The Definition of Health and Its Importance for Public Information and Interventions
Health is a complex phenomenon. It is difficult to define, and its meaning differs for every individual and their social context. The complexity of this topic makes it interesting for research and development, but also poses a challenge to communication. Consequently, it is very important that public information and interventions take the individual understanding of health into consideration.
Traditionally, the medical profession has been the only authority to declare individuals healthy and disease free. But with the progress of medicine, individuals may be declared healthy today and found to be diseased tomorrow because more advanced methods of investigation detect the presence of diseases that were not diagnosed by earlier techniques. As a consequence, the definition of health has been rethought and redefined several times in history.
It is a common view that a person’s health depends on their genetic predisposition and their lifestyle choices. However, some people have a more positive interpretation of health and see it as something that is not dependent on their genes or their lifestyle choices. These individuals may have a positive outlook on life and feel healthy when their lives are filled with other valuable things that compensate for some losses.
Another definition of health is that it is a combination of physical and mental well-being. This concept includes the biopsychosocial model, which views health as the result of interactions between biological, psychological and environmental factors. For example, a person who is physically healthy but has a low self-esteem may be at risk for developing depression. This is because the connection between mental and physical health is two-way: a person’s emotions and perceptions can influence their behaviour, which in turn can have an impact on their physical wellbeing.
There is an increasing recognition that there is a close relationship between an individual’s health and the circumstances in which they grow, live, work and play (Commission on Social Determinants of Health 2008). These factors are known as health determinants. For example, a person who has lived all their life in a coastal environment might develop breathing problems when they move to a mountain area because the air there contains less oxygen.
As the World Health Organization explains, “Health is more than the absence of disease or infirmity” (WHO 1948). This pragmatic approach to health was a key aspect in the development of the Zagreb Andrija Stampar School of Public Health, and is one of the main aspects in our vision of the future. To help us achieve our vision, we need to continue working to improve the quality of health education in Croatia. To do this, we need to understand and support students as they explore health from many different perspectives. We need to develop an education system that helps them gain knowledge and skills in the fields of health promotion, health communication and behavioural change. The School of Public Health is proud to be at the forefront of this work. We are committed to supporting our students as they navigate the ever-changing and challenging landscape of our society.
Health is a complex phenomenon. It is difficult to define, and its meaning differs for every individual and their social context. The complexity of this topic makes it interesting for research and development, but also poses a challenge to communication. Consequently, it is very important that public information and interventions take the individual understanding of health into consideration. Traditionally, the medical profession has been the only authority to declare individuals healthy and disease free. But with the progress of medicine, individuals may be declared healthy today and found to be diseased tomorrow because more advanced methods of investigation detect the presence of diseases that were not diagnosed by earlier techniques. As a consequence, the definition of health has been rethought and redefined several times in history. It is a common view that a person’s health depends on their genetic predisposition and their lifestyle choices. However, some people have a more positive interpretation of health and see it as something that is not dependent on their genes or their lifestyle choices. These individuals may have a positive outlook on life and feel healthy when their lives are filled with other valuable things that compensate for some losses. Another definition of health is that it is a combination of physical and mental well-being. This concept includes the biopsychosocial model, which views health as the result of interactions between biological, psychological and environmental factors. For example, a person who is physically healthy but has a low self-esteem may be at risk for developing depression. This is because the connection between mental and physical health is two-way: a person’s emotions and perceptions can influence their behaviour, which in turn can have an impact on their physical wellbeing. There is an increasing recognition that there is a close relationship between an individual’s health and the circumstances in which they grow, live, work and play (Commission on Social Determinants of Health 2008). These factors are known as health determinants. For example, a person who has lived all their life in a coastal environment might develop breathing problems when they move to a mountain area because the air there contains less oxygen. As the World Health Organization explains, “Health is more than the absence of disease or infirmity” (WHO 1948). This pragmatic approach to health was a key aspect in the development of the Zagreb Andrija Stampar School of Public Health, and is one of the main aspects in our vision of the future. To help us achieve our vision, we need to continue working to improve the quality of health education in Croatia. To do this, we need to understand and support students as they explore health from many different perspectives. We need to develop an education system that helps them gain knowledge and skills in the fields of health promotion, health communication and behavioural change. The School of Public Health is proud to be at the forefront of this work. We are committed to supporting our students as they navigate the ever-changing and challenging landscape of our society.