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We rarely are able to control all aspects of our lives, particularly social and economic factors that affect our health and our communities.
According to the World Health Organization, our individual situations, such as where we live, our environment, genetics, income, education level, and relationships with friends and family, all impact our health.
Our complicated social structures and economic systems play a huge role, too. The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention explains: “These social structures and economic systems include the social environment, physical environment, health services and structural and societal factors."
And, our health is influenced by "the distribution of money, power and resources throughout local communities, nations and the world.”
"The context of people’s lives determine their health, and so blaming individuals for having poor health or crediting them for good health is inappropriate."
– WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
Making a difference
Change begins with a true understanding of the social and economic factors that drive distribution of power and resources, including law and policy, systemic racism, and institutional discrimination—to name a few.
By raising awareness, we begin a ripple effect of acknowledgement and understanding, which leads to improvements in our health and well-being, and the health and well-being of others.
Learn more about how social structures impact health.