1. health and fitness
2. disease
3. cancer

Health Assessment Part II
(Data mining by Center for Small Towns)
A community health assessment provides an overview of a region's population characteristics, social and
economic factors, and health outcomes. The purpose of this community health assessment is to collect and
analyze data in a way that educates and mobilizes communities to identify health priorities, enabling them to
leverage resources and create a plan of action to improve the community's health. This report was
accomplished through collection and analysis of data from a range of sources available at a community and
county level. This portion of the community health assessment identifies areas where there is a lack of health,
in the form of rate of death and disability from disease and injury.
Leading Causes of Death and Mortality in Minnesota
In the line chart shown below, the age adjusted death rate per 100,000 individuals is tracked from 1991 to
2010. The Horizon Community Health Region has remained lower in cancer death rate compared to
Minnesota as a whole, and the rates for both Minnesota and the Horizon Community Health Region has
declined throughout the years.
Likewise, there has been a decrease in death due to heart disease in both Minnesota and the Horizon
Community Health Region throughout the years. The difference between the Horizon Community Health
Region and Minnesota has been decreasing; in 1991-1995 there was an age-adjusted death rate difference of
22 deaths between the region and Minnesota, and in 2006-2010 the difference in age-adjusted death rate
declined to nine deaths.
The death rate for strokes has also slightly declined throughout the years and the Horizon Community Health
Region rate of death caused by strokes has remained lower than the state of Minnesota throughout the past
few decades by an average of 5 deaths per 100,000 residents.
Leading Causes of Death in Minnesota
Age Adjusted Death Rate
300.0
MN - Cancer
250.0
Horizon - Cancer
200.0
MN - Heart Disease
150.0
Horizon - Hearth
Disease
MN - Stroke
100.0
50.0
Horizon - Stroke
0.0
1991-1995
1996-2000
2001-2005
2006-2010
Source: Minnesota Department of Heath, Center for Heath Statistics
1
The following tables describe the leading causes of death by age group from 2003 – 2010. Cancer, heart
disease, and stroke are the leading causes of death in Minnesota through the years 2003 to 2010. This trend is
similar for the Horizon Community Health Region –heart disease, cancer and stroke top the list of the leading
causes of death through the years 2003 and 2010.
Leading causes of death by age group: 2003-2010
Source: Minnesota Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics
Age Groups
Minnesota
Cause
AIDS/HIV
Alzheimer's Disease
Atherosclerosis
Cancer
Cirrhosis
Congenital Anomalies
Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease
Diabetes
Heart Disease
Homicide
Hypertension
Nephritis
Perinatal Conditions
Pneumonia and Influenza
Septicemia
SIDS
Stroke
Suicide
Unintentional Injury
Other
Total
0-4
1
0
0
64
1
833
10
2
61
64
0
13
1,238
41
18
272
26
0
315
427
3,386
5-14
0
0
0
121
0
51
13
6
24
24
0
5
10
8
3
0
10
53
256
162
746
15-24
4
1
0
215
7
53
19
15
109
303
2
7
6
10
9
1
31
687
1,527
389
3,395
45-64
198
133
46
18,231
1,545
257
1,489
1,666
8,277
175
390
472
3
368
426
0
1,466
1,582
3,430
7,921
48,075
65-74
26
453
60
17,423
512
65
3,095
1,639
7,364
27
514
700
1
395
388
0
1,919
233
1,097
7,400
43,311
75+
2
9,854
588
35,882
509
114
10,472
5,456
43,761
23
2,849
4,705
3
4,698
1,477
0
14,316
317
6,276
49,505
190,807
All Ages
400
10,426
697
73,937
2,884
1,508
15,193
9,043
60,863
977
3,789
5,972
1,264
5,609
2,399
273
18,027
4,457
15,776
67,757
301,251
Age Groups
Horizon Comm. Health Region
Cause
AIDS/HIV
Alzheimer's Disease
Atherosclerosis
Cancer
Cirrhosis
Congenital Anomalies
Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease
Diabetes
Heart Disease
Homicide
Hypertension
Nephritis
Perinatal Conditions
Pneumonia and Influenza
Septicemia
SIDS
Stroke
Suicide
Unintentional Injury
Other
Total
25-44
167
1
2
2,006
311
137
99
262
1,275
361
36
65
2
91
80
0
253
1,592
2,872
1,919
11,531
0-4
0
0
0
1
0
6
1
0
1
2
0
0
12
0
0
7
0
0
1
3
34
5-14
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
5
3
10
15-24
0
0
0
8
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
26
9
50
25-44
0
0
0
21
3
2
1
3
13
1
0
1
0
0
2
0
3
22
45
21
138
45-64
4
1
2
259
13
3
19
10
118
2
4
3
0
6
6
0
24
12
38
84
608
65-74
1
10
2
294
6
1
46
18
150
0
9
10
0
7
9
0
34
3
12
104
716
75+
0
218
17
745
9
3
193
114
1,138
1
49
82
0
132
34
0
318
4
103
888
4,048
All Ages
5
229
21
1,326
32
15
259
146
1,421
8
62
95
12
145
51
7
379
47
232
1,111
5,603
2
Cancer
As of 2010, cancer was the leading cause of death in Minnesota and the second leading cause of death in the
Horizon Community Health Region.
