The mean number of years of potential life lost (YPLL) and mean age at time of death were calculated for public mental health clients. YPLL as a mortality measure provides information about the risk of premature death by using the difference between client age at death and the current life expectancy, or mean survival age for living cohorts of the same age and sex as each decedent during the year of death. The average YPLL for clients in each state during each year was estimated using current life expectancy tables for the U.S. population, which are developed and published annually by CDC (11-18). First, the number of YPLL per client was determined using the difference between the age at death and the current life expectancy age for living cohorts of the same age and sex found in the life expectancy table for the year of death. Then, the YPLL for all clients who died were added and divided by the number of deceased clients to calculate the mean YPLL for all public mental health clients who died each year in
