School of Population and Public Health

Heightened food worries linked to worse mental health during COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated lockdowns may have worsened worries over food insecurity among many Canadians and negatively impacted their mental health, according to a nationwide survey conducted during the first wave.

Sep 23, 2021

UBC experts on wildfire smoke and air quality

UBC experts are available to comment on air quality due to smoke from B.C. wildfires.

Jul 9, 2021

New global air pollution and health impact study the most comprehensive ever

An international research team co-led by UBC’s Dr. Michael Brauer has published the most detailed analysis ever conducted on global air pollution sources and their health impacts, covering 204 countries and territories.

Jun 14, 2021

UBC experts on B.C. paid sick leave legislation

UBC experts are available to comment on the new paid sick leave legislation introduced in British Columbia.

May 11, 2021

New national survey finds Canadians’ mental health eroding as pandemic continues

The second wave of the pandemic has intensified feelings of stress and anxiety, causing alarming levels of despair, suicidal thoughts and hopelessness in the Canadian population.

Dec 3, 2020

Teens who participate in extracurriculars, get less screen time, have better mental health

A new study from UBC researchers finds that teens, especially girls, have better mental health when they spend more time taking part in extracurricular activities, like sports and art, and less time in front of screens.

Nov 2, 2020

UBC experts on B.C. Supreme Court ruling against legalizing private health care

B.C. Supreme Court has ruled against legalizing private healthcare today following a landmark trial that lasted three-and-a-half years and involved more than 100 witnesses.

Sep 10, 2020

Wildfire smoke has immediate harmful health effects: UBC study

Exposure to wildfire smoke affects the body’s respiratory and cardiovascular systems almost immediately, according to new research from the University of British Columbia’s School of Population and Public Health.

Jun 24, 2020

Q&A: UBC researchers warn of dangers of air pollution during COVID-19 outbreak

With all attention on COVID-19 and concerns about the capacity of our health care system to cope, emphasis has rightly been placed on social distancing, handwashing and increasing hospital capacity.

Mar 30, 2020

Peer mentorship programs vital for supporting women leaving prison

New UBC research underscores the value of peer mentorship programs in supporting incarcerated women navigating the transition from prison back into the community.

Feb 18, 2020

UBC experts on Vancouver’s 2019 Empty Homes Tax data

The City of Vancouver released initial 2019 Empty Homes Tax statistics this morning, which showed that almost 15 per cent fewer properties were declared vacant last year. UBC experts are available to comment.

Feb 7, 2020

Living near major roads linked to increased risk of dementia, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and MS

Living near major roads or highways is linked to higher incidence of dementia, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis (MS), suggests new research published this week in the journal Environmental Health.

Jan 23, 2020

Canadians dying at a higher rate in areas with more air pollution

Air pollution – even at levels below national and international air quality guidelines – is associated with an increased risk of deaths in Canada, according to new UBC research.

Nov 25, 2019

Drug discount cards could actually cost patients more

New research published today in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) reveals that brand-name drug discount cards are leading to higher health care spending in Canada—increased costs that are ultimately passed on to patients.

Nov 12, 2019

Having the freedom to move around their neighbourhoods on their own helps give children the confidence they need to navigate the world.

Benefits of letting children run free far outweigh the risks

This physical inactivity crisis owes a lot to the decline in children’s independent mobility, which is the subject of a new documentary called Running Free: Children’s Independent Mobility from UBC’s school of kinesiology.

Sep 10, 2019

UBC experts on B.C. PharmaCare announcement

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix will be making an announcement on B.C.’s PharmaCare program this afternoon.

Sep 5, 2019

UBC experts on opioid crisis lawsuits

A court in Oklahoma has found Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiaries helped fuel the U.S. state’s opioid crisis and has ordered the company to pay $572 million. UBC experts are available to comment.

Aug 27, 2019

Science says when kids participate in team-based extracurricular activities, they have better mental health

Extracurricular activities that nurture a sense of belonging with peers appear to bolster preteen’s mental health, new research from the University of British Columbia suggests.

Aug 26, 2019

UBC experts on federal government announcement on drug pricing changes

The federal government has announced changes to drug prices in a step towards national Pharmacare.

Aug 9, 2019

Music students do better in school than non-musical peers

High school students who take music courses score significantly better on math, science and English exams than their non-musical peers, according to a new study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology.

Jun 24, 2019