It has long been recognized that the health of a community is dependent on the functioning of its social systems. Family structure, educational systems, economic well-being and a host of other factors all contribute to the health of individuals in a society.
Unlike the traditional view of health, which defines it as the absence of disease and impairment, this broader view emphasizes adaptability.
Physical
Physical health is one dimension of overall well-being and involves the efficient functioning of the body. It can be impacted by many factors, including lifestyle choices, diet, exercise, and sleep patterns.
Individuals with optimal physical health experience a high level of energy and vitality, absence of chronic disease or illness, and are able to perform everyday tasks without limitations. Individuals with poor physical health may struggle with daily activities due to limitations in their functional abilities and may have significant risk factors for future health complications.
Practicing a healthy lifestyle and seeking regular medical care are essential elements of maintaining physical health. However, it’s important to understand that physical health is a continuum and not just a binary state of good or bad. Rather, it’s a holistic concept that encompasses several critical elements, each of which contributes to an overall sense of well-being and functionality.
Mental
Mental health is a state of emotional well-being and the capacity to manage life’s challenges. It involves healthy relationships, adequate sleep, and a sense of purpose.
Worldwide, depression, anxiety, and other common mental disorders are major contributors to morbidity and premature death. Yet, the resources allocated to tackle them are often insufficient, inequitably distributed, and inefficiently used.
A person’s mental health is determined by a combination of factors that act both individually and collectively: risk factors, protective factors and environmental influences. Some risk factors can be inherited through genes; others are influenced by a person’s life circumstances. The interaction of these factors may either enhance or undermine mental health. The health sector can help through promotion and prevention interventions that involve partners from other sectors such as education, labour, transport, justice and housing.
Social
Social scientists have contributed much to the understanding of how social ties promote health. Psychologists, sociologists, and epidemiologists have identified mechanisms through which supportive interactions with others benefit the immune, endocrine, and cardiovascular systems. They reduce allostatic load, which reflects wear and tear on physiological systems engaged in chronic stress responses.
The scope of health promotion expanded significantly in the mid-twentieth century with recognition that health is determined by non-personal factors that affect entire populations – now known as the social determinants of health. This includes factors such as education, housing, transportation, food, income, stable ecosystems, and social justice.
A large number of existing social policies and programs address these issues directly or indirectly. For example, programs designed to help elderly people stay connected to family and friends are often based on the premise that social ties influence health habits.
Spiritual
Spirituality provides comfort and support during challenging times and facilitates a meaningful framework for understanding personal suffering. It also enhances coping mechanisms and psychological resilience against mental health challenges. As a result, it’s becoming increasingly common for mental health professionals to integrate spiritual themes into treatment plans.
For example, mindfulness practices associated with spirituality help patients focus on the present moment and alleviate stress, which supports emotional resilience. Moreover, spirituality can foster meaningful community connections and promotes social engagement – both of which are critical to a person’s mental health.
Other techniques that therapists use to explore a patient’s spirituality include lifemaps, which enable patients to depict their lifelong spiritual journey; genograms, which chart the role of spirituality across several generations of a person’s family; and eco-maps, which encourage a patient to reflect on their relationship with nature.
Financial
Financial health refers to an individual’s ability to manage day-to-day expenses (money management), meet short- and long-term goals, absorb financial and non-financial shocks, and feel confident about their finances. This includes an ability to save, borrow, invest, and plan for the future.
The development community has traditionally focused on impact through financial inclusion — which is defined as affordable access to appropriate and effective financial services. A shift to a financial health lens offers a more comprehensive approach to measure, create and sustain end-customer impact.
ING’s commitment to accessibility extends to our efforts in the financial health space. We are proud to be a founding member of the National Coalition of Financial Health. Learn more about our work here. ING’s local branches and our Community Centers provide extra space for activities like financial health workshops, skills trainings or small business pop-ups.