The 2021 Central Minnesota Alliance Community Health Needs Assessment Highlights Released

(KNSI) — The Central Minnesota Alliance is releasing the results of its 2021 Community Health Survey.

The survey covered residents in Benton, Sherburne and Stearns Counties. It asked for public opinion topics such as social connectedness, childhood and family concerns, mental health, general health, chronic illness, substance use and financial health.

The survey showed 71%, or nearly 3 out of 4 adults, in the three county area, reported feeling connected or rarely to never feeling isolated from those around them. It also said 88% of adults felt safe in their community.

For childhood and family concerns, 47% of 18 to 34-year-olds in the St. Cloud area said poor parenting skills were a problem. Forty-two percent of those in the lower income group of Sherburne County agreed with that sentiment, versus 16% in the higher income group. In the Benton County lower income group, their perception of childhood trauma was an issue, versus 13% of those in the higher income group. Bullying was also an issue, especially among the Sherburne County lower income group, where 68% reported it was a moderate to serious problem versus 49% of those in the higher income group.

The income groups are defined as 200% poverty or less and greater than 200% poverty related to data book categories. For example, in 2020, a family of four with an annual income of $52,500 is considered 200% poverty.

In the mental health and wellbeing category, rates of depression were significantly higher among those in the lower income group, and females reported having been told they have depression at a higher rate than men. The exception was in Benton County, where 36% of men versus 28% of women were told they had depression. In the region, it was 17%.

People ages 35 to 44 said they delayed mental health care the most at 28%. That was more than double any other age group. Those who delayed care due to being too nervous about it were the highest in Benton County at 62%. That’s compared to 25% in Stearns and 16% in Sherburne.

In the region, 15% of respondents said they delayed mental health care, 26% delayed medical care and 28% delayed dental care.

In the general health category, 35% of adults in the lower income group reported not participating in any physical activity in the last 30 days. That compares to 12% in the higher income group. Those who did not participate identified barriers to physical activity such as poor sidewalk condition, facilities not open when wanted, distance to travel and safety.

The survey also showed one in five adults in the region has been told by a healthcare professional, doctor or nurse that they have high blood pressure/hypertension, high cholesterol or triglycerides. It identified 19% of adults have arthritis, 12% have asthma, 8% have diabetes or are prediabetic, and 8% have cancer.

It also showed 50% of adults in Sherburne County who have a high school education or a GED or less reported being a cigarette smoker. That is compared to 22% region wide, 18% in St. Cloud, 17% in Benton County and 11% in Stearns County.

Regarding financial health, in the past 12 months, in the three county area, in 2021, 6% of adults are using a community food shelf or food box program. That’s up from 5% in 2016. However, adults reported a decrease in worrying they would run out of food before they had money to buy more. In 2016, it was 3%; in 2021, it was down to 1%.

The categories of these highlights correspond to the categories of the quantitative data report of the 2021 Central Minnesota Alliance Community Health Needs Assessment. These data only tell part of the story. Those who would like to schedule a discussion to talk about how it relates to their individual lived experience can contact the public health departments in Benton County, Sherburne County or Stearns County or CentraCare.

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