SVMC Community Health Needs Assessment 2021 - Catalog - Page 5
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Executive Summary of Findings
The Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) process, described in detail through the rest of this
assessment, served to identify the priority health needs for the 75,000 individuals living with
Southwestern Vermont Medical Center’s (SVMC) service area. Through five community forums, a digital
survey, insight from subject matter experts, and secondary data, a variety of health needs were
identified and researched. These needs were scored and prioritized using a framework that considered
the scope and severity of the need, SVMC’s ability to impact the need, and the existence of evidencebased interventions that can affect change to meet the need. This scoring resulted in the priority health
needs listed and detailed below. The need across all four priorities is greatest within youth and young
adults (ages 13 to 34) who, across all data sources, indicated challenges with meeting basic needs, a high
rate of psychological distress, struggles with substance use, barriers to healthy behaviors, and difficulties
accessing health care.
Priority Health Needs
1. Mental Health Supports
Mental health conditions were consistently identified as an area of top concern in all methods used to
gather community insight and data. Depression and anxiety impact large portions of the population
SVMC serves, particularly youth and young adults; SVMC’s community health survey indicated that over
80% of individuals aged 13-34 experienced some level of challenge with depression over the past year;
similar rates were seen for anxiety. Though challenges with psychological wellbeing in SVMC’s service
area long preceded the pandemic, the stressors of the pandemic exacerbated the severity and
prevalence of the need.
Challenges with mental health can critically impact an individual’s ability to make healthy behavior
choices, to financially support oneself, and to enjoy life. SVMC is fortunate to partner with many
Southwestern Vermont Medical Center
Community Health Needs Assessment 2021