The #PeopleBehindtheNumbers
Who are the #PeopleBehindtheNumbers?
For this project with the European Public Health Alliance, we wanted to provide human context to statistics about health. Facts and statistics are important, but without an understanding what they mean for humans on an individual level, they carry no meaning - and thus might not unfold the impact that they should have. That is what we tried to do with these 3 films, diving into realities of human health.
Sunny’s Story of Housing First
In collaboration with FEANTSA, we share the powerful story of Sunny, whose experiences show the reality behind the need for housing – for our mental health, physical health, and recovery – followed by policy actions by FEANTSA’s Policy Officer, Simona Barbu. Housing is a fundamental determinant of health. We all have the right to housing, so we must advocate for housing first solutions – for health, for rights, for all.
Belle’s story of Mental Health and Institutionalisation
Imagine being driven to a hospital. You are forced to hand over your belongings, but you did nothing wrong. People hand you medication, but you don’t know what it is. No one tells you why you are there, or how long you have to stay. This is the reality for many people like Belle, who have been institutionalised on mental health wards. Watch her powerful story, as she shares her experience of institutionalisation, and what policies need to change to better support people in the same situation in the future.
Siofra’s story of Rurality and Healthcare Access
When she was 10 years old, Siofra was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, and then coeliac disease. But, coming from a rural region in Ireland, Siofra had to travel hours at a time to access the medical technologies and specialist care she needed – meaning time off school, and time out of work for her parents. Siofra is not alone; in the EU, approximately 26% of people self-report unmet needs for specialised healthcare, due to financial reasons, waiting lists, or transport and distance (Eurostat); with a huge burden on people’s lives and health.
No one living with diabetes and other NCDs should have to sacrifice their education to access the healthcare they need. How can we strengthen healthcare systems and reduce inequalities to make care fairer, for all? Watch Siofra’s story, together with a message from IDF Europe, on how person-centred care must be the future for equitable access to NCD care, in Europe.