Improving health in populations in which health is poor is a complex process. This book argues that the traditional government approach of exhorting individuals to live healthier lifestyles is not enough - action to promote public health needs to take place not just through public agencies, but also by engaging community assets and resources in their broadest sense. The book reports lessons from the experience of planning, establishing and delivering such action by the five-year Sustainable Health Action Research Programme (SHARP) in Wales. It critically examines the experience of SHARP in relation to current literature on policy; community health and health inequalities; and action research. The authors make clear how this regional development has produced opportunities for developing general concepts and theory about community-based policy developments that are relevant across national boundaries and show that complex and sustained community action, and effective local partnership, are fundamental components of the mix of factors required to address health inequalities successfully. The book concludes by indicating the connections between SHARP and earlier traditions of community-based action, and by arguing that we need to be bolder in our approaches to community-based health improvement and more flexible in our understanding of the ways in which knowledge and inform developments in health policy. The book will be of interest to practitioners and activists working in community-based projects; students in community development, health studies and medical sociology; professionals working in health promotion, community nursing and allied areas; and policy makers working at local, regional and national levels.

""This excellent book could not be more timely. It must now be apparent to almost everyone that we cannot go on as we have done in the past ... The authors set out a vision of a future in which we have rebalanced our relationship with the world around us. They give us a sense of purpose and reason for hope that, together, we might be able to attain it."
Professor Martin McKee CBE, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK

"This book grounds the new approach to public health in systems thinking, challenges mantras of modernity and prioritizes sustainability and well-being. Read it and take the third public health revolution the next step forward."
Professor Ilona Kickbusch, Director Global Health Programme, The Graduate Institute, Geneva, Switzerland

"With the emerging evidence from the Human Genome Project that genes play little part in the genesis of most illness, this is a particularly timely book: it shows the central part that public health interventions must play in creating a healthy population."
Oliver James, Broadcaster, journalist, clinical psychologist and bestselling book author"

Obesity, depression, addiction, loss of wellbeing: these are issues which sap the resources and spirit of modern practitioners. Public health is being challenged by the existence of an 'ingenuity gap' - the gap between an interacting kaleidoscope of problems and our capacity to respond effectively.

This innovative text bridges the gap between current public health values and skills and those required to tackle future challenges. The authors introduce the key models and theories of public health, as well as the factors that have shaped its history and development.

The book also: Establishes the links between current public health problems and emerging threats like global warming and resource depletion Explores the true nature of modern and emerging threats to health Creates a new model for the 'future public health' Explores what these changes will mean for the future public health practitioner This is a book which sets out the reasons why we need a fundamentally new approach to public health and explores how this might be achieved.

"The Future Public Health" is informed by a six year research project, commissioned by the Scottish Government, to trace the development of our current situation and look for solutions to the challenges facing public health. Visit the AfterNow website (www.afternow.co.uk) to access an array of resources including: Introductory videos 12 Audio podcasts Over 30 short papers and essays