Health and wellbeing survey launched

28 August 2015

A major government study into how health and wellbeing affects the life opportunities of Islanders is being launched on 1 September.

The Jersey Health and Life Opportunities Survey will be sent to 10,000 Jersey households and has been designed to provide a picture of the health conditions that Islanders live with and what impact they have on people’s daily lives. The survey is part of a wider programme of consultation and work by the Chief Minister’s Department’s Social Policy Unit which will help will them develop a Disability Strategy and will also provide invaluable information on carers in Jersey.

The Assistant Chief Minister with responsibility for Social Policy, Senator Paul Routier, said “We are keen to gain a much better understanding of the health conditions and life opportunities of our community. The data from this survey will be invaluable to enable us to improve our island and ensure we build a more inclusive society.”

Understanding of health conditions

A wide range of third sector organisations have been involved in developing the survey. The Jersey Employment Trust’s Executive Officer, Jocelyn Butterworth, said “It is important for service providers to have a better understanding of the types of health conditions and associated life chances that people have in our community. This survey is the first significant piece of research available, so it is important that the people who receive the survey complete and return it. If anyone who receives the survey needs support to complete it, the Jersey Employment Trust, together with many third sector organisations in the island, will be happy to provide help.”

The survey can be completed online or by post and the deadline for returning completed forms is Friday 18 September. Instructions for completion have been included with the survey.

The Jersey Health and Life Opportunities Survey was designed by Public Perspectives, an independent UK company which is experienced in social research, in partnership with the States of Jersey and third sector organisations. The households receiving the survey were selected at random.