The Province of Zuid-Holland is also investing in the Healthy Society Program.

In addition to Medical Delta and Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Universities, the Province of Zuid-Holland is now also investing in the Healthy Society Program. A total of €600,000 has been allocated for the next four years. With this funding, the program will work on implementation and scaling-up projects to make Zuid-Holland healthier and reduce health inequalities.

For example, the Healthy Society Program achieves this by scaling up a proven effective Blood Pressure Challenge program to specific regions and target groups, such as women going through menopause.

A healthier Zuid-Holland with fewer inequalities

The Healthy Society Program focuses on improving health and well-being across all layers of society and reducing health disparities in Zuid-Holland. Its mission is to create a resilient society in which all people are as mentally, physically, and socially healthy as possible. Within the Healthy Society Program, universities, universities of applied sciences, and university medical centers collaborate with a wide range of societal partners, governments, residents, and healthcare and welfare organizations in the delta region. This year, the implementation of concrete health projects began within six key themes.

Scaling up successful interventions  

An intervention that successfully uses virtual reality for young people with experiences of sexual abuse is also being made more widely applicable. For young people with a loved one facing addiction or mental health issues, the threshold to seek regular care, such as group training, is often high. In collaboration with the young people themselves, the virtual reality intervention is being adapted, tested, and evaluated for effectiveness as part of the scaling-up project.

How can healthy eating be made more appealing to young people? Ask the young people themselves! This simple yet effective principle forms the foundation of the Food Boost Challenge. After several successful editions, the concept is now being applied in other locations and to different target groups.

Geographical maps combined with health

A concrete result of the Healthy Society Program that can already be used is the platform gezondzuidholland.nl. This website is the first to combine geographical maps with health and the design of the living environment at the local and regional levels, while also making a local network of professionals accessible. Using the platform, regions can easily exchange knowledge and share successful health projects.