Social Health…from the Heart #2

By Barb Young 

The World Health Organization's definition of health, established in 1948, remains relevant today: "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." This definition emphasizes the key areas necessary for achieving better health. Social health is considered separate from and equally important as physical and mental health. Yet, more than seventy years after the WHO’s initial definition, we are only now beginning to prioritize social health. 

I am excited that social health is finally receiving the attention it deserves. Many social health service providers, who have long felt invisible, may now have a better chance to have their roles valued and recognized. The time is now to better understand these individuals: who they are, what they do, what motivates them, how their services add health-related value, how to value their contributions, what support they need, and how to inspire more people to join them. The more comprehensive the social health support services we provide at the right time and in the right place, the stronger and more efficient our healthcare system will be—especially for those most vulnerable. The economic benefits may equal or surpass health benefits, making this something we should take very seriously. I am convinced that this is a viable path to relieving a significant burden on our overburdened healthcare system cost-effectively. 

Within the HNN, the primary social health service providers are volunteers who regularly host social activities in community halls. Through their efforts, people in our isolated hamlets can connect with their neighbours through cards, games, sports, music, learning sessions, and much more, limited only by the willingness of individuals to share their passions and serve as hosts. Education does not determine who will lead these activities; some hosts are educated, while others are not. Most look forward to participating in the activities they host, while those leading learning-type activities enjoy sharing their knowledge and passions with those with common interests. All of the activity hosts currently supported by HNN are older people.  

When I think of the word "volunteer," two thoughts come to mind: their contributions support a worthy cause, and they are unpaid. However, the term "volunteer" alone doesn’t capture the specifics of their roles; further explanation is required. The roles of professionals providing physical and mental health services are indicated by their job titles. Why should we settle for labeling our community-based social health service providers as "volunteers"? Something like "Social Activity Leader" would seem more appropriate for our hosts, shedding light on the importance of their specific contributions while attributing less significance to their unpaid status. Small, rural hamlets such as those in the northern Lanark Highlands have a small pool of volunteers to draw from, posing significant challenges to recruiting hosts and expanding the number of social activities offered. Could offering to pay people to assume this important role motivate more people to step up and get involved? This and many other questions are just waiting to be answered in 2025 as the HNN focuses on finding the right research partner to assist us in moving forward on our grassroots, rurally-based, social health initiative.