An information report going to Chatham-Kent council on Monday evening shows that the crime rate and poor health across the municipality is far above the provincial average.
Chatham-Kent Community Safety and Well-Being Coordinator Erin McEachran wrote that the crime rate statistics in 2023 showed CK having a 6179.63 crime rate per 100,000 people compared to 4723.4 in the province.
The report also showed the crime severity index in Chatham-Kent is 75, well above the 60.8 for the province.
However, CK's violent crime severity index of 71.4 is below the provincial average of 78.5 and the non-violent crime rate of 77.07 is well above the 54.34 for the province.
A recent survey by the municipality also showed that while Chatham-Kent residents largely feel safe in their homes and schools, some feel less secure when walking alone in their neighborhood after dark and the insecurity was even more pronounced in downtown Chatham.
Council will also hear that Chatham-Kent continues to struggle with higher than provincial rates of chronic disease, including diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and hypertension.
"In our community, there are significantly higher rates of death due to heart disease, respiratory disease, diabetes, COPD, and cancer," wrote McEachran. "Sadly, members of our community have poorer health behaviours, are sicker, and die sooner than other communities in Ontario."
The report stated the following data in Chatham-Kent:
- 431.5 deaths are premature per 100,000 compared to 288.4 per 100,000 population in Ontario (a premature death is defined in Canada as death before 75 years of age).
- 40 per cent of adults report consuming three or more standard alcoholic drinks per week compared to 29 per cent in Ontario (guidelines recommend consuming no more than two standard alcoholic drinks per week to reduce cancer risk).
- 14.8 per cent report daily smoking compared to 10 per cent in Ontario.
- 89 per cent of youth aged 12-17 do not meet physical activity guidelines.
- 20 per cent of households struggle with food insecurity.
- 32, 421 residents do not have a family doctor.
- 29 per cent of children are developmentally vulnerable, according to the Early Development Instrument.
Substance use is also an ongoing public health concern across Chatham-Kent.
In 2024, there were 175 emergency department (ED) visits due to opioid poisonings, up from 120 in 2023, the report noted.
It also noted that the rates of ED visits due to opioid poisonings are higher in CK than in Ontario, adding there were 47 substance-related deaths in Chatham-Kent last year.
"Factors that contribute to increases in opioid-related harms include limited access to addiction treatment services, harm reduction services and available social supports, increases in mental health issues, and a volatile supply of unregulated opioids and other drugs," the report said.
Mental health is also an issue with the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance reporting it sees approximately three children per week for mental health care at its ED with nearly half (49.3%) having suicidal thoughts or attempting suicide.
In 2023, the Chatham-Kent Police Mobile Crisis Team responded to 1687 calls for mental health crisis and apprehended 67 individuals under the Mental Health Act, according to the information report.
Other information to be presented to council on Monday night includes:
- 6.3 per cent of the local population was unemployed in December 2024.
- 10.2 per cent of the local population received income assistance in 2024 (3.9% received Ontario Works, 6.3% received Ontario Disability Support).
- 15 per cent of CK residents do not have a high school diploma compared to only 10 per cent of Ontario residents.
- Only 54 per cent of CK residents have a post-secondary degree, diploma, or certificate compared to 67.8 per cent of Ontario residents.