Health Education
Importance of Health Education
Health education plays a critical role in improving community well-being by promoting knowledge and healthy practices among all age groups, addressing a wide range of health issues, from chronic diseases to mental health, and influencing policy and economic outcomes. Health education is an integral part of building a thriving community. Community health workers collaborate with all stakeholders in a community – from citizens to government, education, and medical officials – to improve health and well-being and ensure equal access to healthcare.
What is health?
The World Health Organization says: "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."
Happy Healthy Life
Health Types
Mental and physical health are probably the two most frequently discussed types of health. Spiritual, emotional, and financial health also contribute to overall health. Medical experts have linked these to lower stress levels and improved mental and physical well-being. People with better financial health, for example, may worry less about finances and have the means to buy fresh food more regularly. Those with good spiritual health may feel a sense of calm and purpose that fuels good mental health.
Physical health
A person who has good physical health is likely to have bodily functions and processes working at their peak.
This is not only due to an absence of disease. Regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and adequate rest all contribute to good health. People receive medical treatment to maintain the balance, when necessary. Physical well-being involves pursuing a healthful lifestyle to decrease the risk of disease. Maintaining physical fitness, for example, can protect and develop the endurance of a person’s breathing and heart function, muscular strength, flexibility, and body composition. Looking after physical health and well-being also involves reducing the risk of an injury or health issue, such as:
- minimizing hazards in the workplace
- using contraception when having sex
- practicing effective hygiene
- avoiding the use of tobacco, alcohol, or illegal drug
- staking the recommended vaccines for a specific condition or country when traveling
According to the "U.S. Department of Health & Human Services", mental health refers to a person’s emotional, social, and psychological well-being. Mental health is as important as physical health as part of a full, active lifestyle.
It is harder to define mental health than physical health because many psychological diagnoses depend on an individual’s perception of their experience. With improvements in testing, however, doctors are now able to identify some physical signs of some types of mental illness in CT scans and genetic tests. Good mental health is not only categorized by the absence of depression, anxiety, or another disorder. It also depends on a person’s ability to:
- enjoy life
- bounce back after difficult experiences and adapt to adversity
- balance different elements of life, such as family and finances
- feel safe and secure
- achieve their full potential
