Social Determinants of Health and Community Wellbeing
The World Health Organization (WHO 2022) suggests that SDH accounts for between 30-55% of health outcomes, inclusive of Canada (Statistics Canada 2024). Persons with disabilities, Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC), members of low socio-economic households, and members of rural, regional and remote communities continue to face considerable SDH barriers when accessing healthcare services, which negatively affects their chances of achieving their highest attainable standard of health.
Aim and Approach
This stream will aim to identify, map and disrupt social and economic factors that undermine community wellbeing by engaging directly with: socio-economic infrastructures that support mobility; discriminatory systems, institutions and services that undermine the active uptake, participation and inclusion of marginalized communities; and, enabling structures, institutions, programs and services that actively facilitate social cohesion and wellbeing. Focus will be in fundamental areas such as education, the arts, movement, socio-cultural practice, and community engagement that promote the social, cultural, economic and emotional wellbeing of individuals, households and communities at scale.