Washington State Department of Health
Good health is not shared equally in our state or the nation. Native American men in Washington die seven years before their white neighbors, and babies of black mothers are twice as likely to die before their first birthday compared to the babies of white mothers.
These are just two examples of health inequities faced by racial and ethnic minorities in our state. These so-called health disparities happen because different conditions and resources shape our health. Communities of color tend to have lower incomes and less education, for example. Lower income and less education lead to less access to health care, nutritious food, and safe and healthy environments. The unequal distribution of social and economic resources isn’t the only factor that contributes to health disparities – these inequities show up even when factors such as education and income are taken into account. The added stress of how society treats people of color also contributes to the many factors that lead to inequities in health.
For several years, the Governor’s Interagency Council on Health Disparities (a group of state agency leaders) has been working to address this issue. The council strives to make sure that programs and services offered through the state are culturally and racially appropriate, work to break down barriers, and improve the conditions facing our state’s many diverse ethnic and minority populations. You can learn more about the council’s work and its new top priorities on its website.
While some of the factors that influence health are out of the control of individual people, each of us can take important steps to be as healthy as we can be and to support the healthiness of the places we work, play, and live.