Twenty-two percent of adults report being obese and 81% report consuming fewer fruits and vegetables than the recommended five times per day, according to an Alexandria health survey in 2019.
That survey also showed:
- Female high school students seriously consider suicide and attempt suicide at twice the proportion of male students.
- One in five adults (21%) report poor mental health lasting more than five days.
- Residents in Alexandria’s West End, specifically in ZIP code 22304, have the highest rate of adult asthma hospitalizations.
To see if these things (and others) are still true, the Alexandria Health Department is inviting everyone who lives, learns, works, prays, and plays in Alexandria to take a new, anonymous survey about what health issues matter most to them and more.
"Results from the survey will help guide the next five years of health projects in our city," according to the city.
The survey is open online in multiple languages and will close Nov. 1, 2024. Alexandria Health Department team members will also pop-up at various locations across Alexandria to collect surveys.
"This survey is part of the Community Health Assessment (CHA), an effort from Alexandria Health Department and local partners to evaluate Alexandria’s health. This assessment looks at health issues like diabetes, tobacco use, and dental care, while also exploring community conditions impacting health, such as housing, education, economic stability, structural racism, and green spaces. Assessment results will inform the development of a five-year Community Health Improvement Plan based on community priorities."
Community members can learn about the survey and assessment at the CHA Kick-Off Event on Tuesday, Oct. 1, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., at Patrick Henry Recreation Center at 4653 Taney Ave. Please register online. A free boxed meal, activities for kids, and interpreters for Spanish, Amharic, and Dari speakers will be provided. Other language interpretation is available upon request in advance.
