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Dear Colleagues, Friends and Community,
Following time away from the office to celebrate the holiday season with family and friends, we’re firing up our computers, filling our coffee cups, and diving right back into the work of protecting and promoting health in Oxford County, Elgin County, and the City of St. Thomas.
Our priorities are diverse this year – ranging from emergency preparedness to substance use prevention in youth, to child immunization. They include harm reduction, mental health promotion, and a unique nurse family partnership.
And while these priorities involve a broad range of professionals, teams, and partners, what we know is that a “coming together” is essential to the success of each initiative.
Today we’re launching a new tagline to serve as a reminder throughout 2024 that it is when we’re together that we’re healthier. This togetherness encompasses teams working with other teams, Southwestern Public Health as an organization working with individuals and community partners, and individuals working with one another to build healthy, thriving communities.
Our wish for our community is a shared commitment to social connectedness. Social connectedness is defined by, “the degree to which people have and perceive a desired number, quality and diversity of relationships that create a sense of belonging, and being cared for, valued and supported.” It is a preventive measure against illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, dementia, depression and anxiety and it can help with improved sleep, the ability to recover from stress, anxiety and depression and the prevention of chronic diseases.
How to improve social connections:
- Spend more quality time with family and friends.
- Join a group, club, or class related to an interest or hobby (books, art, sports).
- Spend time with others in nature.
- Express gratitude to others.
- Volunteer with an organization.
- Get involved in your community.
- Expand and diversify your social network by making a new acquaintance or friend, especially someone who might be different from you.
- Provide social support to others, such as listening to a friend dealing with a problem.
- Get to know your neighbours.
- If you cannot be with others in person, substitute a phone call for screen time.
Social connectedness also benefits community health by helping to create trust and resilience – two things we could use more of following some difficult pandemic years.
The beauty of social connection is that it’s free, and each of us can contribute in our own way. The more we contribute, the healthier we are personally and collectively. The accompanying list comes from the US National Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion and we loved it for its practicality and simplicity – there is something for each of us.
Wishing you good health and a bounty of meaningful connection in 2024. We look forward to our shared work!
Cynthia St. John, Chief Executive Officer & Dr. Ninh Tran, Medical Officer of Health
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