Cancer can be caused by both external factors (tobacco, infectious organisms, chemicals, and radiation) and
internal factors (inherited mutations, hormones, immune conditions, and mutations that occur from
metabolism). It can be caused from a single factor or a variety of factors mentioned above. The American
Cancer Society estimates there will be 28,000 new cases of selected cancers and 10,000 deaths from selected
cancers in the year 2013 within Minnesota.1 The Minnesota Department of Health states within its Statewide
Health Assessment, "According to the American Cancer Society, the risk of death from cancer is influenced by
poverty more than by race. People in poverty are more likely to smoke and to be obese, two major risk factors
for cancer. In addition, poverty may expose people to unhealthy environments, limit awareness of health
promotion messages and lead to seeking medical care at a later stage of illness, when treatment options are
limited and the potential for death is much higher."2
Breast cancer is the most common cancer found in women. According to the National Breast Cancer
Foundation, 1 out of 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer within their lifetime.3 Luckily, with early
detection and treatment, most people will continue a normal life. Graphs shown below identify 15 percent of
cancer deaths were due to breast cancer within Minnesota from 2000 to 2008. The Horizon Community
Health Region averaged 13 percent of cancer deaths that were attributed to breast cancer. In Stevens County,
six percent of cancer deaths were attributed to breast cancer in 2000 to 2002;thatincreased to seven percent
in 2003 to 2005 and jumped to 27 percent in 2006 to 2008. The apparent sudden increase represents an
increase in the total number of women who died due to breast cancer – from two in 2000-2002 to seven in
2006-2008. . Traverse County on the other hand has seen a decrease in the percent of deaths due to breast
cancer with zero deaths in the years 2006-2008.
Colon and rectal cancer have remained at a steady 10 percent of cancer deaths for Minnesota and the Horizon
Community Health Region. Traverse County has the highest range of colon and rectal cancer deaths, ranging
from five percent in 2003 to 2005 to 25 percent in 2006 to 2008. Once again, while looking at the actual
number of deaths for men and women combined, in 2000-2002 there were 10 deaths due to colon and rectal
cancer. In 2003-2005 there were two deaths, and in 2006-2008 there were 9 deaths. These numbers are
small leaving the percentages to appear to be more drastic than in actuality.
The percent of lung cancer deaths among men and women have remained pretty much constant; around 25
percent or one fourth of the total deaths by a certain type of cancer.
According to the Center for Disease Control, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men,
regardless of race or ethnicity.4 Twelve percent of cancer deaths are attributed to prostate cancer in men in
Minnesota and the Horizon Community Health Region as a whole. Overall, the percentage of deaths due to
prostate cancer among men has declined.
