Final Reflections: MHST 631

Reflecting on my journey in MHST 631, I learned a great deal about health promotion. Though I struggled to integrate course materials into assignments one and two, I believe I made good progress in applying core course concepts in assignment three. In particular, I worked diligently to expand on my ability to apply the population health promotion model to my topic in areas such as articulating health inequities that contribute to deaths resulting from unregulated drug use occurring in private residences, establishing the linkages between the identified health inequities, and establishing the most appropriate level of action to guide my proposed intervention. Receiving ongoing constructive feedback from Dr. Lori Baugh Littlejohns helped me to understand and apply key health promotion concepts. I would be remise if I said I feel confident and competent to apply key health promotion concept from the course. I feel like I am still a novice learner in health promotion.

It is hard to think of one stand alone learning moment that I experienced in the course. Upon reflection, my most impactful learnings included exploring my own positionality through the application of the coin model, applying the Population Health Promotion Model to my topic of interest, and learning about the origins of health promotion through the Ottawa Charter. As challenging of a time as I had with my topic – exploring the disproportionately high rates of unregulated drug deaths occurring in private residents in rural and remote communities – I feel fortunate that I was able to apply course materials to such a relevant topic to me as a manager for mental health and substance use services in British Columbia’s north.

Brad