Every three years, Community Health System works with the Hospital Council of Northern and Central California, other regional hospitals and public health departments to share and analyze health and community data to produce a community health needs assessment or CHNA. The Community Health System CHNA includes data and findings from four counties (Fresno, Kings, Madera and Tulare) and is used to guide community benefit activities for the hospital system in the coming years.

By the numbers

Community’s previous CHNA report (2019-2021) identified the following priority health needs:

• Access to Care

• Obesity/Healthy Eating & Active Living/Diabetes 

• Maternal & Infant Health

• Mental Health 

• Economic Security

• Various other health needs activities

 
The just-published 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment showed health needs in the region have shifted slightly from three years ago. Mental health is now the top concern in all four counties, and the leading age group reporting medical disorders was 17 and younger.
 

Who is most likely to suffer from mental health issues?

The Community Health System CHNA revealed some interesting patterns about who was most likely to suffer from mental health issues. The findings show:
 

• Women were more likely to suffer from psychological distress in the past year (12.9%) than men (9.7%). 

• Women were more likely than men to have taken medication for at least two weeks of the past year for an emotional or personal problem. Rates of psychological distress declined with age, while rates of taking medication for mental health issues rose until age 65. 

• Straight/heterosexual adults in the region were less likely to have suffered serious psychological distress or to have taken medication for mental health in the past year than were residents identifying as LGBTQ+. 

• Celibate or non-sexual adults reported the lowest levels of distress and medication.

• Multiracial residents suffered the most psychological distress (20.1%) among residents of the region.

• Asian residents appear to have had the lowest rates of serious psychological distress in the region (7%). 

 
All four counties were higher than the state average for the percentage of adults experiencing frequent mental distress, defined as experiencing symptoms for 14 days or more a month.
 

Understanding suicide rates among youth ages 15-25

Using data from 2017-2019, the Community Health System CHNA found a lower rate of youth suicides in Fresno, Kings and Madera counties than the state average. Only Tulare County had a rate higher than the state average. 
 

How will this data be used?

The Community Health System CHNA contains data that will be valuable to a variety of individuals and organizations: 

• The CHNA will support community-based planning for not only Community Health System but also other community groups, healthcare organizations, public health officials and policymakers in the region. 

• It will inform community decision-making, the prioritization of health needs and the development, implementation and evaluation of impact or community health improvement plan (CHIP).

• Community Health System and others in the region will use the CHNA for communications, advocacy purposes and to secure grants.