MONTICELLO - The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation each year releases its County Health Rankings and Roadmaps study, which identifies how counties are ranked based on multiple health factors.

Since 2011 (the first available data year) Sullivan County has ranked second to last (61 out of the total 62 counties in New York).

Last year, the county jumped ahead to number 60, but now the newest numbers have been released and it is back down to 61.

Sullivan County Public Health Director Nancy McGraw said the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation isn't promoting the new rankings due to the hardships on health caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

But, she said, a brief look at the data shows that the county has a higher premature death rate due to overdoses and suicide, which is a trend that has been increasing for several years.

“The pandemic has highlighted a lot of mental health and substance use issues, and made it a lot more difficult for many people,” McGraw said during the county legislature's Public Health Committee meeting last week.

Based on the latest available data, the rate of premature death for Sullivan is 8,000 (which represents years of potential life lost before age 75 per 100,000 population). For New York State, it's 5,400.

The percentage of adults reporting poor or fair health is 20 percent, compared to the statewide 16 percent.

Sullivan's adult smoking is at 24 percent, compared to the statewide 13 percent. Adult obesity is at 36 percent, compared to 26 percent.

The rate of children in poverty is at 26 percent, compared to 18 percent statewide.

Sullivan County agencies and non-profits have been working over the past few years to improve health in the county and address issues such as opioid addiction and mental health.

“It takes sustained investment in those programs, services and prevention in order to see a turnaround,” McGraw said.

Adding, “We continue to do the good work that we have always done with our community partners and we'll keep trudging.”