As part of the national AHP Public Health agenda, BADth has been asked to explore how well our profession understands Public Health and how it already appears in our practice.
Public Health is the work we do—individually and collectively—to improve the health and wellbeing of whole communities, not just individual clients. It includes preventing ill health, promoting wellbeing, reducing health inequalities, and understanding how people’s lives are shaped by the wider determinants of health such as housing, education, income, social connection, discrimination, and environment. Public Health also involves early intervention, supporting resilience, addressing barriers to access, and contributing to sustainable, prevention-focused systems that help people live healthier lives.
We know that many dramatherapists already contribute to Public Health through prevention, early intervention, community wellbeing, resilience-building and reducing health inequalities. But as national expectations grow — including targets for public-health-aligned training and placements across AHPs — we need a clearer picture of how our profession understands this area.
We would love to hear from members:
- What does Public Health mean in your dramatherapy practice?
- Do you feel confident describing dramatherapy’s contribution to Public Health?
- Are there areas (e.g. prevention, health inequalities, sustainability, behaviour change) you would like more clarity or CPD on?
- Are you involved in any work that contributes to Public Health outcomes?
Your reflections will help shape BADth’s response to national AHP policy and ensure dramatherapy’s voice is fully represented.
Please share your thoughts via this form
Thank you for your ongoing work and for contributing to this important conversation.