Mental Health Data
Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. While good mental health is associated with positive health outcomes, mental illnesses are associated with poor health outcomes like chronic diseases and injuries.
In 2017, we updated the 2015 Central Oregon Regional Health Assessment (RHA) with new data. This page provides an overview of updated data on mental health. Please read through the information below, or download the mental health overview handout from the supporting documents section at the bottom of the page.
You can find additional data related to mental health, as well as information on a variety of other health topics in the Regional Health Assessment Midpoint Update document.
![Percent of 11th graders with fair or poor mental/emotional health Percent of 11th graders with fair or poor mental/emotional health](https://www.deschutes.org/sites/default/files/styles/full_node_additional_two_column/public/imageattachments/health/page/11306/fairpoor_mental_health.jpg?itok=-2m0ddwc)
Percent of 11th graders with fair or poor emotional/mental health (Click for larger image)
One way that we monitor youth mental health in our community is through the Oregon Healthy Teens Survey. Since the 2015 Regional Health Assessment (RHA) was published, the percent of 11th graders who reported fair or poor emotional or mental health increased in all three Central Oregon counties.
![Percent of 11th graders who seriously considered suicide Percent of 11th graders who seriously considered suicide](https://www.deschutes.org/sites/default/files/styles/full_node_additional_two_column/public/imageattachments/health/page/11306/seriously_considered_suicide.jpg?itok=2FnO65mU)
Percent of 11th graders who seriously considered attempting suicide (Click for larger image)
One way that we monitor youth mental health in our community is through the Oregon Healthy Teens Survey. Since the 2015 RHA was published, the percent of 11th graders who seriously considered attempting suicide decreased in Deschutes County, but increased in Crook and Jefferson Counties.
![Percent of adults with depression Percent of adults with depression](https://www.deschutes.org/sites/default/files/styles/full_node_additional_two_column/public/imageattachments/health/page/11306/adults_with_depression.jpg?itok=1UZ9OX2T)
Percent of adults with depression (Click for larger image)
The percent of adults in our county who have depression is monitored through the Oregon Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Since the 2015 RHA was published, the percent of adults with depression increased in all three Central Oregon counties.
![Deaths from suicide by age group Deaths from suicide by age group](https://www.deschutes.org/sites/default/files/styles/full_node_additional_two_column/public/imageattachments/health/page/11306/deaths_from_suicide_by_age_group.jpg?itok=CGh3y_k3)
Deaths from suicide, by age group (Click for larger image)
Vital statistics data, including death certificates, allow us to monitor the number of deaths by suicide in our county. Between 2010-2015, the death rate from suicide among 15-24 year olds in Central Oregon was significantly higher than in Oregon as a whole.