Social Determinants of Health
In Rishi Manchanda's New York TED talk from August 2014, Dr. Manchada explains how the healthcare field desperately needs more "upstreamists" in order to identify the root cause for health issues, since many doctors only treat symptoms. The entire time I was watching this TED talk I was waiting for him to identify occupational therapists as "upstreamists", since occupational therapists are very concerned with the overall person - his social life, his work environment, his home environment. This is where the term "social determinants of health (SDoH)" comes into play. When one first considers this term, he probably just thinks of the people one surrounds himself with. However, SDoH are more than just the people you are surrounded by -- they are your income, your neighborhood, your work environment, your house, your access to healthcare. They are what can influence your health, mental health, and wellbeing.
Social determinants of health (SDoH) most certainly relate to health conditions involving the nervous system. One example that immediately comes to my mind is the impact of SDoH on our neurotransmitters. A low socioeconomic status may cause depression in a person, which is associated with lower levels of seratonin; a laborious work environment may cause someone to become addicted to alcohol in order to cope, which takes a toll on his dopamine. In addition, just like Veronica who Dr. Manchanda described, a filthy home environment can cause migraine headaches.
Watching this TED talk and considering occupational therapy practitioners' role in being "upstreamists" made me even more excited about my choice in pursuing this as a career. UTHSC's occupational therapy department has set service/professional development hours in place that we must reach each term while being a student. I think these requirements will surely prepare me to become the best "upstreamist" possible, because I will be able to learn more about the SDoH that exist in the Memphis area, and more about community health in general. Learning about these things will prepare me for what I will see day-to-day as factors of health amongst my clients as an occupational therapy practitioner.
Social determinants of health (SDoH) most certainly relate to health conditions involving the nervous system. One example that immediately comes to my mind is the impact of SDoH on our neurotransmitters. A low socioeconomic status may cause depression in a person, which is associated with lower levels of seratonin; a laborious work environment may cause someone to become addicted to alcohol in order to cope, which takes a toll on his dopamine. In addition, just like Veronica who Dr. Manchanda described, a filthy home environment can cause migraine headaches.
Watching this TED talk and considering occupational therapy practitioners' role in being "upstreamists" made me even more excited about my choice in pursuing this as a career. UTHSC's occupational therapy department has set service/professional development hours in place that we must reach each term while being a student. I think these requirements will surely prepare me to become the best "upstreamist" possible, because I will be able to learn more about the SDoH that exist in the Memphis area, and more about community health in general. Learning about these things will prepare me for what I will see day-to-day as factors of health amongst my clients as an occupational therapy practitioner.
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