Mental Health

Indicator: 
Percentage of adults who reported no poor mental health in the past 30 days.
Outcome(s): 
Healthy people based on low morbidity, high quality of life, and life expectancy.
Significance: 

Mental health is an essential component of overall health and well being. Good mental health contributes to the ability to lead a healthy, balanced, and productive life. Emotional problems can impair a person's thinking, feelings, and behavior and, over time, can become increasingly serious and disabling. Too often mental and emotional health problems go untreated. People experiencing poor mental health may not recognize the extent of their problem or fear being stigmatized. Additionally, they may be unable to access services.

Data (click image for interactive version): 

Percent of adults who reported no poor mental health in the past 30 days, 2002-2005 and 2006-2009 three year estimates

Source: Center for Disease Control, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; Notes: Data is not available for Clark County

Finding & Trends: 

The percentage of adults surveyed who reported having no poor mental health days within the past 30 days was slightly higher in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington Counties during the 2006-2009 three year period than during the 2002-2005 time period.

Driver(s): 
Medical care
Public health
Long-term support
Education
Economics
Using the indicator to drive change: 

Poor mental health is a community-wide issue that cannot be addressed by public health agencies alone. Strategies to address this issue can be implemented in schools, workplaces, and community settings. Through the evaluation of existing programs and the identification of populations with increased need, different sectors can gain a better understanding of what is and is not working and develop policies to drive change.

Sources: 

Oregon Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).

United States Department of Health and Human Services (2011). Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration.

Washington State Department of Health, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS)

Methodology: 

Poor mental health includes stress, depression, and emotional problems.

Tables were created using the combined 2002-2005, 2004-2007 and 2006-2009 Oregon BRFSS. Data samples from single years at the county level are too small to be useful. Non-Age-Adjusted rates provide a description of the absolute burden of a disease or risk factor for an individual county. Age-Adjusted rates allow you to compare one region or group to another without worrying about whether differences in the rates are due to one population being, on average, older or younger than the other population. When comparing counties, use Age-Adjusted tables. Data are adjusted to the 2000 U.S. Census Population.    

The geography for the mental health data is the greater Portland region which includes Clackamas County, OR;  Multnomah County, OR; Washington County, OR; Clark County, WA.  Please note that the geography used varies across different indicators.

Metadata                                                                                 

                                                                                    

Disclaimer: 
This indicator is based on information from credible sources. However, changes in collection methods and statistical procedures that have occurred over time may affect the data presented. Limitations that are acknowledged by the sources are noted below. Nevertheless, caution should be taken when interpreting all available data. BRFSS data are subject to some limitations. BRFSS estimates pertain only to the adult population aged 18 years or older who are living in households. Households without a land-line phone do not have the opportunity to participate in the survey. Interviewers are occasionally unable to contact some households despite repeated attempts. Some adults refuse to participate in the survey. Weighting partially takes into account the non-response pattern. BRFSS data are self-reported and are subject to the limitations of all self-reported data. The survey is only administered in English and Spanish.
Download Data: 
Percent of adults who reported no poor mental health in the past 30 days, 2002 – 2005 and 2006-2009 three year esti
Tags: 
health
Visualization Type(s): 
Bar Chart