5th Annual Mental Health Action Day to Convene More than 3,000 organizations and brands driving culture from awareness to action on Thursday, May 15th

SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios, in partnership with local CBS stations, provided grants to 18 nonprofits encouraging and empowering their communities to take action for mental health
More information and a full list of partners can be found at www.MentalHealthActionDay.org
*Hi-res assets here
NEW YORK, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 3,000 organizations, brands, government agencies and cultural leaders will support the global movement that encourages and empowers people to take action for their or their loved ones' mental health on the fifth annual Mental Health Action Day on Thursday, May 15. Spearheaded by SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios and TaskForce in 2021 following the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth mental health, Mental Health Action Day is an open-source movement of partners across the globe driving the culture of emotional wellbeing from awareness to action.
This year's call-to-action, which many partners will integrate into their activations, is: Check-in with A.S.K., the "stop, drop and roll" for providing emotional support to the people in our lives. A.S.K. or Acknowledge, Support and Keep-in-Touch (www.asktohelp.com) was developed by MTV and Active Minds, a leading mental health non-profit working with youth and young adults to champion peer-to-peer mental health programs.
"We are so proud that this day of action that started as a response to the pandemic's effects on youth mental health is now in its fifth year of shifting our culture from mental health awareness to mental health action," said Erika Soto Lamb, Vice President of Social Impact at SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios. "Mental Health Action Day is more than one day, it's a movement of partners coming together to drive our communities to do something for themselves or a loved one – because we know that taking action can really make a difference."
As part of its commitment to Mental Health Action Day, Paramount Global's SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios and all 17 CBS-owned and operated local stations provided grants to 18 non-profit organizations reaching young people through local activations. These community events will take place in Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Sacramento, San Francisco, Seattle and Tampa Bay. From mural projects to a celebrity hockey game benefiting veterans and first responders, school-led wellness fairs and community picnics, each organization will drive mental health action-taking in ways that feel true to the communities they serve.
In addition to these community grants, Paramount and MTV have partnered with some of their most iconic shows to support and amplify the work of nonprofits making an impact on mental health and to encourage our audiences to take action for their mental health.
MTV's The Challenge: On MTV's Official Challenge Podcast, Tori Deal and Da'Vonne Rogers, two Challenge legends discussed the connection between physical and mental health and how it is a big part of their lives on and off the show. They shared the important work of Philadelphia nonprofit Students Run Philly Style and how their unique approach to transform students lives through running and mentorship has produced positive outcomes for students including mental and physical health benefits.
CBS' The Young and the Restless: The Young and the Restless has partnered with The Kids Mental Health Foundation (KMHF) to encourage their fans to take action for the kids in their lives on Mental Health Action Day and connect them with resources. The Kids Mental Health Foundation is the leading organization promoting mental health for children in the United States.
Paramount+'s Star Trek: Talent from Star Trek's Strange New Worlds is supporting It Gets Better, sharing their message of inclusivity and efforts to uplift and empower LGBTQ+ youth. It Gets Better connects with young people through powerful storytelling and high-impact educational programming. Star Trek will engage fans around the globe and connect them to It Gets Better's resources.
In addition, spots began airing on May 1 across all MTV Entertainment networks including MTV, Comedy Central, CMT, Paramount Network, Pop, TV Land and Smithsonian Channel to encourage audiences to take action for themselves or a loved one for Mental Health Action Day.
2025 CBS Local & SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Grantees
Atlanta, GA – COR Inc will launch a school-wide campaign leading up to Mental Health Action Day for students and staff to learn A.S.K.- Acknowledge, Support, and Keep-in-Touch, followed by a series of mental health and wellness events in and around their high school. Additionally, COR staff will lead mental health training for teachers to encourage trauma-informed educational practices in every classroom.
Baltimore, MD – The Equity Project Foundation and More Than A Shop will bring Baltimore's youth and young adults together for a day of mindfulness, healing and empowerment. This high-energy, interactive summit will feature mental health activations, dynamic workshops, live panel discussions, one-on-one licensed counseling, entertainment, games, giveaways, and a vibrant vendor fair packed with resources.
