SVMC Community Health Needs Assessment 2021 - Catalog - Page 33
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Disparities in isolation identified by SVMC’s community health survey:
20% of LGBTQ respondents reported challenges with loneliness/isolation, compared to 8% of
heterosexual/straight respondents.
25% of those who are unemployed indicated that loneliness/isolation were major challenges, versus
9% of those employed for wages, indicating the potential value of workplace camaraderie,
socialization, and common mission.
Community Cohesion and Gathering
In addition to maintaining a positive personal social
environment, the broader cohesion of a community plays a
valuable role in determining broad scale public health.
Research indicates that communities that foster “a high level
of social inclusion, social capital, and social diversity” will
achieve further advancement in population health efforts.27
Survey Respondent Quote:
“I feel that the main
community health need is for
connection and community.”
Survey Responses: Race/Ethnicity
n=1,626
Asian
Black/African American
Hispanic or Latino/a
13-34 years
35-64 years
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
65+ years
White/Caucasian
Race not listed/prefer not to answer
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
27
Chuang YC, Chuang KY, Yang TH. Social cohesion matters in health. IJEqH. 2013;12(1), 87.
http://www.equityhealthj.com/content/12/1/87.
Southwestern Vermont Medical Center
Community Health Needs Assessment 2021