The Health Improvement
Programme should reflect the views that social causes of ill health, for individuals &
communities include:
- Abuse & Discrimination in society
- A breakdown of social structures at a neighbourhood or
community level
- A breakdown within families
- Access to healthy food
- A democratic deficit between users of services, communities
& policy makers
- Homelessness & inadequate housing
- Isolation, Insecurity, Fear & Stress
- Lack of access to learning, education & development
opportunities
- Lack of access to services & support
- Low paid employment & poor conditions
- Poverty
- Unemployment
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Throughout the day a
number of themes emerged. It is important that the HIMP reflects "community"
perspectives & beliefs:
- That a common understanding of "health" should
change from curing illness and visiting the doctor, to a more holistic preventative
vision, that makes a connection between peoples physical & emotional health and wider
social factors such as their income, housing & access to opportunities.
- To formally recognise and build on what already exists in
terms of community activities & services.
- That the considerable interest & enthusiasm for access to
complimentary therapies & medicines is responded to.
- That community development as a process was identified as a
major tool for community led regeneration & therefore fundamental to the
implementation of the HIMP
- That the HIMP includes ideas to make healthy lifestyles more
"attractive" to ordinary people
- An analysis of the findings demonstrates that it will be
essential to tackle issues effectively by agencies working together across all sectors.
- It is important to target individuals and communities who
experience one or more factors, causing multiple forms of deprivation.
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