Number
201411
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. LEWIS
Title
Substitute resolution directing the Department of Administration and the Commissioner of Health, in collaboration with the Board of Health, to work with the National Research Center at Polco to draft benchmarks as well as a scope of work, outreach plan and implementation schedule for a citywide mental health needs assessment survey.
Analysis
This resolution directs the Department of Administration and the Commissioner of Health, in collaboration with the Board of Health, to work with the National Research Center at Polco to draft benchmarks as well as a scope of work, outreach plan and implementation schedule for a citywide mental health needs assessment survey. The Department of Administration and the Commissioner of Health are directed to report the status of this needs survey to the Common Council by May 31, 2021.
Body
Whereas, The Centers for Disease Control conducted the Household Pulse Survey between April 23, 2020, and February 1, 2021, to monitor changes in mental health during the COVID pandemic; and
Whereas, Thirty-six percent of respondents to the Household Pulse Survey reported experiencing symptoms associated with generalized anxiety disorder or major depressive disorder when surveyed during the last 2 weeks of January, 2021, up slightly from the 31% responding similarly during the last week of April, 2020, but 25 percentage points greater than the 11% of respondents who reported experiencing such symptoms in the 2019 National Health Interview Survey; and
Whereas, Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic Household Pulse Survey respondents, and respondents between 18 and 29, reported experiencing symptoms associated with generalized anxiety disorder or major depressive disorder when surveyed during the last 2 weeks of January, 2021, at rates higher than respondents as a whole, as listed below:
Non-Hispanic Blacks 38%
Hispanic 42%
Persons between 18-29 49%
and:
Whereas, Young adults, ages 18 to 24, report higher rates than adults in general for substance use (25% vs 13%) and suicidal thoughts (26% vs 11%); and
Whereas, Among the respondents to the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Health Tracking Poll, conducted in July, 2020, 36% reported having difficulty sleeping, 32% difficulty eating, 12% increased consumption of alcohol or substance use and 12% worsening chronic conditions due reported to worry and stress over the coronavirus; and
Whereas, The imposition of public health measures to contain the COVID pandemic has placed people in circumstances linked to poor mental health, such as isolation and job loss; and
Whereas, The mental health stresses of the COVID pandemic have exacerbated the underlying mental health challenges of urban living which the Center for Urban Design and Mental Health reports is associated with higher rates of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia and heroin addiction; and
Whereas, People with mental health problems are more likely to experience distress, discrimination, marginalization, physical illness, financial insecurity, and are less likely to engage and participate fully in their community; and
Whereas, Unaddressed community mental health issues can be an underlying cause of homelessness, poverty, unemployment and crime, and may reduce labor productivity, impede the ability of children and youth to succeed in school and lead to family and community disruption; and
Whereas, Polco’s online community polling platforms foster community engagement to provide local government and community leaders valuable information for decision making, strategic planning and service delivery; and
Whereas, Polco’s National Research Center survey science team is well-known for its national benchmarking surveys of the opinions of community residents and custom surveys of community perspectives; and
Whereas, Conducting a citywide mental health needs assessment survey will position the Health Department to more effectively identify and provide public health services to address the mental health needs of the City; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Department of Administration and the Commissioner of Health, in collaboration with the Board of Health, are directed to work with the National Research Center at Polco to draft benchmarks as well as a scope of work, outreach plan and implementation schedule for a citywide mental health needs assessment survey; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Department of Administration and the Commissioner of Health shall report to the Common Council by May 31, 2021, the progress made in designing a citywide mental health needs assessment survey.
Requestor
Drafter
Aaron Cadle
LRB 176568-2
February 17, 2021