Brooklyn, NY – Groundswell Community Mural Project will launch an artproject focused on raising awareness about mental health. In collaboration with talented teaching artists, participants will have the opportunity to contribute their creative ideas through sketching and design, ensuring their voices are reflected in the final mural. This collaborative piece will culminate in a vibrant Community Paint Day event at the end of the month, bringing participants together to celebrate the power of art and community in fostering mental health action.
Chicago, IL – Salud will bridge culture and mental health in Chicago through a mental health talk, engagement, education, and empowerment. Salud will promote how we can normalize the conversation through creative and culturally relevant mental health activations, center creatives, licensed professionals, therapists, healers, community and more. Attendees will enjoy vibrant live music, food, refreshments, and resources to continue the conversation in ways that work for the community.
Denver, CO – Youth on Record will facilitate a full day of learning, art, music and community care, investing directly in young peoples' ability to lead in mental health support for their peers and in their communities. In the morning, young creatives ages 18-24 will be trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid. In the afternoon, they will partner with younger participants for a zine-making workshop. The day will culminate with a community concert featuring a dynamic slate of live performances from current and former YOR program participants while providing free food, giveaways and mental health resources.
Detroit, MI – The Rian Ryelee Foundation will host a transformative event aimed at driving mental health action and fostering a sense of community in the 313. This event will feature engaging panel discussions, hands-on wellness activities, and resources to help attendees acknowledge mental health, offer support and stay connected. Participants will enjoy Motown City Soul Food, receive in-person chair massages and have access to grief rooms for those who may experience loss or trauma. Additionally, attendees will participate in a "Painting with a Twist" art therapy session focused on communication and peer support, while accessing valuable mental health resources from local providers and organizations.
Fort Worth, TX – LGBTQ SAVES will host its annual Youth Pride Picnic, a free and affirming event that fosters connection, belonging and mental well-being for LGBTQ+ youth across North Texas. This event is more than just a picnic—it's a space where young people can see firsthand the strong, supportive community that surrounds them. With interactive activities hosted by 30+ community partners, free meals for all attendees, and entertainment that celebrates LGBTQ+ identities, the Youth Pride Picnic creates a welcoming environment where youth feel valued, supported and empowered.
Los Angeles, California – April Parker Foundation will host an outdoor wellness festival for Mental Health Action Day. This activation will provide young people in Long Beach and surrounding communities with an opportunity to reconnect with nature, movement and peer support to enhance mental well-being that encourages youth to A.S.K. (Acknowledge, Support, Keep-in-Touch) through interactive activities designed to promote self-awareness, emotional regulation and connection. Activities include peer support circles, yoga & breathwork sessions, hiking, grounding walks and more.
Miami, FL – The Unbreakable Organization, in collaboration with young leaders, will bring together peers from across the region for initiatives focused on connection, growth and empowerment. Youth participants will engage in hands-on self-care activities like gratitude journaling, intention-setting, affirmation creation, and other meaningful wellness practices. These sessions are designed to equip attendees with practical tools to support their mental health while fostering empathy, acceptance and a deeper sense of community. Additionally, members of The Unbreakable Organization's Youth Advisory Board will host pop-up events on their campuses and in local neighborhoods, continuing to promote mental wellness, belonging and peer support.
Minneapolis, MN – The Strong Mind Strong Body Foundation and its Youth Community Journalism Institute, in partnership with the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, Carmen Robles and Associates LLC, and Conversaciones de Salud, will host a Twin Cities Mental Health Action Festival, connecting youth and families from underserved Twin Cities communities with brain researchers, mental health experts, and medical professionals for a festival of food, music, goodie bags, educational video games, community newspapering, mental health support and community empowerment. This event kicks off Brain Health Solutions for All, a year-long initiative to expand access to actionable mental health education and resources where they are needed most.
