Healthy Environments

Our ecosystem is our health system 

Our health is deeply connected to the health of the natural environment and shaped by the built environment. Healthy communities support healthy people. We provide tools and resources to help communities prepare for climate change, create safer spaces and prevent injuries.

Setting the foundation for health

We support communities with tools to strengthen climate resilience and health through adaptative capacity. This includes information to reduce exposure to environmental and climate hazards, improve air and water quality, and prevent injuries through safer infrastructure and healthier built environments.   

How we work

We bring environmental, social and health perspectives together to inform community decision-making. Our work is grounded in social equity, evidence and collaboration. Through collaborative strategies, we help to develop solutions that support everyone to live, work and play in healthier, more sustainable and safe communities.

We partner with:

• Indigenous Peoples
• Local governments and regional districts
• Health professionals and service providers
• Community organizations

Community health and environment

Our Healthy Environments team brings a range of expertise in the following areas:

• Combine evidence to promote climate adaptation
• Develop strategies to reduce risks of harmful environmental exposures
• Build resilience to climate-related disasters through improving access to health information
• Advise on policies and programs that reduce harms due to preventable injuries related to transport, falls, drowning, concussions, etc.
• Share evidence-based resources with partners to integrate health and climate resilience into community design

What does healthy built environment mean?

Our built and natural environments play a vital role in shaping our health and well-being. The places where we live, work and play have a big impact on our health and well-being. Community design affects access to healthy food, clean water, safe ways to walk, cycle and use public transit, and our overall sense of safety. It also influences how active we are and how easily we connect with nature and each other. By planning healthy, accessible communities, we can help support better health for everyone.

Approach to healthy built environments

Key to our approach is the Healthy Built Environment Linkages Toolkit from the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC). This toolkit links planning principles and health outcomes across five built environmental features. Climate resilience and health equity impacts are also key considerations in creating healthy communities.

What is injury prevention

Injury prevention includes actions and activities carried out at the community level to reduce the number and severity of injuries across a wide range of causes.

Our priority areas include:

• Road safety
• Water safety and drowning prevention
• Falls among older adults
• Sport and recreation safety
• Concussion awareness and prevention
• Child and youth injury
• Youth suicide and self harm
• Interpersonal violence

The injury prevention approach

Partnerships are an important part of our injury prevention work. We work with Indigenous and local governments, non-profit organizations, community health networks and other partners to help prevent injuries and create safer communities. By working together, we can share knowledge, coordinate efforts and support the health and safety of people across our region.

We also track injury trends to identify new and emerging concerns. When we see an issue that needs attention, we take action. This may include sharing information with the public, raising awareness or working with partners to develop and implement solutions.

How we support communities 

• Different communities face different climate-related health risks based on their population, location and environment. We work with communities to build on local strengths, address vulnerabilities and reduce health risks, especially for people who are most affected by climate change.

We can support communities by: 

• Sharing information about how climate change affects health
• Providing advice on planning for and responding to climate-related health risks
• Offering public health expertise to support emergency preparedness and response
• Building knowledge and skills through community engagement and education
• Working with Indigenous Peoples to advance truth, reconciliation and shared climate goals

You can read more about our approach in Strengthening Health and Resilience in a Changing Climate: A Primer for Local Governments. 

Data and information to support climate adaptation and emergency planning are available in our Local Health Area Profiles.

 

You can also visit our Environmental Sustainability page to learn about Island Health's Climate Change and Planetary Health Strategy and the work we are doing to reduce our environmental impact.

Connect with Us

Local governments and Indigenous communities may reach out to HBE@islandhealth.ca to include the Healthy Environments team in your work. We can support you by providing a public health perspective that includes climate and planetary health.

Contact the Injury Prevention team at injuryprevention@islandhealth.ca to collaborate on injury prevention initiatives. We can support your work by providing expertise and guidance on injury prevention work. 

Check out your local government website for planning projects and opportunities. Engage with local government and shape your community. Champion the change and empower others to build the future together!

Resources

Strengthening Health and Resilience in a Changing Climate: A Primer for Local Governments - Supporting decision-makers with tools to strengthen climate resilience and health through adaptive capacity.

Promoting Healthy Built Environment on Vancouver Island -  how Island Health established the Healthy Built Environment portfolio

The Island Health’s Wildfires, Heat Safety, Cold Weather Safety, Drought, Flooding and Landslides pages - health risks related to the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events.

Contact Environmental Public Health Locations for:

• Food safety
• Drinking Water
• Recreational Water
• Communicable disease control
• Capital Regional District Tanning ByLaw