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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
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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
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"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
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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
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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%
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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
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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
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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
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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
Source: Louisiana Survey, 2008 Charlton Research Company for Research!America
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Greatest Impact on Mental Health In what ways did the hurricanes impact your own health or the health of
people in your community?
Source: Louisiana Survey, 2008Charlton Research Company for Research!America
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%
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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
Source: Louisiana Survey, 2008 Charlton Research Company for Research!America
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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?
Source: Louisiana Survey, 2008Charlton Research Company for Research!America
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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?
Source: Louisiana Survey, 2008Charlton Research Company for Research!America
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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?
Source: Louisiana Survey, 2008Charlton Research Company for Research!America
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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?
Source: Louisiana Survey, 2008 Charlton Research Company for Research!America
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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?
Source: Louisiana Survey, 2008Charlton Research Company for Research!America
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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?
Source: Louisiana Survey, 2008Charlton Research Company for Research!America
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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?
Source: Louisiana Survey, 2008 Charlton Research Company for Research!America
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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?
Source: Louisiana Survey, 2008 Charlton Research Company for Research!America
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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
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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?
Source: Louisiana Survey, 2008Charlton Research Company for Research!America
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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?
Source: Louisiana Survey, 2008Charlton Research Company for Research!America
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Louisiana as a LeaderWhat is your opinion as to whether or not Louisiana is a leader
in any of the following enterprises?
Source: Louisiana Survey, 2008Charlton Research Company for Research!America
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
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Leadership in Education andResearch Important
How important is it for Louisiana to be a leader in the following enterprises?
Source: Louisiana Survey, 2008Charlton Research Company for Research!America
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
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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?
Source: Louisiana Survey, 2008Charlton Research Company for Research!America
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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?
Source: Louisiana Survey, 2008Charlton Research Company for Research!America
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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.