Latest community health survey shows improvements, areas for concerns
NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER/WTUZ) (Nov. 21, 2024) – Healthy Tusc is sharing findings from this past summer’s community health needs assessment survey.
Five of eight Tuscarawas County school districts participated in the survey. Among the students surveyed, 40 percent are considered overweight or obese, and around 34 percent get at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day. Healthy Tusc Chair Jennifer Demuth also says mental health is also a major concern.
“Nearly 1 in 4, of our middle and high school students, which is over 1,141 students, felt sad or hopeless almost every day for two or more weeks in a row. In the past 12-months, 4-percent attempted suicide and 10-percent considered attempting suicide.”
Among adults, tobacco usage rates improved by one percent from the last survey three years ago.
“Fifteen percent reported they smoke on some or all days of the week. Doing the math that comes out to about 10,652 Tuscarawas County adults who reported smoking regularly. Nine percent, or about 6,391 county adults, reported using electronic vapor products some or all days.”
Demuth also shared the latest overdose statistics. Between January 1st and the end of October, there were 163 reported drug overdoses in Tuscarawas County, 17 being fatal.
“The majority took place in New Philadelphia – about 50-percent, Uhrichsville at 16-percent, Dover at 14-percent, and Strasburg at 7-precent, and the communities with lesser percentages are not listed.”
The survey results indicate that almost half of the adults in the county are considered obese. Among the respondents, 74-percent reported a diagnosed health condition, the most common being high blood pressure.
The results will help Healthy Tusc and its member agencies identify priorities and seek grants to improve the health and wellness of residents.