Understanding Health as a Holistic Concept

This introductory unit explores the meaning of health and its related concepts. Health is multi-dimensional and includes facets such as mental, physical and social wellbeing. Traditionally, health was characterized as a physical state; however such one-dimensional approaches oversimplified health and ignored other elements which contributed to an individual’s wellness. In addition, the concept of ‘health’ cannot be separated from the society in which human beings function and live. There are many social determinants of health, and the youth worker who wishes to engage in health promotion activities must be cognizant of these factors in order to design well-suited comprehensive interventions. Any intervention must first consider theoretical frameworks. A theoretical framework is
an outline of how ideas and concepts fit together to make a bigger picture. The theories of health promotion will be examined in the next unit; however, in preparation for this discussion, this Unit presents theories and perspectives that explain health inequalities. Unit One provides you with a foundation on which to understand the reality of practice. As you analyse the theories of health promotion in Unit Two, the information in this unit can be effectively integrated to provide a vivid picture for your youth work practice.

Session 1.1 will examine the meaning of health and health promotion as well as dimensions of health and pre-requisites of health. The session will conclude with a listing of health promotion strategies. Following this, Session 1.2 will introduce to you the social issues surrounding health as you critically examine the theories of the social epidemiology of health. These theories merge into a well-detailed conceptual framework that will be analysed in Unit Two, along with the social determinants of health.

Session 1.1: Health and Health Promotion
Session 1.2: Theories of Social Epidemiology