Mental ill-health, substance use disorders, and homelessness represent interwoven challenges that could collectively be termed diseases of despair. Because of their interconnections and complexity, diseases of despair require comprehensive strategies for effective understanding and intervention. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) emerges as a powerful tool to visualize, comprehend, and tackle these interconnected issues across various scales. This session highlights GIS's role in developing informed and strategic responses to these critical health and social problems.

• In America, mapping mental health status reveals worsening trends and highlights geographic disparities in both health conditions and access to care so that stakeholders can prioritize response and design localized solutions.
• With the opioid crisis, GIS enables clear identification of overdose hotspots and potential intervention zones in the places of highest need.
• Communities grappling with homelessness can use GIS to foresee and mitigate future homelessness, strategize timely interventions and policy recommendations, and maximize outreach efficacy.

Research indicates that GIS-centric methods play a pivotal role in understanding spatial phenomena, illuminating patterns, and unmasking socio-environmental contributors. We’ll review a collection of key methods including data sharing, visualization, storytelling, risk analysis, and evaluation.

GIS is instrumental in tackling the complex interplay of diseases of despair by enabling a data-driven, pattern-based, and targeted approach. It supports making informed decisions and aligning efforts to address the most pressing needs, underscoring the potential of GIS to foster healthier communities and brighter futures.