How to Improve the Health and Well Being of the Population - Essay Example

?Strategies in Promoting Health and Well Being Introduction Problems of health of the public are quite often pushed behind the shroud of the poor lifestyle behaviours of individuals. Such a perspective is narrow for it is based on a deficit model of health, in which the absence of absence of disease is the focus of the health if the individual and lacks a more holistic interpretation of health. Current strategies in health promotion challenges such a narrow concept of health and looks forth to a more comprehensive evaluation of all the factors involved in the health and well being of an individual. An understanding of these wider elements changes the direction of the primary focus of health promotion towards making available the conditions that support health and healthy behaviour. This change in direction brings into importance the role played by the state in being a driving force in tackling the determinants that influence the health and well being of individuals. As such health and well being of an individual is no longer the sole responsibility of individuals and health and well being of individuals becomes an issue of social justice (Green & Tones, 2010). Health and Well Being The search for a universally accepted and useful definition of health and well being is not easy. While the concept of not feeling sick as an indication of the health of an individual is important, health cannot be taken to be simplified into this context, for there are other issues to be considered. A more suitable manner to look at health is considering health as a sense of optimum well being, wherein wellbeing includes the elements of state of physical, mental, social and spiritual well being. Looking at health from this perspective means that health of the individual is strongly influenced through being in harmony with the individual itself, the people around the individual and the social and physical environments in which the individual resides. From such a perspective the individual’s role in maintaining health and well being resides in not undertaking harmful behaviours and instead having healthy life styles, giving necessary attention to the mental well being and being supportive for health and well being activities undertaken in the community (Edlin & Golanty, 2010). Such a concept of health and well being was seen as far back as 1948 by the World Health Organization (WHO), when it defined health as being “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely an absence of disease or infirmity (Health and Fitness, 2010). This old definition of health by WHO has faced criticism on the ground that its definition of health does not go in tandem with the different ways in which perceive what health means to them. However, the definition can be defended on the ground that it contains the elements of positive health with emphasis on mental and social wellbeing that involves not just the individual alone, but also the various other factors and agencies that have a role to play in maintaining the health and well being of the individual (Ewles & Simnett, 2004). Strategies for Promoting Health and Well Being For the development of strategies for promoting health and well being, the first prerequisite is to understand what health promotion means and what are the elements involved in health promotion. The concept of health promotion is enable individuals to have better control on their health with the objective of improving their health, which takes into consideration the assistance that would be required for individuals to achieve a state of total physical, mental and social well being. Thus there are three elements to health promotion consisting of assisting individuals to identify and realise their health aspirations, satisfy their health needs and make the necessary adjustments to change with the environment they live in. In other words we are looking at health promotion as the means for people to enhance their control of the determinants of health, so as to have better health. Health promotion interventions may thus have elements like fostering a better lifestyle, makes it easier to access health services and encouragement to use them and be a part of their health decisions and developing an environment where the choice to better health is the easier choice (Naidoo & Willis, 2000). The responsibility for health promotion and well being is a shared function. The responsibility is shared amongst the individuals themselves, groups and schools within the community, health service professionals, health service providers and the governments. It is essential that all those responsible for health promotion and well-being work singly and cooperatively towards developing strategies for health promotion and well-being and making them a success, so that the healthcare system as a whole works towards promoting health and well being (Hitchcock, Schubert & Thomas, 2003). Strategies for Health Promotion and Well Being at the Individual Level Health counselling is a normal practice between an individual and the nurse or physician. The objective in this exercise is to raise the awareness level of health issues in the individual, with the rationale that heightened awareness will lead to enhanced health promotion and well being actions by the individual. Such a rationale comes from the health belief model, wherein an individual takes necessary action from the perceived threat, triggered by the concern generated from the enhanced knowledge (Tulchinsky & Varavikova, 2009). Behavioural change interventions at the individual level include interventions that encourage and assist individuals to quit smoking, interventions that target reduction of heavy use of alcohol, interventions that encourage physical activity and make available the facilities for the same, interventions that target healthy eating habits in individuals, interventions that have the objective of preventing or reducing the misuse of drugs and interventions that attempt prevention or reduction of sexual risk taking among the younger individuals (Jepson et al, 2010). Strategies for Health Promotion and Well Being through Schools Health promotion through schools was taken up by the WHO two decades ago and has become a global movement. The strategy here is to use schools and communities as a base for several health promotion, prevention and intervention actions. Research over the impact of these intervention strategies has shown a reciprocal between health and education. Improving the education and the learning environment at schools has been found to have a positive impact on the health and this improvement in health has the consequence of improved academic outcomes. There is also clear evidence that literate and educated individuals have better health than those with less education and the illiterate (Aldinger & Whitman, 2009). In the United Kingdom the strategy at the school level to enhance mental health consists of a three wave model that aims to assist children