Mental health tops list of wellness concerns

MEEKER | The results of the most recent community health assessment survey conducted by Pioneers Medical Center (PMC) and the Pioneers Healthcare Foundation (PHF) identified current specific health and wellness issues in the community.
As part of a joint meeting with Meeker’s Human Resource Council board (which works together with Moffat County’s United Way program), Joy addressed a group representing multiple organizations from Meeker on Wednesday, March 1 at the Fairfield Center and discussed ways to address those needs more effectively.
PMC community relations director and PHF director Margie Joy shared statistics from the survey in comparison with the rest of the state.
Perhaps most disconcerting: alcohol impaired driving deaths are 41 percent higher than the rest of the counties in the state. Injury deaths (auto accidents, poisoning, suicide, firearms and homicide) are also higher per capita. RBC also ranks seventh out of Colorado’s 60 counties in cancer rates. Obesity, binge drinking and heart disease are also higher than the state average.
In 2017, the top areas of concern as identified by the survey are: mental health, cancer, resource development, suicide and youth drug/alcohol/tobacco use.
The organizations represented will be working together to find ways to address the top areas of concern.
“It’s not just about disease,” Joy said. “It’s about habits and behaviors and how that is affecting our quality of life.”