Health is defined by the World Health Organization as ‘a state of complete physical and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’.
To be completely healthy in terms of physical, mental and social well-being, a person or a group needs to be able to recognise and achieve their aspirations, meet their needs and adapt to changing environments.
“The part can never be well unless the whole is well.”
– Plato
Just as every unit, whether small or big, works together in a system to stay balanced, the same is true for your health. Instead of only focusing on diseases and relying too much on medicines, holistic healthcare looks for different ways to promote health. Our relationships, culture and the environment around us all have a huge impact on our health. It's important to create a medical system that helps people be well.
Keep reading to understand why a holistic approach to health is important.
Health promotion is one of the major interventions employed in healthcare delivery, especially in primary care. It helps individuals, families and society to adopt or change their lifestyles to be healthier. This means making good choices that improve health. Each person and community have factors that can either help or harm their health. Health promotion enables everyone to understand and control these factors, so they can live healthier lives.
According to the Ottawa Charter, health promotion is ‘the process that enables people to increase control over their health and improve their overall health’.
Health is seen as a resource for everyday life, not the objective of living. It's a positive concept that includes social and personal resources along with physical capacities. So, health promotion isn't just the responsibility of the health sector; it's beyond living a healthy lifestyle – it's about well-being.
Prerequisites for health |
The fundamental conditions and resources required for health are: |
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Improvement in health depends on a strong foundation in the above requirements. |
This was introduced at the first international conference on health promotion, which took place on November 21, 1986, in Ottawa. Its goal was to achieve health for all by the year 2000 and beyond.
This conference took place because of growing expectations for improved public health movement across the globe. The discussions mainly focused on the needs of developed countries but also considered similar concerns in other parts of the world.
When developing strategies for health promotion, it's important to think of critical factors such as holism and ecology. It’s also crucial to remember that in every step of planning, implementing and assessing health promotion activities, both men and women should be treated as equals. Here are basic strategies for health promotion:
1. Health communication
Conversations about health involve verbal and written techniques to convince and empower people, groups and society to make healthy choices. Effective health communication often uses the tools of social marketing through the following means:
Using different ways to communicate helps spread health messages to individuals, communities and institutions at both local and national levels. Radio, television, newspapers, flyers, brochures, the internet, social media and more can all be used to share health messages. Health communication can be used to alert people about health risks, encourage healthy behaviours, influence social norms, increase availability of help and services and empower people to take charge of their health.
2. Health education
Health education is a social science approach that uses physical, medical and other sciences to promote health and prevent sickness. It can be taught by different means like lectures, courses, workshops, seminars, webinars and more. Here are some common features of health education strategy:
3. Policy improvement
Policies are a way to promote and support health and prevent diseases. These are set out by organisations and stakeholders and implemented through legislative advocacy, economic measures, taxation and regulations. Here are some examples of health policies:
4. Systems change
Systems change means an essential shift in the way issues are solved. In a business, it affects organisational intent and how it functions, as well as addressing organisational beliefs, culture, protocols, relationships and objectives.
5. Environmental change
Environment techniques to promote health involve social, environmental and fiscal aspects. Here are some examples:
Have you ever thought about how your neighbours, your gym, or even your phone can affect your health in a big way? The people around you and the society you live in can influence many aspects of your life. Keep reading to find out why it's good to live in a healthy society.
Importance of living in a healthy society |
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Better physical health |
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Better mental health |
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Stronger community support |
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More holistic educational opportunities |
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1. Better physical health:
Living in a community where you can easily get medical care, use wellness facilities and find healthy food is good for your physical health.
2. Better mental health:
Studies show that mental health is just as important as physical health. Taking care of your mind, especially during tough times, can really make a difference in your daily life. Feeling included in a community can also affect how you see yourself and your purpose. This can be true whether you have a fitness buddy, are part of an organisation, or spend time with your family.
3. Stronger community support:
The people you interact with can strongly impact both your mental and physical health. Many studies connect various health conditions, like anxiety, depression, ADHD, substance abuse, aggressive behaviour, asthma, heart disease and obesity, to environmental factors. To keep healthy, it's important to have a supportive community you can rely on.
4. More holistic educational opportunities:
The education you can get depends a lot on the community you're in, as schools are often determined by district boundaries. Living in a society with good schools and resources adds to your well-being.
Good health relies on more than just healthcare; it involves factors such as income, employment, housing and the availability of public services. Unfortunately, many of these elements crucial for health have deteriorated due to a decade of staffing and budgeting shortfalls and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially affecting those in the most deprived areas.
1. Stalling life expectancy and widening health inequalities
2. Substantial and growing unmet need for NHS and social care services
3. A decade of underinvestment
4. Persistent staff shortages
GBS is one of the leading institutions in the UK, known for its industry-specific courses in fields such as healthcare, business, finance and more. With a significant presence in major UK cities, the institution is dedicated to its mission of “changing lives through education”.
Healthcare courses by GBS |
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BSc (Hons) Health, Wellbeing and Social Care with Foundation Year |
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BSc (Hons) Health, Wellbeing and Social Care (Level 6 Direct Entry) |
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HND in Healthcare Practice for England (Healthcare Management) |
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Health promotion involves efforts to enhance and improve overall well-being by encouraging positive behaviours, preventing illness and fostering a healthy lifestyle through education, awareness and supportive environments.
Health promotion strategies encompass various approaches aimed at encouraging and enabling individuals and communities to adopt healthier behaviours, make informed choices and create environments that support well-being. These strategies may include education, awareness campaigns, policy changes, community engagement and fostering supportive conditions for healthy living.
These are the 3 basic strategies for health promotion:
An HND in Healthcare Practice for England (Healthcare Management) offers a comprehensive insight into the healthcare landscape in England by blending hands-on experience with theoretical studies. Engaging in practical training within a health and social care setting equips you with the necessary skills and knowledge to embark on a fulfilling career in this sector.
GBS offers some of the best healthcare courses in the UK such as:
Want to know more about the courses? Contact our student support team.
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