Defining Health

Health, according to the World Health Organization, is “a condition of full physical, mental and emotional well being and not just the absence of illness and infirmity”. Various definitions have also been used over time for various purposes. One of the more popular ones today is that which defines healthy health. According to this definition, health is the sum total of all of a person’s experiences and thoughts, emotions, and physical and mental resources which allow him or her to participate in the community, learn to develop his or her skills, and to handle his or her resources effectively for the accomplishment of his or her life goal(s). This definition is somewhat similar to the religious definition of God which is that which provides us with our spirit, mind, and body in order for us to experience life as an expression of God’s love. In addition, health involves your ability to live an active and satisfying life both physically and emotionally.

The task of defining health has become especially important in the wake of increased diagnoses of various mental illnesses, especially in the past few years. According to WHO, “No single measure can provide a universal or absolute definition of health because all humans share a wide range of common characteristics that are influenced by genetic, physical and social environment factors.” Similarly, the Canadian Healthy Outcomes Survey identified twelve different mental illnesses that negatively affect the quality of life of individuals and can result in a lack of wellbeing, which may result in higher health care costs and reduce the effectiveness of treatments.

As with any other part of life, unhealthy habits must be eliminated or changed if an individual is to lead a productive and happy life. This means that a number of important definitions must be taken into account in order for a person to reach good health. These include defining what health means, what you look like and how your body and mind respond to stress. It also includes the understanding that each individual is unique and that what makes one person healthy or unhealthy may not reflect the same positive or negative aspects of another person’s life. Finally, it recognizes that emotional health depends on social aspects such as family support and relationships, and these are important areas to consider in defining health.