Wellbeing support encompasses various components. These may include providing a fruit bowl in the break room or gym membership; but, more broadly, creating an atmosphere conducive to emotional and psychological wellness is also key.
Colleges and universities can make students aware of wellbeing services by including information in pre-orientation materials or orientation events. Furthermore, they can offer students access to counselling services.
Mental health
Mental wellbeing means being able to think and feel in ways that allow you to enjoy life while facing its challenges effectively. Your physical health, relationships and environment all play a part; mental health conditions may cause distressing symptoms which interfere with daily activities; but thankfully they can often be managed through talk therapy or medications.
Serious mental illness refers to changes in mood, thinking or behavior that cause significant distress or interfere with one’s ability to function. Like heart disease or diabetes, serious mental illness is treatable and many people recover fully; however, due to stigma and discrimination as well as limited resources there remains significant unmet need worldwide.
Physical health
Physical health is a fundamental and indispensable aspect of overall well-being, comprising of factors like regular movement, healthy nutrition and medical check-ups. Maintaining these aspects can help ensure you remain feeling good while functioning efficiently while decreasing chronic disease risks and increasing energy levels.
Regular physical activity helps release endorphins and boost both positive mood and self-esteem, as well as weight management and sleep patterns, all contributing to overall physical wellness.
Past mental health was related to present physical health; the strength of this association varied across age quartiles (Table 2, Appendix A1). This suggested that mental wellbeing influenced other dimensions of wellness such as physical well-being; SHS provides several resources that support students’ physical wellbeing including the Ryan Center.
Relationships
Healthy relationships can make an immense difference to both mental and physical wellbeing. They can lower your risk for cardiovascular disease, cancer and infections while potentially increasing lifespan.
Relationships provide more than emotional support; they also promote a healthy lifestyle by encouraging you to exercise regularly, eat well and limit smoking or alcohol use. Furthermore, relationships may enhance feelings of self-worth which may help make us more resilient during stressful periods.
If you feel isolated and lonely, consider expanding your social circle by meeting new acquaintances and friends. Peripheral connections may lead to deeper friendships over time; and can even reduce stress levels for better cardiovascular health.
Financial health
Financial health is a cornerstone of overall wellness. This encompasses having a steady income, managing debt responsibly, having enough savings and insurance coverage, as well as having a good credit score. Furthermore, being in good financial shape enables a person to achieve future financial goals and build wealth.
Money worries can be a significant source of anxiety and depression. Research suggests that those earning lower incomes have an increased risk for these conditions because of financial strain.
Set a budget and track your spending to improve your financial health. Consider cutting unnecessary subscriptions or shopping around for cheaper services and products. Save and invest; don’t forget ING’s commitment to accessibility and inclusion by reading up on its Accessibility Promise.
Environment
Environment refers to both physical and social surroundings of an individual. This may include their home, workplace, community and the natural world – as well as any external factors like air pollution, noise levels or temperature that might negatively impact one’s wellbeing.
Studies have demonstrated the therapeutic value of accessing green spaces and outdoor recreation for improving mental health and mood, especially among low-income communities. Environmental wellbeing encompasses all of our planet’s natural resources as well as respecting them and taking care in caring for them responsibly.
Create an ideal environment is vital to overall health and well-being. Your surroundings have an impactful effect on how safe, comfortable and connected to life you feel. Implement eco-conscious practices like recycling or spending time outside; doing this can make a big difference in both how you feel as well as leading you down a healthier path.
