Community Health
According to the 2025 County Health Rankings, Greene County fares about average for health outcomes, which are indicators that reflect the length and quality of people’s lives, and slightly above average for health factors. Health factors include community conditions that impact where people live, work and play.
key metrics
43%
Deaths fell from 144 to 82.
Fewer overdose deaths in 2024 than at the 2021 peak
4 in 5
Suicide deaths in our community were men
Men accounted for 315 of 395 deaths among people ages 15 to 64.
Help is available. Speak with someone today.
2026 report
Overdose deaths in Greene County have dropped more than 44% since their 2021 peak, helped by more than 40,000 units of naloxone made available in 2025. Keeping that progress will take a quick response to new substances in the local drug supply, more support to prevent suicide, and earlier attention to heart health.
Mental Health Awareness & Access
The Springfield community has seen significant improvements in mental health in the last decade in infrastructure, awareness and community support. The ratio of mental health care providers to patients in Greene County is better than the ratio across Southwest Missouri, which is a major strength because people in Greene County experience poor mental health outcomes, including anxiety and depression, at a greater rate than neighbors across the region and state. While Springfield is a major hub for mental health care, this concentration of services can lead to gaps in access for surrounding rural populations and an overwhelming demand for local providers.
Declining Overdose Deaths & Increased Naloxone Saturation
In addition to the significant progress our community has made in mental health care access, we are making meaningful improvements in overdose prevention.
Overall drug overdose mortality in Greene County continues to decrease. For drug overdoses involving all substances, death rates have decreased by more than 44% from a peak of 47.9 deaths per 100,000 population in 2021.
This represents approximately 62 fewer lives lost each year to drug overdose in our county.
Overdose Fatality Review Board
To directly address the impacts of drug use and overdose deaths in our community, the Overdose Fatality Review (OFR) was launched in 2024. The OFR is a team of multidisciplinary individuals who meet regularly to review the circumstances surrounding local fatal overdoses.
Through this work, the OFR identifies missed opportunities for intervention and develops recommendations to decrease the number of lives lost in the Springfield community due to drug poisoning.
The group is made up of members from local community organizations representing behavioral health, healthcare, justice, public safety, and public health sectors.
Substance
Use
While strides have been made in preventing death from drug overdoses in our community, there is still considerable work to be done.
New substances identified in local drug supplies, like nitazenes (synthetic opioids) and xylazine (an animal tranquilizer that compounds the respiratory depression seen in opioid overdoses) are reminders that the response to this issue should continue to be collaborative, quick and nimble.
Suicide Mortality
Though many mental health-related measures are trending in the right direction, the death rate from suicide presents a significant concern for our community. Peaking in 2022, the mortality rate from suicide has stabilized slightly, but represents a more than one-third increase in the last two decades. In the last five years, the Springfield community has lost more than 300 individuals to suicide. Suicide mortality is higher among males in our community.
Heart
Health
Poor heart health is the leading cause of death for those living in Greene County. While these conditions are often associated with the elderly population, the possible effects can be addressed much earlier. Often, high blood pressure causes heart disease, and heart disease leads to heart failure.
Factors that can lead to poor heart health include age, race, family history, being overweight, and lifestyle factors like tobacco use or a lack of exercise. Addressing lifestyle factors early can improve outcomes and promote better overall health.
