Social Determinants

‘Do you care about disabled people or not?’

Why aren't we gathering data about the effect of COVID-19 on adults with developmental disabilities? Is it because of underlying attitudes in health care that their lives matter less?

COVID-19 and the forgotten disability community

Canadians pride themselves on diversity, inclusion and public health care. But COVID-19 has shown how people with disabilities are consistently left behind. Now is the time that changed.

Celebrating the richness of plural identities

A South Asian woman reflects on how "a coalition of young Brown women" and Black neighbours helped her grow into herself while studying for her master's of public health in Harlem.

‘Painful and difficult’: A BIPOC woman’s journey in medicine

Navigating the medical profession has been a painful and difficult journey. How far have we come in ensuring that women can thrive within the system?

‘We reach them where they are:’ Mobile healing team delivers culturally based care

Jane Harrison is one of the unsung heroes of the pandemic who, along with her team at Anishnawbe Health Toronto, is caring for vulnerable communities in the Greater Toronto Area.

‘Foolproof’ exam software creating barriers for students with disabilities

To make sure students aren’t tempted to cheat when writing exams at home, professors have been using proctoring software, but it doesn’t account for those with mental or physical disabilities.

COVID-19 death highlights dangers of birth evacuation policy in Indigenous communities

The death of Silatik Qavvik is the result of Health Canada’s birth evacuation policy and an appalling lack of government-funded maternity care in rural and remote Indigenous communities.  

Addressing racism in Indigenous health – Moving beyond systemic reassurance

Reassurances from different levels of governments create the illusion that systemic racism is being addressed despite the lack of tangible results.

‘Already it was hard. Now, it’s become impossible’: Pandemic highlights barriers to healthcare for migrant workers

Contributing to the easy spread of the virus among migrant workers were significant social issues. The result was outbreaks, illness, and sadly, the deaths of three migrant workers.  

‘A tattoo for mom?’ Ageism Unmasked

Everyday, compassionate ageism doesn’t just feel bad, it’s bad for our health. And it can lead to terrible public policy.

Africa’s early success in fighting pandemic now at risk

COVID-19 cases in Africa have been increasing rapidly, imperiling its early successes in keeping the pandemic at bay and underscoring its need for the vaccines that it is having trouble procuring.

‘What does this mean for us?’ People with developmental disabilities left out of vaccination planning

As COVID-19 vaccines are rolled out across Canada, people with developmental disabilities have been overlooked. Let’s change that by including them in our vaccination policies and practices now.

U.K. to base blood donation on behaviour, not stereotypes. Why not us?

Single adults struggling to break out of deep poverty

Vaccine messaging must address grim history of race-based experiments

Menstruation is having its moment – Let’s turn it into a movement

Bringing ‘book-learning’ to life: Pandemic drives surge to forest schools

‘A leaking pipeline.’ Addressing gender inequities in medical leadership

Despite more women than men enrolling in medical schools, fewer women advance in their careers to hold leadership positions. Why? And what can be done to change that?

Let’s turn wealth into health with a 1% tax on the rich

Rethinking race in health care