8-25-20 fdl county community health survey

The Fond du Lac County Health Department is tracking the health of Fond  du Lac County residents.   Fond du Lac County Public Health Officer Kim Mueller says a community health survey is being mailed randomly to 2,000 county households between now and September.   Mueller says the confidential survey focuses on issues such as health care access,  physical activity, nutrition, food security, tobacco and alcohol use, mental health and chronic disesase.   Mueller says her office has received calls wondering about questions on the survey regarding firearms.    Mueller says the questions about firearms have been asked in previous survey years, including 2005, 2008, and 2014.   The sources of  the questions are the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System of the CDC.  Mueller says one of the reasons the questions were  included in the survey is due to concern of injury, violence, and mental health. In Fond du Lac County, suicide is a leading cause of death and mental health has been identified as a community health priority for a number of years.   Firearms are used in over half of all suicide deaths in Fond du Lac County. This highlights the importance of the safe storage of  firearms and where to focus suicide prevention efforts. Survey responses are confidential and only reported in total  percentages.  There is one question related to COVID-19.  When a vaccine becomes available…will you get vaccinated?   Mueller says the survey helps identify local health behaviors or risk factors that present opportunities for health promotion and a reduction in health care costs.