Health Data Profile 2011
Mental Health
Mental health is “a state of well-being in which the individual
realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal
stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is
able to make a contribution to his or her community.”1 Mental
health indicators typically fall under three areas – emotional
well-being, psychological well-being and social well-being.
Mental health problems (mental illness) is the term that
refers collectively to all mental disorders.
Mental disorders are health conditions that are characterized
by alterations in thinking, mood, or behavior associated
with distress and/or impaired functioning. Mental disorders
include but are not limited to depression, schizophrenia,
anxiety, eating disorders, conduct disorders, attention deficit
hyperactivity, personality disorders, autism and Alzheimer’s
disease. Depression is the most common type of mental
illness, affecting more than 26% of the U.S. adult population.2
Key Trends
■
Among youth surveyed, ninth graders consistently report
the highest percentages of mental health problems,
such as feeling discouraged, having suicidal thoughts
and injuring themselves on purpose (cutting, burns, and
bruises).
■
The percentage of students in grades six, nine and twelve
with suicidal thoughts has gradually decreased since
1998.
■
Hospital discharge rates for mental health disorders
increased only slightly from 2001 to 2009. The two most
common mental health disorders resulting in emergency
room visits and inpatient hospitalization continue to
be anxiety-related disorders and mood disorders which
include depression and bipolar disorder.
Youth Mental Health
Felt Discouraged or Hopeless (extremely so or quite a
bit) in the Past Month, Washington County
30%
Youth Feeling Discouraged or Hopeless
■
About one in ten 6th graders reported feeling discouraged
or hopeless (extremely so or quite a bit) in the past month.
■
Students in grade nine consistently report the highest
percentages of feeling discouraged or hopeless. In 2010,
14% of 9th grade females indicated they felt discouraged
or hopeless (extremely so or quite a bit) in the past month,
compared to 10% of 9th grade males.
■
In 2010, students in grade 12 reported the lowest levels of
feeling discouraged or hopeless (9%).
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
1998
2001
2004
2007
2010
Grade 6
10%
10%
11%
10%
10%
Grade 9
14%
13%
16%
12%
13%
Grade 12
13%
11%
12%
10%
9%
Source: Minnesota Student Survey Interagency Team
Youth Self-Injury
Hurt Yourself on Purpose in the Past Year (cutting,
burns, bruises), Washington County
■
Nearly one in every eleven 6th graders and one in every ten
9th graders reported some type of purposeful self-injury in
2010.
■
Females in 9th grade have the highest rates of hurting
themselves on purpose, at 14% in 2010.
■
Among the three grades reporting, 12th graders consistently
have the lowest rates of hurting themselves. In 2010, the
average among females and males was 5%.
30%
2007
25%
2010
20%
15%
10%
9%
9%
11% 10%
8%
5%
5%
0%
Grade 6
Grade 9
Source: Minnesota Student Survey Interagency Team
Grade 12
Youth Mental Health Continued
Youth Suicidal Thoughts
Had Suicidal Thoughts in the Past Year,
Washington County
35%
■
Approximately 12% of students in grades six and twelve had
suicidal thoughts in 2010.
■
The highest rates of suicidal thoughts were reported among
9th grade females, at 18% in 2010.
■
In 2010, Washington County rates were similar to state rates
for 6th and 12th grades. For 9th graders, 15% of county
students had suicidal thoughts in the past year, compared
with 17% of students statewide.
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
1998
2001
2004
2007
2010
Grade 6
15%
11%
Grade 9
23%
22%
13%
9%
12%
24%
14%
Grade 12
19%
18%
15%
16%
13%
12%
Source: Minnesota Student Survey Interagency Team
15%
Youth Suicidal Attempts
Tried to Kill Yourself in the Past Year,
Washington County
■
In 2010, approximately 2% of 6th and 12th graders tried to
kill themselves, compared with 3% of 9th graders.
■
The percent of females and males attempting suicide is equal
in grades six and nine. In grade 12, 1% of females and 3% of
males attempted suicide.
