Health is a multi-faceted concept that can be difficult to define and measure. The definitions we have today range from a narrow, biomedical perspective that defines health as the absence of negative biologic circumstances (including altered DNA, abnormal physiologic states, disease, disability or death) to the broad definition of the World Health Organization, which describes it as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being.
The latter definition enables health promotion efforts to focus not only on reducing the risks of disease, disability and death but also on individuals’ perceptions of and responses to their illnesses; their functional capacity now and in the future; their sense of personal, emotional, and social well-being; and their sense of connection with others. It also acknowledges the important contributions to health from activities that take place outside medical care and public health systems.
For example, consider a young woman with Down Syndrome who competes as a swimmer and gains meaning in her life through her sport. Or, a high school teacher with bipolar disorder who manages his condition through medication and lifestyle, is a husband and father, and is active in community groups.
As the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated, our lives are increasingly interconnected. Our health and well-being are impacted by the global contexts to which we must adapt, whether through environmental stressors like war or natural disasters; political choices that affect our food, shelter, and medical resources; economic conditions that shape access to opportunities; or the loss of loved ones or livelihoods.