11. Our Health/Our Future: Challenges Ahead

Question 1

Our current state?

Answer 1

• We’re still feeling the effects of COVID-19.
• We’re more stressed out than ever and we’re not handling it well.
• Staying healthy is an ongoing challenge.
• Technology and social media are complicating things futher.
• Inequality is on the rise, worsening health disparities.
• Climate change poses serious risks to our health and well-being.

Question 2

COVID-19 has tested our ability to effectively respond to and cope with a major disease threat.

Questions posed and what did we learn?

Answer 2

How can we better combat the disinformation?
What is the cost of social distancing? (lack of attention to social support, how do we mitigate the psychological fallout?)
How can we reduce the impact on vulnerable groups? (socioeconomic disparities worsened)

The biopsychosocial approach to respond to major threats is absolutely necessary.

Question 3

There will most likely be even more viral outbreaks in the future.

How can we better prepare for future outbreaks?

Answer 3

We can’t overlook the psycholigcal impact.

Question 4

Whtether within a pandemic or without, stress IS part of life…

Answer 4

• People around the world are more stressed out than ever.
• Anxiety, loneliness, depression are on the rise.

This data was before the pandemic. Nothing was caused directly by the pandemic, it just exacerbated the effects.

Question 5

We’re not handling the increased stress very well?

Answer 5

In Canada: Binge drinking, methamphetamine use, and opioid use are on the rise (and were on the rise before COVID-19).

In the USA: Americans are now more likely to die of an opioid overdose than a motor vehicle accident.

Question 6

The Spread of Disinformation Online?
Since 2016…
The field of medicine is confronted with…
Misinforation was linked to…

Answer 6

Since 2016, interactions with false content on social media have been on the rise; often gets more engagement than real news.

“The field of medicine is…confronted with the spread of false, inaccurate, or incomplete health information” (Chou et al., 2018).

Roozenbeek et al. (2020) – misinformation was linked to reduced engagement in health precautions and increased susceptibility to COVID-19.

Question 7

One Solution to Disinformation Online?

Answer 7

“Inoculate” the public.

Some researchers suggest inoculating against fake news…
Psychological inoculation (or ”prebunking”) may be an effective way to create large-scale psychological resistance against misinformation and disinformation.

Question 8

The Role of Tech and Social Media, health benefits? (3)

Answer 8

Health monitoring
Remote access to care
Apps that promote good health and productivity

Question 9

Tech A double-edged sword…good stuff?

Answer 9

In the pandemic, technology and social media played critical roles in keeping us connected, as well as enabling governments and health agencies to continue functioning.

Physical distancing versus social distancing…

Question 10

Tech A double-edged sword…bad stuff?

Answer 10

But we know that social media is bad for our mental health.

Smartphone use and push notifications are also associated with:
* greater stress and increased cortisol output.
* reduced connectivity in areas of the brain related to control.
* withdrawal symptoms when stopped.

Question 11

No More FOMO, article?

Answer 11

Limiting social media decreases loneliness and depression

Our findings strongly suggest that limiting social media use to approximately 30 minutes per day may lead to significant improvement in well-being.

Based on a study of undergrads who were asked to reduce use (compared to those who used regularly).

Question 12

Growing Inequality?

Answer 12

Inequality is on the rise, here and around the world.

Question 13

The Income-Health Link?

Answer 13

Socioeconomic Gradient in Health

Across 21 developed countries, income inequality was found to stifle growth and restrict earning potential.

Question 14

The Future of Indigenous Health?

Answer 14

According to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR, 2018), Indigenous health research is a priority in order to improve health outcomes in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis.

This involves fostering a positive relationship with Indigenous communities and working harder to heal the wounds of the past.

Question 15

Diversifying Health Research?

Answer 15

More research is needed on the health of other groups, especially trans, nonbinary, & gender-nonconforming people.

“More comprehensive long-term research that centers trans people’s experiences is needed”

Question 16

Climate Change is a Threat to Health?

Answer 16

Risks identified with high confidence:
* Death, injury, or illness due to flooding, storm surges, and sea-level rise.
* Increased mortality and morbidity during periods of extreme heat, droughts, fires.
* Breakdown of infrastructure, water supply.
* Reduced agricultural productivity.
* Increased malnutrition & related disorders.
* Changes in range of infectious and insect-
borne diseases.
* Loss of ecosystems and biodiversity.

