Reflection Essay
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This essay will examine on factors that influence the vulnerability of individuals as well as the community levels. The video ‘Not Just a Paycheck’ examines how the job employment policy and insecurity affect an individual’s heath. Films are essential tools to disseminate health information, promoting health as well as constructing health-related narratives. On the other hand, ‘Place Matters’ video indicates that an individual’s geographical area is a good predictor of someone’s health. Place matter is a designed national compr initiative aimed at improving houtcomes of engaging communities especially through learning experiences. Its main purpose is to advance the Flair Health Movement in one community at a time.
Not Just a Paycheck is a video showing how the residents living in western Michigan struggled against domestic violence, depression, diabetes, and heart diseases. The struggle had started after the Electrolux Corporation shut down the Country’s largest refrigerator factory, which was later moved to Juarez, Mexico. Closing the local manufacturing plant turned the lives of Greenville, Michigan workers upside down. In my view, the health of Greenville residents deteriorated due to the fact that these people had gotten used to a good middle-class life. Unfortunately, the shutting down of the plant made most of the workers scrap severance pay, live under unemployment benefits as well as health plan that ended in a year. The situation made the hospitals in the area flood with depression patients, domestic abuse, and alcoholism. However, the situation in Vastervik, Sweden was totally different compared to that of Greenville, Michigan. The health of Vastervik residents remained steady as workers who had lost their jobs got 80% of their salary as unemployment benefits. This amount of fund would now help them train for other jobs as Electrolux plant paid more 3 million dollars to stimulate construction of new businesses. In my opinion, due to the fact that workers in America are left to fend themselves as well as paying the prices for both wealth and health, most people are prone to diseases as a result of stress. On the other hand, citizens of Sweden live a better life as the government provide a safety net for its citizens across the country.
An individual’s residential location is essential when health factors are considered. Many factors should be considered when selecting a place where to settle in. Factors such as lack of access to employments, segregation, nutritious food and affordable well-built housing have been considered as harmful to the health of long-time black Americans. In my perspectives, the zip code and street address are essential in the United States and are good predictors of health in a population. This is because the economic, social, and physical surroundings where people live strongly shape the chances and wellbeing of life either for better or worse. The Place Matters video examines the relation that occur between races and ethnicity, places, as well as the health conditions of residents in Richmond, California. Nonetheless, as social conditions of both a community and an individual worsen, so does the health of a person. In my opinion, living in a polluted environment, not able to access fresh food, may results to chronic stress, high risks for heart diseases as well as lower life expectancy. Furthermore, street address is an important predictor of a person’s health as it shows that living in a disadvantaged neighborhood is bad to your health as well. The Place Matters video outlines that after Gwai Boonkeut moved into urban neighborhoods that were neglected by black Americans their health too gets eroded due to the environment pollution from the petrochemical companies.
The two videos have outline overarching theme that shows that the events that occurred affected everyone or everything. For instance, the video Place Matters depicts three themes which have been observed. One of the themes depicted here is the conditions of neighborhood where they can have an indirect effect on health. The neighborhood condition makes the healthy choices difficult, east or even impossible. The second theme is whereby the private investment resolution and public policy alternatives have shaped the neighborhood conditions. Moreover, working with the public health department and Seattle Housing Authority have seen the neighborhood community having won the federal grants to reconstruct High Point. Lastly, social environment and built spaces have a direct effect on the resident’s health conditions. Polluting industries in Richmond are concentrated where the poor and back Americans live which should not be the case. In my views, improving the quality of life for people in the society has a direct impact on their health. Thus, neighborhood policy improvement are as well health policies.
On the other hand, Not Just a Paycheck video depicts three themes as well. Unemployment, layoffs, and insecurity of jobs have a negative impact on health. From the discussions above, high rates of unemployment are associated with diseases such as heart attack, kidney diseases, homicide, alcohol abuse as well as suicide. Secondly, a society that support one another in times of difficulties have a better health outcome as compared to those that do not. Finally, public policies that support the social welfare net can prevent unemployed workers from uncertainties that affect their health.
Sudden loss of jobs can trigger serious illnesses of an individual and can as well lead to death of individuals. From the discussions above, the study shows the social, physical, emotional, and economic vulnerabilities that affects a person and a community at large. These factors may affect the health of an individual and hence the ability to withstand the impacts of a hostile environment have also been outlined. Authoritative agencies should ensure that more measures are put in place on matters regarding health issues without biasness.