New York, NY – The New York Foundling's Home of Integrated Behavioral Health will host a Community Day of Mental Health Action focused on increasing awareness of and access to the critical services we provide to children, young people and families in East Harlem and neighboring communities. Attendees can enjoy raffle giveaways, delicious snacks, art activities, hip hop meditation and other wellness events, and an open door to The Foundling's wide-ranging services.
Philadelphia, PA – The Evoluer House will host a fun two-part interactive day of mental wellness and emotional rejuvenation for teen girls in the Greater Philadelphia region. A virtual workshop will feature topics on how teen girls can recognize signs of mental illness, how they can help a friend, and how they can take charge of their own mental health. The teen girls will learn what support and resources are available. They will also have access to health guides and time for questions and answers. Our local attendees will enjoy a yoga class, nutritious food for the soul and an inspiring dream journal.
Pittsburgh, PA – The Malone Family Foundation will host the 3rd Annual Black & Gold Breaking the Mold. The two-day event will be highlighted by an open conversation about mental health with Ryan Malone and NHL guests during the Black & Gold Gala on Wednesday, May 14. Black & Gold Breaking the Mold will continue with the Hero & Celebrity Hockey Game the following day on Thursday, May 15. Those playing in the game will include current + former NHL players, members of our Veteran and First Responder communities, local celebrities and mental health advocates. The game will shine a light on the healing power of hockey and our need to take positive action daily on our mental health journeys. Prior to the game, a family friendly Mental Health Rally will share mental wellness resources with our community. Additionally, the celebrities in attendance will make a special appearance to connect with our growing community of mental health advocates.
Roxbury, MA – DeeDee's Cry will host Young Minds in Action Day, a youth-led mental health discussion, a Community Wellness Walk and Mental Health Fair to promote the A.S.K. (Acknowledge, Support, Keep-in-Touch) framework for Mental Health Action Day. The event will bring together young people, community members and mental health professionals to foster conversations on mental well-being, engage in wellness activities, and access vital resources for suicide prevention.
Sacramento, CA – Yancey Outreach International will host mental health outreach events focused on healing, resilience and empowerment for both youth and adults. Attendees can engage in inspiring discussions, interactive wellness activities, and access essential mental health and recovery services. Community members will be invited to enjoy free self-care kits, delicious food, and community connection.
San Francisco, CA – Queer LifeSpace will host a month-long series of events in honor of Mental Health Action Day, celebrating the healing power of art, creative expression, and accessible mental health care for LGBTQIA+ communities. Highlights include a guided Castro art walk on Friday, May 2nd; portrait analysis workshops for body perception and emotional self-reflection on May 15th, paired with a guest speaker panel of mental health experts at Harvey Milk Center for the Arts; and an art exhibition featuring young, emerging artists from the EQUARTY program at Queer LifeSpace's annual gala on Friday, May 30th. Free mental health toolkits and community resources will be distributed throughout the series.
Seattle, WA – Therapy Fund Foundation in collaboration with Rural Behavioral Health and Community-Owned Behavioral Health Collaborative, will be helping community members seek therapy sessions and amplifying stories from the community through their CycleBreaker Spotlight Series. Additionally, with Ahshay they will host healing circles with young people to share their lived experience with gun violence and create a safe and supportive space for open dialogue, collective reflection and mental wellness.
Tampa Bay, FL – SheSpeaksSolutions will host a transformative day dedicated to mental health action and healing through alternative modalities. This event will bring together students, community members and mental health professionals to explore diverse wellness practices and resources aimed at nurturing mental well-being, including music and art therapy, meditation sessions and mental health provider resources.
Highlighted Partner Activations
Baltimore, MD – Simon & Schuster will host a book giveaway and fireside chat at Mondawmin Village, featuring author Kevin Shird's "A Life For A Life: Poor Choices And Unresolved Trauma Is Killing America." The event will include a conversation with Rashad Staton, executive director of Community Law in Action, Inc., exploring the connections between trauma, mental health and community healing.
Baltimore, MD – Diamonds On The Rise will host a full-day community activation titled "Take a Moment, Take Action: Prioritize Your Peace," featuring a Morning Wellness Kickoff with stretching and motivational talks, a Mental Health Resource Fair connecting families with local behavioral health providers and a youth-focused workshop offering art therapy and peer-led discussions.
