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Do local health departments engage in population-based mental illness prevention activities?
Methods: Data: nationally representative, weighted sample of 505 LHDs that completed Module 2 of the 2013 National Profile of Local Health Departments Study survey (response rate 82%). Dependent variable: past-year provision/contracting of population-based MI prevention activities. Independent variables: Local Health Department population size, geographic region, workforce characteristics, performance of eight other mental health activities.Analysis: Descriptive statistics, multivariate logistic regression
Findings: Only 16.2% of Local Health Departments, serving 24.4% of the U.S. population, reported engaging in population-based MI prevention activities. LHDs were significantly (p< .05) more likely to engage in population-based MI prevention activities if located in the west (31.1%), had a population size 100,000-499,999 (27.0%), 1-5 behavioral health providers per 100,000 population (35.1%), or provided/contracted substance abuse services (53.6%). After adjusting for covariates, LHDs that engaged in population-based MI prevention activities were significantly more likely to provide/contract mental health services (AOR: 7.21, 95% CI: 4.30, 12.10) and engage in mental health policy advocacy activities (AOR: 3.23, 95% CI: 2.02, 5.17).
Implications: That vast majority of Local Health Departmentss in the U.S. do not engage in population-based MI prevention activities. Future research is needed to understand how structural factors and inter-organizational relationships with other government/non-government agencies influence LHDs’ MI prevention activities.
Learning Areas:
Public health administration or related administrationPublic health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Learning Objectives:
Describe proportion of local health departments in the US that engage population-based in mental illness prevention activities
Discuss factors that are associated with local health departments engaging population-based in mental illness prevention activities
Keyword(s): Mental Health, Public Health Administration
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the PI on a RWJF-funded research project exploring the role of local health departments in addressing population mental health. I have a DrPH, MPH and am Assistant Professor at an accredited school of public health.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.