Editor’s note: This is the introduction to a series of articles dedicated to topics involved in social determinants of health. Watch this space every Thursday for a new installment from local professionals in their fields.

The primary objective of public health practitioners is to partner with community members in achieving positive health and well-being for all. This is typically accomplished through disease prevention programs and the promotion of healthy lifestyles.

So, what exactly are social determinants of health? They encompass nonclinical environmental and community factors that influence people from birth to aging, affecting where they live, work, play, worship and grow. Health professionals can address these nonclinical aspects to identify potential obstacles to achieving positive health outcomes. By ensuring everyone in the community has access to the following areas, communities can profoundly impact the overall health and well-being of their members.

Social determinants of health can be categorized into six areas:

√ Healthy foods

√ Education

√ Health services

√ Financial stability

√ Support services

√ Neighborhood

These six areas all play vital roles in determining the overall health of community members through the opportunities they provide or the lack thereof. If a community is deficient in any of these areas, it can have lasting negative effects on the health outcomes of its members. These social determinants emphasize health improvement through preventive measures and opportunities available as individuals grow and live within a community.

These determinants aim to engage the entire community and highlight the significant role each area within a community plays in the success of its members. For example, enhancing a community's environment through quality education programs and job opportunities enables many within the community to achieve higher lifelong earnings (financial stability), breaking the cycle of generational poverty.

Another example is providing support and health services in areas of the community served by affordable and reliable public transportation, ensuring those in need can efficiently access multiple services in a single visit. Eliminating transportation barriers could be crucial to ensuring positive long-term health outcomes.

By ensuring each person in the community has access to healthy foods, quality education, reliable health services, financial stability, support services and safe neighborhoods, we ultimately create a healthier, more diverse community where everyone can thrive. Now, we move to the second part of this discussion: Why are social determinants of health important to me?

As members of a community, we witness and hear about the personal struggles and challenges faced by our loved ones, friends and neighbors. By advocating for and providing opportunities in these six areas, we promote hope for future generations to lead more successful and healthier lives. Social determinants of health are not merely societal issues that can be solved by throwing large sums of money at them or by implementing occasional programs to address them.

We must all collaborate to understand how decisions in one area can impact other areas. This should be an ongoing, evolving process, with input from every community member to achieve success. Communities must be the driving force behind social change through action and policy adjustments. Sometimes, all it takes is an opportunity to bring about positive social change outcomes.

Dr. Joseph Robare is the director of the Master of Public Health Program at Slippery Rock University.