Health Promotion

"Health is created and lived by people within the settings of their everyday life; where they learn, work, play and love." - Ottawa Charter, 1986

What is health promotion?

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as not merely the absence of disease but a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being. “Health promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health. It moves beyond a focus on individual behaviour towards a wide range of social and environmental interventions” (WHO, 2011). It's an active and lifelong process towards a more balanced, fulfilling life.

Health Promotion at SFU

Your health is directly linked to your academic success. Health and Counselling Services' Health Promotion team aims to create healthy campus environments and support the SFU community in achieving health and wellness. We strive to provide access to appropriate and relevant information, work with campus partners to create healthy environments where healthy choices are the easy choices, and provide opportunities to learn skills needed to achieve and sustain health and wellness for life.

Using the Population Health Promotion model from the Public Health Agency of Canada we look to use multiple strategies within different levels to impact the determinants of health. Online yoga and relaxation videos/audiocasts are an example of a health promotion program which creates a supportive environment as well as develops personal skills while targeting individuals and the SFU community. Using these resources can enhance personal health practices and coping skills.

We also assess the ever changing health of SFU students so that we can target our programs appropriately. The National College Health Assessment is a survey offered in partnership with the Amercian College Health Association and has been completed in 2004, 2007 and most recently in the fall of 2010 and highlights key health issues affecting students. Stress, anxiety and internet use/computer games are the top factors impacting academic performance of SFU students (NCHA, 2010).

We offer opportunities to obtain information and skills on many topics, including nutrition, active living, sexual health, relationships, mental health and stress management (sleep and internet use), substance use and abuse, and illness and injury prevention. We are also working with the campus wide mental health strategy.

Moving beyond the individual level into the community, we are looking to create a supportive campus environment for health, strengthen community action and build healthy campus policies. As Health Promotion Specialists we have a primary role to play in the health and wellness of our students however, in order to be effective we cannot be the only ones. Wellness is everyone’s responsibility, not just for themselves but for the entire SFU community made up of students, staff, faculty and UniverCity residents. We must consider our entire community when addressing health and well-being on campus and therefore need support from multiple stakeholders.

Contact us

To get involved or for more information or contact us at health_promo@sfu.ca. More contact information is located on our contact page.