Centennial, CO – Make Mental Health Matter will present "Catwalks & Crack-Ups," an innovative event where comedy and fashion collide to spark conversations about mental health. The evening begins with performances by Second Chance Comedy, followed by a runway show where designers will showcase looks inspired by mental health challenges, transforming personal stories into wearable art.
Los Angeles, CA – The Hidden Opponent with adidas will host an exclusive in-person launch event, officially unveiling their collaborative product line dedicated to athlete mental health. The evening gathering will welcome over 100 attendees, including VIP guests and influencers, to address mental health challenges within the athlete population while celebrating this meaningful partnership on Mental Health Action Day.
New York, NY – City Hall will illuminate prominent city landmarks in green. The Mayor's Office of Community Mental Health encourages residents to join Mayor Adams in wearing green on Mental Health Action Day and sharing their stories on social media using #NYCforMentalHealth. This citywide visual demonstration brings together government officials, community members, and city leaders to unite in moving past awareness to action on mental health, creating visibility for this important cause across the five boroughs.
San Antonio, TX – Thrive Youth Center will host "A Day to Thrive," to bring the LGBTQ+ community and mental health advocates an afternoon of supportive connection, entertainment, and immediate resources. The free event, held at The Goodkind Southtown, will feature yoga sessions, interactive mental health workshops, free tarot readings and, meditation sessions designed to inspire attendees to take action toward improving their mental well-being.
Washington, D.C. – The Huntsman Family Foundation, Huntsman Mental Health Foundation, and Set Free Indeed Ministry will lead a powerful bipartisan briefing on Capitol Hill, Public Safety | Public Health | Public Hope, featuring opening remarks from SAMHSA's Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Dr. Arthur Kleinschmidt, Ph.D., MBA, LPC, LAC. The Mental Health Action Day briefing will bring together elected officials, law enforcement, advocates, and health professionals to address the urgent intersection of the fentanyl crisis and mental health emergency.
CHECK YOUR HEAD: Mental Help for Musicians Podcast will release a special Mental Health Action Day episode featuring intimate interviews with singer/songwriter Jewel and Ryan Dusick, former drummer of Maroon 5 and current therapist. The episode will spotlight the podcast's partnership with Mental Health Action Day while providing real-world and professional solutions for mental health and addiction recovery.
A full list of partners is available at mentalhealthaction.network/partners
About Mental Health Action DayMental Health Action Day is an open-source movement of brands, organizations, government agencies, and cultural leaders to drive culture from mental health awareness to mental health action. The 2025 Mental Health Action Day will take place on Thursday, May 15, 2024 with a mission to encourage and empower people to take their first actions on mental health -- whether for themselves, for their loved ones, or for their communities, because mental health is health. Learn more at MentalHealthIsHealth.us or you can follow along at #MentalHealthAction
About SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios & Paramount Media NetworksSHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios & Paramount Media Networks is a global network of media assets that reaches over one billion people in more than 180 countries featuring some of the most iconic brands in entertainment including SHOWTIME, MTV, Comedy Central and Paramount Network among others – and, its Studios arm which produces 120+ series annually, including some of today's biggest hits such as Yellowstone, Yellowjackets, Emily in Paris, Landman, 1923, Tulsa King, South Park, RuPaul's Drag Race, The Challenge and The Daily Show, to name a few. SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios uses its reach for social impact, spearheading broad change-driven coalitions through its Mental Health is Health and youth voter access initiatives.
About TaskForceTaskForce, a cultural change agency, helps brands, social movements and political organizations leverage their influence to make a meaningful impact on society through culturally relevant and informed creative content. TaskForce was founded in 2010 following the completion of the Obama Hope Campaign, which was commissioned and made viral by founder Yosi Sergant. Since then, TaskForce's work has resulted in some of the most highly acclaimed and influential public campaigns on behalf of clients, including the United Nations Foundation, the White House, The Nature Conservancy, The MacArthur Foundation, Rock The Vote, The County of Los Angeles, Amnesty International and beyond. For more information, visit www.taskforce.us.
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/5th-annual-mental-health-action-day-to-convene-more-than-3-000-organizations-and-brands-driving-culture-from-awareness-to-action-on-thursday-may-15th-302454143.html
SOURCE SHOWTIME/MTVE Studios + Paramount Media Networks

