1.2 Concepts of health and wellbeing and illness

Which of the following describes health and wellbeing?

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

• Health and wellbeing relates to not being sick.

• Health and wellbeing relates to physical, social, emotional, mental and spiritual dimensions and is characterised by an equilibrium in which the individual feels happy, healthy, capable and engaged.

• Health and wellbeing is dynamic and subjective.

Health and wellbeing can be described as (a)   , meaning that it is continually changing.

​ (a)   is a physical or mental disturbance, involving symptoms, dysfunction and tissue damage.

​ (b)   is a subjective concept, relating to a person's experience of a disease.

• Disease
• Illness

Which of the following factors can affect the severity of illness experienced between two people?

• Age

• Past experience of the disease

• Levels of social support

• All of the above

Land is fundamental to the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The land is not just soil or rocks or minerals, but a whole environment that sustains and is sustained by people and culture. For First Nation Australians, the land is the core of all spirituality and ‘Caring for Country’ is a very important responsibility taken on by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Which concept of health and wellbeing does this best reflect?

• Illness

• Health and wellbeing is subjective

• Health and wellbeing is dynamic

• Disease