Social Determinants

448 articles:
Inequity
Indigenous
LGBTQ
Gender
Disability
Racism
by Liana Hwang

‘We’re not going to silently suffer through these symptoms’: Breaking the silence and stigma around menopause

There are significant gaps in menopause care across the country. But there are things we can do to change that. Women don't have to suffer through these symptoms and live a lesser quality of life.

by Tara Anstey

Women’s health in the workplace. Here’s why businesses should care.

Women’s health is not only a matter of personal well-being but also a business imperative. We need approaches to bridge the women’s health gap and build inclusive workplaces.
by Teagan Gahler

Navigating the digital sea of beauty: Empowering Canadians through media literacy for positive body image and public health

Body-image concerns have soared with the constant exposure to digitally altered and idealized portrayals of beauty. Media literacy is a critical tool in dismantling the harmful impact of such imagery and thoughts.
by The Disability and Reproductive Health during COVID-19 Study Team

Access denied: Pandemic highlighted issues in accessing sexual and reproductive health for persons with disabilities

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a number of people with disabilities missing health-care appointments due largely to health and safety concerns on transit. But there are measures we can take to provide accessible, disability-affirming care.
by Raissa Amany Sam Soriano Samantha Gualtieri Justine Balsicas Alicia Segovia Ripudaman Singh Minhas

Helping youth harness the power of social media: Initiative teaches young Canadians how to create evidence-based health content

As online trends continue to perpetuate misinformation, these trends can lead to particularly harmful consequences in marginalized communities. A new program aims to improve online literacy among BIPOC youth.

by Anne Borden King

Despite convictions, harmful health products like MMS bleach continue to be sold

Policymakers have begun to address health disinformation and harmful products on social media, signaling hope that it could become easier to stop operations like Genesis II. But we still need to address the desperation that drives people to reach for these products to begin with.

by Anne Borden King

Health disinformation is harming autistic children: Are Canadian government regulations on the horizon?

With the recent explosion of health disinformation and harmful products for sale on social media have come real consequences for vulnerable children. Regulation and enforcement are crucial.

by Anne Borden King

Harmful “cures” for autistic children: The many-headed hydra of social media

Autistic children are among the most vulnerable victims of the crisis of health disinformation. There are important issues around free speech on social media to sort out. But many of these debates are irrelevant when dangerous products begin to target kids.

by Jenni Diamond

Toward a healthier pregnancy: Overcoming barriers to prenatal exercise

By participating in evidence-based prenatal physical activity, pregnant people can increase the likelihood of positive health outcomes for themselves and their babies.

by Alykhan Abdulla

Sometimes the truth is unbearable

The health-care system is failing Canadians with lethal consequences. Policymakers need to make urgent changes now to address delays in access to care.

by Maddi Dellplain

How should we handle the toxic drug-supply crisis? Experts weigh in.

While political debates have muddied the water on effective policy options to address toxic drug deaths, we asked a panel of experts what they see as the best path forward to address the ongoing crisis.
by Milad Nourvand

Ontario’s rural towns in danger of losing access to health care as family doctors near retirement

Aging family doctors in Ontario’s smaller towns present a significant challenge to health-care access. The disproportionate distribution of doctors over age 65 in rural Ontario raises concerns about future shortages as these practitioners approach retirement age.
by Sarah Newbery Rupa Patel

Lessons from Marathon: How to rebuild a broken local health-care system

What happens when small health-care systems in rural communities begin to unravel? What does it take to rebuild them when they reach a breaking point? We can look to the experience of the community of Marathon in 1996 for a glimpse of the challenge. 
by Julianah Oguntala Raluca Petrut Lunan Zhao Muhammad Maaz

Loneliness and hunger ache: Community group teaches medical students a valuable lesson

Loneliness and hunger were two major ravages of the pandemic. We need to link medical education with social determinants of health in order to bridge gaps in care.
by Maddi Dellplain

Finding your energy envelope: Long COVID patients urged to ‘pace’ themselves back to health

For many long COVID patients, returning to activity can cause debilitating "crashes." But symptom management techniques like pacing can offer relief and may even help some patients slowly recover.

by Rebecca Redmond

The real cost of not adopting universal pharmacare is Canadian lives

Pharmacare has not yet been implemented and the pandemic – and the supply and confidence agreement – only further entrenched Big Pharma’s power in Ottawa. But patients need access to life-saving medications.

by Eric Demers Mary Ann Barber

Battles are won in the trenches: Front-line health professionals must have the power to adapt

Generals may lead wars, but battles are won in the trenches. Now, more than ever, this same doctrine must be applied to our medical professionals on the front lines.
by Anne Borden King

Trust us to make our own decisions about breast-cancer screenings

The new U.S. guidance on breast-cancer screening shouldn’t be controversial or a “both sides” issue in Canada. It should serve as a model for the change we need.
by W.A. Bogart

Judge people by their merits, not their measurements

People who are obese often experience discrimination at work, school and in health care. Protection in the form of human rights legislation could be a move in the right direction.
by Zier Zhou

What Canada can learn about MAiD for mental illness from Belgium and the Netherlands

Canadians are clearly divided on MAiD based solely on mental illness. From federal laws and legal cases to medical guidelines and published studies in Belgium and the Netherlands, we can make more informed decisions regarding MAiD eligibility for psychiatric patients.

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