Health is an important issue to explore for researchers, educators, and practitioners who are concerned with improving the lives of individuals with disabilities and chronic conditions. It is also a topic of interest to those who are concerned with the state of our world, as the condition of a community can have a major impact on the functioning of social systems and the ability to achieve societal goals.
In clinical medicine, health is often viewed in terms of the absence of disease. However, it is possible for individuals to experience a sense of well-being in the presence of disease and illness. Furthermore, a diagnosis of disease can have different effects on the mental, physical, and emotional health of individuals.
For example, a competitive swimmer with Down syndrome and a high school teacher managing bipolar disorder both are experiencing good health. These individuals have found meaning and purpose in their lives by overcoming limitations that are inherent to their disabilities or health conditions. But, their good health can be jeopardized when life events, such as public swimming pools closing during a COVID-19 pandemic or medication changes dictated by their health plans, interrupt the social contexts that provide them with the resources to adapt.
This broad definition of health shifts attention to the processes that enable adaptation and resiliency in the face of challenges and opportunities. It encourages a deeper exploration of the origins of health and a focus on how individuals, communities, and societies create conditions for health.
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