Introduction
This report will focus on the Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing VPHWP 2015-2019 (the VPHWP) and how it is underpinned by the determinants of health. It will provide a brief overview of The VPHWP. It will then explain the priority areas of The VPHWP. It will then focus in on one priority area and highlight the risk group in that area and three determinants of health for that particular risk group and how they affect that particular group.
Description of VPHWP
This four-year VPHWP was prepared by the Victorian Minister for Health; a requirement of S49 of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act (Cth) 2008/ It is revisited every four years. The VPHWP is targeted at people who live in Victoria, Australia. The VPHWP proposes to reduce inequalities and decrease the inequalities in the health and wellbeing of those that live in the State. There are six health priorities mentioned in the VPHWP; healthier eating and active living, tobacco-free living, reducing harmful drug and alcohol use, improving mental health, preventing violence and injury, improving sexual and reproductive health. …show more content…
The main groups at risk in the VPHWP are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, children, adolescents, the elderly, those with low-socioeconomic background or live in low socioeconomic areas.
The VPHWP emphasises the importance of the Social Determinants of health. These are social, biological and environmental factors that affect how people live, how they work, and the effect this has on their health and wellbeing (World Health Organisation, 2016 and Mikkonen & Raphael, 2010). The VPHWP refers to the social and economic environment, the physical environment, early childhood experiences, education, employment, income, social and economic status, housing and geography, social support networks, access and use of health surfaces and the quality of the overall environment.
Priority area and at Risk Group This report will focus on one priority; improving mental health. In order to improve mental health, the VPHWP proposes a number of actions including; education about discrimination, promoting interaction with the natural environment, encouraging positive body image, raising awareness of workplace stress, emphasising the importance of regular physical activity (Victorian Government, 2015). Two of the main risk groups identified are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and young people. One of the strategies of the VPHWP is to support for the health and wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. It also focusses on promoting wellbeing and suicide prevention for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and young people, as well as those of low socioeconomic backgrounds (Victorian Government, 2015). In a 2012-13 survey completed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the amount of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged 18 and over reporting high psychological distress was 30% (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2013). According to Mission Australia’s Youth Survey, one in five young people will experience psychological distress that could suggest a serious mental health condition (Mission Australia, 2015). The prevalence of young people with probably mental health issues has increased between 2012 and 2014 from 18.2% to 20.0% (Mission Australia, 2015). The VPHWP states that 16% of Victorian students in years 5, 8 & 11 have experienced psychological distress. This paper will focus on one at risk group, which is young people. Three Relevant Determinants of Health Education The VPHWP has indicated the 16% of Victorian students have experienced psychological distress. In order to improve on this statistic, the VPHWP focuses on education, promoting wellbeing and preventing …show more content…
Children need an enriching environment and responsive relationships in order for their brains to develop in a way that can enable lifelong learning, behaviour and health and wellbeing (National Scientific Council on Developing Child, 2007).
Early childhood experiences can include physical, social, emotional and cognitive experiences, all of which can shape the health and wellbeing of a population (Keleher & MacDougall, 2016). Early childhood experiences can affect a person’s physical health as well as their mental health (Keleher & MacDougall, 2016 and World Health Organisation & Commission on Social Determinants of Health, 2008).
This determinant of health links back to The VPHWP and the priority area as early childhood has been flagged as being a critical time for developing negative habits such as smoking or drinking and positive habits, such as exercising and healthy eating. These earlier habits could determine whether a child grows up to be a healthy adult (Victorian Government,
This report will focus on the Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing VPHWP 2015-2019 (the VPHWP) and how it is underpinned by the determinants of health. It will provide a brief overview of The VPHWP. It will then explain the priority areas of The VPHWP. It will then focus in on one priority area and highlight the risk group in that area and three determinants of health for that particular risk group and how they affect that particular group.
Description of VPHWP
This four-year VPHWP was prepared by the Victorian Minister for Health; a requirement of S49 of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act (Cth) 2008/ It is revisited every four years. The VPHWP is targeted at people who live in Victoria, Australia. The VPHWP proposes to reduce inequalities and decrease the inequalities in the health and wellbeing of those that live in the State. There are six health priorities mentioned in the VPHWP; healthier eating and active living, tobacco-free living, reducing harmful drug and alcohol use, improving mental health, preventing violence and injury, improving sexual and reproductive health. …show more content…
The main groups at risk in the VPHWP are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, children, adolescents, the elderly, those with low-socioeconomic background or live in low socioeconomic areas.
The VPHWP emphasises the importance of the Social Determinants of health. These are social, biological and environmental factors that affect how people live, how they work, and the effect this has on their health and wellbeing (World Health Organisation, 2016 and Mikkonen & Raphael, 2010). The VPHWP refers to the social and economic environment, the physical environment, early childhood experiences, education, employment, income, social and economic status, housing and geography, social support networks, access and use of health surfaces and the quality of the overall environment.
Priority area and at Risk Group This report will focus on one priority; improving mental health. In order to improve mental health, the VPHWP proposes a number of actions including; education about discrimination, promoting interaction with the natural environment, encouraging positive body image, raising awareness of workplace stress, emphasising the importance of regular physical activity (Victorian Government, 2015). Two of the main risk groups identified are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and young people. One of the strategies of the VPHWP is to support for the health and wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. It also focusses on promoting wellbeing and suicide prevention for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and young people, as well as those of low socioeconomic backgrounds (Victorian Government, 2015). In a 2012-13 survey completed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the amount of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged 18 and over reporting high psychological distress was 30% (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2013). According to Mission Australia’s Youth Survey, one in five young people will experience psychological distress that could suggest a serious mental health condition (Mission Australia, 2015). The prevalence of young people with probably mental health issues has increased between 2012 and 2014 from 18.2% to 20.0% (Mission Australia, 2015). The VPHWP states that 16% of Victorian students in years 5, 8 & 11 have experienced psychological distress. This paper will focus on one at risk group, which is young people. Three Relevant Determinants of Health Education The VPHWP has indicated the 16% of Victorian students have experienced psychological distress. In order to improve on this statistic, the VPHWP focuses on education, promoting wellbeing and preventing …show more content…
Children need an enriching environment and responsive relationships in order for their brains to develop in a way that can enable lifelong learning, behaviour and health and wellbeing (National Scientific Council on Developing Child, 2007).
Early childhood experiences can include physical, social, emotional and cognitive experiences, all of which can shape the health and wellbeing of a population (Keleher & MacDougall, 2016). Early childhood experiences can affect a person’s physical health as well as their mental health (Keleher & MacDougall, 2016 and World Health Organisation & Commission on Social Determinants of Health, 2008).
This determinant of health links back to The VPHWP and the priority area as early childhood has been flagged as being a critical time for developing negative habits such as smoking or drinking and positive habits, such as exercising and healthy eating. These earlier habits could determine whether a child grows up to be a healthy adult (Victorian Government,