Ebele Mogo, DrPH

By Ebele Mogo, DrPH January 2, 2025

What are “Blue Spaces”? Blue spaces are environments that contain water, such as oceans, rivers, lakes, ponds, canals, and urban water features like fountains and reservoirs. Unlike green spaces (such as forests, parks, and gardens), water is the defining element of blue spaces, though they often exist alongside greenery. Coastal regions offer access to seas and beaches, while inland areas feature rivers, lakes, and artificial waterways. Communities have long settled near blue spaces to benefit from resources such as access to fisheries, drinking water, and irrigation. Many of us feel a sense of calm and connection near water. However,…

By Ebele Mogo, DrPH September 25, 2024

“Salinas, a majority-minority city with a rich cultural heritage, has set a new standard for creating a culture of well-being. Since the pandemic, leaders all over the country are looking for innovative and comprehensive approaches to improving community well-being, and Salinas’ impressive success is a model for other diverse and dynamic communities who want to create healthy environments and systems that benefit everyone,” — Ben Leedle, CEO of Blue Zones and Co-founder of Blue Zones Project The communities in which individuals live influence their lifestyles, relationships, and eventual health outcomes. When designed with well-being at the forefront, communities enable…

By Ebele Mogo, DrPH May 9, 2024

The International Day of Happiness, celebrated worldwide on March 20th, highlights the importance of happiness and well-being in our lives. This relatively new observance, initiated just over a decade ago, owes its inception to Bhutan. The nation championed the United Nations Resolution 65/309, titled “Happiness: Towards a holistic approach to development,” which urged governments around the world to prioritize happiness and well-being in their development agendas. The United Nations General Assembly adopted this resolution on July 19th, 2011. The World Happiness Report (WHR), published annually to mark the celebration of the International Day of Happiness, offers insights into the…

By Ebele Mogo, DrPH January 11, 2024

Loneliness has been dubbed the new smoking by health experts, including the Surgeon General of America, Dr. Vivek Murthy, who says that loneliness is as bad for our well–being as smoking fifteen cigarettes daily. The effects are dire. People who are more socially isolated feel the effects of stress more. They are three times more likely to be depressed and also at greater risk for high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and overall poorer heart health.  Yet, according to a Gallup survey, 17 percent of American adults answered yes to the question of whether they felt lonely most of the…