Concept of positive health as per WHO guidelines

• Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the
absence of disease or infirmity’ (World Health Organisation [WHO], 1948: 100).
• Positive health defined it as “the extent to which an individual or group is able to
realize aspirations and satisfy needs and to change or cope with the environment.
• Health is a resource for everyday life, not the objective of living; it is a positive
concept, emphasizing social and personal resources, as well as physical capacities”.
Thus, health referred to the ability to maintain homeostasis and recover from insults.
• The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental
rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief,
economic or social condition.
• Unequal development in different countries in the promotion of health and control of
diseases, especially communicable disease, is a common danger.
• The determinants of health include:
➢ The social and economic environment
➢ The physical environment
➢ The person’s individual characteristics and behaviors.
➢ Income and social status : higher income and social status are linked to better health.
The greater the gap between the richest and poorest people, the greater the differences
in health.
➢ Education: low education levels are linked with poor health, more stress, and lower
self-confidence.
➢ Buy vitamins and supplements
➢ Physical environment: safe water and clean air, healthy workplaces, safe houses,
communities, and roads all contribute to good health. Employment and working
conditions – people in employment are healthier, particularly those who have more
control over their working conditions.
➢ Genetics: inheritance plays a part in determining lifespan, healthiness, and the
likelihood of developing certain illnesses. Personal behavior and coping skills –
balanced eating, keeping active, smoking, drinking, and how we deal with life’s
stresses and challenges all affect health.
➢ Gender : Men and women suffer from different types of diseases at different ages.
➢ Social support networks: greater support from families, friends, and communities is
linked to better health. Culture – customs and traditions, and the beliefs of the family
and community all affect health.
 Concept of positive wellness as per WHO guidelines

• WHO defines wellness as “the optimal state of health of individuals and

groups,” which may be expressed as “a positive approach to living.”
• The National Wellness Institute, explains wellness as “an active process through
which people become aware of, and make choices toward, a more successful
existence.”
• The National Wellness Institute states that there is general agreement that:
• Wellness is considered a conscious, self-directed and evolving process of achieving
full potential.
• Wellness is multidimensional and holistic, encompassing lifestyle, mental and
spiritual well-being, and the environment.
• Wellness is positive and affirming.
• The primary difference between health and wellness is that health is your state of
being, or a goal to achieve, and wellness is the active process of achieving it through
growth and change. Through wellness we hope to reach our fullest potential of
health and well-being.
The Nine Dimensions of Wellness
• Both health and wellness are very broad terms. To help identify ways we can grow and
change to reach our optimal health, it is helpful to view wellness in terms of the Nine
Dimensions of Wellness. The Nine Dimensions of Wellness can help to identify ways you
can make wellness a part of your everyday life.
• The Nine Dimensions of Wellness include: Physical, Emotional, Social, Environmental,
Financial, Intellectual, Occupational, Spiritual, and Cultural.
• These dimensions of wellness are not isolated, but rather are interconnected.
• Problems or challenges in one dimension can impact the other, while the opposite can also
be true, that by improving your health and wellness in one area can help to improve other
dimensions.
• For example, your emotional wellness can be positively impacted through exercise (physical
wellness) but negatively impacted by financial struggles that often lead to high stress.
Emotional Wellness
• Coping effectively with life and expressing emotions in an appropriate manner are
keys to emotional wellness. An emotionally well person successfully expresses
and manages an entire range of feelings, including anger, doubt, hope, joy, desire,
fear, and many others. People who are emotionally well maintain a high level of
self-esteem. They have a positive body-image and the ability to regulate their
feelings. They know where to seek support and help regarding their mental health,
including but not limited to, seeking professional counseling services.

• How would you rate your emotional wellness and what behaviors could you
change, or actions could you take, to positively improve your emotional wellness?
Social Wellness
• People who are focused on their social wellness are striving for positive
relationships, developing a sense of connection, belonging, and sustained support
system. A socially well person builds healthy relationships based on
interdependence, trust, and respect. Those who are socially well have a keen
awareness of the feelings of others. They develop a network of friends and co-
workers who share a common purpose, and who provide support and validation.

• How would you rate your social wellness and what behaviors could you change,
or actions could you take, to positively improve your social wellness?
Environmental Wellness
• Environmental wellness includes a desire to positively impact our planet Earth and
also our local community by striving to occupy pleasant, healthy, and safe
environments that support well-being and positively impact the quality of our
surroundings (including protecting and preserving nature). An environmentally
well person appreciates the external cues and stimuli that an environment can
provide . People who have achieved environmental wellness recognize the limits
to controlling an environment and seek to understand the role an individual plays
in the environment.

• How would you rate your environmental wellness and what behaviors could you
change, or actions could you take, to positively improve your environmental
wellness?
Financial Wellness
• Financial wellness refers to achieving satisfaction with current and future financial
situations by handling finances wisely. Those who are financially well are fully
aware of their current financial state. They set long- and short-term goals
regarding finances that will allow them to reach their personal financial goals.

• How would you rate your financial wellness and what behaviors could you
change, or actions could you take, to positively improve your financial wellness?
Intellectual Wellness
• Intellectual wellness includes being open-minded, recognizing creative abilities,
and/or finding ways to expand knowledge and skills. Those who enjoy intellectual
wellness engage in lifelong learning. They seek knowledge and activities that
further develop their critical thinking and heighten global awareness. They engage
in activities associated with the arts, philosophy, and reasoning.

• How would you rate your intellectual wellness and what behaviors could you
change, or actions could you take, to positively improve your intellectual
wellness?
Occupational Wellness
• Occupational wellness refers to personal fulfillment and enrichment from one’s
work and/or responsibilities. An occupationally well person enjoys the pursuit of
a career which is fulfilling on a variety of levels. This person finds satisfaction and
enrichment in work, while always in pursuit of opportunities to reach the next
level of professional success.

• How would you rate your occupational wellness and what behaviors could you
change, or actions could you take, to positively improve your occupational
wellness?
Spiritual Wellness
• Spiritual wellness refers to having a sense of purpose and meaning in life, this
may come from establishing peace, harmony, and balance in our lives. People
who can be described as spiritually well have identified a core set of beliefs that
guide their decision making, and other faith- based endeavors. While firm in their
spiritual beliefs, they understand others may have a distinctly different set of
guiding principles. They recognize the relationship between spirituality and
identity in all individuals.

• How would you rate your spiritual wellness and what behaviors could you change,
or actions could you take, to positively improve your spiritual wellness?
Cultural Wellness
• Cultural wellness refers to the way you interact with others who are different from
you. This includes understanding and celebrating our differences. Culturally well
people are aware of their own cultural background, as well as the diversity and
richness present in other cultural backgrounds. Cultural wellness implies
understanding, awareness and intrinsic respect for aspects of diversity. A culturally
well person acknowledges and accepts the impact of these aspects of diversity on
sexual orientation, religion, gender, racial and ethnic backgrounds, age groups,
and disabilities.

• How would you rate your cultural wellness and what behaviors could you change,
or actions could you take, to positively improve your cultural wellness?