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Chicago Tribune

an hour ago

• Chicago Tribune

US measles count now tops 1,200 cases, and Iowa announces an outbreak

The U.S. logged fewer than 20 measles cases this week, though Iowa announced the state's first outbreak Thursday and Georgia confirmed its second Wednesday. There have been 1,214 confirmed measles cases this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. Health officials in Texas, where the nation's biggest outbreak raged during the late winter and spring, confirmed six cases in the last week. There are three other major outbreaks in North America. The longest, in Ontario, Canada, has resulted in 2,179 cases from mid-October through June 17. The province logged its first death June 5 in a baby who got congenital measles but also had other preexisting conditions. Another outbreak in Alberta, Canada, has sickened 996 as of Thursday. And the Mexican state of Chihuahua had 2,335 measles cases and four deaths as of Friday, according to data from the state health ministry. Other U.S. states with active outbreaks — which the CDC defines as three or more related cases — include Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota and Oklahoma. In the U.S., two elementary school-aged children in the epicenter in West Texas and an adult in New Mexico have died of measles this year. All were unvaccinated. Measles vaccination rates drop after COVID-19 pandemic in counties across the USMeasles is caused by a highly contagious virus that's airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000. There are a total of 750 cases across 35 counties, most of them in West Texas, state health officials said Tuesday. Throughout the outbreak, 97 people have been hospitalized. State health officials estimated less than 1% of cases — fewer than 10 — are actively infectious. Fifty-five percent of Texas' cases are in Gaines County, where the virus started spreading in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community. The county has had 413 cases since late January — just under 2% of its residents. The April 3 death in Texas was an 8-year-old child, according to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Local health officials said the child did not have underlying health conditions and died of 'what the child's doctor described as measles pulmonary failure.' A unvaccinated child with no underlying conditions died of measles in Texas in late February; Kennedy said the child was 6. New Mexico held steady Friday with a total of 81 cases. Seven people have been hospitalized since the outbreak started. Most of the state's cases are in Lea County. Sandoval County near Albuquerque has six cases, Eddy County has three, Doña Ana County has two. Chaves, Curry and San Juan counties have one each. An unvaccinated adult died of measles-related illness March 6. The person did not seek medical care. Oklahoma added one case Friday for a total of 17 confirmed and three probable cases. The state health department is not releasing which counties have cases. Arizona has four cases in Navajo County. They are linked to a single source, the county health department said June 9. All four were unvaccinated and had a history of recent international travel. Colorado has seen a total of 16 measles cases in 2025, which includes one outbreak of 10 related cases. The outbreak is linked to a Turkish Airlines flight that landed at Denver International Airport in mid-May. Four of the people were on the flight with the first case — an out-of-state traveler not included in the state count — while five got measles from exposure in the airport and one elsewhere. Health officials are also tracking an unrelated case in a Boulder County resident. The person was fully vaccinated but had 'recently traveled to Europe, where there are a large number of measles cases,' the state health department said. Other counties that have seen measles this year include Archuleta and Pueblo. Georgia has an outbreak of three cases in metro Atlanta, with the most recent infection confirmed Wednesday. The state has confirmed six total cases in 2025. The remaining three are part of an unrelated outbreak from January. Illinois health officials confirmed a four-case outbreak on May 5 in the far southern part of the state. It grew to eight cases as of June 6, but no new cases were reported in the following weeks, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. The state's other two cases so far this year were in Cook County, and are unrelated to the southern Illinois outbreak. Illinois unveils online tool showing measles vaccination rates by schoolIowa has had six total measles cases in 2025. Four are part of an outbreak in eastern Johnson County, among members of the same household. County health officials said the people are isolating at home, so they don't expect additional spread. Kansas has a total of 79 cases across 11 counties in the southwestern part of the state, with three hospitalizations. All but three of the cases are connected, and most are in Gray County. Montana had 22 measles cases as of Friday. Fourteen were in Gallatin County, which is where the first cases showed up — Montana's first in 35 years. Flathead and Yellowstone counties had two cases each, and Hill County had four cases. There are outbreaks in neighboring North Dakota and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan. North Dakota, which hadn't seen measles since 2011, was up to 34 cases as of June 6, but has held steady since. Two of the people have been hospitalized. All of the people with confirmed cases were not vaccinated. There were 16 cases in Williams County in western North Dakota on the Montana border. On the eastern side of the state, there were 10 cases in Grand Forks County and seven cases in Cass County. Burke County, in northwest North Dakota on the border of Saskatchewan, Canada, had one case. Measles cases also have been reported this year in Alaska, Arkansas, California, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia and Washington. Health officials declared earlier outbreaks in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania over after six weeks of no new cases. Tennessee's outbreak also appears to be over. Cases and outbreaks in the U.S. are frequently traced to someone who caught the disease abroad. The CDC said in May that more than twice as many measles have come from outside of the U.S. compared to May of last year. Most of those are in unvaccinated Americans returning home. In 2019, the U.S. saw 1,274 cases and almost lost its status of having eliminated measles. The best way to avoid measles is to get the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old. Getting another MMR shot as an adult is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says. People who have documentation of receiving a live measles vaccine in the 1960s don't need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective vaccine made from 'killed' virus should be revaccinated with at least one dose, the agency said. People who have documentation that they had measles are immune and those born before 1957 generally don't need the shots because so many children got measles back then that they have 'presumptive immunity.' Measles has a harder time spreading through communities with high vaccination rates — above 95% — due to 'herd immunity.' But childhood vaccination rates have declined nationwide since the pandemic and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots. Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash. The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC. Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to dangerous complications such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death. There's no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable.

