New York City Neighborhood Wellness Survey: an expansive population-level behavioral health assessment of New York City residents, 2023

OBJECTIVE: To identify and contextualize behavioral health needs among New York City residents ages 18 or older. METHODS: The New York City Neighborhood Wellness survey was a population-based, cross-sectional survey conducted from May to September 2023. An address-based sampling approach was used to select households for participation, and one adult per household was asked to complete the survey. The survey primarily focused on mental health and substance use but also included questions regarding participants’ care for children and youth, interactions with the criminal legal system, social support, and general stressors. RESULTS: From the 210,426 households randomly selected and sent a survey, 43,606 surveys were returned and included for analysis, a yield rate of 20.7%, and 2023 American Association of Public Opinion Research (2023 AAPOR RR3) response rate of 21.3%. CONCLUSIONS: The New York City Neighborhood Wellness Survey provides population estimates of mental health and substance use across diverse communities to inform tailored local interventions.