Oceanside Health & Wellness Network

Oceanside Health & Wellness Network

In October 2013, a group of stakeholders came together to discuss health and well-being in the Oceanside region. They decided to form a group that would invite the community to identify and address health-related issues together. This group evolved to become the Oceanside Health and Wellness Network (OHWN).

OHWN is committed to working together to enhance the health and well-being of Oceanside residents with a focus on the determinants of health. We work collaboratively and take collective action on strategic priorities.

Our shared vision is:

To respectfully work together to advance the health and wellbeing of the population of Oceanside. By addressing factors that influence health and other complex issues that would benefit from collaboration, we can speak as one voice on these issues.
 

Regional Map / list of communities

The Oceanside Region includes the municipalities of Parksville and Qualicum Beach and four electoral areas of the Regional District of Nanaimo. The geographic area encompasses two urban centres and several small waterfront and rural communities stretching from Nanoose Bay, Errington/Coombs to Deep Bay/Bowser. The Oceanside Region is aligned with the boundaries of School District 69 and Local Health Area 69 (Qualicum). The total population of this region is 50,720 (2016 Census).

The Regional District of Nanaimo is administering funding from Island Health for the Oceanside Health and Wellness Network. This includes $15,000 of seed funding and support for a part-time coordinator.

Oceanside Map

Determinants of Health

Our lifestyle choices do affect our health, but often these choices are influenced by factors that are larger than ourselves. These are often referred to as the Determinants of Health, which are the broad range of personal, social, economic and environmental factors that determine individual population health. The main determinants of health include:

1. Income and Social Status
2. Employment and Working Conditions
3. Education and Literacy
4. Childhood Experiences
5. Physical Environment
6. Social Supports and Coping Skills
7. Healthy Behaviours
8. Access to Health Services
9. Biology and Genetic Endowment
10. Gender
11. Culture
12. Race / Racism

 

Social determinants of health refer to a specific group of social and economic factors within the broader determinants of health. These relate to an individual's place in society, such as income, education or employment. Experiences of discrimination, racism and historical trauma are important social determinants of health for certain groups such as Indigenous Peoples, LGBTQ and Black Canadians. These factors are complex. Community health networks have a unique role to take action on the determinants of health to improve the overall health of the community.  

Source: Public Health Agency of Canada

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