Epoch Times

3 hours ago

• Epoch Times

How Women Can Prevent Hair Loss by Nourishing the Liver and Kidneys

Hair health reflects overall physical well-being. Women often experience hair loss due to various causes, including postpartum recovery, menopause, alopecia areata, or scalp issues such as itchiness and dandruff, exacerbated by summer heat. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) offers a holistic approach, emphasizing a blend of targeted dietary supplements, meticulous scalp care, and proper hair-washing techniques to reduce hair loss effectively. Dr. Chen Hsin-hung, a TCM practitioner at Hanyitang Chinese Medicine clinics in Taiwan, shared a case of hair loss. A woman in her 20s developed alopecia areata (patchy baldness) after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, which left her deeply distressed when her hair almost entirely fell out. Through 6 to 8 months of TCM treatment, she regrew dark, vibrant hair. Exploring Hair Loss Causes With TCM From the perspective of TCM, the liver and kidneys are closely related to hair health as they play a vital role in the internal organ-centered energy system.

Yahoo

11 hours ago

• Yahoo

Pandemic preparedness ‘dramatically eroding' under Trump, experts say

Amid controversial dismissals for independent advisers and staff at health agencies, alongside lackluster responses to the bird flu and measles outbreaks, experts fear the US is now in worse shape to respond to a pandemic than before 2020. H5N1, which has received less attention under the Trump administration than from Biden's team, is not the only influenza virus or even the only variant of bird flu with the potential to spark a pandemic. But a subpar response to the ongoing US outbreak signals a larger issue: America is not ready for whatever pathogen will sweep through next. 'We have not even remotely maintained the level of pandemic preparedness – which needed a lot of work, as we saw from the Covid pandemic,' said Angela Rasmussen, an American virologist at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada. 'But now, we essentially have no pandemic preparedness.' Related: Bird flu reinfections at US poultry farms highlight need for vaccines, experts say 'I'm concerned on a number of fronts,' said Jennifer Nuzzo, professor of epidemiology and director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University School of Public Health. Those concerns include a lack of quality information from officials, weakened virus monitoring systems, and public health reductions at the federal, state and local levels. 'The thing that I am most concerned about is the veracity of information coming out of the health agencies,' Nuzzo said. In the ongoing outbreaks of measles, for example, Robert F Kennedy Jr, the secretary of health and human services, has downplayed the severity of the disease, spread misinformation about the highly effective vaccine to prevent measles, and pushed unproven treatments. 'The communications on measles gives me deep worries about what would happen in a pandemic,' Nuzzo said. 'If a pandemic were to occur today, the only thing we would have to protect ourselves on day one would be information.' The H5N1 outbreak has been plagued by incomplete information, an issue that began in the Biden administration but has amplified under Trump. In Arizona, 6 million chickens were killed or culled at a Hickman's Family Farms location because of H5N1 in May. That's about 95% of the company's hen population in the state. Hundreds of workers, including inmate laborers, are now being dismissed as Arizona braces for egg shortages. We're not testing – it's not that there are no new cases Angela Rasmussen Yet even as H5N1 outbreaks continue to spread on farms and wreak havoc on the food supply, no new bird flu cases have been reported in people for months. 'I am concerned that we may not be finding new infections in humans,' Nuzzo said – and a lack of testing may be the culprit. 