Public Well-Being
We focus on populations, working to understand and influence what makes communities, regions and countries more or less healthy. These factors that influence health are known as determinants of health.
Among the most powerful determinants of health are the forces that shape the conditions in which we are born, grow, live, work and age. These are:
- political
- cultural
- economic
To tackle the determinants of health and health inequalities, public health agencies like us work at local, national and global levels. We take a long-term view because the health of future generations depends on the social, built and natural environments we create for them today.
We also work to understand and mitigate the negative health consequences of historical inequalities and the diseases they cause.
What are the three P’s of public health and well-being?
The three Ps, or simply the three functions of public health, are prevention, protection and promotion.
Most public health work involves preventing illness, injury or death; protecting vulnerable groups; and promoting lifestyles and improving their quality of life, policies and laws that can improve people’s overall wellbeing, including improving the quality of health care, education, safety and much more.
Organisations responsible for public wellbeing and health
- National institutions – government, ministries, departments
- Supranational bodies – embassies and consulates
- International organisations
- National and local government agencies and departments
- Non-governmental organisations
- Private organisations and trusts
- Schools and universities
- Insurance companies
