Health and wellbeing

Health and wellbeing

Refers to the overall state of a person’s physical, social, emotional, mental and spiritual being and is characterised by an equilibrium in which the individual feels, happy, capable, engaged.

Health and wellbeing is dynamic

Constantly changing (e.g. Health and Wellbeing can change quickly or gradual over time)

Physical health and wellbeing

Relates to the functioning of the body and its systems, it includes the physical capacity to perform daily activities or tasks.

Physical health and wellbeing characteristics

-Healthy body weight

-Absence of illness, disease and injury

-Appropriate levels of fitness

-Optimal levels of energy

-Physical capacity to perform daily tasks

Mental health and wellbeing

Is the current state of well-being relating to the mind or the brain and includes the ability to think and process information.

Mental health and wellbeing characteristics

-Stress and anxiety

-Self esteem

-Confidence

-Positive thought patterns

Social health and wellbeing

Relates to the state and quality of the interactions and relationships that an individual has with other people. It includes the ability to manage or adapt appropriately to different social situations.

Social health and wellbeing characteristics

-Supportive network of friends

-Effective communication with others

-Productive relationships with other people

-Supportive and well-functioning family

Spiritual health and wellbeing

Refers to the ideas, beliefs, values and ethics that arise in the minds and conscience of human beings.

Spiritual health and wellbeing characteristics

-A sense of belonging and connection in the world

-Positive meaning and purpose in life

-Peace and harmony

Emotional health and wellbeing

Relates to the ability to express feelings in an appropriate way. Emotional health is about the positive management and expression of emotional actions and reactions.

Emotional health and wellbeing characteristics

-Resilience

-Recognise and understand emotional actions and reactions

-Effectively express and manage emotional actions and reactions

-Experience appropriate emotions in different scenarios