MoDA Podcast Season 3, Episode 2, The empire at home

Ana Baeza Ruiz talks to Deborah Sugg Ryan and Sarah Cheang about how the British Empire shaped our everyday experiences of home

Una asociación florística de helechos-bennettitales en acumulaciones travertínicas del Titónico-Berriasiense (Formación Aguilar, Burgos-Palencia, España) y sus implicaciones paleoclimáticas y vegetacionales

[EN] This report describes a macrofloral fossil assemblage discovered in travertine deposits of the Tithonian-Berriasian Aguilar Formation (provinces of Palencia and Burgos, N Spain). The assemblage includes megaremains of a single species of Filicales (Cladophlebis denticulata) and of eleven taxa tentatively identified as Bennettitales (Otozamites mundae, Otozamites sp., Ptilophyllum pecten, Ptilophyllum pectiniformis, Ptilophyllum sp. cf. pectiniformis, Ptilophyllum acutifolium, Ptilophyllum sp., Pterophyllum cycadites, Pterophyllum sp. cf. thomasii, Zamites pumilio, and cf. Pseudocycas sp.). Specimens were preserved as impressions coated with a microbial film up to 5 mm thick made up of: bacteria and cyanobacteria. Based on the available sedimentological and palaeobotanical data, a dry-savannah vegetation and an arid climate were deduced. Late Jurassic macrofloras are globally scarce and have not previously been reported in Spain. Hence, the Aguilar Formation macroflora provides valuable information on the coeval phytogeography and palaeoclimate of southwestern Europe. Furthermore, the lack of floras observed so far in palaeotravertine deposits older than Pliocene in age makes this macroflora exceptional.[ES] Se describe por vez primera vez una macroflora fósil acumulada en facies travertínicas de edad Titónico-Berriasiense, correspondientes a la Formación Aguilar (provincias de Burgos y Palencia). Esta macroflora incluye una especie de Filicales (Cladophlebis denticulata) y once taxa atribuibles al Orden Bennettitales (Otozamites mundae, Otozamites sp., Ptilophyllum pecten, Ptilophyllum pectiniformis, Ptilophyllum sp. cf. pectiniformis, Ptilophyllum acutifolium, Ptilophyllum spp., Pterophyllum cycadites, Pterophyllum sp. cf. thomasi, Zamites pumilio, and cf. Pseudocycas sp.). Los ejemplares corresponden a impresiones de restos de hojas cubiertos por un velo microbiano bien preservado, de cerca de 5 mm, formado por bacterias y cianobacterias. La composición de la flora y los datos sedimentológicos permiten inferir una vegetación de sabana que se desarrollo bajo un clima árido. Las macrofloras del Jurásico Superior son escasas a escala mundial, no habiendo sido descrita ninguna en España. Por todo ello, la macroflora de la Formación Aguilar aporta una relevante información que puede contribuir a una mejor comprensión fitogeográfica y paleoclimática del suroeste de Europa en dicha edad. Además, la ausencia, a nivel global, de floras acumuladas en travertinos anteriores al Plioceno, permite considerar esta macroflora como excepcional..V. Pujalte acknowledges the support of grant CGL2005- 02770/BTE awarded by the Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia for the fieldwork needed for this study.Peer reviewe

Mapping high-risk clusters and identifying place-based risk factors of mental health burden in pregnancy

Purpose: Despite affecting up to 20% of women and being the leading cause of preventable deaths during the perinatal and postpartum period, maternal mental health conditions are chronically understudied. This study is the first to identify spatial patterns in perinatal mental health conditions, and relate these patterns to place-based social and environmental factors that drive cluster development. Methods: We performed spatial clustering analysis of emergency department (ED) visits for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD), severe mental illness (SMI), and maternal mental disorders of pregnancy (MDP) using the Poisson model in SatScan from 2016 to 2019 in North Carolina. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between patient and community-level factors and high-risk clusters. Results: The most significant spatial clustering for all three outcomes was concentrated in smaller urban areas in the western, central piedmont, and coastal plains regions of the state, with odds ratios greater than 3 for some cluster locations. Individual factors (e.g., age, race, ethnicity) and contextual factors (e.g., racial and socioeconomic segregation, urbanity) were associated with high risk clusters. Conclusions: Results provide important contextual and spatial information concerning at-risk populations with a high burden of maternal mental health disorders and can better inform targeted locations for the expansion of maternal mental health services

Spatiotemporal patterns of youth isolation and loneliness in the US: a geospatial analysis of Crisis Text Line data (2016–2022)

In 2021, the US Surgeon General issued a national advisory citing an epidemic of isolation and loneliness. Even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately half of people in the US reported experiencing measurable levels of loneliness. Despite localized and select cross-sectional studies highlighting even higher increases in isolation/loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic, additional research is needed, particularly for youth and young adults. This work examines patterns of isolation/loneliness across the US from 2016 to 2022 among individuals aged 24 and younger. Our study leverages a unique dataset, Crisis Text Line, which provides complete spatiotemporal coverage of crisis conversations in the US. We conducted a geospatial analysis using Kuldroff’s Space–Time SatScan to identify statistically significant clustering of elevated isolation/loneliness-related conversations. The statistical significance of spatiotemporal clusters was determined using Monte Carlo simulations (n = 9999). Results demonstrated local relative risk as high as 1.47 in high-risk populations in Southern, Midwest, and Atlantic states, indicating areas where the actual case count is 147% of the expected cases (p value < 0.01) from May to July 2020. Results also identified co-occurrence of isolation/loneliness and other crises concerns, including depression/sadness, anxiety, and multiple suicidality indicators, with higher rates among racial/ethnic minority, transgender and gender diverse, and younger individuals. This work makes a unique contribution to the literature by elucidating spatiotemporal disparities in isolation/loneliness among young people, providing much-needed knowledge as to where future public health interventions are immediately needed

