Social Determinants

529 articles:
Inequity
Indigenous
LGBTQ
Gender
Disability
Racism
by Miranda Schreiber

‘Things went horribly wrong’: Patient advocates spreading the word about dangers of Botox

Much of the conversation about Botox centres on whether it looks good or bad, or if getting it can be considered a “feminist” choice. Less attention has been given to the fact that research indicates that one in six patients who are injected with Botox experiences adverse effects from the procedure.
by Neelam Punjani Amber Hussain

Queering the curriculum: Sexual orientation and gender identity in Canadian comprehensive sexuality education

Comprehensive sexual education plays a vital role in equipping young people with knowledge about their bodies, identities, rights and relationships. But access remains uneven across the country.

by Homira Osman Stacey Lintern Danielle Campo McLeod

Fail-first drug rules defy logic, deny timely access for people with rare diseases

Despite the recent approval of targeted biologics that can significantly improve quality of life, Canadians living with Myasthenia Gravis continue to face unjust policy barriers.

by W. Glen Pyle Sofia B. Ahmed

Canada needs a women’s health strategy: Lives depend on it

The path forward to prioritizing women’s health and well-being must be laid by Canadians whose voices propel political, social and economic change around the world.
by Emily Foucault Jess Taylor-Calhoun

The words we use: Why inclusive language in health care is about safety

Inclusive language is a living practice. Let’s treat it that way – with care, intention and the humility to keep learning.
by Laura Targownik

I used to envy socially transitioned trans kids for having the childhood I never had. Now I am not so certain.

While more research will continue to provide useful information on how socially transitioned children manage through their adolescence and adulthood, it will never be able to answer whether transitioning is the best choice for any gender-variant child.

by Maddi Dellplain

AI and the mental health crisis: Can chatbots fill the gap?

Canadians are increasingly turning to AI chatbots, like ChatGPT, for mental health support. But is this type of technology truly up to the task?
by Divya Santhanam Nawazish Naqvi

Climate change fuelling the spread of tuberculosis

With floods in Pakistan, cyclones in Madagascar and droughts in Somalia, it is crucial that we learn to recognize the critical links between climate change and disease.
by Kennes Lin Hung-Tat (Ted) Lo

Using ‘integration’ to silence culturally specific care

When culturally specific care is allowed to vanish under another name, we all lose a piece of the commons we rely on.
by Jackie Tsang Susan Dong

Tylenol misinformation puts pregnant patients at risk

Casting doubt on Tylenol without solid evidence does not empower pregnant people, it corners them. It adds guilt, stigma and undermines their confidence in making safe decisions for themselves and their babies.
by Geoffrey M. Pradella

Expanding access to disability supports: the case for impact investing

Thanks to limited access to interventions and income thresholds that fail to account for the cost of caregiving, families with children with neurodevelopmental disabilities are often left to pay out-of-pocket for services.
by Abigail Jaimes Zelaya

Black mistrust is logical and rational: What public health policymakers must learn from Black communities

Black communities are not hesitant just for the sake of it. They are hesitant because of memory. They need structural change built from trust, not just crisis.
by Muhammad Saim

Food security is health security: Tackling Type 2 diabetes in Indigenous communities

First Nations on reserve have Type 2 diabetes rates three to five times higher than the rest of Canada. Yet, they remain underserved and underrepresented in health policy and decision-making.
by Tazim Virani Dana McAuley Lindsay Cox Janine Pierre

Housing the frontline: Solving the health workforce crisis starts with a place to live

To build the strong and sustainable health-care system we need, affordable housing must be treated as essential workforce infrastructure.
by Michelle Cohen

How Hollywood’s obsession with the ‘Dry Look’ harms men and boys

Increasingly distorted male beauty standards have come to celebrate visible dehydration as a physical ideal, posing a significant physiological and psychological danger for men and boys.

by Shay Freger

Endometriosis is a national health crisis: Why aren’t we treating it like one?

If we want to build a more equitable and responsive health-care system, one that doesn’t leave millions behind, we must start by acknowledging endometriosis as the national health issue that it is.

by Maia Stelfox Zara Stelfox Stephana Julia Moss Jeanna Parsons Leigh

Young and at risk: How Canada is failing our future

Across Canada, nearly one in five people aged 15-24 met the criteria for a mood, anxiety or substance use disorder. Outdated, underfunded government responses have allowed these mental health problems to deepen and intersect.
by Maddi Dellplain

‘Good hands for a woman’: Study exposes gender bias in surgery 

Deeply ingrained gender biases within surgery are discouraging women from entering the field, according to findings in a new McGill University study. 
by Hugh MacLeod

Health care’s domino effect: Turning challenges into building blocks

The very system meant to save our lives is quietly collapsing. This isn’t just a slow-motion crisis. It’s a domino chain already falling.
by Imeth Illamperuma

More than access: Why mental health care in Canada must reflect cultural realities 

Canada’s commitment to multiculturalism is a defining value. Yet despite this ideal, the country’s mental health care systems have yet to fully adapt to reflect the diverse cultural realities of the populations they serve.

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