What Makes a Community Healthy?
Healthy Communities are based on the following principles:
- Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being.
Social, environmental and economic factors are important determinants of human health and are inter-related. - People cannot achieve their fullest potential unless they are able to take control of those things which determine their well-being.
- All sectors of the community are inter-related and share their knowledge, expertise and perspectives, working together to create a healthy community.
A Healthy Community process involves:
- wide community participation
- broad involvement of all sectors of the community
- local government commitment
- creation of healthy public policies
Qualities of a Healthy Community include:
- clean and safe physical environment
- peace, equity and social justice
- adequate access to food, water, shelter, income, safety, work and recreation for all
- adequate access to health care services
- opportunities for learning and skill development
- strong, mutually supportive relationships and networks
- workplaces that are supportive of individual and family well-being
- wide participation of residents in decision-making
- strong local cultural and spiritual heritage
- diverse and vital economy
- protection of the natural environment
- responsible use of resources to ensure long term sustainability