 4% higher cancer risk, 3% higher risk of death and 2% higher risk of metabolic syndrome or diabetes.
Participants with the highest UPF intake also had greater risks of digestive diseases, depression or anxiety, and obes…
Public Health Visual Commons Launches to Strengthen Public Health Storytelling
The Public Health Visual Commons is live! Finding the right image shouldn’t be one of the hardest parts of public health communication. The Visual Commons, from Health Resources in Action, is a free library of public health images designed to help health communicators move beyond generic stock photos and tell the story of public health more effectively.
The library offers images for social media, presentations, annual reports and other communications that reflect the communities public health organizations serve. Public health communicators can also contribute photos to expand the collect…