Woodanilling surveyed on health and happiness after stats show above average obesity, alcohol and crash deaths

Residents of Woodanilling have been asked for their views on health and happiness after the shire’s stats rated worse than the State average in areas including obesity, alcohol-related deaths and self-harming. The anonymous survey closed on March 27 with shire chief executive Anika Serer saying there had been a “reasonable response” to questions which started with probes about age, location, sex and racial background. Residents were also asked to rate their concerns over their own health, the impact of health-related issues like smoking, alcohol and drugs and whether they had come across barriers when trying to access events or information. Also in the survey was a question which asked: “What factors are important for a happy, healthy life?” Ms Serer said local governments had been asked to run the survey, even though many of the areas being scrutinised did not come under the shire’s remit. “I think we have similar issues to many other rural areas, and that’s what we will be drawing attention to when we have analysed the results,” she said. “A lot of this is not the responsibility of the shire, but it will allow us to advocate to State and Federal agencies to make sure we are not ignored.” The State’s Department of Health 2015-2024 health and wellbeing profile identified the Shire of Woodanilling as having worse than average statistics around child and adult obesity, male tobacco-related hospitalisations, plus male and female deaths due to smoking or drinking. Female self-harm and hospitalisation and deaths from transport accidents, both male and female, were also of note in the Woodanilling profile. In terms of children, the profile noted youngsters aged between two and 15 were not eating enough fruit, while boys were drinking too many sugary or energy drinks. Ms Serer said the shire was working on its public health, and disability and access inclusion plans with the survey results informing both. However, she said it was important rural areas did not get left behind when it came to public health. “There are other rural shires which are paying tens of thousands of dollars a year to have a GP service in their area,” she said. “You don’t hear of that happening in metro areas. “Our nearest GP service is in Katanning or Kojonup because it would be completely unaffordable to pay for a GP in Woodanilling.” She said the survey results would be finalised in the coming weeks, with a report being published in June. Lifeline: 13 11 14