Health and Wealth appear to be popular topics of discussion these days.

So … Let’s talk about Health and Wealth in Bathurst, New Brunswick, Canada

“INCOME AND SOCIAL STATUS: If money can’t buy health, it certainly can contribute to our well-being because housing, diet, clothing and living conditions depend on our income and our place in society.”

Is Bathurst a Healthy Community?

WHAT DOES A HEALTHY COMMUNITY OR ORGANIZATION LOOK LIKE?
Source: http://www.macsnb.ca
It is a place where everybody works together to improve their quality of life. A Healthy Community/Organization has human resources (all its members from the youngest to the oldest, city employees, decision makers…), economic resources (industries, companies, businesses…) and physical resources (water, air, soil, roads, parks, buildings, industrial plants…) to be proud of and that are used to improve health, the quality of life and the collective well-being.

A Healthy Community/Organization is a place where:

• Individuals are in good health;

• People have drinking water, food, and good housing;

• Everybody feels safe;

• Citizens participate in making decisions that concern them;

• People have access to adequate health services;

• People use both public and private services;

• Young people want to stay

• There are numerous support groups that work together;

• Cultural activities are important and reinforce people’s sense of belonging;

• Economic activities are important and varied (RQVVS, 2004).

Does Bathurst look like that?

Visit the MACS-NB web-site http://www.macsnb.ca to discover more …

Mouvement Acadien des Communautés en Santé du Nouveau-Brunswick (MACS-NB)

220 Boulevard St-Pierre West, Room 215, Caraquet, New Brunswick E1W 1A5

Telephone: 506-727-5667 Fax: 506-727-0899 macsnb@nb.sympatico.ca

Thank you MACS-NB for this information:

The Determinants of Health

BIOLOGY AND GENETIC ENDOWMENT: This is how you acquire your mother’s nose or your father’s eyes. The genetic baggage from your parents can have as much impact on your state of health as your previous medical history.

GENDER: Men and women are prone to health problems or conditions that are specifically their own. And it goes even further- they have different ways of reacting to their problems, as well as treating and preventing them.

CULTURE: It is basically who we are, our identity, our language, our history, our beliefs and our values.

HEALTHY CHILD DEVELOPMENT: What is experienced during early childhood influences the development of the individual throughout his or her life. That is why a healthy environment and enriching learning experiences are so important.

SOCIAL SUPPORT NETWORKS: In good times as well as bad, to socialize or simply to prevent loneliness we turn to family, friends, colleagues or the community. These networks must be built as early as possible and maintained throughout our lifetime.

EDUCATION AND LITERACY: The higher our level of education, the better the chances are to have interesting employment, a good income and a better quality of life.

EMPLOYMENT AND WORKING CONDITIONS: Do you have a job? Are you unemployed? Do you work too hard or not enough? Are you stressed at work or are you appreciated? Working conditions affect your health whether they are good or bad.

8. SOCIAL ENVIRONMENTS: These are social conditions that promote wellness stability, acceptance of differences, inclusion, the sense of security, family and community solidarity.

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS: Our health is affected by the quality of everything that surrounds us such as the air, water, global warming, housing, the workplace and even the road conditions and street lighting.

PERSONAL HEALTH PRACTICES AND COPING SKILLS: Making healthy choices (nourishing food, physical activity, mental health and fighting addictions) helps our ability to cope with the pace of every day life.

HEALTH SERVICES:Each one of us is responsible for promoting and maintaining our own health. However,we would all like to have quick access to quality services in our own language as close to home as possible.

INCOME AND SOCIAL STATUS: If money can’t buy health, it certainly can contribute to our well-being because housing, diet, clothing and living conditions depend on our income and our place in society.

The source of most of this information is:

PRACTICAL GUIDE to help implement the Healthy Communities Organizations approach; Nathalie Boivin, Ph.D., author; An initiative of the Mouvement Acadien des Communautés en Santé du Nouveau- Brunswick inc., in collaboration with the Réseau-action Communautaire de la Société Santé et Mieux-être en français du Nouveau-Brunswick.

Source URL http://www.macsnb.ca/publication/129/file/Building%20Healthy%20Comm.pdf

See for yourself
http://www.bathurst.ca/accommodations.php