What are the social determinants of health?

Sometimes there are things beyond our control that can impact on us and our families. They can affect our health and how we look after ourselves and each other. These things are called the social determinants of health.

They include:

• the norms, values and beliefs of the society we live in – and our position in this society
• the laws and policies that govern our country – and the power we hold or lack
• the natural and built environments we spend time in – including the ways they shape how we live day-to-day, risks and harm they expose us to or protect us from, and how safe they make us feel.

These social determinants of health can create inequalities (meaning some people are worse off than others). This leads families to have different experiences with:

• early childhood development
• access to health care
• experience of discrimination
• connection to others
• access to education
• access to government services
• employment and working conditions
• income and finances
• access to (enough nourishing) food
• housing, including where we live.

They can impact our physical health and our mental health, throughout life, even before we are born.

Inequalities in how we experience the social determinants of health are a result of the way societies are structured and governed. They can create health inequities and contribute to families experiencing stigma and shame when they are treated unfairly or feel different.

For families who are already dealing with health problems, isolation, poverty or discrimination, feelings of shame and stigmatising experiences can make life even harder.

Having a better understanding of the impact of inequalities caused by the social determinants of health, and finding ways to respond, can make a difference for the children and families whose lives are shaped by them. To help spread this understanding Emerging Minds worked with families with lived experience of these impacts to develop the Getting through tough times series.

The families who helped co-create these resources generously shared their experiences to spark hope and new ideas for other families who might be:

• struggling with money, social services or systems
• surviving in poverty or homelessness
• experiencing discrimination, shame or stigma
• feeling isolated or excluded.

Not all of the resources will be relevant for everyone, so check out the ones that sound like they relate to your experiences. You know what fits best for you and your family. We hope you connect with these stories and are reminded of your own stories of survival and resilience.

And if you don’t feel you are negatively impacted by the social determinants of health, what can you learn from the stories of families who are?

Go to the Getting through tough times page or jump to: