Storytelling in public health: Why it matters for health systems

Bridging science with storytelling can improve health-seeking behaviour.

Not until the advent of modern medicine did people begin to rely on systematic scientific explanations of illness. Before that, understanding of disease, cure and longevity was largely shaped through stories, constructed from what was known, imagined and shared within communities. These stories often filled gaps created by uncertainty and vulnerability. Such vulnerability, for instance, arises from suffering due to illness, conditions, or disabilities that are not fully understood and may not have clear solutions. Responding to vulnerability is not new; it is deeply rooted in the survival instinct of Homo sapiens.