Health And Wellness (Essay Sample)

Health And Wellness
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Definition of Health & Wellness
The definitions of health have been evolving since time in memorial. However, in 1948, radical changes took place where the WHO defined health with concepts indicating a higher linkage to well-being. Looking at the biomedical perspective, health can be defined as a state that is characterized by psychological, physiological and anatomic integrity. It is the ability to perform all the valued roles that may be personal, work-related, or from the community. It includes having the ability to handle biological, physiological, and social stress (Barkway, 2009). On the other hand, wellness can be defined as dynamic state of well-being at the physical, mental, social, and spiritual levels that allows an individual to achieve the full potential and live a life that is enjoyable (Blonna & Watte, 2005).
Contribution to the Health & Wellness of Underserved Populations
The underserved populations comprise of women, the uninsured children, residents in the rural areas, the homeless, the mentally ill, the chronically ill, the disabled, and HIV/AIDS positive individuals (King, Wheeler, & Fern, 2006). From the definition of health and wellness highlighted above, the contributions may include the establishment of a team that will deliver healthcare and ensure the implementation of the core competencies for interprofessional collaborative practice as each population has its special needs. In addition, it is the implementation and sustenance of an interprofessional practice that is collaborative and a model that will ensure the provision of care as a team. The establishment of a collaborative practice that integrates primary care and services promoting mental health in order to improve the health outcomes in the underserved population. Moreover, through the introduction of programs that will provide this population with baseline measures such as BMI and general assessments of risks. Furthermore, the development of education programs where the underserved populations can receive education from health and wellness professional from their primary care centers or within the community through outreach programs on matters relating to their health condition. These may include nutrition or adherence to treatment just to mention a few. Finally, it is the creation of programs that will ensure increased accessibility to health care for these populations, such as, community medical clinics, door to door treatment and follow-up programs, or free treatment services.
Example of Contribution to the Health & Wellbeing of the Underserved Populations
In my community, Schizophrenia and other mental health conditions were poorly understood, and the community members had negative perceptions, attitudes, and misconceptions about the conditions. This had resulted into an increased incidence of stigmatization of individuals with such conditions including their families and resulted hence other families neglected their family members with the condition and "dumped" them in mental institutions.
To address this issue, the local hospital organized and...