Heat-related deaths have increased in recent years, becoming the primary cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S.

In 2010, the Affordable Care Act began to dramatically reduce the number of uninsured people across the country through Medicaid expansion and new subsidies for health insurance “marketplaces.” 10 states (6 of them in the South) have still not adopted Medicaid expansion.

Based on provisional 2022 data, U.S. death rates have improved slightly and life expectancy has increased. Still, life expectancy — at 77.5 years — remains 1.3 years lower than 2019 pre-Covid.

In 2022, the death rate in America remained higher than pre-Covid. Death rates in the South are stunningly high. West Virginia and Kentucky had age-adjusted death rates nearly twice as high as New York and California.

Natural disasters can cause huge shocks to the daily lives of Americans, adversely affecting housing, health, and an overall sense of security. Studies found that opioid and substance abuse were more likely to increase in the aftermath of a natural disaster.

Pregnant people are some of the most vulnerable in society, and growing research shows that they face heightened vulnerability due to climate change impacts.

Americans face a growing mental health crisis, with the percentage of adults reporting symptoms of anxiety and depression tripling from 11% in 2019 to 34% in October 2023.[

While reports of worsening mental health were higher among all teens, female and LGBQ+ students fared worst according to Fall 2021 data. Nearly 2 in 3 female students in U.S. high schools reported that they had persistent feelings of sadness or hopeless. For LGBQ+ students, it’s more.