- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Tackling the health peaks: New educational effort targets Lake County's chronic health burdens
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – In an effort to reduce the chronic health problems seen in Lake County, public health officials have released a new booklet offering a series of practical steps to gaining better health.
“Climb to the Peak of Health” presents Lake County residents with a tool to “identify simple and practical ways to improve personal health and to contribute to the overall health of others,” according to a message Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Tait posted on her agency's Web site.
Pointing to research on Lake County's health issues – such as that contained in the 2010 Lake County Health Needs Assessment and county health status profiles – Tait told Lake County News that the county has many health challenges.
Those challenges include among the worst ratings statewide for the incidences of lung cancer, coronary heart disease, chronic liver disease, accidents, motor vehicle traffic crashes, suicide and drug-induced deaths.
Among those health concerns, Tait said the health needs assessment helped identify key public health priorities: mental and emotional health, wellness activities, senior support services and substance abuse.
Based on those findings, the Lake County Health Services Department collaborated with a “health policy cabinet” – which included interested community leaders – to develop the new “Climb to the Peak of Health" booklet.
Tait said the “Climb to the Peak of Health” message will be the theme for the county's work on preventing chronic health problems.
The booklet can be downloaded at http://health.co.lake.ca.us/ .
Tait said the booklet uses the opening of the trails on Mt. Konocti as a metaphor for the journey to better health.
It offers examples and gives some practice “baby steps” that people can take in making minor but significant changes in their lives, she said.
For each of the health priorities, the booklet offers milestones and paths to wellness for individuals, schools, businesses and community groups.
Among the basics for individuals – exercise, get regular health screenings, manage stress, volunteer and attend to spiritual needs.
For schools, businesses and community groups, the suggestions are taken further. They include developing support networks, offering learning opportunities and addressing nutritional issues – including the creation of food banks.
Tait said the effort is being supported thanks to a federal Community Transformation Grant, for which Susan Jen – with administrative support from Adventist Health – successfully applied.
That grant will be used over the next few years to promote the Climb to the Peak of Health approach as well as other activities that Tait said are intended to reduce Lake County's chronic disease burden.
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