Health and Well-Being
Health is a person’s capacity for self-realization, the ability to fulfill their personal potentialities, and to be at ease in their social relations. In modern medical terms it is the state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
A person’s Health is the result of complex interactions between genetics, lifestyle, and environment. If you ask Canadians what makes them healthy, they may cite luck or family history; but many would also point to their diet, the amount of exercise they get, and how they manage stress levels. Health can also be viewed on a continuum from wellness and optimal functioning in every aspect of life at one end to disease, illness and infirmity at the other.
In the world of public health, there has been a movement from viewing health as a state to seeing it as a process. A key component in this shift is the concept of resiliency. This view is based on the understanding that people are not just passive victims of their circumstances; rather, they have a strong capacity for action and resiliency.
The idea that people can take control of their own health and wellbeing is central to the concept of health promotion. This involves helping individuals and communities to take steps to promote their own health and well-being by making positive changes in their daily lives. By doing so, they can reduce the risk of disease, ill-health and premature death.
This approach to health is rooted in the principle that all humans are equal and should have access to basic services and an environment that supports their health. It requires the cooperation of everyone, and a commitment to reducing inequalities in the opportunities available for good health.
The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. It is a positive concept that recognizes that people are more than just their genes, illnesses, and injuries; they have a rich social fabric of relationships and the ability to live harmoniously within a changing total environment. It is a concept that should be supported and promoted by governments around the world. Creating the conditions that promote and protect health should be seen as a vital public service. The global effort to protect human health must be rooted in the notion of human rights. These rights include the right to food, housing, education, and a safe working environment. The World Health Organization and other international agencies should work to ensure that these rights are respected. This can be accomplished by focusing on the determinants of health, such as living and working conditions, income, neighborhood characteristics, and the quality of medical care. In addition, governments should create policies and programs that provide people with the resources to achieve good health. They should focus on improving the health of all groups, particularly those who have been denied or marginalized in the past.
Health is a person’s capacity for self-realization, the ability to fulfill their personal potentialities, and to be at ease in their social relations. In modern medical terms it is the state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. A person’s Health is the result of complex interactions between genetics, lifestyle, and environment. If you ask Canadians what makes them healthy, they may cite luck or family history; but many would also point to their diet, the amount of exercise they get, and how they manage stress levels. Health can also be viewed on a continuum from wellness and optimal functioning in every aspect of life at one end to disease, illness and infirmity at the other. In the world of public health, there has been a movement from viewing health as a state to seeing it as a process. A key component in this shift is the concept of resiliency. This view is based on the understanding that people are not just passive victims of their circumstances; rather, they have a strong capacity for action and resiliency. The idea that people can take control of their own health and wellbeing is central to the concept of health promotion. This involves helping individuals and communities to take steps to promote their own health and well-being by making positive changes in their daily lives. By doing so, they can reduce the risk of disease, ill-health and premature death. This approach to health is rooted in the principle that all humans are equal and should have access to basic services and an environment that supports their health. It requires the cooperation of everyone, and a commitment to reducing inequalities in the opportunities available for good health. The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. It is a positive concept that recognizes that people are more than just their genes, illnesses, and injuries; they have a rich social fabric of relationships and the ability to live harmoniously within a changing total environment. It is a concept that should be supported and promoted by governments around the world. Creating the conditions that promote and protect health should be seen as a vital public service. The global effort to protect human health must be rooted in the notion of human rights. These rights include the right to food, housing, education, and a safe working environment. The World Health Organization and other international agencies should work to ensure that these rights are respected. This can be accomplished by focusing on the determinants of health, such as living and working conditions, income, neighborhood characteristics, and the quality of medical care. In addition, governments should create policies and programs that provide people with the resources to achieve good health. They should focus on improving the health of all groups, particularly those who have been denied or marginalized in the past.