The Canadian Health Network, part of the Public Health Agency of Canada, uses the World Health Organization’s (WHO) widely used and generally accepted definition of health:
“a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
But check this out, the Canadian Health Network goes on to clarify what this definition really means, that health is:
Multidimensional : it is related to physical, mental and social well-being.
Multi-determined : it is affected by many factors, including:
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Dynamic : it shifts freely and frequently.
Subjective : each person’s experiences of health can differ widely, even when the “dimensions” appear to be similar.
This definition has been criticized for its lack of boundaries – I guess it’d be difficult to know where to start treatment when there so many possibilities (controllable and uncontrollable).
However, the old definition of health was real loosey-goosey with: “an absence of illness”. This makes total sense when you consider the current state of healthcare – the healthcare system was set up way-back when this definition was accepted.
What do you think would happen if
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January 24th, 2008 at 11:48 am
‘Inter-dependent’ is the key word here. By our very nature, humankind is inter-dependent. So too is our health; there are many different aspects to it and all must be in balance for us to be living a balanced life.
The Canadian Health Network is simply calling attention – announcing that is so. How have they arrived at this conclusion? Well, the baby boomers are a huge demographic hunk of the population and their numbers allow for lots of studies. But we already know that everything is inter-related, especially the single mom who can’t afford medicine for her child.
Canada’s health care system is antiquated, its policies rooted in a different era – the 50’s and the 60’s when there was great relief that many formally fatal diseases were tamed. The economic and population distribution was very different as well. Now, 85% of Canadians live in cities where many of the factors outlined above are in constant play.
We, as a country, city, and a community, need to move to a more balanced outlook on what health means. The first step is awareness, the second? Communication amongst each other. Third, participation; speaking out and petitioning for change.
January 25th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
So, petition for more tax dollars spent in health education AND take an active role in self-education, practicing what we preach, and spreading the word to others also interested in achieving the above definition of health.
That’s all very doable. Count me in.