Library Modules 6 - Health Development
About health development
In this module:
-
About Health Development
Well-being is not just about 'not being sick', but is about being well physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Health development focuses on collaboration and social change. It builds on what we know about disease prevention, and the links between society and health to support participation in decision making.
Many of us think of our health as safeguarded by the provision of health services such as hospitals, general practitioners, specialists, nurses, community health centres etc.
Lots of people also recognise that the way we live, whether we smoke or not, what we eat and how much exercise we do has a lot to do with our health. We all have some control over these aspects of our behaviour which are often called 'risk factors'.
Education campaigns such as the anti-smoking campaign and the 'slip slop slap' campaign skin cancer prevention campaign are examples of ways in which health workers provide information to help people become more aware of, and take some responsibility for, behaviours that may harm their health.
New ways of thinking
Many years of research has identified some other aspects of our lives that affect our health. These can be thought of as social aspects. They include how connected we feel to others (our family, friends and the community), our self-esteem, and our feelings of control.
People who are socially isolated, who have a low self-esteem, who don't feel in control are often less healthy than people who feel more connected, have higher self-esteem and feel in charge of their lives.
The foundations of well-being
The foundations on which well-being is built can be thought of as adequate income, education, housing and inclusion in our society. When lots of data about healthy people was analysed, information about a set of 'risk conditions' emerged. People living with one or more risk conditions are more likely to suffer ill health, from a variety of causes, than those who do not live with such conditions. Risk conditions include:
-
poverty
-
low education/occupation status
-
dangerous stressful work
-
dangerous or polluted environments
-
discrimination
-
low political/economic power
-
large gaps in income/power within a community, state or nation
-
unaffordable housing
-
inadequate access to food
-
poor early childhood environments.
A large range of government departments and service organisations commonly address these issues. So what can individuals, communities and governments do to improve everyone's ability to have a healthy life?
Health development focuses on collaboration and social change. It builds on what we know about disease prevention and the links between society and health to support participation in decision making.
Governments, communities and individuals can make a difference. Here are some suggestions.
Governments can:
-
support families with young children
-
encourage community activity
-
help link people into their community
-
address financial insecurity
-
support the most disadvantaged in our community
-
promote coping skills
-
increase opportunities for education at all ages
-
legislate to prevent discrimination of any kind
-
legislate for workplace health and safety
-
develop policies to close the gaps between the 'have' and the 'have-nots'
-
support sustainable agriculture and food production
-
ensure the protection of environments including the reduction in air pollution by the support of public transport
-
provide relevant and reliable information
-
support collaborative work across departments and programs.
Communities and organisations can:
-
give people a sense of belonging and being valued
-
support parents in their roles
-
understand stress and help address it
-
enable everyone to have input into decision making
-
provide appropriate rewards for jobs well done either within paid or community work
-
ensure everyone is included in the social aspects of work and life
-
develop and/or disseminate information
-
ensure a safe environment
-
work at cooperative programs and collaborative solutions, across and within existing groups and organisations
-
support individuals.
Individuals can:
-
get involved in the life of their community
-
take some reasonable steps towards a healthy lifestyle
-
help someone else participate
-
link people
-
become informed
-
take some stress out of life.
Getting Help
Population Health Branch, Queensland Health can provide individuals, organisations and communities with lots of information, help and access to resources to develop health. Programs, kits and personnel with expertise are available across a large variety of issues. Information on many issues can be found on Queensland Health's A Healthier You website. Issues include:
-
Communicable Diseases
-
Drugs, Alcohol & Tobacco
-
Food & Nutrition
-
A Healthy Environment
-
Physical Activity
Other units within Queensland Health can also provide assistance with issues such as:
-
Child health
-
Mental health
-
Indigenous health
-
Community health
Further information can be found on the Queensland Health website or by contacting your District Health Service who will be able to connect you with a Population Health Unit.
However, people in rural areas may have problems accessing appropriate health facilities.
Some non-government organisations can also provide health information and assistance. These include:
Other government departments have also developed programs to assist communities and individuals to address some of their issues:
Community and Economic Development Issues:
Education:
Indigenous Issues:
Some other non-government organisations that could help:
