Obesity, smoking and alcohol are just some of the high profile targets of public health campaigns in Scotland. Designed to change our behaviour, improve our health and potentially save millions of pounds of NHS spending, these mass media campaigns aim to nudge us towards making healthy lifestyle choices.

But are public health campaigns effective? How can we better understand their impact on public attitudes and can we imagine new approaches to public health? These questions will be up for debate at an evening discussion forum hosted by the Royal Society of Edinburgh, in collaboration with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the Scottish Funding Council.

This free event, to be held on Wednesday 25 May at the Royal Society of Edinburgh building George Street, Edinburgh, will bring together expert speakers in public health, social marketing and public relations. Talks will explore the past practices and current ideas that shape messages about health and illness; ways of understanding how people experience and respond to public health programmes; and the place of arts and humanities in developing new approaches to public health.

There will be plenty of opportunity for debate and discussion and the event will be of particular interest to public health professionals, academics in health and the arts and humanities, policy makers and members of the public with an interest in the topic.

Dr Magnus Linklater, eminent Scottish journalist and broadcaster, will chair the event. He noted ““Public health campaigns are the traditional political response to concerns about Scotland's appalling health record. But evidence suggests that their track record is patchy, and that Scots may be becoming inured to them. If people are to change their lifestyles and take positive steps towards an improvement in the nation's health, then we may need to rethink our whole approach to educating the public.  This event gives us the opportunity to reflect on how things are done now and to look to the future with new perspectives in mind. I look forward to a fascinating discussion.” 

This event is open to all but registration is required. More information can be found on the RSE’s website www.royalsoced.org.uk.

ENDS

For more information please contact

Bristow Muldoon
Royal Society of Edinburgh
bmuldoon@royalsoced.org.uk
0131 240 2787
07766 915218

Notes for editors

Discussion forum: A healthy message?: understanding the history and exploring the future of public health campaigns in Scotland

This event will take place at the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 22–26 George Street, Edinburgh, on Wednesday 25 May, 17:30 – 20:30. It will be chaired by Dr Magnus Linklater FRSE.

Speakers include:

Dr Jim Mills, University of Strathclyde, Director of the Strathclyde end of the Centre for the Social History of Health and Healthcare Glasgow (CSHHH).

Gerard Hastings, Director, Institute for Social Marketing, Stirling and the Open University.

Professor Phil Hanlon, Professor of Public Health, University of Glasgow.

Martin Raymond, Cloudline PR, previously Head of Public Affairs, NHS Health Scotland.

Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC): Each year the AHRC provides approximately £100 million from the Government to support research and postgraduate study in the arts and humanities, from languages and law, archaeology and English literature to design and creative and performing arts. In any one year, the AHRC makes hundreds of research awards ranging from individual fellowships to major collaborative projects as well as over 1,100 studentship awards. Awards are made after a rigorous peer review process, to ensure that only applications of the highest quality are funded. The quality and range of research supported by this investment of public funds not only provides social and cultural benefits but also contributes to the economic success of the UK.

The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE), Scotland’s national academy, was founded in 1783 and the Fellowship today includes some of the best intellectual talent in academia, the professions and business. The RSE facilitates public debate, research programmes, educational projects and policy formulation. Its strength is its diversity and impartiality. In fulfilling its Royal Charter for the ‘advancement of learning and useful knowledge’, the RSE seeks to contribute to the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of Scotland.

The RSE is Scottish Charity SC000470