The 2025 Bridge to Health Survey will be wrapping up soon, and anyone who received a survey in the mail is asked to complete it as quickly as possible so that their answers can be counted. The survey was first sent in September as a postcard with QR code to take the survey online, and is being followed up with a printed survey in October to all households who haven’t yet responded.

The Bridge to Health Survey has been conducted every five years since 1995 and seeks to answer the all-important question “How Healthy is the Northland?” The comprehensive survey includes questions related to physical and mental health, nutrition, exercise, tobacco and alcohol use, dental care, insurance coverage, and social connection, among other topics.

More than 40 organizations in nine northern Minnesota counties, along with Douglas County, Wis., are working together to conduct the survey, which is coordinated by Generations Health Care Initiatives. Sponsoring organizations include local hospitals, clinics, community health centers, mental health centers, public health agencies, the Minnesota Department of Health Statewide Health Improvement Program, community non-profit organizations, foundations, health plans, and educational institutions.

“We are excited by the response we have seen so far and simply want to remind others who may still have the survey sitting on a countertop or in a pile of papers – please spend the couple of minutes it takes to complete the survey, either online or on paper,” said Jessie Peterson, survey co-chair and Executive Director of Generations Health Care Initiatives. “Your individual survey responses are kept confidential, but the aggregate data will help health organizations across our region to better serve your community.”

This year’s survey is being conducted by University of Wisconsin-Superior’s Center for Research and Evaluation Services. Surveys have been sent to randomly selected households in Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Pine and St. Louis counties in Minnesota, and Douglas County in Wisconsin. Results will be available in spring of 2026.

More information about the 2025 Bridge to Health Survey can be found at BridgeToHealthSurvey.org including reports from past surveys.