B.C.'s largest population health survey, the SPEAK survey, has been extended and will remain open until July 31 to help boost participation.
People living in the Fraser Health region can have a say in shaping the health programs and services in their communities by participating in the Survey on Population Experiences, Action, and Knowledge (SPEAK) and sharing their experiences over the past few years.
“The SPEAK survey is an important opportunity for us to hear directly from our communities. I strongly encourage people from the Fraser Health region to participate,” said Dr. Maulik Baxi, a medical health officer with Fraser Health. “What they share will inform our future planning and programs.”
Together with the BC Centre for Disease Control and health authorities across the province, we launched the third round of SPEAK on April 25. To date, over 80,000 people have responded and we 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; and
- people with children and young adults in their lives.
The survey asks how people living in B.C. are doing when it comes to their social, economic, physical health, mental health and overall well-being, so we can better support communities across the province.
These type of population health assessments help inform public health interventions, practices and policies. Previous survey findings have informed COVID-19 policy and programming priorities, including reopening plans, safe returns to school for kindergarten to grade 12, targeted vaccine interventions in areas with low uptake as well as initiatives aimed at improving mental wellness in children and youth.
The survey takes around 20 minutes to fill out and can be accessed at www.bccdc.ca/SpeakSurvey. Members of the public are also encouraged to share the survey with their family and loved ones and help them participate as needed.
SPEAK is available in 10 different languages and people’s responses will inform future public health initiatives across the province. By responding to the survey people living in B.C. will let their health authority know what resources are needed to improve health and well-being in their community.
The SPEAK survey is funded by the BCCDC Foundation for Public Health.
Fraser Health is responsible for the delivery of hospital and community-based health services to over 1.9 million people in 20 diverse communities from Burnaby to Fraser Canyon on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations. Our team of 43,000 staff, medical staff and volunteers is dedicated to serving our patients, families and communities to deliver on our vision: Better health, best in health care.
The BC Centre for Disease Control, a part of the Provincial Health Services Authority, provides public health leadership through surveillance, detection, treatment, prevention and consultation services. The Centre provides diagnostic and treatment services for people with diseases of public health importance, and analytical and policy support to all levels of government and health authorities. The BCCDC also provides health promotion and prevention services to reduce the burden of chronic disease, preventable injury and environmental health risks. For more, visit www.bccdc.ca or follow us on Twitter @CDCofBC.