Windshield Survey: Suicide and Mental Illness in Evans, Georgia
Here is a copy of my Windshield Survey here in Evans, Georgia which is in Columbia County outside of Augusta, Georgia home of the Masters (golf). The focus will be Suicide ( mental health). Fort Gordon is about a 5 minute drive. This is considered a Military town a long with this being a Medical Community.
Abstract
Evans, Georgia is outside of Augusta, Georgia the home of the PGA Masters. Evans Georgia is a unique place within itself with Augusta Georgia on the one side and Fort Gordon, which is on the other border. The focus will be Evans Georgia health needs, and risk of the 34.270 residents that live, work, relax, and find the different activities for in the area. The area has a low minority group, but the intent will be to look at and compare the health issues of those groups that reside in Evans, Georgia.
Evans, Georgia Overview
Evans Georgia mainly comprised of White people that have lived here for years and some for generations. Evans Georgia was and is in some area farmland. With the growth of the area, the farms sold, and new housing development designed in this area. Along with the housing, there are new shopping centers, grocery stores, and activity centers being design for those that are in the area. The area is 75% of white people, 12% African American/ Blacks, 4.94 % Hispanic, 5% Asian. The age group in this growing area for those that are 0-10 years of age is 15%, 10-17years 13%, 18-24 years is 8%, 25-34 years is 12%, 35-44 years is 14%, 45-54 years is 14%, 55-64 years is 12%, 65 + years is 12%. The number 1 cause of death in Evans, Georgia is poisoning
Surveillance Survey of Evans Georgia Community and the residents (datausa.io/profile/geo/evans-county ga.)
A windshield survey of those living in Evans Georgia
Housing. There are half of the homes that are owner-occupied 84.4% and the other half that are rented by others 82.45. The homes are in pretty good condition. Those homes that are much older but can be distinguished as once very well taken care of homes. The income level of most those in the area is $40,594, which is mid social economic which can afford the housing in the area.
Open Spaces. To find this information is confusing. The only open spaces that identified is the lakes, ponds, and once areas that were farms that sold for new housing development.
Pollution. The air quality is not something that most do not discuss except in the spring when everything is cover with yellow dust, which is the pollen from trees, bushes, flowers. There are daily reports given on the air quality by every news station in the area (air quality index)
Education. The area has many schools public schools, and daycare in the area. The schools here in Evans Ga do get a B+ they do have high scores in math and reading.
Culture and Religion. There are plenty of churches in the area which identify themselves as Baptist, Evangelicals, Catholic. There are a high number of Evangelicals then there are Baptist, Methodist.
Health Services. There are several places for urgent care, day surgery because everyone is taking to the main hospital in Augusta, Georgia, to the University. Augusta Georgia central area is the medical district. They have immediate care and urgent care areas in Evans, Ga.
Transportation: There is no public transportation in Evans, Georgia. Everyone relies on his or her cars to get to different locations in the area. The only buses seen is the school buses to take the children to and from school.
Demographic: The area has changed from once the farm areas to the new development of homes. There is a constant scene of new homes built where there was once area used to grow crops.
Health Risk: There is a high incident of Congestive Heart Failure in the area, but this is the only link to University Hospital, the other is poisoning which is apart of the opioid epidemic that this county is facing. There is obesity which is very prevalent here in the area that affects the overall health of that young, adult, and elderly
There is much education that provided offered at the Library, different seminars.
Reference
(www.areavibes.com/evans-ga/demographics, 2018)
Evans Georgia (United States Census Bureau Quick Facts Evans Georgia, 2017)
(datausa.io, n.d.)
Community Boundaries
Boundaries
Describe the boundaries of the area being surveyed.
• Is the area a named neighborhood? yes the area survey is Connemara Trl. Evans, Ga. Are the boundaries determined by geography, or economic status? This is more geography. Boundaries. There is Evans,Ga some military families, Grovetown majority of military families right outside of Fort Gordon, Martinez, then Augusta.
Provides a thorough and detailed description of a community.
Describes the environment and the culture of the community, and calls attention to any factors that could affect health care services.
Describes health care services available in the community, and further identifies factors that could affect the delivery of the described services
Describes community health care issues, and further identifies factors that could affect the delivery of the described services
Identifies relevant assets and/or obstacles in a community related to providing health care services during a crisis, and further explains how an identified asset would be beneficial and/or an obstacle during a crisis
Relates information from an interview about community health issues to personal observations of a community, and specifically addresses information from the interview that is new or differs from personal observations.
Using suicide which is on the rise here in this community. There are plenty of prompt care within a 5 mile of each other. Problem is that military men and women are returning home with post tramatic stress, and thoughts of suicide. Many have been able to commit suicide along with the teenagers in the area. There are seminars now being offered to the community to recognize those that are at risk for suicide and what to look for. The university is also helping by those that are in the program to become physician to be able to be tuition free as long as they remain in Georgia and work for 6 years (especially in the rural areas).
Environment and Culture
Housing
Describe the houses in the area including:
• Age of the houses.
• Overall condition of the houses.
• Types of housing (single family, multiple family).
• How many are for sale or vacant, etc.
• From the housing, what could be assumed about the economic status of the area?
Signs of Decay
Besides the housing, what is the general condition of the area? Do you notice things like garbage or junky cars in the area?
Parks and Recreational Areas
Describe any parks, playgrounds or other green spaces you notice. In your description make note of the condition of these areas, and if they seem to be used. Are there any other types of recreational areas?
Transportation
Describe the transportation in the area, and the condition of the streets. Do you see anyone using public transportation? Is public transportation available? Is this a heavily traveled area?
Economics
Are there any industries in the area?
Schools
List the type, level, and number of schools.
Religion
List the number and types of religious facilities.
General
Do you see any evidence of gang activity? Describe it. What types of billboards/signs do you see, and how do they reflect the atmosphere of the area? What cultural and ethnic groups live in this area?
Community Health
Environmental Health Factors
Do you see anything in the environment, positive or negative, that might be contributing to the health of community residents? Describe how the factor could be impacting the health of residents. An example of a positive environmental factor might be a park where children are playing and exercising. An example of a negative health factor might be the air pollution from a coal burning power plant. Environmental factors could extend to things like types of business in the community as well. For example, how might a prevalence of liquor or tobacco stores contribute to the health of the community?
General Resident Health Observations
Do you notice any general positive health behaviors or appearances across community residents? For example, a community garden or multiple residents outside being physically active. Describe them. Do you notice any general negative health behaviors or appearances across community residents? For example, numerous people smoking, or a prevalence of obese residents. Describe them.
Community Health Issues
Based on your observations, what health issues might you expect to be prevalent in the community?
Community Assets and Obstacles
Services
Describe any type of social service, health care service and protective service (fire and police) that is in the area.
Community Needs
Based on your observations, identify any problems in the community.
Community Strengths
Did you notice any community resources that might address the problems you identified?
Community Crisis Response
• What assets exist in the community that would be beneficial for ensuring that health care services are appropriately delivered during a community crisis?
• What potential obstacles exist in the community with regards to providing health care services during a community crisis?
Subjective Feeling
• How did you feel, being in the area?
• Were you comfortable?
• Were you nervous?
• Did the people seem friendly?
• Would this be an area where you would like to live or work? Explain.
Notes
Boundaries
Housing
Signs of Decay
Parks and Recreational Areas
Transportation
Economics
Schools
Religion
General
Environmental Health Factors
General Resident Health Observations
Community Health Issues
Services
Community Needs
Community Strengths
Community Crisis Response
Subjective Feeling
