a day in the life: social determinants of health
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04-03-18 a photo journal by jenessa
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economi stabili
some of the social, physical, & systemic determinants of health I encounter in daily living:
educati
social communi
health health
spiritu
neighbo built e
ic ity
employment, food security, housing stability & quality of life
ion
early childhood education & development, enrollment in higher education, high school graudation, language & literacy
& ity
civic participation, protection against discrimination, social cohesion, incarceration
& care
ual
access to health care, access to primary care, & health literacy
values & beliefs that provide a meaning and purpose in life
ourhood & environment
access to foods that support healthy eating patterns, rates of crime & violence, environmental conditions, quality of housing
05:48am
“morning supplements” I wake up around 5:30am. One of the first things I do is take daily vitamins and supplements. These include: -
multi-vitamin omega 3 vitamin d3 collagen apple cider vinegar greens powder
I take these supplements as an insurance that my body receives it’s micronutrient needs, in the case that I don’t consume enough of a variety through food during the day. My ability to take supplements is a privilege; it’s not necessary, or covered by my medical service plan. Instead, accessing the supplement industry is a result of my economic privileges, media literacy and access to health information, influenced by my family’s health history and self-awareness. It affects my physical health.
06:04am “quiet time”
Before I start each day, I have a quiet time of prayer, Bible study, and journaling. These spiritual practices help me to position myself into my desired frame of mind each day, providing encouragement and direction in how I’ll move through the world for the rest of the day. Meditating on a certain scripture, or reminding myself to let go of my anxieties keeps me grounded, gives me clarity, and brings peace to my soul. I believe that this daily time devoted to my spiritual life is crucial to my health; it affects my attitude, interpersonal relationships, and my understanding of self-worth.
07:02am
“max the mazda� This is my car, Max. I named him when I got him because I felt it was important to have a personal, trusting relationship with my car, who is responsible for ensuring my safe arrival to destinations. As as car is my primary mode of transportation, I have the ability to easily commute from Richmond to Vancouver, Surrey, and Burnaby on a normal basis. Max also serves to serve others; I am able to provide a ride to friends when needed. He therefore serves a community and social need in the context of my health. More immediately, I’m privileged to have the economic means to own a car. It grants me liberty and flexibility, and the ability to travel to areas that are difficult or time-consuming to take public transportation to.
07:09am
“get the blood flowing” After getting my mind going in the morning, it’s time to get my blood flowing. I arrive at the gym just past 7am to exercise for about an hour and 15 minutes. My workouts typically consists of a mix of weight training, and some cardio. I’ve tried being an evening exerciser, but have learned that my body can perform best in the morning. I’ve also found that energizing my body also helps to stimulate my mind - after exercising, endorphins run through my blood and gives me the mental sharpness necessary for school and projects later. Daily exercise therefore benefits my physical, and mental health. Being a part of this world-class gym and it’s social community is a privilege that reflects my economic stability, the built environment, and my community health.
08:47am
“richmond olympic oval” I remind myself of the privilege I have to be a part of this facility’s community. Not just as a gym-goer, but I’ve been an employee of the Richmond Olympic Oval for the past three years. My work entails building interpersonal relationships with the members of our community, and upholding the businesses’ Olympic standards. This role embeds me into the community and provides me with a place of belonging. When I step into the building even just to exercise, I’m greeted with familiar faces who care about my well-being, and contribute positively to my social health. As an employee, I have complimentary access to the facility; while the pay would grant me the economic ability to purchase a gym membership, the corporation desires for their employees to embody their values of health and community. Being an employee here then has a direct effect on my economic stability, social and community contexts, health and healthcare. It’s built environment also contributes to my wellness; it is well-maintained and clean, and has lots of natural light because of its glass architecture.
08:55am “polar”
I check my ‘Polar’ heart rate monitor and activity tracker to see if my daily exercise needs were met from my morning workout. The watch is an all-day tracker, counting steps, sending reminders for when I’ve been sitting too long, and recording sleep efficiency. While I do not always wear it all day, I do ensure that while I’m exercise, my heart rate is at least 135bpm during weight training, and 160bpm during cardio. These are numbers that I’ve discovered work well for my body, learned through years of selfsought information online, and trial-and-error. The way that I interact with this device reflects my media literacy and access to education as a health determinant. It is a part of my perception of my physical fitness and overall health. It is an economic privileged to own a wearable device.
09:43am
“drive to burnaby” Max and I make our way to SFU Burnaby campus for a presentation. It’s a 45-minute drive, with quite a bit of traffic along Grandview Highway, but the steep drive up Burnaby mountain is relatively scenic with greenery. I listen to a podcast and then music while I drive, which is mentally stimulating, and peaceful. Again, this drive pertains to my health in economic stability, education, and neighbourhood/built environment.
10:36am
“burnaby campus” Upon arriving at SFU Burnaby, I’m greeted with overcast and drizzle. Not surprising. While I find the rainy cold refreshing, I’ve always felt isolated from the rest of the world when on the top of Burnaby mountain. In the summer, the campus is less detrimental to my personal health, as there are clear mountain and forest views. However, today’s weather combined with the campus’ architecture puts a damper on my mood. Despite it, this campus is representative of four years of learning and growth. I’ve also made lots of friends along the way. Through my education, I’ve equipped myself with knowledge, skills, and experiences that will help with my career post-graduation. It relates to the economic, education, and social aspects of my health. My medical savings plan is also part of my tuition.
