The Social Model of Health To improve health, basic needs must be met These include: Individual needs – age, gender Individual lifestyle factors – smoking, drinking, exercise Social and Community networks – transport, recreation General socioeconomic, cultural and environmental conditions- food production, Education, Work environments, unemployment, water and sanitation, healthcare services, housing. There are a set of guiding principles for the Social Model of Health A ddresses all determinants of health R educe social inequality – everyone should have access to health care regardless of gender, socioeconomic status and location E mpowers individuals and the community – providing resources and skills to improve health A ccessibility to health care – health care should be affordable, appropriate and accessible to all.

Ottawa Charter There are five action areas of the Ottawa Charter. These are: Build healthy public policy – rules, laws, regulations to improve health e.g. smoke free work places, reduced taxes on low alcohol beer and sunhats as part of school uniforms. Create supportive environments – improving health by taking care of one another and our environment: e.g. recycling programs, and work-safe programs Strengthen community action – communities working together to promote health e.g. self help groups, community groups and the media promoting road safety Develop personal skills – providing opportunities for people to develop knowledge and skills that give them greater control over their health; e.g. health education in schools, information brochures in doctors’ surgeries and parenting courses Re- orient health services – moving away from the focus on curative services (quick fix approach) to services that focus on prevention and health promotion; e.g. doctors incorporating dietary advice and exercise programs in their treatment for high blood pressure

Build healthy public policy Build healthy public policy – rules, laws, regulations to improve health e.g. smoke free work places, reduced taxes on low alcohol beer and sunhats as part of school uniforms.

Create supportive environments Create supportive environments – improving health by taking care of one another and our environment: e.g. recycling programs, and work-safe programs

Strengthen community action Strengthen community action – communities working together to promote health e.g. self help groups, community groups and the media promoting road safety

Develop personal skills Develop personal skills – providing opportunities for people to develop knowledge and skills that give them greater control over their health; e.g. health education in schools, information brochures in doctors’ surgeries and parenting courses

Re- orient health services Re- orient health services – moving away from the focus on curative services (quick fix approach) to services that focus on prevention and health promotion; e.g. doctors incorporating dietary advice and exercise programs in their treatment for high blood pressure

How to remember the Ottawa Charter Bad - Build healthy public policy Cats - Create supportive environments Smell - Strengthen community action Dead - Develop personal skills Rats - Re- orient health services