Explore FNHA resources designed to support your health and reduce your risk of illness.
Preventative care includes making healthy lifestyle choices, staying on top of routine health screenings, and treating symptoms early. By focusing on prevention, you can avoid more serious health problems in the future.
In this section
Here are some key ways that you can take action to improve your health and wellness.
Healing from Trauma
Healing from trauma is foundational to wellness. Given the vast range of past and ongoing experiences of Indigenous communities and individuals, having the space and support for healing is important.
Access FNHA mental health and wellness supports to assist you or your community on this journey.
Being Active
Being active is an important part of wellness. Even small amounts of exercise make a big difference and benefit your mental health too. Walking is a great way to get started. Adults doing physical activity with children and youth strengthens relationships and shows younger generations how to be active.
Eating Healthy
Eating healthy means so much more than just what foods we put in our bodies. Food is at the centre of so many important parts of our lives: family, connection, sovereignty, culture, language and resilience. Eating a variety of different foods, gathered and prepared in different ways is a good way to meet nutrient and energy needs. Consider incorporating whole foods like fruit, vegetables, beans, grains, eggs, lean meats, fish and wild game.
Watch the Island Health Indigenous Plant Healing video to learn more about traditional food security.
Nurturing Mind and Spirit
Nurturing the mind and spirit is an essential part of wholistic wellness. Having balance in your life is key. Being with nature, culture and people who you trust and look up to can help your confidence grow and give you peace of mind.
Making connections with Elders, knowledge keepers and healers can support your spiritual wellness. Smudging, brushings, sweat lodges, spirit baths, traditional dancing and drumming are examples of cultural activities or ceremony that can support the mind and spirit. View mental health and wellness resources for further guidance.
Respecting Tobacco
Respecting tobacco speaks to the opportunity to respect the cultural uses of the natural tobacco plant, and the importance of reducing or quitting the use of commercial tobacco like cigarettes and chewing tobacco. Quitting commercial tobacco may take many tries and it is important to keep going with your efforts to quit if it doesn’t happen the first time. There are many supports available through First Nations Health Benefits, Talk Tobacco and beyond.
Watch the FNHA Tobacco is Medicine video to explore traditional uses of tobacco.
Getting the HPV Vaccine
Getting the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is one of the best ways to help prevent cervical cancer and cancers of the anus, throat, mouth, penis, vagina and vulva. The vaccine is offered for free to children in grade 6 and continues to be available for free until age 19. Infection from human papillomavirus (HPV) is very common and the virus is easily spread through intimate touching and sexual activity.
Adults eligible for free vaccine include HIV-positive people 9-26 years of age, transgender people 9-26 years of age and men who have sex with men 9-26 years of age. Certain types of HPV infections can cause cancer, but getting HPV vaccines as a preteen or adult can help the body prepare for and fight the virus and prevent these cancers from developing. Learn more by checking the Visit the Immunize BC web page and watching the Watch the BC Cancer HPV video.
Reducing Alcohol
Reducing alcohol can decrease your chances of getting cancer and other chronic diseases. Setting goals is important. Planning in advance about where, when, and how many drinks you will consume can help. Reducing your own alcohol consumption can impact the wholistic health of you, your family and your community.
Read the Sober for October wellness champion story or visit the Kelty Resource Centre for helpful tips on managing consumption.
Practicing Sun Safety
Practicing sun safety protects your skin and eyes, and reduces your chances of having cancer of these body parts. Setting an example by helping children and youth practice sun safety is important, as sunburns during childhood greatly increase skin cancer risk later in life. Make it a regular part of your outings to put on sunscreen, slip on a shirt, slap on a hat, slide on sunglasses and seek shade.
Review the BC Cancer guide on preventing skin cancer to keep your family protected.
Learn More
For additional resources on chronic disease prevention and community well-being, explore the following resources:
