unlv students walking on campus

Department of Social and Behavioral Health News

Housed in the UNLV School of Public Health, the Department of Social and Behavioral Health consists of faculty who engage in research and develop and evaluate community-based programs that promote health and disease prevention. Our students learn to identify high-risk behaviors or trends in specific populations, as well as propose solutions that aim to improve overall public health in communities.

Current Social and Behavioral Health News

spring campus
Campus News |

Some of the most vibrant headlines featuring UNLV faculty and students.

Fall colors 2025
Campus News |

Some of the biggest news headlines featuring UNLV faculty and students.

First day of classes.
Campus News |

The top news stories starring university students and staff.

June campus horizon shot
Campus News |

The top headlines featuring UNLV’s staff and students.

Spring flowers
Campus News |

The students and faculty of UNLV are springing into headlines around the country.

Tim Grigsby sitting on a UNLV bench in the Academic Mall
People |

After an unexpected start in public health, this professor of social and behavioral health is uncovering the complexities of substance misuse and childhood trauma.

Social and Behavioral Health In The News

India Currents

Complete recovery from gallbladder surgery varies from person to person and depends on the type of surgery and any complications.

Indica News

According to the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 228.4 million people (79.2%) over the age of 12 years mentioned having drunk alcohol in their lifetime, and 178.7 million people (62.0%) in this age group reported that they drank in the past year.

New India Abroad

New study warns equity gaps fueling student stress, anxiety, and depression.

Indica News

At least 34 states have been affected, with the most significant surge in Michigan, Ohio, New York, and Texas.

Indica News

According to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 study, it is estimated that globally, between 591 and 672 million people were living with heart disease in 2023, more than double from 1990.

New India Abroad

Systematic review finds guided digital and multi-week mindfulness programs can strengthen campus mental health support.

Social and Behavioral Health Experts

An expert on drug misuse and addiction.
An expert on lactation, breastfeeding, and maternal and child health and nutrition.
An expert on health disparities and LGBTQ aging adults with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
A mental health expert with particular interest in child well-being.
An expert on health behavior and coping with stress.

Recent Social and Behavioral Health Accomplishments

Ana Gonzalez, Sidath Kapukotuwa, Asma Awan, and Manoj Sharma (all Social and Behavioral Health) published an article titled “Promoting Healthy Weight with Dietary Tracking: A Scoping Review of Behavioral Interventions” in the Journal of the Academy of Public Health. Dietary self-monitoring, particularly calorie tracking, is well recognized as a…
Manoj Sharma, Sharmistha Roy, Mahsa PasheiMeykola, Rupam Mitra & Asma Awan (all Social & Behavioral Health) published an article titled “Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Psychosocial, Behavioral, and Educational Interventions for Youth Cannabis Use: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials” in the journal Psychoactives. The…
Manoj Sharma (Social and Behavioral Health; Internal Medicine) conducted a featured virtual webinar titled "Introspective Meditation on Avoiding Guilt and Fostering Self-Forgiveness & Forgiveness for Others" for the "Break ke Baad" group based in Livermore, California. The webinar covered the scientific basis of guilt, including the…
Manoj Sharma (Social & Behavioral Health; Internal Medicine), as a senior collaborator with the GBD 2023 Asia Life Expectancy Collaborators, coauthored “Mapping drivers of life expectancy change in Asia from 1990 to 2023” in Nature (Impact factor 56.1). The study was unique because most previous research on the longitudinal trends in life…
Manoj Sharma (Social & Behavioral Health; Internal Medicine), as a senior collaborator with the GBD 2023 Road Injuries Collaborators, coauthored “Global, regional, and national burden of road injuries 1990-2023: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023” in The Lancet. Public Health (Impact factor: 26.5). The study…
Asma Awan (Dental) and Manoj Sharma (Social and Behavioral Health, Internal Medicine) presented a virtual talk titled, “Strengthening Local Public Health Workforce Capacity through Experiential Learning: Outcomes from an ARPA-Funded Workforce Pipeline Initiative” at the 2026 NACCHO360 Conference, held in Louisville, KY form July 13-17, 2026. The…