Health and Social Care

Health and Social Care Unit AS3: Health and Well-Being

1.       Concepts of health and well being

a.       Students should be able to: define the following concepts:

Health

It is usually agreed that there is more than one dimension to health: Physical, Social, Emotional, Mental, Spiritual. It is a positive concept suggests well-being as opposed to illness or disease

Ill Health

A state in which an individual is unable to function normally and without pain. Can be physical e.g. ibs or mental e.g. depression. Ill health can be caused by poor nutrition and poor living conditions.

Disease

Disease is a diagnostic label given to a set of signs and symptoms. It is usually a long-term condition e.g. Crohn’s Disease. It can be communicable e.g. Meningitis, it can also be from a result of injuries or infections.

Stress

The response that occurs when people feel tension or think they cannot cope with the pressures in their environment e.g. work. Stress can be a long-term response, which may result in physical problems such as nausea, high temperature and ulcers. Stress can also be short term.

Mental Health

A state of successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with each other and the ability to adapt to change. This is because the individual can organise thoughts and feelings clearly and coherently.

Mental Illness

A collective term for all diagnostic problems that become ‘clinical’ i.e. professional intervention needed. Examples include; depression, manic-depressive psychosis, schizophrenia. Most can be controlled through medication to restrict side effects e.g. mood swings 

Stress Related Illness

Refers to a set of symptoms which has come about as a direct result of exposure to short term or long-term stressors. Symptoms may include; headaches, stomach problems, anxiety/ depression and fatigue.

a.       Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the physical, intellectual, emotional and social needs of service users such as children, older people, those with illnesses, physical disabilities, learning disabilities…