[Pophealth] Together, We Make Better Decisions

[Jonathan Huang]

Discussions of population health are often hindered by the inability  
of individuals to perceive things in the same scope as the problem.   
That is, the disconnect between individual behaviors and societal  
health determinants.  Environmental scientists have grappled with this  
same issue.

A recent article in the New York Times Magazine entitled, "Why Isn't  
the Brain Green?" discusses in simple terms the conclusions of social  
and behavior scientists in reference to the environment.  There are  
many things to learn from this, one of the greatest being the need to  
build community capacity.  Researchers have found, quite intuitively,  
that people are much more willing to make short-term, small-scale,  
sacrifices for more long-term, societal gain when they discuss and  
come to consensus as a group (especially when they are literally, at  
the same table).

A link to the article and more at our (developing) blog: http://populationhealthforum.blogspot.com/

- jon