■
The percent of students attempting to kill themselves in
Washington County is similar to state rates.
12%
9%
6%
3%
0%
1998
2001
2004
2007
2010
Grade 6
4%
4%
3%
1%
2%
Grade 9
9%
7%
7%
4%
3%
Grade 12
4%
4%
3%
3%
2%
Source: Minnesota Student Survey Interagency Team
Mental Health - All Ages
Suicide
■
Suicides, Annual Number,
Washington County
In 2009, there were 24 suicides among Washington County
residents.
30
■
■
In the past decade, the average annual number of suicides
has been 18.
In the past decade, the ages ranges with the highest number
of suicides include individuals ages 45-54 and those 25-34.
Number
25
22
20
24
23
24
2007
2008
2009
21
18
17
2003
2004
18
15
10
5
0
2002
2005
Source: MDH Center for Health Statistics
2006
Mental Health - All Ages Continued
Suicide Rate
In 2009, there were 10.1 suicides per 100,000 persons. This
compares with a 2002 rate of 10.5
■
The average annual suicide rate in the county was 9.3 per
100,000 people between 2002 and 2009.
■
Since 2003, the suicide rate in Washington County has been
lower than the state rate. In 2009, the state suicide rate was
11.1, compared to the county rate of 10.1.
15.0
Rate per 100,000 persons
■
Suicide Rate per 100,000 Persons,
Washington County
12.0
10.5
8.4
9.0
9.3
10.3
9.8
10.1
2007
2008
2009
7.9
7.8
6.0
3.0
0.0
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
Source: MDH Center for Health Statistics
Hospitalizations for Mental Health Disorders
Hospital discharges for mental health disorders include discharges from inpatient hospitalization for conditions such as: anxietyrelated disorders; mood disorders, such as depression and bipolar disease; adjustment disorders; attention-deficit, conduct, and
disruptive behavior disorders; delirium, dementia, amnestic and other cognitive disorders; impulse control disorders; personality
disorders; schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders; suicide and intentional self-inflicted injury; and others.
Hospital Discharge Rate for Mental Health Disorders,
Washington County Residents
Hospital Discharges for Mental Health Disorders
■
From 2002 to 2009, the hospital discharge rate for mental
health disorders for Washington County residents averaged
6.4 per 1,000 persons, ranging from 5.9 per 1,000 persons in
2006 to 6.6 per 1,000 persons in 2009.
■
In 2009, nearly 7 out of every 1,000 residents reported being
discharged for a mental health disorder. The rate was highest
within the 85 and older age range at 15.4 per 1,000 residents,
followed by the 15-19 year old age group at 13.5 per 1,000
residents.
Rate per 1,000 persons
9.0
8.5
8.0
7.4
7.5
7.0
6.5
6.4
6.4
6.6
6.2
6.3
5.9
6.0
6.1
5.5
5.0
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Source: Minnesota Hospital Association
Mood Disorders, Ages 15-19
■
■
The highest rates for inpatient hospitalization for mood disorders, which include depression and bipolar disorder, typically
occur in the 15-19 age range. In 2009, there were 150 individuals hospitalized within this age range for this type of mental
disorder or 8.7 per 1,000 persons.
In 2009, there were also 87 emergency room visits by Washington County residents ages 15-19 for mood disorders, the highest
number of any age range, comprising 21% of total ER visits for this type of mental disorder.
Contact Information:
Questions about this and other Washington County Health Data Profiles can be directed to:
Washington County Department of Public Health and Environment
14949 62nd Street North, Stillwater, MN 55082 Tel: 651-430-6655
Website: www.co.washington.mn.us
Endnotes
1
World Health Organization. Strengthening Mental Health Promotion. Geneva, World Health Organization (Fact sheet no. 220), 2001.
2
Kessler RC, Chiu WT, Demler O, Walters EE. Prevalence, severity, and comorbidity of 12-month DSM-IV disorders in the National
Comorbidity Survey Replication. Arch Gen Psychiatry 2005;62:617–627.
Last Updated: September 2011