Listen to this note:
San Mateo County residents have described an increasing number of days of poor mental health and ongoing problems accessing health care services, along with difficulties paying for housing, according to a newly released plan on ways to improve community health.
The Community Health Improvement Plan 2024-2026 (CHIP) for San Mateo County was seven months in the making and compiles survey results with input from health care professionals, community organizations and individuals.
This new guidance for the county uses the information collected to outline priority areas for focus and funding to improve community health and promote health equity.
According to the Plan, priority areas over the next two years include access to health care services, mental health, and the social determinants of health.
“It takes a collective effort to create and maintain a healthy and safe San Mateo County, which requires an ongoing commitment to serve and support one another,” wrote Dr. Kismet Baldwin-Santana, San Mateo County health officer, in the plan’s introduction.
The survey results (conducted online, in-person and by phone) provide an overview of the health and mental health of 3,053 San Mateo County residents.
Among the key findings of the analysis, it found that the number of homeless people tripled, from 1.4 percent in 2013 to 3.6 percent in 2022.
Respondents reported experiencing an average of 4.1 “mental ill health days” over the past month in 2022, up from 2.1 days in 2013, doubling the need for mental health.
Additionally, 1 in 5 San Mateo County adults had difficulty accessing a doctor in the past year.
In a county where 1 in 5 adults lives below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, the plan cites an overarching goal of “improving coordination among organizations that provide essential services across all sectors to all people and communities,” especially those currently experiencing disparities.
Strategies to achieve the goal include promoting policies that improve the social determinants of health and improving coordination of essential services from county and community partners.
A key goal, the county said in a statement, is to increase screening for social determinants of health at client visits by 50 percent among all medical and social service providers.
Clients will also be asked about their housing situation, experiences of racism or discrimination, whether they have access to nutritious food and opportunities for physical activity, among other topics. The data will serve as the basis for strategies to achieve the goal.
“The survey provides insight into the health and wellness needs of our community,” said Tamarra Jones, director of the Public Health, Policy and Planning division of the County Health Department. “We will now use that information to work both internally and with our partners on strategies to address these needs.”
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