WellnessWheel of Health

&

Six Dimensions

Kathy Castulik BS, CCMA, CPT, CET, CHI,

Health Educator III

University of Missouri-St. Louis

What is Wellness?

“Wellness is an active process of becoming aware of and toward a more successful existence.”

(National Wellness Institute)

Active ProcessProcess – We never arrive at a point

where there is no possibility of improving.

Aware – We by our own nature, continuously seek more information about how we can improve.

Choices – We have considered a variety of options and select those that seem to be in our best interest.

Success – Is determined by each individual to be their personal collection of accomplishments for their life.

Wheel of Health

Multidimensional

Wellness is about balance, the choices we make today will affect us tomorrow. What is a priority today can change tomorrow. This is multidimensional, the ability to be flexible.

What Do the Six Dimensions of Wellness

Mean ?Social – Encourages contributing

to one’s human and physical environment to the common welfare of one’s community. It emphasizes the interdependence with others and nature. It includes the pursuit of harmony in one’s family.

Second Dimension

Physical – Encourages cardiovascular, flexibility, strength and also encourages regular physical activity. Physical development encourages knowledge about food and nutrition and discourages the use of tobacco, drugs and excessive alcohol consumption. It encourages activities which contribute to high–level wellness, including medical self-care and appropriate use of the medical system.

Third Dimension

Intellectual – Encourages creative, stimulating mental activities. An intellectually well person uses the resources available to expand one’s knowledge in improved skills along with expanding potential for sharing with others.

Fourth Dimension

Emotional – Emphasizes an awareness and acceptance of one’s feelings. Emotional wellness includes the degree to which one feels positive and enthusiastic about oneself and life. It includes the capacity to manage one’s feelings and related behaviors including the realistic assessment of one’s limitations. An emotionally well person maintains satisfying relationships with others.

Fifth Dimension

Spiritual – Involves seeking meaning and purpose in human existence. It includes the development of a deep appreciation for the depth and expansion of life and natural forces that exist in the universe.

Sixth Dimension

Vocational/Occupational –

Involves preparing for work in which one will gain personal satisfaction and find enrichment in one’s life through work. Vocational development is related to one’s attitude about one’s work.

Integrating Wellness into Campus Health

Use needs assessments/HRA’sGetting involved with organizationsGoing to Residence HallsGo to places where students hang out

between classes, cafeteria etc.Meet with department heads to tie in

wellness programs into their classes

Integrating Wellness into Campus Health

Have wellness booths set up in between classes at popular locations.

Vary sites Attend evening classes with

booths before & after classes.Offer health fairs on campus day

and evening times.Offer stress reduction during

finals.

Integrating Wellness into Campus Health

Attend Student Government Association meetings.

Use student paper to promote wellness.

Incorporate the Health Observance Calendar into student activities.

Bring in outside groups, corporations, organizations through advertising and sponsorships in wellness activities.

Form Wellness groups such as S.H.O.T.S (students helping others to succeed, as peer educators)

Integrating Wellness into Campus Health

Have S.H.O.T.S or peer educators provide wellness activities to students.

Involve faculty and staff into wellness promotion for students.

Based on the 6 dimensions of wellness, have multiple student coalitions come up with a theme representing the 6 dimensions in programming on campus.

Integrating Wellness into Campus Health

Market what you’re wanting to do.Participate in Homecoming.Attend directors meeting to present

ideas.Form contests between fraternities and

sororities to promote wellness events.Sponsor blood drives and have door

prizes promoting wellness activities.

Integrating Wellness into Campus Health

Offer Welcome back week at the beginning of each new semester with first aid capsules/kits, anything wellness related.

Provide a monthly customized calendar providing health tips that relate to six dimensions of wellness and place throughout campus and residential halls.

Meet with student activities and have banners made up to post in cafeteria on upcoming wellness activities.

Integrating Wellness into Campus Health

Contact hospitals to provide mammograms at University from their mobile vans on a yearly basis.

Have pharmaceutical companies come out and provide a booth with educational materials and giveaways promoting a special wellness series/theme.

Inspiration

“Our minds are like parachutes they work better when opened.”

Author Unknown

“Cheerfulness is the best promoter of health and is as friendly to the mind as to the body.”

Joseph Addison

“The elevator to success is out of order. You’ll have to use the stairs…One step at a time.”

Joe Girard