Overrepresentation of In-Home, Natural Deaths Among Individuals Treated for Mental Illnesses in New York State

Objective: The authors compared rates of in-home, natural death among individuals receiving treatment for mental illnesses with those in the general population. Methods: Two data sets were used to determine the prevalence of in-home, natural deaths in the general population and among those receiving treatment for mental illnesses in New York State, outside New York City, for the period 2016-2018. Results: Overall, 37% of natural deaths among individuals receiving mental health treatment occurred in the home, compared with 26% in the general population. Earlier death was also apparent; for example, 26.4% of in-home deaths among those receiving mental health treatment were among those ages 45-54 years, compared with 5.5% in the general population. In-home, natural deaths were also higher among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic subpopulations. Conclusions: These findings suggest a need for programmatic and policy advances to reduce disparities in general health care for those living with mental illnesses. Additional analyses are warranted.