SEDoHs Flashcards
mental health in canada
20% of canadians will personally experience a mental illness in their lifetime
mental illness indirectly affects all canadians at some point
causes and risk factors for mental illness
causes = a complex interplay of genetic, biological, personality, and environmental factors
risk factors = family history of mental illness, age, sex, substance abuse, chronic diseases, stresses
mental health patterns in specific groups
depression in seniors is prevalent but harder to diagnose
suicide accounts for 24% of all deaths among 15-24 year olds and 16% among 25-44 year olds
suicide rates among indigenous populations are 3-6 times higher than the national rates
the environment
all the physical, chemical, and biological factors external to a person, and all the related behaviours
environmental factors that are modifiable
pollution uv and ionizing radiation noise electromagnetic fields occupational risks built environments agricultural methods human-made climate change behaviours related to the availability of safe water
physical environments
housing conditions
air quality
safety of communities (playgrounds, roads, homes)
categories of the environment
chemical, physical, and biological factors
psychological factors
ergonomic factors
types of environments
neighbourhood
home
workplace
measuring impacts and health outcomes of the physical environment
health status
non-medical determinants of health
health system performance
community and health system characteristics
health status
well-being
health conditions
human function
death
non-medical determinants of health
health behaviours
living and working conditions
personal resources
environmental factors
health system performance
acceptability accessibility appropriateness competence continuity effectiveness efficiency safety
community and health system characteristics
community
health systems
resources
built environment
the way we design and build our communities and neighbourhoods
social capital
social networks and interactions that inspire trust and reciprocity among citizens
genetics and the environment
links to education
vulnerable children in families living with poverty
relative level of disadvantage
genetic endowment
appears to predispose certain individuals to particulate diseases or health problems
epigenetics
the study of heritable changes in gene function that occur without alternations of the DNA sequence
the interaction between biology and our environments
epigenetics addiction example
repeated adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can lead to toxic stress, damaging brain architecture which creates faultlines
ACEs can lead to difficulty coping with stress and anxiety in adulthood
when faultlines are triggered by environmental stressors in a vulnerable brain, addiction can be the result
environmental health
all aspects of human health, disease, and injury that are determined by factors in the environment
environmental health assessment
performed to examine possible links between environmental exposure and health outcomes
process = risk assessment, risk management, risk communication
health indicators data is obtained from
personal exposure history
environmental epidemiology
environmental indicators
risk assessment
process used for describing and quantifying the level of exposure to particular substances/risk factors that will result in increased risks to health
risk management
minimal and maximal intervention
need to evaluate management options
possible interventions range from increasing awareness up to regulation
risk communication
process of making risk assessment and risk management information comprehensible and taking the necessary steps to distribute and present that information as appropriate for the target population
risk communication process
determine distribution = who needs the information? what is their risk? what message needs to be communicated?
determine presentation = how will you present the message to your audience?
health literacy
the ability to access, understand, evaluate, and communicate information as a way to promote, maintain, and improve health in a variety of settings across the life course
ten tips for better health (donaldson)
don't smoke balanced diet physically active manage stress drink moderately cover up in the sun safer sex screen for cancer safe on the roads learn first aid
ten tips for staying healthy (gordon)
don't be poor don't have poor parents own a car don't work in a stressful/low paid job don't live in low quality housing be able to afford vacations don't lose your job take up all benefits don't live next to a busy road or factory don't become homeless
