Health, Wellness and Health Promotion

Question 1

Health is…

Answer 1

A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being (not just the absences or illness) - WHO
To reach a state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing, an individual or group must be able to identify and to realize aspirations, to satisfy needs, and to change or cope with the environment - Canadian Public Health Associations
Health is, therefore, seen as a resource of everyday life, not the objective of living. Health is a positive concept emphasizing social and personal resources, as well as physical capacities. - Canadian Public Health Associations

Question 2

Wellness is…

Answer 2

Purposeful, enjoyable living, or more specifically, a deliberate lifestyle choice characterized by personal responsibility and optimal enhancement of physical, mental, and spiritual health.
Also, wellness is more than freedom from disease, it means taking steps to prevent illness and involves a capacity to live life to the fullest.

Question 3

3 Criteria for Wellness

Answer 3

1) Direction and progress toward a higher potential of functioning
2) The total individual, which includes physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual components
3) Functioning and adapting for daily living in times of crisis

Question 4

What is the difference between health and wellness?

Answer 4

Wellness is distinguished by not referring to a static state of being.
Rather, wellness is associated with an active process of being aware and making choices that lead toward an outcome of optimal holistic health and wellbeing.

Question 5

Six Dimensions of Wellness

Answer 5

1) Social
2) Occupational
3) Spiritual
4) Physical
5) Intellectual
6) Emotional

Question 6

Social Dimension of Wellness

Answer 6

Contributing to society, helping others, and valuing interdependence between ourselves and our environment.
Social connectedness is a key predictor of optimal health and wellbeing.
By embracing the social dimension of wellness, we take an active part in enhancing personal relationships, celebrating friendships, and building healthy communities.

Question 7

Occupational Dimension of Wellness

Answer 7

Finding enrichment through work and/or academic studies can enhance our wellbeing.
In a “well” work/academic environment, you contribute your skills/abilities to work that is meaningful and rewarding.
Consistent with personal values, interests, and beliefs.

Question 8

Spiritual Dimension of Wellness

Answer 8

Identifying our basic purpose in life.
May or may not be connected to religion.
Helping ourselves and others achieve our/their potential and/or flourish.
Learning how to experience love, joy, peace, fulfillment.

Question 9

Physical Dimension of Wellness

Answer 9

Participation in regular physical activity.
Aerobic conditioning, strength training, and flexibility training.
Maintaining a healthy heart and weight.
Consumption of healthy foods, and avoidance or minimal participation in harmful behaviours (ie. alcohol, substance/prescription drug abuse).

Question 10

Intellectual Dimension of Wellness

Answer 10

Your ability to think and learn from life experience.
Your openness to new ideas.
Your capacity to question and evaluate information (ie. critical thinking).
Someone who is well cherishes intellectual growth and stimulation.
In turn, we challenge our minds with intellectual/creative pursuits, and become more productive.

Question 11

Emotional Dimension of Wellness

Answer 11

The degree to which one feels positive and enthusiastic about oneself and life.
Involves an awareness and acceptance of a wide range of feelings in oneself and others.
The capacity to manage and express your own feelings.
When emotionally well, able to make choices/decisions based on the connection of feelings, thoughts, philosophies, and behaviours.

Question 12

Health Promotion

Answer 12

In 1986 the Ottawa Charter was developed.
-WHO held first international conference on health promotion in Ottawa
-Outcome was a document that provided guidelines for health promotion
Health promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health.
-focusses on prevention rather than cure
Important at the individual and health level.
Supports governments, communities, and individuals to cope with and address health challenges.

Question 13

Challenges to Health Promotion

Answer 13

Reducing inequities
Increasing the prevention effort
Enhancing people’s capacity to cope with challenges

Question 14

Mechanisms to Health Promotion

Answer 14

Self-care = the decisions and actions individuals take in the interest of their own health.
Mutual aid = the actions people take to help each other cope.
Healthy environments = the creation of conditions and surroundings conducive to health.

Question 15

Five Priority Areas for Health Promotion

Answer 15

1) Build healthy public policy
2) Create supportive/healthy environments
3) Strengthen community action
4) Develop personal skills
5) Reorient health services

Question 16

1) Build healthy public policy

Answer 16

Relates to the decisions made by government and organizations in relation to the laws, regulations, and policies that affect/improve health.
Ie. tax on alcohol, no smoking in public spaces, seatbelts

Question 17

2) Create supportive/healthy environment

Answer 17

A supportive environment is one that promotes health and assists people in making healthy lifestyle choices.
Ie. quit line (a phone service for people who want to stop smoking), AA, shaded areas at parks

Question 18

3) Strengthen community action

Answer 18

Focus on building links between individuals and the community and the centres around the community to achieve a common goal.
Ie. Community centre immunization programs, free drop-in physical activity classes at the community centre

Question 19

4) Develop personal skills

Answer 19

Education is the key aspect of this priority.
It refers to gaining knowledge and skills to make informed decisions that affect health.
Ie. Reading food labels, financial literacy, sexual health knowledge

Question 20

5) Reorient Health Services

Answer 20

Refers to reorienting the health system so that it promotes health as opposed to only focusing on diagnosing and treating disease.
Having doctors prescribe exercise instead of moving directly to pharma/surgical intervention for heart disease.
Self-help groups run through a clinic.
Fire services working with schools on road safety education.

Question 21

Understanding Health Behaviour

Answer 21

To make lasting beneficial changes to your personal health and wellness, it is important to understand the following 3 factors that shape behaviour…
1) Predisposing factors = encourage/inhibit a behaviour change (ie. knowledge, attitudes, values, socioeconomic levels, education, etc.)
2) Enabling factors = make it possible/easier for people to change their behaviours (ie. physical capabilities, resources, living conditions, societal support, accessible facilities, etc.); can include negative enablers.
3) Reinforcing factors = may include priase/recognition from important others, along with healthy community policies (ie. somoke-free facilities, on-site health and wellness programs, etc.)

Question 22

SMART Goal Setting

Answer 22

Setting goals can help direct your focus and increase the likelihood for success, when planning your health and wellness behaviours.
SMART goals are an excellent approach to streamlining your goals, and a way to hold yourself accountable.
Stands for…
Specific = determine your goal and clearly define it
Measurable = determine how you will measure your success
Adjustable = understand that goals can be altered, and the process is about evolution, not revolution
Realistic = set goals that are ambitious, but not impossible
Time-bound and Trackable = specify the starting date, amount of time you intend to work on the goal, and when you will evaluate whether you have been successful.