Northern Health urges participation in SPEAK survey to help shape health programs and service across the regions

The province of British Columbia has extended the participation period for its SPEAK Survey and Northern Health has used their social media streams and website to urge residents of the Northwest to take part. 

“In the last three years, the health needs of individuals and communities across the North have evolved. It’s so important for people living in our region to fill out the provincial survey and ensure that Northern voices and experiences are heard.”  -- Dr. Jong Kim, Northern Health Chief Medical Health Officer

Northern Health has joined other Health Authorities and BC Centre for Disease Control in the project which launched in April and so far more than 85,000 British Columbians have participated in it.

Last week, Northern Health put some focus on how the survey proponents are hoping to hear from 120,000 people of all backgrounds and from all over the province, particularly from underrepresented groups, where participation levels are lower, such as: 

First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people 

People from racialized communities; including those of Chinese, South and Southeast Asian, Black, Filipino, Latin American, Arab, and more 

People living in rural parts of the province 

Men aged 18 to 34 

People aged 75 and older 

People with no post-secondary education 

People with lower household incomes

People with children and young adults in their lives. 

The survey is available in ten different languages, the responses will inform future public health initiatives across the province. By responding to the survey people living in BC will let their health authority know what resources are needed to improve health and well-being in their community. 

Find out more about the initiative here.

Take the survey here.

To add a bit of incentive to participate, Northern Health notes that Northern BC residents who complete the survey will be entered for the chance to win one of 3 iPads or 1 of 150 grocery gift cards. 

The survey closes for participation on July 31st.

More notes on Health Care across the northwest can be explored from our archive pages.