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The Stanly County Health Department has shared its 2024 Community Health Assessment (CHA), a report that is done every three years to look at the health and well-being of people in the county.

The CHA gives information about the community’s health by gathering and analyzing data on risk
factors, quality of life, social factors that affect health, health differences, death rates and how common certain diseases are.
“The 2024 Community Health Assessment is an invaluable tool for understanding the most pressing health challenges facing our community,” said Dolly Huffman Clayton, Health and Human Services director. “By identifying these key areas, we can develop targeted strategies and interventions to direct our focus, plan programs, and track our progress to improve health outcomes for all community members.”
The 2024 assessment used a mix of methods, combining numbers and data from sources with information gathered directly from people in the community. The final report gives a detailed look at the county’s population, explains how the data was collected and analyzed and discusses the three main areas that need attention:
• Mental Health: The CHA showed that there is a big need for more mental health help and support in the community. This includes problems like depression, anxiety, stress and preventing suicide.
• Substance Use: The use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco was found to be a big health problem in Stanly County. Solving this will need a plan that focuses on prevention, treatment and reducing harm.

• Chronic Disease Prevention: Diseases like heart disease, diabetes and cancer are some of the main causes of sickness and death in the county. The CHA stresses the importance of preventing these diseases by promoting healthy habits and offering early tests and screenings.
You can find the full 2024 Community Health Assessment report online at
https://stanlycountync.gov/DocumentCenter/View/200/2024-Stanly-County-Community-Health-Assessment-Report.