Health and Wellbeing
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines ‘health’ as “a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease, injury or infirmity.” (WHO, 1946)
Women’s Centre for Health Matters believes that women’s health and wellbeing relates not only to reproductive health and biological factors, but is affected by women's life experiences and circumstances (their relationships, work, culture, environment and the community in which they live).
“Women’s health encompasses their emotional, social and physical wellbeing and is determined by the social, political and economic context of their lives, as well as by biology.” (The United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women, 1995)
A medical model of health is dominant in our primary health systems (Lupton, 1995; Naidoo & Wills, 2000), and this focuses on treating the body or its parts when a person is ill or has a disease, through diagnosis and medical treatment processes to restore health. The prevention of diseases is critical because it maintains health and prevents the spread of diseases in the general population.
But we know that in many cases, women’s poor health is rooted in social disadvantage, and that women with different backgrounds may have different understandings, concepts and ideas about the meaning of health; may be disadvantaged and have poor access to prevention and health services; or may have limited access to affordable healthy lifestyle choices.
For these reasons, WCHM is committed to taking a ‘whole of life’ and social approach to women's health and wellbeing.
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Good mental health is an important part of a woman's overall health and wellbeing. Mental health is defined by WHO as “a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community” (WHO, 2005).
Mental health does not exist in isolation; mental, physical and social functioning are all connected with one another (WHO 2004). Some of the factors that negatively impact on mental health and wellbeing include poverty; violence and abuse; disadvantage and discrimination; poor housing; and social isolation. And for women living with mental health issues, the difficulties associated with being a woman become more difficult - lower socio-economic status; lower rates of labour force participation; and gaps in pay equity.
WHO identifies that “positive mental health is linked to a range of outcomes, including better health status, higher educational achievement, enhanced productivity and earnings, improved interpersonal relationships, better parenting, closer social connections and improved quality of life. Positive mental health is also fundamental to coping with adversity. On the other hand, poor mental health impedes an individual’s capacity to realise their potential, work productively, and make a contribution to their community” (WHO).
References:
- Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization as adopted by the International Health Conference, New York, 19 June - 22 July 1946; signed on 22 July 1946 by the representatives of 61 States (Official Records of the World Health Organization, no. 2, p. 100).
- The United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women, 1995
- World Health Organization (2005). Promoting Mental Health: Concepts, Emerging evidence, Practice: A report of the World Health Organization, Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse in collaboration with the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation and the University of Melbourne. World Health Organization. Geneva.
- Mental Health and Development: Targeting People with Mental Health Conditions as a Vulnerable Group. World Health Organization. Geneva. http://www.who.int/mental_health/policy/mhtargeting/development_targeting_mh_summary.pdf