VCE Health & Human Development Units 3 and 4 - Chapter 1 - Concepts of Health and Wellbeing

• What is health?


  Health is the state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
• What is wellbeing?


  Wellbeing is a complex combination of a person's physical, social, mental, emotional and spiritual existence characterised by an equilibrium in which an individual feels happy, healthy, capable and engaged.
• Why is wellbeing difficult to measure?


  Measuring wellbeing in a population is difficult because the interpretation of wellbeing is subjective. Each person may have a different set of factors used to determine and measure their wellbeing.
• What is health and wellbeing?


  Health and wellbeing relates to the state of a person's physical, social, mental, emotional, and spiritual existence characterised by an equilibrium in which the individual feels happy, healthy, capable and engaged.
• What is the difference between health and wellbeing?


  Health is the state of complete physical, social and mental wellbeing, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity while, wellbeing is a complex combination of a person's physical, social, mental, emotional, and spiritual existence characterised by an equilibrium in which an individual feels happy, healthy, capable and engaged.
• What is a disease?


  A disease is a physical or mental disturbance involving symptoms, dysfunction or tissue damage.
• What is an illness?


  An illness is a subjective concept of a personal experience of a disease.
• What is the difference between disease and illness?


  A disease is a physical or mental disturbance involving symptoms, dysfunction or tissue damage while, an illness is a subjective concept of a personal experience of a disease.
• What is infirmity?


  Infirmity is the quality or state of being weak or ill ; often associated with old age.
• What does dynamic health and wellbeing mean?


  Dynamic health and wellbeing means that it is in a constant state of change and changes can occur slowly or quickly.
• What is the case of dynamic health and wellbeing that relates to physical health and wellbeing?


  A person could be experiencing optimal physical functioning and then contract an infectious disease making them feel sick.
• What is the case of dynamic health and wellbeing that relates to social health and wellbeing?


  An individual may move away from home and lose contact with many of their friends, but could then make new friends.
• What is the case of dynamic health and wellbeing that relates to mental health and wellbeing?


  A person may feel stressed and then go for a run which may help reduce their levels of stress.
• What is the case of dynamic health and wellbeing that relates to emotional health and wellbeing?


  A person experiencing grief after the loss of a loved one may learn strategies to help them deal with their feelings of loss, which can improve their health and wellbeing.
• What is the case of dynamic health and wellbeing that relates to spiritual health and wellbeing?


  A person may feel they have no sense of purpose in life and then get a new job which gives them direction and purpose.
• What is subjective health and wellbeing?


  Subjective health and wellbeing means different things to different people.
• What is the case of subjective health and wellbeing that relates to physical health and wellbeing?


  A person with a chronic disease may experience good health and wellbeing if their condition is being managed.
• What is the case of subjective health and wellbeing that relates to social health and wellbeing?


  Someone who has regular contact with one close friend may feel they are experiencing good social health and wellbeing whereas, this may make another person feel lonely.
• What is the case of subjective health and wellbeing that also relates to physical health and wellbeing?


  An elderly person may view their health and wellbeing as good if they can live independently and look after themselves.
• What is a chronic condition?


  A chronic condition is any disease or condition that lasts a long time (usually longer than six months). It usually can't be cured and therefore requires ongoing treatment and management.
• What are two examples of chronic conditions?


  Two examples of chronic conditions include :

  1. Arthritis

  2. Asthma
• What is physical health and wellbeing?


  Physical health and wellbeing relates to the functioning of the body and its systems and includes the physical capacity to perform daily activities or tasks.
• What are the 7 characteristics of physical health and wellbeing?


  The 7 characteristics of physical health and wellbeing :

  1. Healthy body weight

  2. Freedom from illness, disease and injury

  3. Adequate energy levels

  4. Ability to complete physical tasks adequately

  5. Appropriate levels of fitness

  6. Strong immune system

  7. Well-functioning body, systems and organs
• What is social health and wellbeing?


  Social health and wellbeing relates to the ability to form satisfying and meaningful relationships with others and the ability to manage or adapt appropriately to different social situations. It also includes the level of support by family and within a community to ensure that every person has an equal opportunity to function as a contributing member of the society.
• What are the 5 characteristics fo social health and wellbeing?

