indicates that link will open in a new window.Understanding Health vs. Wellness vs. Wellbeing
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Health
The World Health Organization constitution states that "health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." Mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.
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Wellness
The Global Wellness Institute defines wellness as “the active pursuit of activities, choices, and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health.” Wellness is an individual pursuit—we have self-responsibility for our own choices, behaviors, and lifestyles—but it is also significantly influenced by the physical, social, and cultural environments in which we live.
Title
Well-being
The World Health Organization defines well-being as a “positive state experienced by individuals and societies.” Well-being encompasses quality of life, as well as the ability of people and societies to contribute to the world in accordance with a sense of meaning and purpose.
In Higher Education, sponsored by professionals in associations that support students, we define well-being as an “optimal and dynamic state that allows people to achieve their full potential” focused on individual and community wellbeing.
Individual wellbeing is defined within three broad and interrelated categories:
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The perceived assessment of one’s own life as being generally happy and satisfying
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Having one’s human rights and needs met, and
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One’s contribution to the community.
Community well-being is defined by relationships and connectedness, perceived quality of life for all people in the community, and how well the community meets the needs of all members. By focusing on the whole — the whole person, the whole educational experience, the whole institution, the whole community — well-being becomes a multifaceted goal and a shared responsibility for the entire institution.
