Healthy Me, Healthy Planet: Evaluation of a pilot planetary health library program

Abstract

Issue addressed: The Healthy Me, Healthy Planet program was an evidence-informed pilot program conducted by a local libraries to promote the health co-benefits of action on climate change.

Background: An impact evaluation of the Healthy Me, Healthy Planet program was conducted using a mixed methods research design including pre-, during, and post-program surveys and online focus groups.

Methods: The evaluation included 136 participants aged 18+ years who were able to understand and communicate in English or simplified Chinese language. Descriptive analyses of the survey data were integrated with thematic analyses of focus group (N = 2) data to generate key themes.

Results: Key impacts included individual and organisational capacity building, personal and social well-being, and pro-environmental knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour. Impacts on program participants included increased confidence, motivation, positive feelings, and personal well-being after taking part in the Healthy Me, Healthy Planet program. Participants reported enhanced social connections, mental well-being, and environmental benefits such as engaging within the community on environmental issues and feeling inspired to make sustainable lifestyle changes.

Conclusion: Libraries play a key role in promoting the health of people and planet in the community because they are a trusted, safe, and supportive community setting, a curator of credible and reliable evidence-based information on health and planetary topics and a local and free provider for skills and literacy development.

So what: The evaluation of the pilot suggests that participants improved their capacity to practice sustainable living and it is recommended that this program be expanded to other library settings to enhance community connection and support local planetary health initiatives.

Keywords: climate change; healthy environments; libraries; planetary health; program evaluation.