3
Breast cancer deaths for women
Colon and Rectal deaths for men and women
30.0%
25.0%
25.0%
20.0%
20.0%
15.0%
15.0%
10.0%
10.0%
5.0%
5.0%
0.0%
0.0%
2000-2002
2003-2005
2000-2002
2006-2008
2003-2005
2006-2008
2003-2005
2006-2008
Minnesota
Horizon
Douglas
Grant
Pope
Stevens
Traverse
Lung cancer in men and women
Prostate cancer in men
35.0%
25.0%
30.0%
20.0%
25.0%
15.0%
20.0%
15.0%
10.0%
10.0%
5.0%
5.0%
0.0%
0.0%
2000-2002
2003-2005
2006-2008
2000-2002
Source: Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Cancer Surveillance System
*Percent = # diagnosed for county (or state) / total cancer cases for county (or state)
4
Obesity
Obesity places people at a higher risk for a variety of chronic diseases and health conditions. The Minnesota
Department of Health lists hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder
disease, depression, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and respiratory problems, and even some cancers (endometrial, breast,
and colon) as a few of the chronic diseases and health conditions one can obtain while being overweight or obese.5
Along with health effects, obesity can have social and emotional impacts as well. Children and teenagers can be teased
or ostracized at school or among social groups. Adults can be discriminated in the workplace or in public.
The charts below show that the percent of Minnesotans overweight or obese has risen throughout the years. Starting in
1995 50.6 percent of its total population was overweight or obese and it has risen to 63.1 percent in 2010 – a 12.5
percent increase. Based on Minnesota's population in 2010, an additional 662,000 individuals became overweight or
obese within that 15 year span. Within the Horizon Community Health Region, the percentage of individuals overweight
or obese is comparable to that of the state of Minnesota. Based on the population size of the Horizon Community
Health Region in 2010, approximately 8,300 individuals became overweight or obese within the 15 year span.
The chart showing the percent of Horizon residents overweight depicts a dramatic decrease since 2003. However, this is
misleading due to the fact that between 2003 to 2005 overweight and obesity percentages were combined while in
2006 the two categories were separated. If the two charts were added together the percentages would show a similar
increase as what was found for Minnesota as a whole. Stevens County has the smallest percentage of individuals
overweight or obese when compared to Minnesota and the other neighboring counties. This could be due to the
University of Minnesota, Morris being located within the county. The students of the University are counted as
residents and many are athletes for the school or participate in intramurals or various sports related clubs. This is a
factor that potentially explain the decreasing percentage of the individuals overweight or obese within Stevens County.
The increase in the percentage of individuals becoming overweight or obese is partially due to the increase in the
percentage of Minnesotans and Horizon Community Health Region members that report a lack of physical activity. In
2004, the average percentage of individuals not exercising was 16 percent or roughly 10,500 residents in the Horizon
Community Health Region. Throughout the years, the percentage has risen slightly by one or two percent, and in 2010,
the Horizon Community Health Region had a higher percentage of individuals not exercising than Minnesota as a whole.
5
% Horizon Residents Overweight
% Horizon Residents Obese
26.0
65.0
25.5
60.0
25.0
55.0
24.5
50.0
24.0
45.0
23.5
40.0
23.0
35.0
22.5
30.0
22.0
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2006
2007
2008
2009
Minnesota
Horizon
Douglas
Grant
Pope
Stevens
Traverse
% Horizon Residents Reporting No Exercise
20.0
19.0
18.0
17.0
16.0
15.0
14.0
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Source: MN Department of Health, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
6
Obesity and overweight children are becoming a large issue across the country and the Federal Government has recently
approved new regulations for healthy school lunches. As seen in the charts below, the Horizon Community Health
Region compares similarly to Minnesota for the percentage of ninth and twelfth graders overweight, obese or feels
overweight. However, there are some disparities when broken down by county. Based on the Minnesota Student
Survey, Douglas County consistently has the lowest percentage of ninth and twelfth graders who are overweight, obese,
or feel overweight. Pope and Grant counties have some of the highest percentages, while Stevens and Traverse
counties fall between 10-15% of ninth and twelfth graders overweight, 6-10% of ninth and twelfth graders obese, and
20-25% of ninth and twelfth graders who feel overweight.
