Mental Health

A	B	C	D	F
No disparity Disparity ratio: 1.0-1.4	Little disparity Disparity ratio: 1.15-1.9	Disparity may require intervention Disparity ratio: 2.0-2.4	Disparity requires intervention Disparity ratio: 2.5-2.9	Critical disparity, requires immediate intervention Disparity ratio: ≥ 3.0

Disparity Ratio

Disparity can be defined as a significant, unfair difference. Disparity ratios are a measure of the difference in outcomes between two groups. They are calculated by dividing the outcome for one group by the same outcome for a second group. The disparity ratio will always be 1 or greater. The higher the number, the higher the disparity or difference. The resulting number then determines the letter grade for that given indicator. A lack of disparity or difference does not mean adequate health services, access, behaviors, or outcomes.

Report Card by Location

Letter grades indicate the amount of difference between Genesee County and other populations.

No asterisk (*) indicates that other populations face worse outcomes, while those with an asterisk (*) indicate Genesee County faces worse outcomes.

Indicator	Year(s)	GC x US	GC x MI	GC x Flint
Depression	US: 2016-20 MI: 2016-20 GC: 2016-20 Flint: 2016-20	A	A	–
Poor mental health	US: 2020 MI: 2020 GC: 2020 Flint: 2016-20	A	A	–
Suicides	US: 2016-20 MI: 2016-20 GC: 2016-20 Flint: 2016-20	A	A	–
Suicides by firearm	US: 2016-20 MI: 2016-20 GC: 2016-20 Flint: 2016-20	B*	B*	A

Disparity is present between Genesee County and Michigan residents for suicides by firearm, with Genesee County facing worse outcomes. This outcome should be monitored and may require intervention. Additional information related to mental health is needed for Genesee County and the city of Flint.

Report Card by Race

Letter grades indicate the amount of difference between Black and White populations.

No asterisk (*) indicates the Black population face worse outcomes, while an asterisk (*) indicate the White population faces worse outcomes.

Indicator	Year(s)	US	MI	GC	Flint
Depression	US: 2011-21 MI: 2011-21 GC: 2016-20 Flint: 2016-20	A	A	A	–
Poor mental health	US: 2021 MI: 2022 GC: 2020 Flint: 2016-20	A	A	A	–
Suicides	US: 2018-19 MI: 2018-19 GC: 2016-20 Flint: 2016-20	D*	B*	C*	–
Suicides by firearm	US: 2021 MI: 2021 GC: 2016-20 Flint: 2016-20	C*	A	–	C*

Racial disparity is present for suicides in Genesee County and suicides by firearm in Flint, with the White population facing worse outcomes. These outcomes require intervention. Additional information related to mental health is needed for Genesee County and the city of Flint.

The blue map illustrates poor mental health by census tract among adults in Genesee County. The city of Flint is outlined at the center of the map. The darker the blue color, the poorer the mental health in the population.

The gray-scale map illustrates the percentage of the population that identifies as Black by census tract in Genesee County. The city of Flint is outlined at the center of the map. The darker the gray color, the higher the percentage of Black individuals in the population.

It’s important to understand the reason for using census tracts as the unit of analysis rather than USPS-derived ZIP codes in the maps above. ZIP code boundaries were drawn to help deliver mail efficiently, not to understand neighborhood demographics. ZIP codes will often include areas within multiple municipalities with different levels of socio-economic distress, which can make it difficult to evaluate certain public health indicators. This is why ZIP codes are less than ideal for understanding neighborhood-level conditions. Census tracts do not cross municipal boundaries and offer a much better alternative to understanding public health metrics at the appropriate scale.

Definitions

Poor mental health: Mental health has not been good for greater than or equal to 14 days among adults aged 18 or older.