Preventative health doesn’t always look like a stop smoking campaign or a gym

Sometimes it’s a walking group, a podcast, a grief program, a strategic plan or a bottle of shampoo. Sometimes it’s just someone stepping in to fill the gap between people who need support and the systems meant to provide it.
That’s what the preventative health workforce, both public and private, does every day. Their work isn’t always visible, but the impact is undeniable.

Take Mary (not her real name). She arrived at a free garden session nervous, quiet and dressed in head-to-toe purple, using a mobility buggy. Over time, she joined other programs and eventually transitioned to a walking frame. Her physical health improved, but so did her confidence and connection. She later stood on stage at a statewide health conference and said,

“𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗽, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘂𝘁.”

Sometimes preventative health looks like a podcast. A series produced with a not for profit that supports women experiencing violence featured survivors and the clinicians who work alongside them. One woman spoke of being told she could not do anything right, not even peel potatoes or vacuum. When she got it wrong, she paid for it physically and emotionally. Thousands have now listened to the series, gaining practical insight into rights, services and safety.

Then there is the work that sits quietly behind the scenes. Evaluation. One facilitator of a grief and loss program shared that she did not know the real name of a boy in her group. His parents only referred to him using a four-letter slur, a word starting with C. These stories are hard to hear, but they reveal why programs matter and why measuring their impact is so important.

In one small town, a not for profit uncovered widespread myths about treating headlice. Parents were using mentholated spirits, Coca Cola and even animal flea collars. The team provided free treatment and practical information so that families could feel safe and supported.
Preventative health also means responding to data. One private health provider changed its mental health supports after findings showed high levels of psychological distress in the community, making preventative services more accessible.

This is what preventative health really looks like. Messy. Creative. Grounded. It is about finding what is not working and building what is needed. Listening. Acting. Bridging the gaps.

Funders often ask about sustainability. But when you work with people experiencing real disadvantage, there will always be some reliance on the public purse. That is not a flaw. That is the truth.
Sustainability should not mean stepping back. It should mean continuing to show up.

Because, as Mary said, and she was right, “𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗽, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘂𝘁.”