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December Update


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Energy insecurity’s impact on mental health across US households
New evidence from Columbia University examines how energy hardships—unsafe indoor temperatures, disconnection threats, and economic strain tied to utility bills—are linked to adverse mental health outcomes, such as anxiety and depression, among US households. The study shows that coping strategies like reducing heating or cooling to dangerous levels correlate with mental distress as strongly as, or more than, the financial burden itself. The findings point to the importance of addressing both the economic and lived experience of energy hardship in public health and policy solutions.

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Racial disparities in electricity rates and energy insecurity
A new study in Scientific Reports uncovers significant racial disparities in residential electricity pricing across the US, highlighting how utility rate structures may contribute to energy insecurity among racially diverse communities. Electricity rates, consumption, and billing data for utility service areas were analyzed in Alabama, California, and New York, comparing predominantly BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) areas with predominantly white service areas. The findings reveal that households in majority BIPOC service areas often pay higher electricity rates while consuming less energy than those in white areas. These patterns reflect long-standing inequities in utility regulation, infrastructure investment, and rate-setting practices. This research
underscores the need for equitable energy policy solutions that address not just consumption and access but also the systemic factors driving unequal pricing structures.

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Applying patient-centered care to mental health diversion
This qualitative study explores how patient-centered care principles, traditionally rooted in health care settings, apply to mental health diversion programs, which offer people with mental health needs an alternative to incarceration by combining treatment with court oversight. In-depth interviews with diversion clients across six California counties show that while elements like access to care, trust, and respect for preferences do matter, the traditional framework needs adaptation for settings where legal and clinical systems overlap. The findings highlight gaps between clinical ideals and justice-system realities and identify opportunities to strengthen diversion programs so they better align with participant well-being and equity goals.

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How contraceptive access policies shape preventive care
A new study led by Whitney Rice examines how state-level contraceptive access policies in the US relate to use of preventive sexual and reproductive health services. Using data from the National Survey of Family Growth, researchers found that while broader contraceptive-access policies were not uniformly linked with preventive care across the whole population, they were associated with increased use of these services among specific groups, particularly people with lower incomes or education levels. These findings suggest that expanding contraceptive access at the state level may help reduce inequities in access to other important preventive health services.
Community corner


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The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s 20 years of partnership on childhood obesity


This report synthesizes insights from community leaders, practitioners, and researchers who have shaped obesity-prevention efforts nationwide and offers perspective on how the field has evolved since RWJF made its initial commitment to addressing childhood obesity two decades ago. It underscores the importance of long-term investment, cross-sector collaboration, and community-driven strategies in advancing health equity.


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