This chapter presents an overview of the development, capabilities, and utilization of geographic information systems (GIS). There are nearly an unlimited number of applications that are relevant to GIS because virtually all human interactions, natural and man-made features, resources, and populations have a geographic component. Everything happens somewhere and the location often has a role that affects what occurs. This role is often called spatial dependence or spatial autocorrelation, which exists when a phenomenon is not randomly geographically distributed. GIS has a number of key capabilities that are needed to conduct a spatial analysis to assess this spatial dependence. This chapter presents these capabilities (e.g., georeferencing, adjacency/distance measures, overlays) and provides a case study to illustrate how GIS can be used for both research and planning. Although GIS has developed into a relatively mature application for basic functions, development is needed to more seamlessly integrate spatial statistics and models. The issue of location, especially the geography of human activities, interactions between humanity and nature, and the distribution and location of natural resources and features, is one of the most basic elements of scientific inquiry. Conceptualizations and physical maps of geographic space have existed since the beginning of time because all human activity takes place in a geographic context. Representing objects in space, basically where things are located, is a critical aspect of the natural, social, and applied sciences. Throughout history there have been many methods of characterizing geographic space, especially maps created by artists, mariners, and others eventually leading to the development of the field of cartography. It is no surprise that the digital age has launched a major effort to utilize geographic data, but not just as maps. A geographic information system (GIS) facilitates the collection, analysis, and reporting of spatial data and related phenomena. The capabilities of GIS are much more than just mapping, although map production is one of the most utilized features. GIS applications are relevant in a tremendous number of areas ranging from basic geographic inventories to simulation models. This chapter presents a general overview of geographic information system topics. The purpose is to provide the reader with a basic understanding of a GIS, the types of data that are needed, the basic functionality of these systems, the role of spatial analysis, and an example in the form of a case study. The chapter is designed to provide advanced students and experts outside of the field of GIS sufficient information to begin to utilize GIS and spatial analytic concepts, but it is not designed to be the sole basis for becoming a GIS expert. There is a tremendous level of sophistication related to the digital cartographic databases and manipulation of those databases underlying the display and use of GIS that is more appropriately a part of geographic information science (i....

Objectives-To examine whether there is an association between area socioeconomic status and the experience of suicidal ideation among older adults.Design-Secondary analyses of data from a prospective study of naturalistic outcomes of depressive symptoms Setting-Monroe County, NYParticipants-A cohort of older adults (≥65 years, N=515) attending primary care settings Measurements-Area socioeconomic status was based on the median household incomes of the census tracts in which participants lived. At six and twelve month follow-ups, the Longitudinal Interval Follow-up Evaluation was used to assess weekly depressive symptom status over the previous 6 months, which was used to construct a measure of any suicidal ideation during the study.Results-Residents of census tracts with median household incomes of less than $30,000/per year were more likely to experience suicidal ideation than residents of higher income census tracts (unadjusted odds ratio (OR), 4.60; 95%CI, 1.64-12.86). Adjustment for demographic and baseline clinical factors did not eliminate the association (OR, 5.44; 95%CI,). Subsequent NIH-PA Author ManuscriptNIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript models that adjusted for medical, functional, and psychosocial variables did not explain this association, either.Conclusions-There is a robust association between lower census tract income and the occurrence over one year of suicidal ideation in a primary care cohort of older adults. These findings indicate the need for more research into how social worlds come to influence the emotional well-being of older adults, and whether social factors such as census tract income can be used to identify individuals at elevated risk for suicidal behavior.Keywords suicidal ideation; socioeconomic status; neighborhood effects; older adults OBJECTIVEAn estimated 5-10% of older adults (≥65 years) experience suicidal ideation (1), with the rate rising to as high as 30% among those individuals diagnosed with major depression (2). Two factors make suicidal ideation an issue of concern in primary care. First, it is a predictor of suicide attempts in late-life. Thus, it is reasonable to assume that detecting suicidal ideation, and addressing the clinical issues that are associated with it -depression, anxiety, feelings of guilt and worthlessness, poor social support, and bereavement, history of prior suicide attempts (3-5) -will reduce suicidal behaviors in older adults (2,6). Second, most at-risk older adults come into contact with a primary care physician, but few are seen in specialty mental health services (7). Detection could facilitate appropriate referrals.Much of the research about suicidal ideation in older adults has focused on psychopathology (2,3,6,(8)(9)(10). However, for more than a century suicide has been recognized as a social phenomenon, too (11). Support for this comes from evidence demonstrating that high rates of suicide in general populations are, for example, related to low socioeconomic status (7), or associated with political violence (12...

Recently implemented New York State policy allows police and fire to administer intranasal naloxone when responding to opioid overdoses. This work describes the geographic distribution of naloxone administration (NlxnA) by police and fire when responding to opioid overdoses in Erie County, NY, an area of approximately 920,000 people including the City of Buffalo. Data are from opioid overdose reports (N = 800) filed with the Erie County Department of Health (July 2014-June 2016) by police/fire and include the overdose ZIP code, reported drug(s) used, and NlxnA. ZIP code data were geocoded and mapped to examine spatial patterns of NlxnA. The highest NlxnA rates (range: 0.01-84.3 per 10,000 population) were concentrated within the city and first-ring suburbs. Within 3 min 27.3% responded to NlxnA and 81.6% survived the overdose. The average individual was male (70.3%) and 31.4 years old (SD = 10.3). Further work is needed to better understand NlxnA and overdose, including exploring how the neighborhood environment creates a context for drug use, and how this context influences naloxone use and overdose experiences.

Perinatal depression among impoverished mothers adds an enormous burden to their family responsibilities, which are often further stressed by living in high-crime communities. Thirty impoverished mothers of color living with depression were interviewed about the difficulties they face raising their children. Qualitative interviews about living with depression revealed four themes: recognizing their own depression, feeling isolated, experiencing violence, and living with depression. This article examines how neighborhood and relationship violence, intermittently involved fathers, and isolation contribute to the mothers’ depression. Social workers working with depressed, low-income mothers of color can benefit from understanding the mothers’ lived experience and the barriers the mothers face while trying to achieve well-being for themselves and their children. This study fits within the “Close the Health Gap” area of the Grand Challenges for Social Work.