A survey by Island Health says close to three quarters (74%) of people across the Cowichan Valley region report being in good health, and nearly seven-in-ten (69%) rate their mental health as good or better.
Island Health released the early results from the Our Health, Our Community survey, designed to help communities and service providers better understand local health and wellness priorities.
More than 34-hundred residents over the age of 18 across the Cowichan Valley completed the survey between June and October 2023.
Analysis of all the data is expected to be finished by September 2025.
Island Health says early results provide a snapshot of priorities including general health, mental health, housing, transportation, environmental health and substance use.
The remaining results will be released throughout this year.
Dr. Stéphane Trépanier, medical health officer at Island Health, says the results from similar past surveys and projects have been instrumental in helping develop and deliver programs.
The survey assist in funding applications and actions for local projects like EPIC (Eldercare Project in Cowichan), Cowichan Housing and Homeless Coalition, and the Cowichan Community Action Team.
Cindy Lise, regional facilitator of the Our Cowichan Community Health Network, says community partners and local governments to get answers to questions “they might otherwise struggle to access,” to deal with the complex challenges related to the social determinants of health.
