Social &

Spiritual
Health
The Health Triangle
World Health Organization
(WHO) defines health as a
state of complete physical,
mental and social well-
being and not necessarily
the absence of disease or
infirmity
Good decision making and
healthy choices reduce the
risk of disease and increase
health overall.
Social Health
SocialHealth deals with the way we
react with people within our
environment.

This includes:
public health
family relationships, and
peer relationships.
Public Health
Public health includes disease prevention
and promoting health through good
activities.

Keeping yourself safe and healthy

benefits your community as a whole.
Family Relationships
A healthy family relationship is one
that is supportive, loving, responsible,
and balanced.
Families should work together to
eliminate stress and negativity in the
home.
Promoting a safe and enjoyable
environment.
Peer Relationships
Strong and supportive friendships
increase happiness, self-esteem, and
reduces stress.
Friends are there to help, celebrate your
accomplishments, and there to offer
support in times of need.
Friends tend to share the same interest
with each other
 Defining Social Wellness
Ones
ability to interact with people
around them.

It involves:
good communication skills
having meaningful relationships
respecting yourself and others
creating a support system
friends group
Lack of Social Wellness and
Impact on Health

Psychological effects
Impact of loneliness
Biological effects
Increased susceptibility to illness
Higher cholesterol levels
Increased Social Wellness and
Health Benefits
Psychological effects
Creates emotional energy
Enhanced self-esteem
Handle stress better
Better biological effects
Strategies for improving social
wellness
Healthy Relationship
Communicate well
Be reliable
Fight Fair
Be yourself
Interdependency
Accept
diversity
Community involvement
 Healthy Relationship
Communicate!
Share information about yourself as well.
Be flexible!
Relationships change and evolve over time.
Dont forget you have needs too!
You are important too!
Be honest with your feelings and thoughts.
In order to love someone else you must be true
to yourself first!
 Healthy Relationships
Be reliable
If you make plans try to be consistent,
respect other peoples time as well
Try to follow through on a promise to your
partner.
Keep your life balanced
Try new opportunities on campus.
Meet other people
Develop your own interests
Relationship is not about dependence!
 Healthy Relationship
Fight Fair
Negotiate a time to discuss it.
Dont criticize others
Dont assume how your partner feels or
what their motives are.
Stay with the topic (dont use current issue
as a way to bring up everything else
youre upset about)
Say I am sorry when you are wrong
You agree to disagree on this issue.
Establish a win-win situation
Ask for help with finding a resolution
(i.e. Faculty and Staff Assistance)
 Healthy Relationship
Be yourself!
Express your needs, feelings and thoughts
openly.
You shouldnt try to be another person just to
please your partner.
Feeling confident in yourself will help you be
more honest and open in the relationship.
 Interdependency
Be willing to help others
Dont be afraid of asking for help
Have realistic expectations.
Your partner will not be all the things you want
him/her to be.
 Accept Diversity
Become aware of your biases
Accept those around you
Acceptance is very important.
Take time to listen to one another.
Dont interrupt or think of what you want to
say before the other person finishes the
sentence.
Be fully present!
Discuss even uncomfortable topics such as
sexual boundaries (You have a right to say
no to sex if you are not ready!)
 A list of factors that can cause social
disturbances
Bad economics Pollution

Unfair trade Man-made accidental

Mismanagement of
disasters
human rights Assassinations of political

Criminal activities
leaders
Dictatorships
Lack of education
The collapse of political
Destructive religious or
political ideologies or ideological empires
Terrorism
Natural calamities
Wars and war-like
Endemic diseases
conditions
 No single professional discipline can fully
understand and evaluate factors that cause social
problems.

Building up interdisciplinary teams takes time and

often cannot be achieved, mainly because of
competition between disciplines.
 Spiritual Health

Spiritual Wellness
The meaning and purpose of
Human Existence and Nature
Spiritual means your faith and your respect
for others faiths regardless of what
denomination they belong to.
Spiritual Health (spirituality) is having meaning
& direction in life, in accordance with Nature
It involves development of positive morals, ethics
& values in life.
Being healthy spiritually helps us to demonstrate
love, hope & a sense of caring for yourself and
others.
 Spirituality
Spirituality refers to a belief in a higher power,
an awareness of life and its meaning, the
centering of a person with purpose in life and
nature.
It involves harmony in relationships with nature,
with self, and with the world around the
individual.
Spirituality implies living with moral standards.

Webster defines spirit as a life giving force and

as the active presence of God in human life.
 Spirituality
Spirituality fulfills specific needs of life
Meaning to life, illness, crises and death
Sense of security for present and future
Guides daily habits
Elicits acceptance or rejection of other people
Provides psycho-social support in a group of
like-minded people
Strength when facing lifes crises
Healing strength and support
Major World Religions
Christianity
Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist,
Nazarene, Episcopal
Baptist (largest protestant denomination in US)
Other Western faiths
Judaism
Reform, Conservative and Orthodox
Hinduism (Castes & Sub-castes)
Buddhism
Islam (Muslims)
HINDUISM Brahman, the Supreme Being, is omniscient,
omnipresent, and omnipotent.

