THE WHOLE PERSON WELLNESS APPROACH: WHAT DOES WHOLE PERSON WELLNESS INVOLVE? E. Anthony Allen Consultant Psychiatrist Consultant in Whole Person Health and Church-based Health Ministries Datafiles/Wholeness/Presentations/Powerpnt/The Whole Person Wellness Approach…

The Whole Person Wellness Approach 1.Utilising a whole person approach enables adequate understanding of wellness and diseases 2.Wellness is enabled by empowering whole person growth through healthy lifestyles 3.To do this effectively we need to engage with healing communities

The Whole Person Wellness Model 1. Utilising a whole person approach enables adequate understanding of wellness and diseases

4 THE “WHOLE PERSON” HEALTH PHILOSOPHY All these aspects of self and life interact. If one is affected all are affected HEALTH IS WHOLENESS OR HARMONY BETWEEN: 1. aspects of the self - (mind, body and spirit) 2. self and others 3. self and the natural environment 4. self and God or a “Higher Power” THESE ARE “THE CIRCLES OF WELLNESS” TM

All these aspects of self and life interact. If one is affected all are affected  Emotional stress promotes physical diseases  Physical diseases promote emotional stress  Either set of illnesses can worsen each other  Both emotional stress and physical illnesses can undermine the social and spiritual aspects of our lives

A vicious cycle of disease development occurs if even one aspect of the whole person is affected. This vicious cycle will cascade into a deterioration of health

IMPLICATIONS OF THIS INSIGHT It is really the whole person, at any time, which is ill – not just one aspect. Thus we need to attend to all aspects of the person at the same time This is called a healthy balance. Care of one’s self needs to involve a constant maintenance of optimum health or wellness –as wholeness - at all costs

The Whole Person Wellness Approach 2.Wellness is enabled by empowering whole person growth through healthy lifestyles

9 WHOLE PERSON WELLNESS HEALTHY LIFESTYLES LEAD TO WELLNESS Our Wellness through healthy lifestyles lies in our “Hands” THE “HAND OF WHOLENESS” TM (For self-help responsibility promotion)

SETTING UP YOUR HEALTHY LIFESTYLE PROGRAM Self assessment for Recognition Set goals and make a plan Seek the support of others (for encouragement or joint activities) Implement your plan Monitor your lifestyle activities (for example using a diary or journal) Evaluate your success and reward yourself! Then update your plan as necessary

2.2.Providing Integrated Whole Person Care Comprehensive Care: - Wellness promotion - Prevention - Treatment - Rehabilitation Multidisciplinary Team Referring and Consulting Relationship

The Whole Person Wellness Approach 3.To do this effectively we need to engage with healing communities Community is the Most Effective Human Agent of Healing

We could form Healthy Eating, Active Living (HEAL) groups. These need to exists in: – Families – Neighbourhoods and communities – Schools – Work places – Churches and other religious centres

3.1 How can being in a group help to motivate us? We can be involved in: Classes about healthy meal preparation Exercise sessions such as aerobic, strengthening and flexibility routines Sponsoring cultural, recreational, sports and social events involving healthy eating and active living.

3.2 Groups can advocate for lifestyle amenities Such as: ● Green spaces for exercise, playing, relaxing, hiking, enjoying nature etc Sports facilities Gymnasiums Recreation and arts and craft centres Youth camps Backyard gardening assistance

The Whole Person Wellness Approach 1.Utilising a whole person approach enables adequate understanding of wellness and diseases 2.Wellness is enabled by empowering whole person growth through healthy lifestyles 3.To do this effectively we need to engage with healing communities

Every individual in families, communities, schools, work places and religious centres can become a healthy lifestyle promoter for self and others. We each can be a support person, an advocate and volunteer for whole person wellness promotion services.

CAN WE DO IT? YES WE CAN!