The (Re)defining of Health

1948 the WHO described health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (World Health Organization, n.d.).This definition is somewhat limited with regard to relevance in 2022 as it lacks particulars around the importance of self-managing illness and disease, coexisting with illness and disease, and overall adaptation of societies advancements with healthcare related to illness and disease. Adaptation to disease and illness results in social inclusion; retrospectively, improving the quality of life, and at times decreasing the cost of healthcare. (Huber et al., 2011). I have always viewed my own personal definition of health to be flavoured with what Frost et al. emphasize as the recovery-oriented model; where health is achieved through complex and non-linear experiences that are inherently personal (Frost et al., 2017). Moreover, a definition of health from the recovery-oriented model encompasses elements specific to individual and self-directed care, the holistic approach, and one that reduces stigma and discrimination. The WHO’s definition of health omits these specifics; contributing towards it being obsolete and failing the diversity and complexity of our health care needs as a society.

A more modern-day definition of health would encompass and acknowledge illness and disabilities can often co-exist with wellness; transforming the idea that the absence of illness and disease is required in the definition, and often utilized as a central theme toward achieving overall health and recovery. A current definition of health is, “health becomes not a static state of being, but a dynamic quality of living where body, mind, and spirit are fully employed to make the most of each day.” (Bradley et al., 2018, p. 204). This definition emphasizes the fluidity of health, and its ever-changing outcome measures in addition to the measurement of health to be qualitative and not easily measured by quantitative results. Furthermore, it is essential an up to date measuring of health connects with what we know to be the determinants of health such as income and social status, employment, education, childhood experiences, physical environment, biology and genetic endowment, gender, culture and race (Government of Canada, n.d.). When the social determinants of health are included in the concept and definition of health, we contribute to people’s capacity to fulfil their potential and manage their lives with independence.

Bradley, K. L., Goetz, T., & Viswanathan, S. (2018). Toward a Contemporary Definition of Health. Military Medicine, 183(suppl_3), 204–207. https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usy213

Frost, B. G., Tirupati, S., Johnston, S., Turrell, M., Lewin, T. J., Sly, K. A., & Conrad, A. M. (2017). An Integrated Recovery-oriented Model (IRM) for mental health services: evolution and challenges. BMC Psychiatry, 17(1), 22. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-016-1164-3

Government of Canada. (n.d.). What-Determines-Health. Social Determinants of Health and Health Inequalities. Retrieved February 3, 2022, from https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/population-health/what-determines-health.html

Huber, M., Knottnerus, J. A., Green, L., Horst, H. v. d., Jadad, A. R., Kromhout, D., Leonard, B., Lorig, K., Loureiro, M. I., Meer, J. W. M. v. d., Schnabel, P., Smith, R., Weel, C. v., & Smid, H. (2011). How should we define health? BMJ, 343(jul26 2), d4163–d4163. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.d4163

World Health Organization. (n.d.). who.int/about/governance/constitution. Constitution. Retrieved February 3, 2022, from https://www.who.int/about/governance/constitution