Unnatural Causes

I want to let you all know about a new documentary, Unnatural Causes, that begins airing nationally on PBS tonight at 7pm PST for HDTV viewers, and on April 2nd at 11pm PST for analog/cable viewers. It is a 4-part series addressing health equity in the US.

Unnatural Causes, a four-part series for PBS broadcast and DVD release, will, for the first time on television, sound the alarm about our glaring socio-economic and racial disparities in health—and seek out root causes. But those causes are not what we might expect. While we pour more and more money into drugs, dietary supplements and new medical technologies, it turns out there is much more to our health than bad habits, health care or unlucky genes. The social conditions in which we are born, live and work profoundly affect our well-being and longevity.

The website is part of the impact campaign that the documentary is meant to kick off. It is a fascinating interactive companion site to the series, and is loaded with activities, info, and resources. I was blown away by the wealth of information on this site, and the interesting ways they present it. There are video clips, interactive activities, a quiz, an Action Toolkit, discussion guides, handouts for educators, and more. They even have a panel of experts who will answer questions sent in by John & Jane Q. Public. Really interesting stuff.

The opening 56-minute episode, In Sickness and In Wealth, presents the series’ overarching themes. Each supporting half-hour episode, set in a different ethnic/racial community, provides a deeper exploration of how social conditions affect population health and how some communities are extending their lives by improving them.

Episode descriptions here.

In my area, there will actually be facilitated community discussions at local hospitals after the complete series has aired. Check your local community organizations for similar events.

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BROADCAST INFO:
This info is for Pacific Standard Time (PST).
For other time zones, check your local TV listings here at PBS.

• HDTV episodes will air on:
  -- 4 consecutive Thursdays @ 7pm, starting March 27th, or
  -- 4 consecutive Sundays @ 1pm, starting March 30th
  
  
• Analog/Cable episodes will air on:
  -- 4 consecutive Wednesdays @ 11pm, starting April 2nd, or
  -- 4 consecutive Saturdays @ 1pm, starting April 5th

Episode 1: In Sickness and in Wealth
HDTV viewers: 27-Mar-08, 7 pm PST

Analog/Cable viewers: 2-Apr-08, 11pm PST

Channel: PBS (Seattle: KCTS)

Alternate Times, Episode 1:
27-Mar-08, 10pm PST -- PBS (HD only)
30-Mar-08, 1pm PST -- PBS (HD only)

2-Apr-08, 11pm PST -- PBS (Analog/DT)
5-Apr-08, 1pm PST -- PBS (Analog/DT)
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I encourage everyone to check this series and the website out.