New York City faces may health issues that cause preventable illness and premature death among New Yorkers. These include the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections and recognizing and treating Depression. Addressing these health issues is made even more difficult due to disparities in health found in different areas of New York City. New Yorks living in high poverty neighborhoods and ethnic groups disproportionately experience higher rates of preventable illness and premature death. These areas include South Bronx, East and Central Harlem and North and Central Brooklyn, which suffer from limited access to healthy food options, poor housing quality and limited safe spaces for recreation. (Source 1) Many policies have been made to address these problems; however, I believe that it’s important to try to find solutions on a more neighborhood-based level.
New York City is statistically home to the country’s largest population of people living with HIV/AIDS. More than 113,000 New Yorkers are living with
HIV/AIDS and thousands are unaware that they are infected at all. (Source 1) Deaths among people with AIDS have decreased by 45% over the last decade, which is historically low; however, the amount of people infected remains at a high rate.
Fewer African Americans are dying from HIV-related diseases; however, they remain disproportionately burdened by HIV/AIDS as nearly 45% of New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS are black. In 2011, homosexual men accounted for 66% of new diagnoses among those with known HIV transmission risk. (Source 2).
Stress and depression rates in New York City also remain at an all time high. More than 400,000 New Yorkers are affected each year. Treatments are highly effective; however, depression is often undetected and untreated. Only one in three of individuals suffering from depression in New York City receive treatment. Depression is the second leading cause of healthy years of life lost in New York City. (Source 1) In 2012, more than 50% of black and Hispanic adults had untreated serious psychological distress. Younger New Yorkers have higher rates of depression than older. Those in their 20’s and 30’s are affected at about twice the rate of people over 60. Depression is often an illness that is put on the back burner, due to the fact that is purely psychological and its effects are not promptly visible; however it is a disabling and fatal illness and needs treatment. Depression can undermine overall health and wellbeing. It is the leading cause of suicide and affects all aspects of live – work, family, and friendships. (Source 3)
STD and HIV/AIDS rates and depression are two very separate problems that ail New York City and its residents; however, I believe both can be addressed jointly. Community efforts and involvement can greatly diminish the rate at which these illnesses target individuals. In New York City, there is little to no sense of community or togetherness. If community efforts such as neighborhood yoga classes and STD awareness workshops are created, not only is information being released and publicized, a sense of togetherness and unity is also instilled, which is important to have in order to create a network of support in the City.
Sources:
- A Policy for a Healthier New York City. (n.d.). Retrieved May 6, 2015, from http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/tcny/tcny-5year-report2013.pdf
- Fund for Public Health NY. (n.d.). Retrieved May 6, 2015, from http://www.fphny.org/topics/stop-the-spread-of-hiv-and-other-sexually-transmitted-infections
- Fund for Public Health NY. (n.d.). Retrieved May 6, 2015, from http://www.fphny.org/programs/recognize-and-treat-depression
