Definitions

We acknowledge the multiple definitions and significant overlap which exists within and between the terms health, health promotion, wellbeing and wellness. For the purposes of this project, we have chosen to use the following definitions:

Health

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

Health promoting campus

A health promoting campus is one that infuses health into every day operations, business practices and academic mandates, transforming the health and sustainability of our current and future societies, strengthen communities and contribute to the wellbeing of people, places and the planet.

Health promotion

The process of implementing a range of social and environmental interventions including promoting healthy, behaviours, creating supportive environments and encouraging healthy public policies, enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health. Effective interventions may occur in settings such as workplaces, schools, clinics, and communities with partnership and capacity building across multiple sectors and diverse organizations

Healthy workplace

A healthy workplace is one in which workers and managers collaborate to use a continual improvement process to protect and promote the health, safety and wellbeing of all workers and the sustainability of the workplace.

Mental health

Mental health is a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community. (WHO)

Wellbeing and wellness

This project will use the terms wellbeing and wellness synonymously.

Wellness is an active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life. Wellness is more than being free from illness, it is a dynamic process of change and growth.

Dimensions of wellness

The Eight Dimensions of Wellness are:

  1. Emotional鈥擟oping effectively with life and creating satisfying relationships

  2. Environmental鈥擥ood health by occupying pleasant, stimulating environments that support well-being

  3. Financial鈥擲atisfaction with current and future financial situations

  4. Intellectual鈥擱ecognizing creative abilities and finding ways to expand knowledge and skills

  5. Occupational鈥擯ersonal satisfaction and enrichment from one鈥檚 work

  6. Physical鈥擱ecognizing the need for physical activity, healthy foods, and sleep

  7. Social鈥擠eveloping a sense of connection, belonging, and a well-developed support system

  8. Spiritual鈥擡xpanding a sense of purpose and meaning in life