ageing across the life course and the social determinants of health

Professor John MacdonaldAgeing across the life course

The Social Determinants of Health

Lessons from a suicide studyAnd from the Australian Shed Movement

“Building on the Strengths of Australian males” :

the Policy is much more holistic and rational than any other policies coming from the medical world or from the politics of ‘masculinity’ which often portray the essential component of men’s health as being the need for men to change, to be “fixed”

2010 Australian National Male Health Policy

Building on the Strengths of Australian Males

In Australia, as elsewhere, previously” Men’s Health” meant either physical pathologies (like prostate cancer) or Change “men behaving badly” (anger management etc)

The Policy takes a much more positive and rational approach to men:

It talks of the need for “male-friendly health services”

And the social determinants of men’s health”

The National Male Health Policywww.health.gov.au/malehealthpolicy

Male-friendly?

The new national policy sets aside money for a national male health longitudinal study ($6-7 million) with a focus to be on “social determinants”

There is already a national women’s study (excellent)

“Social determinants”?

“Evidence-based” – and the social determinants of men’s health

Shifting paradigms: a social-determinants approach to solving problems in men's health policy and practice

John J Macdonald. Medical Journal of Australia. Oct 16, 2006.

The social determinants of men’s health

According to the WHO, the 10 main social determinants of health in our society today are social gradient, stress, early life, social exclusion, work, unemployment, social support, addiction, food, and transport

(The Solid Facts, The Social Determinants of Health, Copenhagen 2003)

The Social Determinants of Health

There is, of course, enormous interplay between these factors. Low socioeconomic status means lack of money, which obviously contributes to stress, and in turn is often linked, as cause or effect, to such things as limited job opportunities, expensive transport to access a suitable job, social exclusion, and alcohol misuse. This complexity no doubt adds to a doctor’s task when dealing with a male patient who has a clinical condition such as diabetes. Medication plus some exhortation about lifestyle is hardly an adequate or “scientific” response to a man in such circumstances.

Macdonald J J Shifting paradigms: a social-determinants approach to solving problems in men’s health policy and practice MJA 2006; 185: p457

Health is complex

Science shows our grandparents had it right: health is about the impact of all the things around us. Health is interaction

What? Yes, think about it – it is interacting with

things and people that give us life and health – or stop us being healthy

Health is about interaction with our total environment

Health IS Interaction

Health IS Interaction

Health IS Interaction

Health IS Interaction

Health IS Interaction

Health IS Interaction

Health IS Interaction

Health IS Interaction

Health IS Interaction