ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), social and economic factors can play major roles in a person’s health.
Michigan recognizes January as Social Determinants of Health Month.
“It’s about raising awareness to things that shape health more than just medical care alone,” explained Social Determinants of Health Communications Specialist Julia Grescowle. “This month is a chance to spotlight partners across Michigan and share real solutions that help communities thrive.”
Major factors that can impact someone’s health include their educational background, employment, and income.
“They shape day-to-day stability,” Grescowle said. “When someone has a steady paycheck, steady income, a reliable job, they’re more likely to afford medication, healthy food, transportation to appointments. Education also affects health literacy. If somebody can understand instructions from their doctor or medical information, they can make more informed decisions about their health.”
Additionally, a lack of transportation can prevent people from accessing wellness resources and medical care.
“If that’s limited, it’s hard for people to make it to their appointments or go to the grocery store to access healthy food,” said Grescowle. “They might have delay in their care or trouble getting to the pharmacy.”
Another important determinant is housing.
“If someone doesn’t have access to stable housing, it’s harder for them to store their food or manage their chronic conditions or recover from illness if they don’t have anywhere to live,” Grescowle said. “When any of those things are missing, stress goes up and access to care goes down.”
To break down some of those barriers, Grescowle says MDHHS works with state and local organizations to connect Michigan residents with what they need to live a healthier life.
“Whether it’s food resources, housing support, transportation options, or other community programs,” she said. “We also support community-led strategies that address root causes of some of these issues.”
MDHHS is also hosting a free webinar series the last two weeks of the month to bring the conversation to the public.
“Each session shares practical things that they can do, lessons learned, resources that they can share, and other ways that we can collaborate to help create more equity among the residents of Michigan,” said Grescowle.
To register for the Social Determinants of Health Month webinar series, click here. To learn more about the efforts Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Social Determinants of Health Strategy, visit michigan.gov/sdoh.