The life force of humans is called Prana.

When chakras (energy centers) are in harmony,

good health results. When they are in
disharmony, disease or illness results.

Karma is that each person is reborn so the

soul may be purified and ultimately join the
divine cosmic consciousness.

HEALTH BELIEFS AND PRACTICES

Diet, fasting, enemas, purgatives, and
massage are used to balance the humors and
release toxins.

Treatment focuses on balancing the humors

(air, fire, earth, water, and akash).

Many Hindus are vegetarians and do not eat

beef or pork.

Autopsies, blood products, drugs, vaccinations,

and organ donations and transplants are
permitted. 6
 CHRISTIANITY

Christianity includes three main

branches: Catholics, Protestants, and
Orthodox.

Christianity is made up of many

denominations or churches, with each
having its own set of beliefs, practices,
and rituals.

The primary goal of Christianity is

Salvation (Preservation from Harm).

The use of prayer is common to all

denominations.

HEALTH BELIEFS AND PRACTICES

o Health beliefs and practices vary widely among each of the three
branches of Christianity.

o Specific practices such as organ donation also vary.

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 ISLAM

The word Islam

means submission and
is derived from a word
that means peace.

The followers of Islam -

Muslims.

The Quran records

teachings were
channeled through
Muhammad. HEALTH BELIEFS AND PRACTICES

Name for God - Allah o Regard for the sanctity of life

o Regular exercise, prayers, fasting, and
Obligatory prayers are bathing
performed five times a o Abstinence from alcohol and tobacco
day while facing the city o No pork or shellfish in the diet
of Mecca. o Prohibition of homosexuality
o Blood transfusions and transplants are
allowed
o Modesty is very important
o Contact between men and women is
prohibited
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 BUDDHISM
Emphasizes compassion, mind control,
transformation of negative thought, and
attainment of ultimate wisdom.

Belief in the theory of karma

Belief in reincarnation (rebirth)

HEALTH BELIEFS AND PRACTICES

Meditation
Chanting
The four requisites (proper clothing, food,
lodging, and medicine)
Vegetarianism
Avoidance of alcohol and tobacco
Allowance of birth control and artificial
insemination
Emetics and purging
Oils and ointments
Medicinal drugs and herbs
Surgery
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 JUDAISM

Judaism has three main branches:

Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform.

Judaism holds that saving a life is

the noblest act that a person can
perform, so organ donation is
acceptable.

The Torah holds Judaisms laws and

sacred traditions.

HEALTH BELIEFS AND PRACTICES

o An Orthodox Jewish male will not touch any female other than his wife,
daughters, or mother.
o When a person dies, the body is untouched for 8-30 minutes and then left alone
until buried (within 24 hours).
o Certain food types cannot be eaten, such as pork and shellfish.
o Meat and milk products cannot be eaten or cooked together.
o Autopsies are not usually allowed.

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 Spirituality Checklist
Do I make time for relaxation in my day?
Do I make time for quiet reflection or clearing of
ones mind? (Examples: meditation, journaling
(introspection) and/or prayer)
Do my values guide my decisions and actions?
Am I accepting of the views of others?
Spiritual Healthy - Characteristics

Sharing and caring

Spirit of praise
Forgiveness
Faith
Hope
Integrity
Honesty
Citizenship
Respect & appreciation of nature
Value life
Demonstrate kindness
Recognize individuality/self worth
Having Purpose
Spiritual Care for Healing Diseases
Practice of compassionate presence
Listening to patients fears, hopes, pain,
dreams
Obtaining a spiritual history
Attentiveness to all dimensions of the
patient and patients family: body, mind
and spirit
Incorporation of spiritual practices as
appropriate
 Relaxation Response
10-20 minutes of meditation, twice a day
leads to:
decreased metabolism
decreased heart rate
decreased breathing
slower brain waves
 Daily Meditation
Beneficial for Treatment of:
Chronic Pain
Insomnia
Anxiety
Depression
Premenstrual Syndrome
Infertility
Tips for better health

1. Don't take smoke / alcohol If you can, stop. If you can't,

cut down.
2. Follow a balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables.
3. Keep physically active.
4. Manage stress by, for example, talking things through and
making time to relax.
5. Cover up in the sun, and protect children from sunburn.
6. Practice safer sex.
7. Take up disease-screening opportunities.
8. Learn the First Aid ABCs: airways, breathing, circulation.
9. Understand situations and help others
10. Follow harmony with nature