About CDHN

In Northern Ireland some people die younger and experience more years in poor health because of factors such as where they live, their jobs, quality of their homes, their education, clean air, how much money they have and their access to health services

Health is also shaped by the support people get, the conversations they have, and the systems they interact with every day. By investing in organisations and people to build skills in health literacy, communities can better understand and manage their health

These health inequalities are unfair and preventable. They are driven by the social determinants of health, not just personal choices or lifestyles. Overemphasising individual behaviour change in public health can make the burden of inequalities worse for the least well-off population groups

Achieving health equity requires long-term, society-wide action that tackles the root causes of poor health

Community development approaches help people to identify what matters to them, recognise power imbalances, participate in public policy and decision making, and take collective action to improve their health and wellbeing

Evidence shows that community-led approaches addressing the social determinants of health, play a vital role in keeping people healthy, improving health and wellbeing and reducing health inequalities.

To close the health inequalities gap, we must actively involve the diverse range of people experiencing the most disadvantage, including minority and marginalised groups, and work together for real, lasting change to achieve health equity for everyone.