Welcome to Systems Approaches in Public Health

For some time now there has been a growing appetite among public health professionals and practitioners to understand and apply systems approaches in the work we do.  I have been blogging about this for some time at my own blogsite and you can read one of my more recent takes on pointers, tools, reading and mindset for working in systems approaches here.

Because of this growing interest, a group of us felt it was time to try a dedicated website resource, which was open access (no paywalls) and which gave people access to thinking, reading and practical examples - including failures - of systems approaches. That's what we are going to try out.  We think there is a demand for it. We hope it will be useful.  If

So, what are we trying to achieve?

First, we want to make available useful material for public health practitioners, including theory, applications, thinking and experience.

Second, we want to document applications which have worked, and those that have failed. At the minute, the application of systems theory and science to Public Health is fairly new, and undemonstrated.  If it works, great. If it doesn't work, we need to understand why and work out what to do with our efforts.

Third, we want to stimulate debate and discussion.

Fourth, we want to showcase the efforts of people in systems trying to influence them.

We claim no special expertise. We claim no monopoly. We do claim a desire to help improve and protect the health of our populations, and to support a journey of discerning and understand whether and where systems approaches can be applied and useful.  We did think of an open access e-journal, but felt that was too ambitious and not necessarily what was needed.

We welcome posts and sharing of contributions, get in touch. If you want to get on board and work with us, let us know.

Jim McManus

For the Editorial Group

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