Booklet one Flashcards
(33 cards)
How was health
viewed in the past?
Health was often seen relating to the body (the physical dimension) and more specifically, the absence of disease. If a person was not sick or in pain, they were seen to be in a good state of health.
The Who 1946 Definition
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
Why was the Who 1946 definition significant
It was the first time health was considered as being more than physical health. It also acknowledged the absence of disease as only one aspect of health, emphasising that health is a positive concept and not only related to whether a person is sick or not.
Main limitation of 1946 definition
Although it moved beyond the physical characteristics of health, it was still limiting as it did not give everyone the chance to be considered healthy. Achieving ‘complete’ wellbeing in all dimensions is difficult to achieve and beyond the capacity for most people.
What did the WHO definition add in 1986?
Added, ‘To reach a state of complete physical, social, and emotional health and wellbeing, an individual or group must be able to identify and to realise aspirations, to satisfy needs, and change or cope to environment.’
What were three positive outcomes from the clarification in 1986?
- Makes the concept of health more inclusive and achievable
- The notion of complete wellbeing being clarified by stating that health is an individual concept
- Acknowledged it will differ from person to person depending on many factors e.g. health outcomes, biological and socio cultural factors, and the environments in which people live in
Describe the concept of wellbeing?
It takes health outcomes into account but also considers other factors in a persons life e.g. happiness and life satisfaction. Wellbeing is sometimes described as however a person feels and information about it comes from self-reporting
VCAA definition of health and wellbeing
Health and Wellbeing is the state of a persons’ physical, social, emotional, spiritual and mental existence, characterised by an equilibrium in which the individual feels happy, healthy, capable and engaged.
health and wellbeing can be split into two subjects
dynamic and subjective
Health and wellbeing is dynamic…
It is in a constant state of change. Changes can occur slowly or quickly.
Health and wellbeing is subjective…
It means different things to different people.
Health and wellbeing is dynamic examples ( three min)
- A person could
experience optimal
physical functioning and
then contract an
infectious disease making
them feel sick - A person experiencing
grief after the loss of a
loved one may learn
strategies to help them
deal with their feelings of
loss, which can improve
their health and wellbeing - An individual may move
away from home and lose
contact with many of their
friends , but could then
make new friends - A person may feel they
have no sense of purpose
in life and then get a new
job that gives them
direction and purpose - A person may feel
stressed and then go
for a run, which may
help to reduce their
levels of stress.
disease definition
A disease is a physical or mental disturbance involving symptoms, dysfunction or tissue damage.
disease description
- physical or mental in nature
- can range from mild discomfort to severe pain.
- Injuries also vary significantly in their severity.
illness is dynamic…
Illness is dynamic as it changes constantly
as a person experiences disease or injury
illness is dynamic examples
- These changes may be
rapid and produce
obvious changes such as
breaking a bone - These changes may be
occur gradually and
difficult to notice such as
healing of broken bone.
Many diseases and injuries follow
a particular course and may get
worse initially, then over time
improve with treatment and rest
causing levels of illness to change
illness is subjective…
Different people may experience diseases and injury in different
ways. Level of illness may be influenced by – age, past experience of
a disease or injury, pain threshold, social support
illness is subjective examples
- Person with a high threshold of pain may
experience a lower level of illness than
person with low threshold of pain, even
though their disease or injury is the
same. - Person low level of social support and
few people to help them through their
disease may experience a higher level of
illness than a person with adequate
social support
The subjective nature of illness relates to how people…
experience disease and injuries, not how they ‘feel about diseases.’ For example, a person can have strong negative feelings about cancer, even if they have never experienced it, which doesn’t reflect the subjective nature of illness
Emotional health and wellbeing definition
The ability to recognise, understand and effectively manage and express emotions as well as the ability to
display resilience.
emotional health and wellbeing characteristics
Recognise and understand a range of emotions, High levels of resilience, Experience appropriate emotions in different situations
Mental health and wellbeing
Relates to the state of a person’s mind or brain and relates to the ability to think and process information.
Mental health and wellbeing aspects
Low levels of stress and anxiety, Use logic and reasoning to form opinions and make decisions, Positive self-esteem
Spiritual health and wellbeing
Relates to ideals, beliefs, values and ethics that arise in the minds and conscience of human beings. It includes the concepts of hope peace, a guiding sense of meaning or value, and reflection on a person’s place in the world.
