Connections. That’s what good health is all about, according to our new medical health officer.
That’s not to say working out doesn’t matter, or that state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging technology doesn’t lengthen our lives. But, as I read it, if there is a single determinant of general good health, it is the sense of feeling connected. This is one of the highlights found in a community health report you can read about on page 19.
It’s an interesting idea that speaks to the fact we are remarkably social creatures who require the support of others, even to maintain basic health. (Makes one think about the practice of solitary confinement in our prisons, but that’s a whole other issue.)
The idea also speaks to how our mental state impacts our physical state, perhaps even more than the other way around. As a reporter in Ottawa, I remember interviewing one of leading oncologists in Ontario at the time, who said the word “just” should be removed from the phrase “just a placebo effect.” There is nothing “just” about it, he argued. In fact, he said it matters more that a person is feeling better than that they were actually getting better — and this was a guy who had all the latest meds and gizmos at his disposal.
So, it is concerning to see that, although Richmond is reported to have one of the highest life expectancy in Canada, we’re lacking a sense of connection, leading to a significantly lower level of general and mental health compared to the regional average, according to the report.
So, what about this? We’re an affluent community with great community centres (which I’ve waxed on about in past columns,) bike paths and public spaces, all of which help create a sense of connection with each other and our environment. We have some remarkable neighbourhoods and organizations that also build belonging. Still, this report is telling us something we should attend to. In looking for answers why, we could point to cultural divides, economic disparity, and language barriers. We could also mention the sense of anxiety created by housing prices. Although none of this is unique to Richmond. What is unique to our city is how we manage them, and how we set priorities — and I really do mean “we.”
Our local council sets the stage, and some policies have been more helpful than others, but every citizen has a measure of responsibility. As does every organization, and that would include the Richmond News. Creating connections is actually my single highest priority at this paper. So let’s do it. There are lots of ideas out there about how to create healthy, integrated communities. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel, but we do need make it a priority and get that wheel rolling.