  The 5 characteristics of social health and wellbeing include :1. Supportive network of friends2. Supportive and well-functioning family3. Ability to manage or adapt appropriately to different social situations.4. Effective communication with others5. Productive relationships with other people
• What is mental health and wellbeing?

  Mental health and wellbeing is the current state of the mind or brain and it relates to the ability to think and process information. A mentally healthy brain enables an individual to poisitively form opinions, make decisions and use logic.
• What are the 6 characteristics of mental health and wellbeing?

  The 6 characteristics of mental health and wellbeing are :1. Low levels of stress and anxiety2. Positive self-esteem (how a person feels about themselves)3. Processing information to solve problems4. High levels of confidence5. Use logic and reasoning to form opinions and make decisions.6. Positive thought patterns (being optimistic)
• What is emotional health and wellbeing?


  Emotional health and wellbeing relates to the ability to express emotions and feelings in a positive way. It's about the positive management of emotional actions and reactions as well as the ability to display resilience. Emotional health and wellbeing is the degree to which an individual feels emotionally secure and relaxed in everyday life.
• What are the 4 characteristics of Emotional health and wellbeing?

  The 4 characteristics of Emotional health and wellbeing are :1. Recognising and understanding the range of emotions.2. Effectively responding to and managing emotions.3. Experiencing appropriate emotions in different scenarios.4. Having a high level of resilience.
• What is spiritual health and wellbeing?


  Spiritual health and wellbeing is not material in nature but relates to ideas, beliefs, values and ethics that arise in the mind and conscience of human beings. Spiritual health includes the concepts of hope, peace a guiding sense of meaning or value and reflection on a person's place in the world. Spiritual health and wellbeing can be highly individualised; for example, in some traditions, spiritual health and wellbeing may relate to an organised religion, a higher power and prayer, while in other practices it can relate to morals, values, a sense of purpose in life, connection or belonging.
• What are the 5 characteristics of Spiritual health and wellbeing?

  The 5 characteristics of Spiritual health and wellbeing are :

  1. A sense of belonging and connection to the world

  2. Positive meaning and purpose in life

  3. Peace and harmony

  4. Developed personal values and beliefs

  5. Acting according to values and beliefs
• What are examples of beliefs?


  Examples of beliefs include :

  1. God exists

  2. The mind can cure the body

  3. All people are created equal

  4. The planet is a resource to be used for human gain

  5. There is life after death

  6. Heaven exists

  7. It is wrong to steal

  8. Animals have rights.

  9. Immigration should be encouraged

  10. People evolved through evolution

  11. Wealth should be shared equally

  12. Success is achieved through hard work
• How does physical health and wellbeing influence social health and wellbeing?


  When an individual has adequate levels of energy, they are physically able to participate in activities with friends, which can enhance relationships.
• How does physical health and wellbeing influence mental health and wellbeing?


  An individual who is fit and physically capable of carrying out daily tasks is more likely to feel good about themselves and have positive self-esteem.
• How does physical health and wellbeing influence emotional health and wellbeing?


  An individual who is sick may experience emotions such as fear and anger and respond appropriately to these emotions.
• How does physical health and wellbeing influence spiritual health and wellbeing?


  A person who is able to function physically due to adequate energy levels is more able to participate in community activities, which can enhance feelings of belonging
• How does social health and wellbeing influence physical health and wellbeing?


  Strong social networks have been shown to reduce smoking rates and obesity, which can reduce the risk of a range of conditions including cardiovascular disease.
• How does social health and wellbeing influence mental health and wellbeing?


  Having a close network of friends allows people to share problems with others, which can reduce stress.
• How does social health and wellbeing influence emotional health and wellbeing?


  Close social bonds allow individuals to be themselves and share their emotions with others which can assist in responding appropriately to them.
• How does social health and wellbeing influence spiritual health and wellbeing?


  When a person has social bonds, they are more likely to feel connected to the world in which they live.