Wellness Wheel of Health & Six Dimensions Kathy Castulik BS, CCMA, CPT, CET, CHI, Health Educator III University of Missouri-St. Louis

What is Wellness?  “Wellness is an active process of becoming aware of and toward a more successful existence.” (National Wellness Institute)

Active Process  Process – We never arrive at a point where there is no possibility of improving.  Aware – We by our own nature, continuously seek more information about how we can improve.  Choices – We have considered a variety of options and select those that seem to be in our best interest.  Success – Is determined by each individual to be their personal collection of accomplishments for their life.

Wheel of Health

Multidimensional  Wellness is about balance, the choices we make today will affect us tomorrow. What is a priority today can change tomorrow. This is multidimensional, the ability to be flexible.

What Do the Six Dimensions of Wellness Mean ?  Social – Encourages contributing to one’s human and physical environment to the common welfare of one’s community. It emphasizes the interdependence with others and nature. It includes the pursuit of harmony in one’s family.

Second Dimension  Physical – Encourages cardiovascular, flexibility, strength and also encourages regular physical activity. Physical development encourages knowledge about food and nutrition and discourages the use of tobacco, drugs and excessive alcohol consumption. It encourages activities which contribute to high–level wellness, including medical self-care and appropriate use of the medical system.

Third Dimension  Intellectual – Encourages creative, stimulating mental activities. An intellectually well person uses the resources available to expand one’s knowledge in improved skills along with expanding potential for sharing with others.

Fourth Dimension  Emotional – Emphasizes an awareness and acceptance of one’s feelings. Emotional wellness includes the degree to which one feels positive and enthusiastic about oneself and life. It includes the capacity to manage one’s feelings and related behaviors including the realistic assessment of one’s limitations. An emotionally well person maintains satisfying relationships with others.

Fifth Dimension  Spiritual – Involves seeking meaning and purpose in human existence. It includes the development of a deep appreciation for the depth and expansion of life and natural forces that exist in the universe.

Sixth Dimension  Vocational/Occupational – Involves preparing for work in which one will gain personal satisfaction and find enrichment in one’s life through work. Vocational development is related to one’s attitude about one’s work.

Integrating Wellness into Campus Health  Use needs assessments/HRA’s  Getting involved with organizations  Going to Residence Halls  Go to places where students hang out between classes, cafeteria etc.  Meet with department heads to tie in wellness programs into their classes

Integrating Wellness into Campus Health  Have wellness booths set up in between classes at popular locations.  Vary sites  Attend evening classes with booths before & after classes.  Offer health fairs on campus day and evening times.  Offer stress reduction during finals.

Integrating Wellness into Campus Health  Attend Student Government Association meetings.  Use student paper to promote wellness.  Incorporate the Health Observance Calendar into student activities.  Bring in outside groups, corporations, organizations through advertising and sponsorships in wellness activities.  Form Wellness groups such as S.H.O.T.S (students helping others to succeed, as peer educators)

Integrating Wellness into Campus Health  Have S.H.O.T.S or peer educators provide wellness activities to students.  Involve faculty and staff into wellness promotion for students.  Based on the 6 dimensions of wellness, have multiple student coalitions come up with a theme representing the 6 dimensions in programming on campus.

Integrating Wellness into Campus Health  Market what you’re wanting to do.  Participate in Homecoming.  Attend directors meeting to present ideas.  Form contests between fraternities and sororities to promote wellness events.  Sponsor blood drives and have door prizes promoting wellness activities.

Integrating Wellness into Campus Health  Offer Welcome back week at the beginning of each new semester with first aid capsules/kits, anything wellness related.  Provide a monthly customized calendar providing health tips that relate to six dimensions of wellness and place throughout campus and residential halls.  Meet with student activities and have banners made up to post in cafeteria on upcoming wellness activities.

Integrating Wellness into Campus Health  Contact hospitals to provide mammograms at University from their mobile vans on a yearly basis.  Have pharmaceutical companies come out and provide a booth with educational materials and giveaways promoting a special wellness series/theme.

Inspiration  “Our minds are like parachutes they work better when opened.” Author Unknown  “Cheerfulness is the best promoter of health and is as friendly to the mind as to the body.” Joseph Addison  “The elevator to success is out of order. You’ll have to use the stairs…One step at a time.” Joe Girard