Health events and outbreaks can happen at any time, and as we have seen with COVID-19, they can happen fast. In these situations, it is important for researchers conducting in-person data collection to consider their own health and safety, the possibility of becoming a vector for illness through their travels, and the health and safety of their participants. However, when a hea ...
Health
Coronavirus Added to the Long List of Threats to the Electoral Process
Election officials in states and localities across the country have always been aware of the need for preparedness. Managing the voting process by its very nature requires extensive preparation—choosing and staffing polling places, designing and printing ballots, building and maintaining voter lists, procuring and managing voting technology, etc.—but increasingly, the work of g ...
How Fors Marsh Group Is Preparing Its Staff and Its Business for COVID-19
As a mission-driven certified B Corporation, Fors Marsh Group (FMG) works with clients across the country and the world to solve social, commercial, and health-related challenges. Our research, evaluation, and health communication experts are accustomed to tackling complex challenges, but we are grappling these days with the same question many companies are: What does it look l ...
How to Support Mental Health in the Workplace
Mental illness is pervasive, with one in five adults experiencing its effects in a given year. Chances are you have a friend, family member, or coworker living with a mental illness—although you may not know it. For the 46.6 million people who are impacted by mental illness, Mental Illness Awareness Month is likely not something they openly acknowledge because of the stigma tha ...
Diabetes Alert Day 2019: Raising Awareness of Prediabetes and the Importance of Dental Health
84.1 million Americans have prediabetes—and a majority don’t know it. Today is Diabetes Alert Day. On this day, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) aims to spread nation-wide awareness of the risk of type 2 diabetes. According to a recent report by the CDC, about a third of American adults had prediabetes in 2015, yet less than 12% were aware of their condition. Prediabete ...
Leading the Narrative 2019: Society of Behavioral Medicine Conference Preview
The theme for the Society for Behavioral Medicine’s (SBM) 40th Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions is “Leading the Narrative.” This theme encourages researchers (1) to conduct high-quality scientific studies, (2) to communicate their findings to diverse audiences in a way that is easy to understand and impactful, and (3) to get involved in careers and activities that allow t ...
The Importance of Role Models on Healthy Living
Every year, the Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) holds an annual conference to bring together professionals who strive to use behavioral science to improve people’s quality of life and health. To follow along with this year’s theme, “Leading the Narrative,” I will be presenting my master’s thesis research on role models and their influence on physical activity and dietary b ...
To Reach Your Audience, Know Your Audience: NCHCMM Recap
Fors Marsh Group (FMG) attended the National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing, and Media (NCHCMM) last month in Atlanta, GA. The event, held from September 11 to 13, attracted individuals and organizations from academia and public health to discuss and shape the future of health communication, marketing, and media practice. In previous years, NCHCMM sessions increa ...
Three Strategies to Promote Healthier Nutrition in Kids
September is childhood obesity month. I have been studying factors related to childhood obesity for the entirety of my professional career and the one and only thing that everyone can agree on is: It’s complicated! Over the past 40 years, childhood obesity rates have tripled. Children are experiencing adverse health conditions such as heart disease and type two diabetes that w ...
Fors Marsh Group to Attend USF Social Marketing Conference 2018
From June 27-30, I will represent Fors Marsh Group (FMG) at the 2018 USF Social Marketing Conference. Every year, social marketers from all disciplines congregate at this conference for the latest guidance on the best techniques for developing and evaluating behavior change programs and campaigns. I’m looking forward to participating in many of these training sessions and prese ...
The Future of Data Science and Technology
In April, I attended Technology, Mind & Society (TMS)—an interdisciplinary conference organized by the American Psychological Association. The three-day event saw scientists, industry, and policymakers come together to learn about emerging technologies, including computer-human interaction, artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and the Internet of Things. Hea ...
Examining the Link Between Substance Abuse and Mental Health
In the month of May, Mental Health Month is observed in the United States to raise awareness and educate the public on mental health. Mental illness remains shrouded in stigma, yet approximately one in five American adults (roughly 43.8 million people) are affected by mental health conditions. Untreated mental health conditions can result in consequences such as suicide, homele ...