Crisis Response and Suicidal Behaviors of Essential Workers and Children of Essential Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has put unprecedented stress on essential workers and their children. Limited cross-sectional research has found increases in mental health conditions from workload, reduced income, and isolation among essential workers. Less research has been conducted on children of essential workers. We examined trends in the crisis response of essential workers and their children from April 2020 through August 2021. Methods: We investigated the impact during 3 periods of the pandemic on workers and their children using anonymized data from the Crisis Text Line on crisis help-seeking texts for thoughts of suicide or active suicidal ideation (desire, intent, capability, time frame), abuse (emotional, physical, sexual, unspecified), anxiety/stress, grief, depression, isolation, bullying, eating or body image, gender/sexual identity, self-harm, and substance use. We used generalized estimating equations to study the longitudinal change in crisis response across the later stages of the pandemic using adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for worker status and crisis outcomes. Results: Results demonstrated higher odds of crisis outcomes for thoughts of suicide (aOR = 1.06; 95% CI, 1.00-1.12) and suicide capability (aOR = 1.14; 95% CI, 1.02-1.27) among essential workers than among nonessential workers. Children of essential workers had higher odds of substance use than children of nonessential workers (aOR = 1.33; 95% CI, 1.08-1.65), particularly for Indigenous American children (aOR = 2.76; 95% CI, 1.35-5.36). Essential workers (aOR = 1.17; 95% CI, 1.07-1.27) and their children (aOR = 1.18; 95% CI, 1.07-1.30) had higher odds of grief than nonessential workers and their children. Conclusion: Essential workers and their children had elevated crisis outcomes. Immediate and low-cost psychologically supportive interventions are needed to mitigate the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on these populations. </jats:sec

sj-docx-1-phr-10.1177_00333549221148177 – Supplemental material for Crisis Response and Suicidal Behaviors of Essential Workers and Children of Essential Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-phr-10.1177_00333549221148177 for Crisis Response and Suicidal Behaviors of Essential Workers and Children of Essential Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic by Margaret M. Sugg, Jennifer D. Runkle, Sophia C. Ryan, Devyani Singh, Shannon Green and Martie Thompson in Public Health Reports</p

Eco-anxiety, climate concern, and fatalistic outlooks: Insights from U.S. crisis text conversations on climate distress

Introduction: Ecologic anxiety and climate distress describe psychological and emotional responses to the uncertain future of our planet amid climate change. Crisis hotlines and text-based counseling services may address mental health concerns linked to climate anxiety, yet limited research explores these responses through digital crisis text lines. This study presents results from a qualitative thematic analysis of U.S. crisis text conversations mentioning climate change by exploring emotional responses and coping resources commonly discussed. Methods: We analyzed anonymized text data from Crisis Text Line (CTL), a free, U.S.-based digital crisis platform with over nine million conversations since 2017, focusing on a sample of texts mentioning ''climate change.” A comprehensive codebook was developed, incorporating predetermined and emergent codes for climate change exposures, crisis flags, emotional responses, and special topics. Using a structured, iterative thematic analysis approach that combined deductive and inductive methods, the study identified and categorized emerging themes. Results: A total of 337 text transcripts were analyzed. Texters displayed significant emotional responses to climate change, grouped into three categories: Eco-anxious, General Climate Concern, and Fatalistic Future Outlook. Findings reveal the tangible impacts of extreme weather, the exacerbating role of media coverage, and the interaction between climate change and other life stressors. Texters used various coping strategies for climate-related distress, including social support, creative and nature-based activities, positive information, and professional resources like CTL. Counselor-recommended techniques, such as grounding exercises and journaling, also helped manage emotional well-being. Conclusions: Themes underscore the complex nature of texters' emotional and psychological responses, varied coping mechanisms, and how climate concerns can inspire proactive environmental actions. The analysis highlights the urgent need for targeted support interventions, particularly for those with a fatalistic outlook, to address mental health challenges related intensifying climate events

Scoping review of the societal impacts of compound climate events

Abstract Climatic extremes have historically been seen as univariate; however, recent international reports have highlighted the potential for an increase in compound climate events (e.g., hot and dry events, recurrent flooding). Despite the projected increase in the frequency of compound climate events and the adoption of compound event terminology, few studies identify climate extremes as compound climate events and little evidence exists on the societal impacts of these compound climate events. This scoping review summarizes key findings and knowledge gaps in the current state of empirical studies that focus on the societal impacts of compound climate events. We identified 28 eligible studies published in four databases reporting on the societal impacts of compound climate events in four sectors: agriculture, public health, the built environment, and land use. Overall, we found the need for more research explicitly linking compound climate events to societal impacts, particularly across multiple compound climate events, rather than single case study events. We also noted several key findings, including changes in agricultural productivity, loss of habitat, increased fire risk, poor mental health outcomes, decreased health care access, and destruction of homes and infrastructure from these events. Additional research is needed both globally and locally to understand the implications of compound climate events across different geographic regions and populations to ensure responsive adaptation policies in a compound climate event framework