The Social Origins of Health

How healthy you are depends on
more than just your individual behavior.

The Problem
Lack of Housing
People who don't have a decent place to live, are homeless, or who must spend a majority of their income on inadequate housing, all suffer from extra health care burdens. These include increased stress, which damages both the body and the mind, and a persistent inability to afford routine health care, which leads to more severe and chronic diseases.
The Solution
The Solution
Healthy Neighborhoods
Public policies that encourage healthy neighborhoods, affordable housing development, and remedies for the special living challenges of our senior population can help address some of the underlying causes of poor health. Innovative programs that encourage individuals and organizations to make an impact on these issues must be encouraged and supported.
The Problem
The Problem
Higher Risk of Chronic Disease
The incidence of chronic disease and unhealthy behaviors like smoking are much higher among those populations with a high school education or less. Lack of quality education also leads to higher rates of poverty, which influences all the other social origins of health.
The Solution
The Solution
Healthy Lifestyle Education
Early education and exposure to healthy lifestyle choices, nutrition, and academic excellence can encourage a lifetime of healthy behaviors and choices. More importantly, a comprehensive and quality education equips individuals with tools to escape poverty, homelessness, and environmental causes of poor health.
The Problem
The Problem
The Price of Healthy Eating
Often, eating healthy can be an expensive proposition. Access to healthy, affordable food is a challenge for all given Hawai'i's isolation and dependence on imports, but these burdens are particularly high for those who are not among the financially well off.
The Solution
The Solution
Accessible Community Gardens
Community gardens that are accessible to all, and policies that encourage the development of sustainable, organic agriculture projects will help expand access to nutritious foods. In addition, an expansion of programs to encourage healthy and gardening among youth can instill a lifelong commitment to better nutrition.
The Problem
The Problem
Stress Effects on Health
Where you live can be a much better indicator of the quality of your life than all else combined. The evidence is clear: stress kills. Higher rates of stress are linked to increases in diseases like hypertension, obesity, and depression.
The Solution
The Solution
Supportive Social Planning
More comprehensive social planning that incorporates environmental issues, economic development, transportation, and public safety, will create more livable, more supportive, and more healthy environments for people to live in.
The Problem
The Problem
Environmental Decay
Just as in nature, people can only thrive under supportive living conditions. Greater environmental decay and general disregard for protecting our natural resources lead to conditions that threaten our livelihoods and our society's health.
The Solution
The Solution
Respect for the ‘Aina
Greater respect for the 'aina (the land), and a more comprehensive approach to managing our resources (watersheds, agricultural lands, and our air), can encourage environments that allow people to thrive and lead healthier lives.
The Problem

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health is everything

Mōhala I Ka Wai, Kamaka O Ka Pua

Ola is a film about health, hope and the power of communities to heal themselves.

We travel to remote parts of Hawai‘i and discover selfless individuals who've created innovative solutions to the challenges affecting their communities.

The Social Origins of Health

How healthy you are depends on
more than just your individual behavior.

The Problem

Lack of Housing

The Solution

Healthy Neighborhoods

The Problem

Higher Risk of Chronic Disease

The Solution

Healthy Lifestyle Education

The Problem

The Price of Healthy Eating

The Solution

Accessible Community Gardens

The Problem

Stress Effects on Health

The Solution

Supportive Social Planning

The Problem

Environmental Decay

The Solution

Respect for the ‘Aina

Watch the Trailer

The Film