Social determinants of health, which include access to food, transportation, housing, education, employment, etc are key to healthcare because, they often act as barriers that interfere with unmet physical and mental health needs.

Keshana Owens-Cody, director of community relations at Troy, New York-based Alliance for Better Health says that when people face challenges around social determinants of health or battle with physical or mental health needs, their priority shifts to making sure that their social determinants of health are met rather than physical or mental health needs.

She says, the system must assess and address these needs before the patient leaves an office just as symptoms of physical or mental health are treated. Organizations provide services ensuring basic needs (food, housing, utilities, etc) to physical, mental health services and self-management resources.