A survey of mental health and substance abuse across South Dakota provides previously unavailable data to healthcare providers and policymakers, reports the Helmsley Charitable Trust.
The survey, conducted in 2013 with more than 8,000 South Dakotans, produced the report Focus on South Dakota: A Picture of Health released in 2015. The survey identified areas in the state with higher prevalences of mental and behavioral health needs that also had low access to this type of care.
"The South Dakota health survey provides unpecedented statewide survey data on regional patterns of behavioral health prevalence and access to care," reads the report's executive summary. "The findings are intended to help local stakeholders plan and implement health service interventions that meet the needs of South Dakota communities."
The survey broke results down by geographic type -- urban, rural, isolated and reservation. While residents who lived on or near Indian reservations reported higher rates of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder than any of the other categories, they also reported less access to healthcare.
Screened Positive for Current Mental Health Symptoms
| Statewide |
Urban |
Rural |
Isolated |
Reservation | |
| Depression | 5.6% | 6.3% | 4.3% | 5.5% | 8.2% |
| Anxiety | 7.4% | 7.8% | 7.7% | 5.6% | 10.3% |
| PTSD | 6% | 6.4% | 4.8% | 5.9% | 10.3% |
Access to Care
| Statewide | Urban | Rural | Isolated | Reservation | |
| Have Primary Care Provider | 77.4% | 78.6% | 81.6% | 74.2% | 48.3% |
| All Needed Medical Care Received | 87% | 87.8% | 88.8% | 86.7% | 65.8% |
| All Needed Mental Health Care Received | 64.2% | 68% | 62.6% | 62.3% | 39.1% |
| All Needed Substancer Use Care Received | 54.4% | 56.7% | 64.1% | 32.7% | 37.5% |
This is the first in a series of posts detailing the findings of the Focus on the South Dakota: A Picture of Health survey, conducted by the Helmsley Charitable Trust in partnership with Oregon Health and Science University.
