Mental Health
An Integrated Approach to Mental Health
Mental health is a critical component of overall health, yet it remains underrepresented in public health research, education, and systems design—especially in areas such as oral health and chronic disease. Living with chronic illness or poor oral health creates a range of mental health impacts, including diminished self-esteem and impaired executive functioning, and remains underconsidered in care delivery and workforce training. AIDPH’s work in integrated mental health focuses on infusing mental health within population health research design, public health professional development, and systems-level strategies that recognize the full scope of lived experiences. We also prioritize the well-being of the public health workforce by exploring the impacts of burnout and systemic strain, with an emphasis on community care, peer support, and professional sustainability. Through this approach, we aim to create a public health environment where both patients and providers are seen, supported, and sustained.
Key Focus Areas
Mental + Oral Health
AIDPH explores how oral health conditions, such as tooth loss, untreated caries, and chronic oral pain, can contribute to diminished self-worth, impaired executive functioning, and social withdrawal. By integrating mental health considerations into oral health research and education, we aim to promote care models that reflect the full impact of oral health on individual well-being.
Mental Health + Chronic Disease
Managing chronic conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease can place a significant psychological burden on patients. AIDPH is working to illuminate how mental health influences disease management, treatment adherence, and quality of life to support more comprehensive public health approaches.
Population Mental Health
AIDPH advocates for the inclusion of mental health in research design, surveillance systems, and public health infrastructure to better address structural drivers of poor mental health and promote upstream solutions. Mental health is a foundational component of community well-being and should be considered across all population health strategies.
Workforce Well-being
Public health professionals are facing escalating burnout and systemic strain, conditions that threaten workforce sustainability. AIDPH is committed to advancing mental health and resilience in public health through research, education, and peer-driven support models that prioritize professional well-being and long-term career sustainability.
Integrating Mental Health with Our Communities of Focus
AIDPH takes an integrated approach to mental health by examining how structural barriers, community health disparities, and physical health conditions shape psychological well-being, particularly in populations often overlooked in traditional public health models. In partnership with CareQuest Institute, we analyzed how state-level policies impact the oral, mental, and general health of queer and transgender individuals, revealing that discriminatory policies correlate with lower dental utilization, worse mental health outcomes, and increased tooth loss. In a separate analysis of national health data, we found that millions of veterans experience social isolation, embarrassment, and reduced daily functioning due to poor oral health and chronic dental pain, highlighting how oral health directly influences social and psychological well-being. These reports reflect our commitment to advancing research that captures the full scope of lived experiences and informs inclusive, actionable solutions in public health.
Resiliency in the Public Health Workforce
As demands on public health systems grow, so do the pressures facing those who sustain them. Join us May 12 & 13, 2026, for the AIDPH Colloquium Sustaining Public Health Resiliency through Power, Strength, and Collective Action. During this virtual event, AIDPH will center conversations around workforce sustainability, shared leadership, and community care as essential components of public health infrastructure. By fostering a space for dialogue, reflection, and strategy, we aim to elevate the voices of professionals and advocates who are shaping a more resilient, supportive future for the field.