to overcome learning difficulties at all levels. Wave one consists of a universal approach that targets all students and includes students with particular problems. Wave two consists of a more targeted approach seeking to assist those students that demonstrate clear yet mild mental health difficulties. The third wave consists of therapeutic interventions, where severe mental health problems have been identified by medical professionals (Aggleton, Dennison & Warwick, 2010). Strategies for Health Promotion and Well Being through Health Professionals The interaction between health professionals and individuals in promoting health and well-being is normally taken as a routine and well established pathway. Yet, the importance of the role that health professionals play in this activity is highlighted, when the strategy used by health professionals extends beyond the health education norms of their daily activity to actually identifying the barriers that exist to health promotion activities and the health and well-being of their patients. As health professionals it is easy for them to know what is hampering the health and well being of the individuals in the communities they serve and highlight them to ensure that the needed action is taken to remove or reduce the barriers to health promotion activities and the health and well being of individuals (Edelman & Mandle, 2006). Strategies for Health Promotion and Well Being through Communities The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion 1986 identified eight fundamental conditions and resources that are pre-requisites for health that include peace, shelter, education, food income, a stable ecosystem, sustainable resources, social justice and equity and the strengthening of health promotional through communities as a means of achieving many of these pre-requisites (WHO, 1986). Any community has its own resources, networks and governance capabilities that make it a natural base from which the health and well being of its members can be protected and enhanced. The capabilities of the communities can be honed, focused and enhanced to develop and evolve a health vision and ensure implementation of the health vision within its jurisdiction. There is a certain level of organized community engagement in the public health related frameworks of disease prevention, health promotion and health care delivery. Health promotion activities can be given an added boost through an organized and committed community with a focus on the health of its members. Leadership within the community can be directed towards community wide events that take into account health education, promotion health assessment, action on environmental problems, stimulate health promotion activities to every corner of the community through community resources, and promotion of healthier life styles. Community engagement can also have an impact on the health care delivery systems. Focus of the community on the health care delivery systems can lead to better accessibility, affordability, quality and efficiency of the health care delivery systems (Simoes & Sumaya, 2010). Strategies for Health Promotion and Well Being through Governmental Action The government remains the main driver for the health and well being of its citizens. There are five priority areas for governmental action in enhancing the health and well-being of its citizens. The first priority lies in encouraging, empowering and assisting the communities in taking up a role in improving the health and well being of its members. Social and economic factors have an impact on the health of individuals. This is the second priority area for governmental action. Reduction in poverty levels, social inequities and promotion of healthy life styles are the key strategies here. Improving the communication on health related issues and making it easily accessible by the public is the third priority area. Health promotion becomes more effective with more efficient tools, resources and skills. Developing the required efficient tools, resources and skills is the fourth priority area for governmental action. Finally, all the actions taken by the government needs to be monitored to ensure that it is effective and make necessary changes when the desired results are not forthcoming due to the lack of efficiency either in the interventions or its implementation (The National Assembly of Wales, 2001). Conclusion The responsibility of the health and well being of an individual is no longer an issue solely in the domain of the individual but has wider implications for communities and the nation as a whole, due to it being no longer a matter of just remaining free of diseases and ailments, but having wider ramifications. Thus strategies for improving the health and well being of individuals have an impact on the individual, schools, health care professionals, communities and the government at large. Literary References Aggleton, P., Dennison, C. & Warwick, I. 2010, Promoting Health and Well Being through Schools, Routledge, Oxon. Aldinger, C. & Whitman, C. V. 2009, Case Studies in Global School Health Promotion: From Research to Practice, Springer Science and Business Media, New York. Edelman, C. L. & Mandle, C. L. 2006, Health Promotion Throughout the Lifespan, Sixth Edition, Elsevier Mosby, St. Louis, Missouri. Edlin, G. & Golanty, E. 2010, Health and Wellness, Tenth Edition, Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Sudbury, MA. Ewles, L. & Simnett, I. 2004, Promoting Health: A Practical Guide, Fifth Edition, Bailliere Tindall Ltd., London. Green, J. & Tones, K. 2010, Health Promotion: Planning and Strategies, Second Edition, SAGE Publications Ltd., London. Health and Fitness. 2010, ‘Definition of Health according to WHO’, [Online] Available at: http://www.healthy-talks.com/2010/01/definition-of-health-according-to-who.html (Accessed July2, 2011). Hitchcock, J. E. Schubert, P. E. & Thomas, S. A. 2003, Community Health Nursing: Caring in Action, Second Edition, Delmar Learning, New York. Jepson, R. G., Harris, F. M., Platt, S., Tannahill, C. 2010, ‘The Effectiveness of Interventions to Change Six Health Behaviours: A Review of Reviews’, BMC Public Health, vol.10, pp.564-571. Naidoo, J. & Willis, J. 2000, Health Promotion: Foundations for Practice, Second Edition, Bailliere Tindall Ltd., London. Simoes, E. J. & Sumaya, C. V. 2010, ‘Protecting and Enhancing Health: Community Engagement, Collaborations, and Incentives for Prevention’, The Journal of Primary Prevention, vol.31, pp.21-29. The National Assembly of Wales. 2001, ‘Promoting Health and Well Being: Implementing the National Health Promotion Strategy’, [Online] Available at: http://www.wales.nhs.uk/publications/prom-health-e.pdf (Accessed July2, 2011). Tulchinsky, T. H. & Varavikova, E. A. 2009, The New Public Health, Second Edition, Elsevier Academic Press, Burlington, MA. WHO.1986, ‘Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion’, [Online] Available at: http://www.who.int/hpr/NPH/docs/ottawa_charter_hp.pdf (Accessed July2, 2011). Read More