7
Percent 9th Graders Overweight (BMI)*
2007
2010
25
20
15
10
5
0
Minnesota
Horizon
Douglas
Grant
Pope
Stevens
Traverse
Douglas
Grant
Pope
Stevens
Traverse
Douglas
Grant
Pope
Stevens
Traverse
Percent 9th Graders Obese (BMI)*
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Minnesota
Horizon
Percent 9th Graders who Feel Overweight
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Minnesota
Horizon
*(BMI) – According to their Body Mass IndexSource: MN Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics
8
Percent 12th graders Overweight (BMI)*
2007
2010
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Minnesota
Horizon
Douglas
Grant
Pope
Stevens
Traverse
Douglas
Grant
Pope
Stevens
Traverse
Grant
Pope
Stevens
Traverse
Percent 12th Graders Obese (BMI)*
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Minnesota
Horizon
Percent 12th Graders Who Feel Overweight
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Minnesota
Horizon
Douglas
*(BMI) – According to their Body Mass Index
Source: MN Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics
9
The following table describes the breakdown of overweight and obesity among WIC participants in the state and the five
counties within the Horizon Community Health region. Grant County had the highest percentage of overweight children
aged two to five years receiving WIC with 20.2% while Traverse County had the highest percentage of obese children
aged two to five years receiving WIC with 17.1% . Grant County also had the highest percentage of overweight or obese
women (prepregnancy) receiving WIC with 60.6%. . However, the other counties were below the state percentage of
13.1%.
Minnesota children aged two to five enrolled in WIC who are overweight or obese: 2010
2008-2010 Pediatric and Pregnancy Nutrition Surveillance 2
Infant and Child Health
Children 2-5 years
Maternal Health
2010 WIC Participants
Unduplicated Counts1
Overweight3
Obese3
Ever Breastfed
Women (Prepregnancy)
- Overweight or Obese4
230,110
16.7
13.1
73.7
54.2
1,558
14.6
10.1
73.5
53.4
Grant
372
20.1
9.1
73.6
60.6
Pope
594
16.5
8.4
76.2
58.8
Stevens
506
14.3
11.2
81.9
57.4
Traverse
149
11.9
17.1
*
*
State of
Minnesota
Douglas
1
WIC Participants - Unduplicated Counts: The total number of pregnant, post-partum and nursing women, infants and children less than 5 years of
age who received WIC vouchers. County level data are determined by combining unduplicated participants of all clinics within a county's
boundaries. State total does not equal the sum of the counties because participants may move counties during the year.
2
Reporting period is January 1 through December 31. Excludes records with unknown data or errors
Data in this report were prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System and the
Pregnancy Nutrition Surveillance System.
The Minnesota-specific data depicted in this table represent the status of children
participating in the MN WIC Program in 2008-2010. Trend data do not necessarily include the same children from one year to the next, and so
should not be interpreted to reflect changes in individual children’s health status. Rather the changes reflect health status of the population over
time.
Infants and children participating in WIC come from families with limited resources. Only families with incomes at or below 185% of federal
poverty (or eligible to receive benefits from another program with comparable income guidelines), are eligible for WIC services. All children
participating in WIC are considered at nutritional risk.
3
Based on 2000 CDC growth chart percentiles for BMI-for-age for children 2 years of age and older. Overweight children are in the 85th to less
than 95th percentile category and obese children are in the equal to or greater than 95th percentile category
4
Prepregnancy overweight - Based on 2009 IOM report "Weight Gain During Pregnancy": underweight (BMI <18.5), normal weight (BMI 18.5 to
24.9), overweight (BMI 25.0 to 29.0) Obese (BMI >30.0)
For more data on WIC got to:
www.health.state.mn.us/divs/fh/wic/localagency/infosystem/pednss/index.html
10
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), commonly referred to as sexually transmitted disease, are the most frequent
reported communicable diseases in Minnesotavi. Three of the most common STIs have been charted below: chlamydia,
gonorrhea, syphilis (All Stages).
For Minnesota, the number of cases of chlamydia has increased by one half, with 10,000 cases in 2003 to 15,000 in 2010
as seen on the charts below. For the Horizon Community Health Region there also has been an increase in the number
of reported cases of chlamydia. In 2003, there were 43 cases reported. Until 2010, the number of cases reported within
the Horizon Community Health Region was always below 50 counts; however, in 2010 the number of reported cases of
chlamydia increased to 72. Douglas County has the highest number of reported cases of chlamydia. In 2003, there were
20 cases reported and in 2010 there were 36 cases reported – an 80 percent increase in the last seven years.
The second STI graphed was gonorrhea. In Minnesota, the number of reported cases of gonorrhea has declined. There
has also been a decline of reported gonorrhea cases in the Horizon Community Health Region since a sudden increase in
2006 where there were seven counts. The county with the highest number of reported gonorrhea cases is Douglas
County. It is also responsible for the sudden increase in the Horizon Community Health Region.
