Health and the Individual

Defining Health and Wellness

Health (WHO 1948 Definition): A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
- Shift from Medical Model: Historically, there was a focus only on treating disease or injury. The 1948 definition marked a shift towards a more holistic view of the person.
- Expansion (1986): Health was expanded to include the ability to identify and realize aspirations, satisfy needs, and change or cope with the environment, incorporating external factors.
- Positive Concept: Further developed to be a positive concept, emphasizing social and personal resources as well as physical capabilities, moving beyond the mere absence of illness.
- Objective Nature: Health is generally considered objective (e.g., measurable through symptoms or tests). One can be healthy but still feel unwell.
Wellness: A very subjective concept, defined as how a person feels.
- Subjectivity: One can be completely healthy (objectively) but not feel well (subjectively), or vice-versa.
- Active Process: Wellness is an active, dynamic process that changes and has multiple dimensions.
- Perception of Daily Functions: How an individual perceives their daily functions and well-being, heavily influenced by their environment.
  - Example: A client recovering from knee surgery may feel healthy and optimistic if they can participate in meaningful activities while using a walker, demonstrating well-being despite physical limitations.
- Different Definitions: Each person's definition of wellness is unique and internal. Someone with a chronic disease might still feel well if it's their