Positive Concept Negative Concept of Health of Health
Well Being

You are healthy when you have the absence of disease Not JUST the absence of disease

Feeling good in many ways

Therefore, if you don’t have a disease, you are healthy Holistic Concept of Health
Spiritual health

Physical Health

Psychological health

Sociological HealthEnvironmental Health

The World Health Organisation
(WHO)
• “A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” ( http://www.who.int/about/en/) Do you think this is a positive or negative concept of health? Is it a holistic concept of health? Explain your answer.

M1
“I don’t think I know when I’m healthy, I only know if I’m ill”,
Office worker aged 28;
Blaxter 1990
“My health is a reflection of my lifestyle –
I need to be spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically whole to be truly healthy.
I believe complete wholeness is only attainable through reconciliation with God”
Herbalist; Stainton Rogers 1991
Harvard Reference:
BLAXTER, M (2004), Health, Cornwall: Polity

M1
• “Health is to feel proud - when you can go out and you can hold up your head, look good. You don’t have so many hang-ups, and you think straight”
Computer Operator, 25; Blaxter 1990
• “Health is being able to walk around better and doing some work in the house when my knees let me. ”
Woman of 79; Blaxter 1990
• “…illness is a kind of rest, when you can be free of your every-day burdens… for me; illness is