Question 17

Ecological Grief?

Answer 17

Intense feelings of grief resulting from climate-related losses to valued species, ecosystems, and landscapes.

Expected to come more common as climate change worsens.

Question 18

Climate Change & Social Health?

Answer 18

Throughout history, less rainfall, higher temperatures, and drought have been consistently associated with increased violence & crime.

This holds true for domestic abuse and assault, but is even more pronounced for conflict between groups.

Question 19

Climate Change & Inequality?

Answer 19

Disproportionate impacts of climate change on vulnerable and socially marginalized populations.

People living in poverty, Indigenous communities, marginalized groups, and the chronically ill.

Climate change will worsen economic inequality in communities around the world – the poor will be hit the hardest.
And poorest countries will suffer more, despite contributing the least.

Question 20

Making the Connection, climate and health?

Answer 20

Climate solutions benefit health…in addition to the climate.

Question 21

The Role of Empathy?

Answer 21

In a study of 452 UBC students (King & DeLongis, 2015)…
Perceiving climate change as a threat to personal health was higher for those with higher empathy and a more collectivistic cultural orientation.

Question 22

Health Challenge: We need to do more…?

Answer 22

Anthropogenic climate change threatens to undermine the past 50 years of gains in public health.

Conversely, a comprehensive response to climate change could be “the greatest global health opportunity of the 21st century.”

Question 23

Conflict Palm Oil in Asia (inc. Indonesia), Africa, and Latin America?

Answer 23

Palm oil is found in approx. half of all packaged products found in supermarket.

Deforestation threatens 1/4 orangutangs.

Question 24

Orcas of the Pacific Northwest are Starving and Disappearing?

Answer 24

Dwindling orca populations due to overfishing of salmon.

Question 25

Your behaviour doesn’t just depend on the situation…?

Answer 25

The effect of the situation also depends on YOU!

The power of the person-situation interaction

Question 26

An Expanding Definition of Health?

Answer 26

Health is state of complete well- being, including…
* Physical well-being
* Mental/Emotionalwell-being
* Social well-being
* Cultural well-being
* Spiritual/existential well-being
* Environmental well-being

A biopsychosociospirituoecocultural
model of health? … hehe

Question 27

What are some of the long-lasting effects of COVID-19 on public health as mentioned in the lecture?

Answer 27

The ongoing effects of COVID-19 include increased stress levels, challenges in staying healthy, complications due to technology and social media, rising inequality, and significant risks to health and well-being posed by climate change.

Question 28

What psychological strategy is suggested for combating the spread of disinformation related to health?

Answer 28

Psychological inoculation, or “prebunking,” is suggested as an effective way to create large-scale psychological resistance against misinformation and disinformation.

Question 29

How has technology and social media affected mental health during the pandemic?

Answer 29

Although technology and social media have been critical in keeping people connected during the pandemic, they have also been associated with greater stress, increased cortisol output, and reduced connectivity in brain areas related to control.

Question 30

What link between income inequality and health is identified in the lecture?

Answer 30

Income inequality has been found to stifle economic growth and restrict earning potential, which in turn can worsen health outcomes and contribute to health disparities.

Question 31

According to the lecture, what are the identified risks of climate change to public health?

Answer 31

Identified risks of climate change to public health include death or illness due to flooding, increased mortality during extreme heat, breakdown of infrastructure, reduced agricultural productivity, malnutrition, changes in the range of diseases, and loss of biodiversity.

Question 32

What is ‘ecological grief’ as discussed in the lecture?

Answer 32

Climate change disproportionately impacts vulnerable and socially marginalized populations, worsening economic inequality and health disparities, especially in poorer countries that contribute the least to global emissions.

Question 33

What does the study by King & DeLongis (2015) suggest about the perception of climate change as a threat to personal health?

Answer 33

The study found that perceiving climate change as a threat to personal health was higher among individuals with higher empathy and a more collectivistic cultural orientation.

Question 34

What is the impact of deforestation on public health?

Answer 34

Deforestation for meat production opens doors for pathogens to jump to domesticated animals and humans, highlighting the link between environmental practices and health risks.

Question 35

What comprehensive approach to health is proposed in the lecture?

Answer 35

A biopsychosociospirituoecocultural model of health is proposed, encompassing physical, mental/emotional, social, cultural, spiritual/existential, and environmental well-being.