'What matters to Sarah' instead of 'what is the matter with Sarah'
Making Every Contact Count (MECC) is an approach to improving the health of the population that everyone can use.
It uses the many conversations we have to encourage and help people to make healthier lifestyle choices. You do not need to be an expert to have a simple chat which could make a significant and lasting difference for someone.
It is aimed at giving non-specialist staff from a wide range of organisations the skills they need to encourage individuals to make choices that will prevent illness and improve their lifestyles and wellbeing.
MECC is about using your day to day contact with individuals as an opportunity to encourage and deliver key health messages to improve their physical and emotional wellbeing. People cannot be forced to change, but by using opportunities for raising the issue of a healthy lifestyle in a non judgemental way, people's awareness, confidence and motivation to make changes in their lives may occur.
Making Every Contact Count +
Making Every Contact Count traditionally focuses on lifestyle issues such as; stopping smoking, being physically active, healthy eating, alcohol intake and mental health. Within Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland the MECC Plus offer considers wider factors such as;
- Housing
- Employment
- Social isolation
- Debt or money advice
The video below explains what makes us healthy and how the social determinants of health can affect our health and wellbeing.
MECC often includes staff from a wider range of services that are not typically associated with health.
If each health and social care, housing, education, home safety etc. employee took just one opportunity a week to promote health and wellbeing, what impact could that have in supporting local communities?
Ultimately MECC means that staff working with the public will help to signpost to, and provide information on a wide range of services that can improve people's health.
