If you’re here reading this, you’ve probably recognized that health isn’t a topic you can master all on your own. Whether it comes from friends and family, a medical professional or an online group, we all need support sometimes. That’s when community becomes important.
Community can mean different things in a health context. Sometimes it refers to people with the same health problems or experiences – a community of cancer sufferers, or people with schizophrenia, or diabetics, for example. Sometimes it’s about the people receiving the same treatment plan or services, such as all the people who attend a certain clinic. What is clear is that the important role of communities in healthcare is becoming increasingly recognized.
There will probably be some shared values and cultural attitudes in a community. This can cause difficulties if it means resistance to outsiders coming in with health recommendations. Health providers need to learn how to work with communities if they want to best meet their needs. This means open dialogue and an understanding of specific issues affecting that one group of people. Communities may be united by class, race, gender, age, sexuality or disability, among other factors.
A community may be geographically based. This means locals are likely to have access to the same services, from hospitals to gyms to what groceries are available in stores. Water and power are likely to come from the same place, and they’ll breathe the same air. That also means residents may end up sharing the same health problems, and solutions may need to be targeted to the community as a whole (https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/health-sciences/blog/what-is-community-health/) rather than just individuals.
Health problems rooted in communities can have a knock-on effect on other issues, which in turn cycle back to make those health problems worse. For example, areas with high levels of crime and poor public safety tend to have worse health outcomes. Natural disasters will have a more devastating impact in places where health and infrastructure are already poor. Meanwhile, housing, schools, employment and accessible public spaces can all increase community health.
The internet has allowed new communities to spring up all around the world. People who might feel marginalized in their local area can find like-minded individuals who may live thousands of miles away. They may not be physically there for each other, but they can share concerns and give advice. It means no one has to be alone, and everyone can have access to some kind of community support.
If you’re looking to improve your own health as an individual, finding a community to support you can be one of the most effective ways to do it. It means you don’t just have to rely on yourself, and if you have a bad day, there will be someone else to nudge you forward. There are lots of programs that allow you to connect with like-minded individuals for exercise and dieting, both things that can allow you to take control of your own health.
