Thread by @sarahgollust

New study in @JAMANetworkOpen led by @rtopazian @colleenlbarry & colleagues reports concerning finding that a growing percentage of U.S. adults said harassing or threatening public health officials over COVID-19 business closures was justified {thread} jamanetwork.com/journals/jaman…

Summary of their findings is here: news.cornell.edu/stories/2022/0…

In my accompanying commentary, I link these survey findings to reports elsewhere that strongly suggest these beliefs endorsing harassment translated to actions taken jamanetwork.com/journals/jaman…

Such as this 2022 study in @AMJPublicHealth reporting instances of harassment in local health departments ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/full/10.21…

And data from @deBeaumontFndtn showing public health workers are experiencing symptoms of PTSD and reporting feeling bullied, threatened, or harassed debeaumont.org/news/2022/new-…

I also connect this public health context to broader trends in American politics, such as work by @NathanKalmoe & @LilyMasonPhD who have documented the public's willingness to endorse political violence press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book…

I conclude that given the threat to the public’s health posed by a depleted and demoralized workforce, investment in the workforce and in strategies to neutralize antagonism among the public are needed -- desperately. 🚨

This includes: (1) leaders endorsing antiviolence and support for public health workers (2) investment in research on messaging approaches to neutralize negativity and bolster support for public health (as Topazian and colleagues discuss)...

(3) direct and immediate investment in the public health workers, including worker safety protections; (4) advocacy for needed investment in training and education, mental health support for workers; and (5) individual acts of outreach of support.

TL;DR: Survey evidence showing increased public willingness to harass public health workers is awful, and we need collective action to protect their, and our, health and well-being. {end}