I live in a small village; there are around 500 residents. I've only lived
here for about 18 months, so I don't know everyone yet. As I got to
know people, one thing that surprised me was the poverty level
within such a small rural community. I am not sure why this surprised
me; rural poverty is widespread these days, but then. I found myself
thinking, they don't look poor, and I had to stop and kick my own arse;
what does poor look like? I was, of course, exhibiting bias. It's never
pleasant to make this discovery about yourself, but it is good if you
act on it.
However, one aspect that I found especially shocking was fuel
poverty. According to the Dimensions of Wellness chart (Smith), this
particular hindrance to wellness falls under the environmental,
emotional, financial, and physical dimensions. For example, if people
cannot heat their homes, they cannot achieve wellness. If they cannot
fill their gas tank, they cannot drive to work or buy food from larger,
more economical supermarkets which are always further away. In
many cases, their physical and mental health may suffer. a
On a positive note, the village is a close community, so the support
networks and good. Neighbors and community organizations are
available to help, which fits the emotional and social dimensions.
However, again my bias comes into play. I failed to realize that some
people are reluctant to ask for help because they are embarrassed by
their situations. This makes the situation difficult. How can the
wellness dimensions ever be in balance if they will not accept help?
Their economic and physical dimension may improve if they accept
help, but their emotional dimension may plummet because of shame.
I am glad I a found the dimensions and their interconnectedness. It has
helped me work out my feelings about my situation. I suffer from
depression, and I have always felt guilty about that. Why am I
depressed? I have a good life, enough money, and a happy family. I
see now that if just one of the dimensions is out of balance, it can
throw the rest off.
Colette
Smith, A. (2021, August 31). Biases in healthcare: An overview. Medical
News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/biases-
in-healthcare
