According to the most recent data available in the Fox Cities LIFE Study, the suicide rate has increased in Wisconsin and across all three counties of the Fox Cities region. In 2018, the rate of death by suicide (completed suicides per 100,000 population) was higher than the rates in 2014 and 2016. The rate in Calumet County increased from 7.9 in 2016 to 17.5 in 2018 (per 100,000), Outagamie County increased from 14.2 in 2016 to 19.6 in 2018 (per 100,000), and Winnebago County increased from 17.7 in 2016 to 21.3 in 2018 (per 100,000).

The Fox Cities LIFE Study is funded by the Community Foundation and United Way Fox Cities. Additional recently updated data in the study in the category of Health and Wellness includes a variety of lifestyle and health indicators for infants, children, youth and adults.

The percentage of children without health insurance almost doubled from 2016 to 2018 in both Outagamie (from 1.87% to 3.55%) and Winnebago (from 1.93% to 3.83%) counties, while the trend remained relatively flat in Wisconsin. In the Fox Cities, the number of adults without health insurance has increased; total adults without insurance increased from 12,756 in 2016 to 13,898 in 2018. The percentage of the population receiving Medicaid from 2015 to 2018 remained stable at 9.2% in Calumet County in 2018, 12.6% in Outagamie County in 2018, and 15.3% in Winnebago County in 2018, according to the Fox Cities LIFE Study.

In addition, the report shows the region is not as healthy as previous reports. The Fox Cities region saw an increase in adult obesity between 2011 and 2018, as the prevalence of Type 1 and 2 diabetes also increased in 2018 (the obesity and diabetes numbers are self-reported). However, the three-year average mortality rate for diabetes-related deaths significantly decreased between 2015 and 2018 in Calumet County, remained stable for Outagamie, and increased in Winnebago.

Encouragingly, the percentage of adults having blood pressure and cholesterol checks has increased across the Fox Cities region since 2011. The overall health outcome ranking in the Fox Cities increased between 2015 and 2019, with Calumet County consistently being in the Top 5. In 2019, Outagamie was 16 and Winnebago was 23 out of 72 counties in Wisconsin.

The Fox Cities LIFE Study website is updated on an ongoing basis, when new data is available, which may or may not include the current COVID-19 time period. As of July 2020, the website includes 45 new or updated charts within the Fox Cities LIFE Study’s categories of basic needs, health, and safety. Interactive charts are now available on the Fox Cities LIFE Study website, with a summary of the new information on the “What’s New” page.

July 2020 Health Updates:
13 Indicator pages with 26 new charts:

• Health Outcomes
• Infant Health (1 of 2)
• Infant Health (2 of 2)
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Drinking
• Drug Use
• Depression and Suicide
• Youth Suicide-Related Behaviors
• Disease and Mortality
• Disability
• Prevention
• Health Care Coverage

Sources for the Health and Wellness updates include University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, County Health Rankings, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Wisconsin Interactive Statistics on Health, Fox Valley Community Health Improvement Coalition, Adult Community Health Survey, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Youth Risk Behavior Survey, U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, and Public Assistance Program Enrollment Data. improve the quality of life, and put effort to the greatest needs in our community. The study also is benchmarked against select counties, Wisconsin and the nation, with trending information.