TCC Report Card 2017 - Health Family & Social Relationships, Mental Health

MENTAL HEALTH GOAL: People in Calhoun County will be healthy, living functional and independent lives

RATIONALE FOR CHOOSING INDICATOR: As concerning as health indicators are for the general community, the issues become much worse when one adds in serious mental health or co-occurring mental health/substance use disorders. Mentally ill persons die an average of 25 years earlier than their mentally healthy peers. Persons with serious mental illness show higher rates of risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, poor nutrition/obesity, lack of exercise, high-risk sexual behavior, IV drug use and homelessness. Premature death in this population can also be attributed to poor compliance with medical treatment and lack of preventive, diagnostic and treatment interventions. i In any given year, approximately one in five children have a diagnosable mental health condition and 10% suffer from a mental health disorder serious enough to impair functioning at home, school, or in the community. ii