DAMARISCOTTA — Social Drivers of Health: How Your Environment Affects Your Health will be the focus of an interactive panel discussion set for 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25, in the Inn Along the Way’s Long Barn at the Chapman Farm, 741 Main St.

The Summer 2024 Community Conversations as the topic relates to contemporary challenges facing communities.

Social drivers of health, also known as social determinants of health, are conditions in the places where people live, learn, work and play that affect a wide range of health and quality-of-life risks and outcomes. Taking a holistic view of health that includes physical, behavioral and social drivers can have the greatest impact on our health. However, traditionally we have viewed our health and well-being primarily as a product of the medical care that we receive not the environments in which we live or our social needs, according to a news release from Sherry Flint at the Inn Along the Way.

A safe neighborhood, good schools and access to healthy food close to home are all things that can help explain why some people are healthier than others. They also show us why some populations and communities experience poorer health outcomes and are at higher risk for other health challenges.

According to the Robert Johnson Woods Foundation up to 80% of health outcomes are influenced by non-clinical factors, such as access to nutritious food, reliable transportation, quality housing and financial stability — meaning that most of our health is driven by things that happen outside of the doctor’s office. In fact, our health is increasingly determined more by the ZIP code we live in than the doctor we see. But there’s work to be done to help people see and understand social drivers. As explored in Elevance Health’s 2021 report  Driving Our Health: A study exploring health perceptions in America, nearly half (46%) of Americans are unaware of the concept of social drivers of health.

According the American Medical Association health outcomes are not solely determined by medical interventions. Rather, they are heavily influenced by factors that extend far beyond the walls of a hospital or exam room. From the neighborhoods that patients inhabit to the economic resources at their disposal, social drivers of health play a pivotal role in a person’s susceptibility to illnesses, access to health care and the effectiveness of medical treatments.

The IAW’s engaging “social driver of heath” conversation promises to be insightful, thought provoking, challenging conventional wisdom and shedding light on new, innovative approaches to social related health needs. Changing paradigms, perspectives and resources can help you and your team thinks about and plan for the future. The perspectives being shared on Aug. 25 can make a real difference in your life and the way you think about the future of your community.

Addressing these evolving issues involving the Social Drivers of Health will be the following panelists:

Economic: Garrett Martin, President and CEO Maine Center for Economic Policy

Health Care: Anni Pat McKenney, Director, Coulombe Center for Health Improvement

Community: Larissa Hannan, Director, Healthy Lincoln County

Join us as they respond, under the guidance of moderator Dr. Jody Telfair-Richards, PhD, through stories, words and creative thinking to questions such as:

What brought you to this place in your life and what have you discovered?
What perspectives, challenges about the SDoH, do you wish to share today?
What do you wish individuals, communities and health providers knew about the SDoH?
Is there a difference between the SDoH and Health Related Social Needs (HRSN)
What actions can we take within our community to change the narrative and local outcomes?

Health, in all its Dimensions, is a basic right. While many people in the U.S. are aware that drivers like financial stability, mental health, and access to nutritious food can significantly impact our health, we need to expand our understanding to include all the drivers that shape health. Healthy People 2030 sets data-driven national objectives in five key areas of SDOH: healthcare access and quality, education access and quality, social and community context, economic stability, and neighborhood and built environment.

Listen to the panelist’s stories and perspectives. Tell us what’s on your mind as we continue to build healthy relationships with our environment by providing community members with an opportunity for self-reflection, exploration and sharing conversations in a welcoming and safe environment.

For more information, contact Flint at 207-751-6261 or sherry@innalongtheway.org.

Check out other upcoming area events!