Expand the WHO definition of health to include spirituality

At RWJF.org, there’s a request for ideas to rethink mental health, move past narrow perceptions, expand our understanding and collective involvement.

I have an idea. I think it could create global change. But when tried to use the online application form, the required categories weren’t a good fit and the software wouldn’t accept my input, so I am posting my idea here. (So much for expanding perceptions!)

WHO asserts that “health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” The definition has not been amended since 1948.

I’d like to add spirituality to the idea of wellness, so that “health is a state of complete physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

The very suggestion for reconsideration would start people thinking, generate consequences that I can’t anticipate and reconsideration matches current social trends for health integration.

To make this happen, a committee would need to learn the WHO process and then:

develop arguments

differentiate from religious/theology

consider a proxy for community well-being from data already being collected

for instance: adults - changes in % voting

for instance: changes in teen pregnancies rate

create media event

include world spiritual leaders

collect implementation stories and disseminate

review impact in 2 years, 5 years

http://www.who.int/about/definition/en/print.html