Photo credit: Donn Young, “Sunrise 9 th Ward New Orleans,” from the 40 Days and 40 Nights...

Photo credit: Donn Young, “Sunrise 9th Ward New Orleans,” from the 40 Days and 40 Nights exhibit

School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine

Mental and Public Health in Concert:Voices from Louisiana

New Orleans, LAApril 29, 2008

http://tulane.edu/

Photo credit: Donn Young, “Sunrise 9th Ward New Orleans,” from the 40 Days and 40 Nights exhibit

School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine

Louisiana Speaks Out on Mental and Public HealthKaren A. Goraleski Director, Public Health AdvocacyExecutive Director, Paul G. Rogers Society for GlobalHealth Research Research!America

New Orleans, LAApril 29, 2008

http://tulane.edu/

"Every public health decision is made on a political decision."

William Foege, MD, MPHSenior Fellow, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Research!America 2008 Raymond and Beverly Sackler Awardfor Sustained National Leadership

Former Director, CDC

Mission:Make medical and health research,

including research to prevent disease, disability and injury, a much higher

national priority.

Founded in 1989

Non-profit alliance with 500+ members

Louisiana Survey Methodology

Telephone survey, random-digit dialing

Sample size of 800 adults, age 18+

Fielded April 2008

Sample proportionate to Louisiana’s demographics, geography, gender and ethnicity

Maximum theoretical sampling error of +/- 3.5%

Why Public Opinion Matters

• Louisianans pay for health and research– as taxpayers and consumers

• Elected officials care what constituents think

• The media care what readers, viewers and listeners think

• Public confidence in new health, medical, and scientific advances and technologies affects adoption/compliance with public health recommendations

Louisiana Residents

9%

91% Yes

No

Were you living in Louisiana or the Gulf Coast region when the hurricanes hit in 2005?

Source: Louisiana Survey, 2008Charlton Research Company for Research!America

Hurricanes Had Limited Effecton Personal Health

Did the hurricanes have an effect on your own personal health in any way?

39%

61%

Yes

No

Source: Louisiana Survey, 2008 Charlton Research Company for Research!America

Hurricanes Affected Health of People in the Community

Did the hurricanes have an effect on the health of people living in your community?

64%

33%

3%

Yes

No

Don't know


Greatest Impact on Mental Health In what ways did the hurricanes impact your own health or the health of

people in your community?


First Mentions

Total Mentions

Mental health issues/ increased anxiety/stress/depression

20 % 25%

Destroyed homes/properties 16% 20%

Wind/roof damage/impact is devastating 15% 18%

Made people sick 8% 11%

No electricity/water/resources 6% 11%

Increase in population/crowding/relocation 6% 8%

Death 3% 6%

Flooding 3% 5%

Incidence of allergies 3% 4%

Other 14% 26%

None/don’t know 6% 6%

Hurricanes Affected Mental Healthin Local Communities

Did the hurricanes have an effect on the mental health of people living in your neighborhood or community?

53%

41%

6%

Yes

No

Don't know


Access to Mental Health Services in Louisiana

40%

10%

23%

27%Better

Same

Worse

Don't know

Please tell me if you think access to mental health services such as counseling is generally getting better, getting worse, or staying the same in Louisiana?


Many Say Mental Health Resources Are Inadequate

58%

7%35%

Yes

No

Don't know

Do you feel there are enough resources, like specialized health care and medicines, in your community today for people who need mental health services?


Usage of Mental Health Services

57%

2%

41% Yes

No

Don't know

Do you know anyone who has used the mental health services available in your community?


6%

8%

31%

50%

5%Don't know

I felt a need to get counseling and got it

I felt a need to get counseling but did not get it

The hurricanes had an effect on me but I did not feel aneed to get counseling

The hurricanes did not have a big effect on me

Mental Health After the HurricanesMany people living in Louisiana after the hurricanes have felt that some mental health services, like counseling could help them. Can you please tell me which of

the following best fits your own experience?


Mental Health Problems Perceived as Embarrassing

25%

7%

68% Yes

No

Don't know

Do you think people generally feel ashamed or embarrassed if they are dealing with a mental health or psychological problem?


Louisianans Developed Coping Skills Because of Hurricanes

23%

8%

69%Yes

No

Don't know

Do you think that people who survived the hurricanes in your community have developed new skills for coping with disaster?


4%

8%

87%

1%Don't know

Mental health is moreimportant

Physical health is moreimportant

Physical and mental healthare equally important

Physical and Mental Health Equally Important to LouisianansWhen it comes to your own health, do you think that your mental health or your

physical health is more important, or are they equally important?


6%

30%

56%

8%Don't know

Mental health is is treatedwith more importance

Physical and mental healthare treated with equal

importance

Physical health is treatedwith more importance

Physical and Mental Health Not Treated With Equal Importance

Do you think our health care system treats mental health and physical health the same? Which one do you think is treated with greater importance?


USA: Physical and Mental Health Not Treated With Equal Importance

Do you think that mental health or physical health are treated with equal importance in our current health care system?

4%

66%

6%

24%

Physical health treated withmore importance

Mental health treated withmore importance

Mental and physical healthtreated with equal importance

Don't know

Taking Our Pulse: The PARADE/Research!America Health Poll Charlton Research Company, 2006

Important to Fund Research on Mental-Physical Health Connection

23%

4%

73%Very important

Somewhat important

Not important

How important would you say it is to fund research to find out about the connection between mental health and physical health?


Health Research Important to Louisiana Economy

26%

1%6%

67% Very important

Somewhat important

Not important

Don't know

How important do you think medical and health research is to the economy of Louisiana?


Louisiana as a LeaderWhat is your opinion as to whether or not Louisiana is a leader

in any of the following enterprises?


27% 38% 34%

32% 43% 22%

52% 30% 11%

59% 26% 13%

70% 22% 6%

Education

Medical & health research

Tourism

Oil & energy

Agriculture

Very Somewhat Not Don’t Know

Leadership in Education andResearch Important

How important is it for Louisiana to be a leader in the following enterprises?


60% 31% 5%

77% 19% 4%

83% 14% 3%

84% 13% 2%

91% 6% 2%

Tourism

Agriculture

Oil & energy

Medical and health research

Education

Very Somewhat Not Don’t Know

Louisianans Support State and Local Health Department Funding

13%

4%

83%

Support

Oppose

Don't know

Would you support or oppose increasing federal funding for state and local health departments across the country that are expected to prepare for

and respond to threats to our health?


Louisianans Say Elected Officials Should Listen to Experts

27%

1%4%68% Very important

Somewhat important

Not important

Don't know

In thinking about threats to our health, how important is it that elected officials at all levels listen to advice from scientists and public health professionals?


Karen A. [email protected]

researchamerica.org703-739-2577

In appreciation to my colleagues, Stacie Propst, PhD, and Heather Benson

for their work in spearheading the gathering and analysis of this data.

Photo credit: Donn Young, “Sunrise 9 th Ward New Orleans,” from the 40 Days and 40 Nights...

Documents

Transcript of Photo credit: Donn Young, “Sunrise 9 th Ward New Orleans,” from the 40 Days and 40 Nights...