Health officials in Sullivan County are glad to see their health rankings tick up this year, even if just a bit. According to data from the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, Sullivan County ranked 60th out of New York’s 62 counties. It’s been ranked 61st for the past few years.

They know they still have a long way to go.

“Easing access to care, ending the opioid crisis," County Commissioner of Health and Human Services John Liddle said. "Enhancing communities with more child care, more affordable housing, more access to education.”

He attributes the county’s rank to its ongoing fight against opioids and the lingering effects of the pandemic. Liddle said Sullivan County is one of the most rural, impoverished counties in the state, and progress can take some time.

The county rankings data, a program of the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, shows that Sullivan County’s adult obesity rate decreased over the past year, while air pollution was at the state average. However, Sullivan did see an increase in excessive drinking.

“Our Legislature took big steps the last couple of years to make it easier for graduating seniors in Sullivan County to access free education via SUNY Sullivan, and that's a number where we were getting hurt in these rankings for a long time," Liddle said. "So, that's a big step. We're working to gain through our rail trail system to increase access to physical activity for folks.”

Just across the river, Putnam County, with a median household income that is nearly double than that of Sullivan’s, now ranks as the most healthy county in New York state two years in a row.

Interim Health Commissioner Dr. Michael Nesheiwat said it’s due to an emphasis on public health and education.

“We use social media," he said. "We have a direct phone line to to people where they can ask questions, and we try to help them with, whether it's blue-green algae, whether it's rabies shots, whether it's immunizations, migrant clinics.”

The county saw adult obesity and excessive drinking rates decrease over the past year. However, air pollution in Putnam is about 13% higher than the state average.

County Executive Kevin Byrne said that Putnam is also working to address the mental health of its residents by funding a new Crisis Stabilization Center.

“It allows people to get the help they need and then get connected to resources," Byrne said. "It also makes fiscal sense because it saves money by not having to spend all this money that puts people in the emergency department, and then delay other access to care.”

Liddle said the opioid epidemic is public enemy number one in Sullivan. And with funding from the attorney general’s lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies, they’ll work to create better health outcomes in the county.

“Delivering tools to our local law enforcement and also enhancing our prevention, harm reduction, treatment activities in every way we can," he said.