Health Equity Resource Library
Cliff Analogy of Health

Camara Jones via Denver University

In her Cliff analogy of health (14:55, video autoplays), Dr. Camara Jones uses a cliff to illustrate why public health strategies need to move beyond individual services and address social determinants of health.

In this 15-minute video, Camara Jones, MD, MPH, PhD, presents the Cliff Analogy at the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work. She illustrates how people fall off the "cliff of good health," and describes common interventions to treat and prevent illness. Dr. Jones uses a cliff to show the impact of social conditions on health—including racism, poverty, and other inequities. She calls for communities and health professionals to take action on those social conditions, in order to eliminate health disparities.

When to use

Use this video to help staff and community members discuss the importance of addressing not just acute care needs, but also social conditions that affect health—including systems, structures, and policies. Consider these questions as you facilitate your discussion:

• What are the different parts of the cliff? What did you see?
• What came to mind as you watched and listened?
• What resonated with you? Where did you struggle?
• Where do we spend most of our time and energy in public health?
• In your view, what does the Cliff Analogy of Health ask us to do as public health professionals?

We've noted further possible scenarios for use below, under "things to consider."

Things to consider

While this video is often used for staff training, it could also be used for a wide variety of reasons and in a number of different contexts. For example, after watching the video together, you could discuss with community partners the root causes of inequities and the social factors that impact health. You could also describe the Cliff Analogy to local elected officials or other decision-makers when discussing where to focus energy and resources for community health improvement.

Use this resource

Watch on YouTube: Cliff analogy of health by Dr. Camara Jones (14:55)

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