12:02pm
“friends & food” My friend Lindsay and I drive down Hastings street to a small health-conscious cafe called The Gray Olive Cafeteria. They serve whole foods in the form of soups, sandwiches, and salads, with vegan/vegetarian options. I actually discovered this cafe through a co-worker, who’s girlfriend works here. It’s affirmed to me that networks are powerful in revealing hidden gems. Over lunch, we share an intimate conversation about our lives’ happenings, and I leave feeling encouraged, inspired, and supported. Any time I spend time with a friend over physical nourishment I am also fostering my emotional health through social cohesion. This cafe specifically provides access to foods that supports healthy eating patterns, which is an economic privilege in itself.
02:14pm
“family & finance� This is my brother-in-law, Andy. He is a financial planner at TD. Since my sister and Andy got married and moved out, I see less of them on a regular basis. Though my visit to the bank was motivated by my personal finances, we spend a few minutes catching up, and making plans to have dinner together later this week. Now that I only live with my dad, setting dinner dates with my sister and her husband help to maintain our relationship, and my sense of family and social stability.
03:37pm
“let’s go to the mall” Although I don’t consider myself a fashionsavvy person, I go to the mall to exchange a pair of pants that I purchased for work wear. I try to purchase items that are simple and of higher quality, rather than opting for ‘fast fashion’, which is purchasing seasonal items that will go out of style quickly. My rationale for doing so is that it is more eco-friendly, and cost/time-efficient. The systems that are in play are greater than my own personal circumstances; the items for sale are a part of a broader global economic system. Considering the political economy, this system has it’s own set of health implications, including the safety, income, and health of the workers who sew the clothes. I believe my consciousness of these conditions are related to the education and social contexts of my health.
05:12pm
“a quiet neighbourhood” The neighbourhood I live in is quiet, clean, and doesn’t experience much crime. Although suburban, I can access the main road, and highways both North toward Vancouver, and South toward Delta very easily. In the 8 years we’ve lived here, I’ve only met and introduced myself to the people living in the house across from mine. Aside from them, I don’t know my neighbours, and we don’t speak at all. The residents in this neighbour are respectful of one another, though. Many families go for walks in the evening, stopping by the small grassy & children’s park, which is located a five-minute walk from my home. Although it has a neutral effect on my social/ community health, the stability and quality of living and housing in this neighbourhood enhances my health through environment and built environment.
05:15pm
“travel clinic call” I call the Vancouver Coastal Health Travel Clinic to make an appointment for vaccinations I need for an trip I’m going on in the summer. To prepare for the appointment, I had visited my family doctor last week to find out which vaccinations I’ve received, and which are needed. She only had a record of the shots given to me as a baby, and recommended me to visit the public health records office for a list of the vaccinations I’ve gotten through the public education system. I was frustrated, as I couldn’t access a list of all my vaccinations from one source. Calling the travel clinic to book an appointment, they advise me to book a $50 travel consultation appointment with a doctor. Sharing that I already knew what vaccines I needed, they state that they could just give me the vaccinations, but in that case, there will be a $20 administrative fee. These fees are not covered by my medical services plan. My economic stability affords me the ability to pay for these services and vaccinations out-ofpocket, despite being directly linked to my health and safety.
07:33pm
“save-on-foods” My friend Preston and I go to Save-on-Foods to pick up a few groceries to make dinner. The store is abundant in fresh produce, in natural-food products. We purchase zucchini, garlic, and whole wheat linguine. This Save-on-Foods a five-minute drive from my home, which makes it easy to pick up a few ingredients as needed. The accessibility of the store’s location is relevant to my neighbourhood and access to healthy food patterns, as well as reflects my economic stability in food security. This grocery shopping trip is also particularly social, and is beneficial to my emotional wellness.
07:47pm
“catching sunset” After grocery shopping, we notice the sun is just about to set. The dyke is a two-minute drive away, so we park our car and take a short walk along the rocks to catch a glimpse of the reddish-orange sun illuminating the Fraser River. In this time, Preston and I listen to some music, and reflect on our days with one another. Our friendship is open and vulnerable, and through sharing our worries and hopes, we encourage each other’s spirits toward goodness and joy. These kinds of tender moments with other human beings are crucial for my health; as an introverted person, my best friendships are supportive and unshielded. This short physical activity allows me to be captivated and present in my surroundings, appreciating that I can admire nature almost from my own backyard.
08:31pm
“zucchini noodles� We return home and make dinner together: zucchini noddles & whole wheat linguine alfredo with garlic prawns. It is a healthy social activity, which gives us both insight on healthy eating and cooking, and building trust in relationships. Most of my meals at home are alone; often sharing a meal with another person is incredibly comforting to me. As social relationships and community are detrimental to mental wellbeing, I make sure to share conversation and build relationships over food as often as possible. On other days of the week, I intentionally and regularly have dinner with my dad, meet with a church community group, and have a bible study with friends to ensure that these community and spiritual needs are met.
09:56pm “reminder�
The last thing I do before I head to bed each night is another intentional quiet time. My phone goes on silent, and I put it aside, not to be touched until after my quiet time the next morning. In this quiet time, I repeat the same practices as I do in the morning, journaling about my day, letting go of any stressors, and giving thanks for all of the blessings in my life. In putting spirit to rest, I am able to physically, as well.
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This day surely excluded other aspects of my life that is a social, physical, or systemic determinant in my health. Despite it, a reflection on this standalone day reveals to me how much of my health is influenced by my economic & social privileges. However, each is crucial in my wellness. This is the importance of not taking personal health for granted, and rather, understanding it as a result of a complex system of influences.
complex, not just complicated.
jenessa’s personal complexity project sfu semester in dialogue, spring 2018 health & wellness: complex, not just complicated