The final STI graphed is syphilis. The number of cases includes all stages of the STI – neurosyphilis, primary, secondary,
early latent, late latent, congenital and other. Syphilis, similar to chlamydia, is also rising in Minnesota. In 2003, the
number of syphilis cases reported totaled 195; by 2010, the number of cases reported increase by roughly 200 percent
to 347 cases. There are few syphilis cases reported with the Horizon Community Health Region. In fact, the only reports
of syphilis were two cases in 2005 located in Pope County, and one case in 2009 in Douglas County.
Source: Minnesota Department of Health, Acute Disease Epidemiology
STIs in Minnesota
15,294
16,000
14,350
14,000
Number of Cases
12,000
11,601
12,187
12,935
14,186
13,412
10,714
10,000
Chlamydia
8,000
Gonorrhea
6,000
Syphilis - All Stages
4,000
3,202
2,957
3,481
3,303
3,459
3,036
2,302
2,119
2,000
0
2002
195
145
207
190
186
263
214
347
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
11
STIs - Chlamydia in Horizon Area
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Horizon
Douglas
2003
2004
Grant
2005
2006
Pope
2007
2008
Stevens
2009
2010
Traverse
2011
STIs – Gonorrhea in Horizon Area
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Horizon
Douglas
Grant
Pope
Stevens
Traverse
12
Tick & Mosquito Transmitted Disease
Minnesota, the land of 10,000 lakes, takes pride in the large number of lakes, rivers, and streams it possesses
within its boundaries. It is also great for people who love the outdoors and the number of activities available
to do recreational activities. Yet, these outdoor activities place people in danger and risk of diseases carried
by insects. Most common are tick and mosquito-borne diseases. The number of cases of tick-borne disease
has increased dramatically over the last ten years. Three main tick-borne diseases were tracked; Lyme
disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis.
With the large amount of water located within the state, Mosquitoes are a critical carrier of diseases. There
were no cases of mosquito-borne disease reported until 2002. There was a sudden spike in the number of
cases in 2002 and 2003. The following year the number of cases dropped but began to rise and peak again in
2007. Since 2007, the number of mosquito-borne disease in Minnesota and west central Minnesota has
decreased and appears to be under control again.
The number of Lyme disease cases in Minnesota has tripled within the last ten years from 465 cases to 1293
cases as shown in the charts below. The number of cases in west central Minnesota, where Horizon
Community Health Region is located, has increased significantly over the last ten years. In 2000, two cases
were reported and by 2010 there were 46 cases reported.
Similar to Lyme disease, anaplasmosis has increased significantly. In west central Minnesota, there was one
case reported in 2003 and by 2010 there were 34 cases reported. For babesiosis, it has remained fairly
constant ranging from zero to 3 cases each year. However, in the state of Minnesota the case numbers have
started to increase and have nearly tripled over the last four years.
Source: Minnesota Department of Health - Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division
Mosquito-borne disease in Minnesota: 1997-2010
148
140
Minnesota West Nile
Number of Cases
120
West Central West Nile
101
100
80
65
60
48
45
32
40
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
15
4
1
1997
32
14
10
20
34
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
10
4
3
2
2008
2009
8
2010
13
Tick-borne disease in Minnesota
1400
1293
1239
1200
1065
Number of Cases
1023
918
1000
913
1050
867
800
720
473
600
465
461
400
322
139
200
0
2000
186
2002
2003
2004
2005
317
176
78
2001
278
18
24
29
31
56
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Lyme Disease
Anaplasmosis
Babesiosis
Tick-borne disease in West Central Minnesota
50
46
45
38
Number of Cases
40
40
34
35
29
30
29
27
25
18
20
15
10
10
5 2
0
2000
5
2
2001
2002
5
10
5
5
1
2
0
1
1
0
3
2
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
14
Unintentional Deaths
The Minnesota Department of Health states, "Injury is the leading cause of death for children and young
adults in Minnesota, but deaths are a small proportion of the impact of injury. For every one injury death,
there are three severe traumas (including brain and spinal cord injuries), ten other hospitalized injuries, and
100 injuries that result in emergency department treatment only."2
In the Horizon Community Health Region there were steadily eight to ten deaths per year due to unintentional
injuries for people 20 years of age or older, as can be seen on the chart below. For those under 20 years of
age, there were zero to 3 deaths per year. The number of fatal falls in the Horizon Community Health Region
has increased over the last few years. However, in 2009 the increased number of fatal falls peaked and
declined in 2010. Douglas County has the highest number of fatal falls compared to the other four counties.
Source: Minnesota Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics
Number of Unintentional Injury Deaths in Horizon Community Health Region
40
35
30
25
Over 20 Years Old
20
Under 20 Years Old
15
10
5
0
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Number of Fatal Falls
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Horizon
Douglas
2003
2004
Grant
2005
2006
Pope
2007
2008
Steven
2009
Traverse
2010
15
Motor Vehicle Injury
Motor Vehicle Injury rates are declining in Minnesota, yet within the Horizon Community Health Region they
have remained fairly constant as shown in the charts below. Douglas and Stevens County have declined in the
motor vehicle fatalities per 100,000 residents in 2011 by one third of their initial rate in 2007. Douglas has had
the most significant decline from nine fatalities in 2007 to one fatality per 100,000 residents in 2011. Stevens
declined from three to one fatality. Pope County has declined from 2 to 1 deaths every year and Grant County
rate has remained the same rate of 16 (estimated one death per year). Traverse County had zero motor
vehicle fatalities from 2007 to 2011.
Source: MN Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics
Minnesotans Aged Under 20
Horizon Residents Age Under 20
Minnesotans Aged 20+
600
12
500
10
400
8
300
6
200
4
100
2
0
Horizon Residents Age 20+
0
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Number of motor vehicle fatalities in Horizon Community Health Region
Horizons
Douglas
Grant
Pope
Stevens
Traverse
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
16
Suicide
In 2010, 11 out of every 100,000 Minnesota residents committed suicide. Among the Horizon Community
Health Region there were six suicides in 2010 – 9 per 100,000 population. These facts can be seen on the
charts below. From 2003 to 2010, Grant County had the highest rate of suicides – 10 per 10,000 residents
while the other counties rates of suicide were as follows: Stevens (9), Pope (6), Douglas (6), and Traverse (6)
per 10,000 residents.
Source: Minnesota County Health Tables, Minnesota Student Survey
Number of Suicides in Minnesota
MN - Under 20
Number of Suicides in Horizon Comm. Health Region
MN - 20+
Horizons - Under 20
Horizons - 20+
10
600
9
500
8
7
400
6
5
300
4
200
3
2
100
1
0
0
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Horizons
2008
Douglas
2009
2003
2010
Grant
Pope
2004
Stevens
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Traverse
10
9
Number of Suicides
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
17
Among sixth, ninth and twelfth graders in Minnesota and the Horizon Community Health Region there has
been a decline in the percent of students with suicidal thoughts within the last year as can been seen in the
charts below. The Horizon Community Health Region has had a stronger decrease in the percentage of
students who have attempted suicide within the last year compared to Minnesota.
Percent of Minnesota 6th, 9th, and 12th graders with
suicidal thoughts
6th Graders
9th Graders
Percent of Horizon 6th, 9th, and 12th graders with
suicidal thoughts
12th Graders
6th Graders
25
30
20
25
9th Graders
12th Graders
20
15
15
10
10
5
5
0
0
1998
2001
2004
2007
2010
Percent of Minnesota 6th, 9th, and 12th graders who
attempted suicide within the last year
6th Graders
9th Graders
1998
2001
2004
2007
2010
Percent of Horizon 6th, 9th, and 12th graders who
attempted suicide within the last year
12th Graders
6th Graders
10
10
9
9
8
8
7
7
6
6
5
5
4
4
3
3
2
2
1
1
9th Graders
12th Graders
0
0
1998
2001
2004
2007
2010
1998
2001
2004
2007
2010
18
1998
2001
2004
2007
2010
Percent 6th Graders with suicidal thoughts
20
15
10
5
0
Horizon
Douglas
Grant
Pope
Stevens
Traverse
Grant
Pope
Stevens
Traverse
Grant
Pope
Stevens
Traverse
Percent 9th with suicidal thoughts
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Horizon
Douglas
Percent 12th Graders with suicidal thoughts
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Horizon
Douglas
1998
2001
2004
2007
2010
19
1998
2001
2004
2007
2010
Percent of 6th Graders Who Attempted Suicide Within The Last Year
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Horizon
Douglas
Grant
Pope
Stevens
Traverse
Stevens
Traverse
Stevens
Traverse
Percent of 9th Graders Who Attempted Suicide Within the Last Year
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Horizon
Douglas
Grant
Pope
Percent 12th Graders Who Attempted Suicide Within the Last Year
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Horizon
Douglas
1998
Grant
2001
Pope
2004
2007
2010
20
Mental Illness
Serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar affective
disorder, can significantly increase mortality. Individuals with serious mental illness die an
average of 25 years earlier than those without.29 This holds true in Minnesota, as well: a study of
Minnesotans receiving services through Minnesota Health Care Programs found that
Minnesotans with serious mental illness do not live past an average age of 58, while those
without mental illness live to an average age of 82.30
Serious mental illness has other important influences on health: individuals with serious mental
illnesses are more likely to experience homelessness, uninsurance, and a lack of social support.
