Summary

There are known reasons why the public doesn’t always understand the value of public health. People tend to conflate the role of health care with the role of public health, struggle to grasp how preventative approaches work, and assume that health outcomes are primarily due to individuals’ health behaviors. These widely shared mindsets make it hard for people to understand what public health does, how it approaches health issues, and why it’s essential for society’s prosperity and wellbeing.

The framing strategies in this guide can help to reorient conversations and build understanding about why public health matters and how it works.