'We're not testing – it's not that there are no new cases,' Rassmussen said. The last bird flu case in a person was listed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on 23 February. At that point, at least 830 people in the US had been tested after contact with sick animals. This kind of testing – monitoring the health of people who regularly work with H5N1-infected animals – is how the vast majority of cases (64 out of 70) have been found in this outbreak. But then, several CDC officials overseeing the bird flu response were fired on 1 April. Since then, only about 50 people in the US have been tested after exposure to sick animals – and no positive cases have been announced. It's also been difficult to understand the extent of the outbreak and how the virus spreads among animals. 'We still just don't have a good picture of the scope and scale of this outbreak – we never really have. And until we have that, we're not going to be able to contain it,' Rasmussen said. 'It's extremely bad,' she continued. 'We don't have any information about what's happening right now. The next pandemic could be starting, and we just don't know where that's happening, and we don't have any ability to find out.' We're seeing health departments scrambling. That infrastructure is just dramatically eroding Jennifer Nuzzo Huge reductions in the public health workforce and resources has led to less monitoring of outbreaks, known as disease surveillance. 'Cutting back on that surveillance is leaving us more in the dark,' Nuzzo said. The CDC clawed back $11.4bn in Covid funding in March. This funding was used to monitor, test, vaccinate and otherwise respond to public health issues at the state, local, territorial and tribal level. 'We're seeing health departments scrambling,' Nuzzo said. 'That infrastructure is just dramatically eroding.' International monitoring programs to address outbreaks before they expand across borders have also been cancelled. 'We have taken for granted all of those protections, and I fear that we are poised to see the consequences,' Nuzzo said. Trump's crackdown on immigration also poses a major challenge in detecting cases and treating patients during outbreaks. 'A lot of the people who are most at risk are strongly disincentivized to report any cases, given that many of them are undocumented or are not US citizens,' Rasmussen said. 'Nobody wants to go get tested if they're going to end up in an Ice detention facility.' When cases are not detected, that means patients are not able to access care. Although it's rare for people to become sick with H5N1, for instance – the virus is still primarily an avian, not a human, influenza – this variant of bird flu has a 52% mortality rate globally among people with known infections. Allowing a deadly virus to spread and mutate under the radar has troubling implications for its ability to change into a human influenza without anyone knowing. And if such changes were detected, widening gaps in communication could be the next hurdle for preventing a pandemic, Nuzzo said. 'Communication is our most important public health intervention. People, in order to be able to know how to protect themselves, need to have access to facts, and they need to believe in the messengers. And the communication around the measles outbreaks are deeply eroding our standing with the American people.' Even stockpiled vaccines and other protective measures, like personal protective equipment, take time to distribute, Nuzzo added. 'And flu is a fast-moving disease that could cause a lot of damage in the months it would take to mount a vaccination campaign.' The US government's cancellation of its $766m contract with Moderna to research and develop an H5N1 vaccine also signals a concerning strategy from health officials, Nuzzo and Rasmussen said. Other restrictions on vaccine development, like a new plan to test all vaccines against saline placebos, is 'going to make it extremely difficult to approve any new vaccine' and would 'have a devastating impact on our ability to respond to a potential pandemic', Rasmussen said – especially in a rapidly moving pandemic where speed matters. 'You don't have time for that if this virus causes a human-to–human outbreak,' Rasmussen said. All of these policies mean the US is less prepared for a pandemic than it was in 2020, she said. And it also means there will be preventable suffering now, even before the next big one strikes. 'We are actively making people less safe, less healthy and more dead,' Rasmussen said.