The difficulty of changing behaviors such as smoking or alcohol use in persons with serious
mental illnesses is compounded by their mental status and these life circumstances. Over 8
percent of Minnesota’s adult population—or about 350,000 Minnesotans—experienced
significant depressive symptoms in 2011; and 3 percent (about 125,000) had symptoms of
suggestive of serious psychological distress (although these groups are not mutually exclusive). 31
Vulnerable Adult Abuse
Vulnerable adults include the elderly and adults of all ages with physical or mental disabilities, whether living
at home or being cared for in a health facility. Abuse and maltreatment of vulnerable adults can include
physical, emotional, or sexual abuse; caregiver neglect; self-neglect; and financial exploitation. Below are the
number of total reports taken by Minnesota Department of Human Services for Adult Protection.
Source: Minnesota Department of Human Services, Social Services Information System Vulnerable Adult
Adult protection report victims in Minnesota:
Douglas
Grant
Pope
Stevens
Traverse
30
Total Reports
25
20
15
10
5
0
2010 Q 1
Q2
Q3
Q4
2011 Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
2012 Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
21
Youth Violence
There has been a decline in the number of students who have hit or beat up another person one or more
times in the last year in Minnesota and the Horizon Community Health Region. Sixth and Ninth graders are
more likely to hit or beat up another person compared to twelfth graders as shown in the charts below. Each
county has seen a percentage decrease in the number of sixth and ninth graders who hit or beat up another
person since 2004. Throughout all grades and years, Grant County consistently has the highest percentage.
Minnesota 6th, 9th, and 12th Graders who have hit or beat up another person
6th Graders
9th Graders
12th Graders
40
35
Percent
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
1998
2001
2004
2007
2010
Horizon 6th, 9th, and 12th Graders who have hit or beat up another person
6th Graders
9th Graders
12th Graders
40
35
Percent
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
1998
2001
2004
2007
2010
22
2004
2007
6 Graders who have hit or beat up another person
2010
th
50
45
40
35
Percent
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Horizon
Douglas
Grant
Pope
Stevens
Traverse
9th Graders who have hit or beat up another person*
45
40
35
Percent
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Horizon
*No data for Traverse County
Douglas
Grant
Pope
Stevens
Pope
Stevens
Percent 12th Graders who hit or beat up another person*
25
Percent
20
15
10
5
0
Horizon
Douglas
*No data for Traverse County and for Stevens County in 2010
2004
Grant
2007
2010
23
From the Text
1
American Cancer Society, Midwest Division. (2013). Minnesota cancer facts and figures: 2013. Retrieved from
http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@epidemiologysurveilance/documents/document/acspc-036845.pdf
2
Minnesota Department of Health. (2012). The Health of Minnesota, Statewide Health Assessment: Part Two. Retrieved from
http://www.health.state.mn.us/healthymnpartnership/sha/docs/1205healthofminnesotasupp.pdf
3
National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. (2012). Breast Cancer Facts. Retrieved from
http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-facts.
4
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010). Prostate Cancer. Retrieved from
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/prostate/basic_info/fast_facts.htm
5
Minnesota Department of Health, Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Unit. Overweight and obesity prevention: The importance
of a healthy weight. Retrieved March 12 2013 from http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/pcd/chp/cdrr/obesity/heathyweights.html
vi
Minnesota Department of Health. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Retrieved
March 12 2013 from http://www.health.state.umn.us/divs/idepc/disease/hiv/index.html
24