When people have more control over their health, society improves. With a common understanding of health promotion, people enjoy a better quality of life while communities grow stronger. But moving our collective focus from illness to prevention requires a shift in perspective.

The Circle of Health© facilitates this shift.

There are many factors to consider when determining a person’s overall health: employment, income, education level, daily habits, physical activity, air quality, economic inequality, racism, etc. The Circle of Health© serves as a tangible framework, providing a visual representation of the multiple internal and external factors that affect our health. It is a handheld tool with moveable rings that link values, the Ottawa Charter, social theory, determinants of health, and the ancient wisdom of Indigenous cultures through the inclusion of the Aboriginal medicine wheel. It encourages a values-based and systematic approach to research, planning, and evaluation.

If you’re trying to lead change in your community or organization, this universal framework is a powerful conversation starter for practically any social or individual issue.

People are not one-dimensional. So neither should be our approach to health.