Wellness Deficit Disorder
Traditionally, good health has meant just the absence of disease, and healthcare has focused on diagnosing and treating illnesses. If you weren't sick, you were considered healthy. But what about wellness? The World Health Organization broadened our understanding of health by saying that health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, rather than just the absence of disease. So, in other words, if you are free of illness, that’s good, but the best state of health is both the absence of illness and presence of wellness.
Recently, there has been a growing focus on wellness, which is a broader concept than just health. While the absence of illness is a component of being healthy, it doesn't indicate whether you are truly in a state of wellness. Wellness isn't just the absence of disease. It's a proactive process designed to help you achieve optimum levels of wellness - for you. Wellness refers to living the best life you possibly can, regardless of whether you have a disease or disability.
Considerable research, conducted at multiple academic centers around the world, as well as our own research, shows there is a global hunger for mental wellness. Additionally, there is clear evidence that a "wellness deficit" of epidemic proportions actually exists. We think the absence of, or reduction in a sense of wellness should be identified and targeted. Some years ago, we coined the phrase Wellness Deficit Disorder, to highlight that wellness, and its absence is a 'disorder' that rightfully deserves our attention. Although currently this disorder doesn't exist in any of our established diagnostic and classification systems, it is nonetheless very real.
Is it possible that a deficit of wellness truly exists? How is this possible in the land of plenty? Aren’t we living in a time of abundance? Stock markets are up, food is readily available, and most of us have a roof over our heads, and financial resources to care for ourselves and our families. Shouldn’t this be enough to create happiness and contentment? The sad truth is, meeting basic needs, while incredibly important, is no guarantee for possessing optimum mental wellness.
When faced with a mental or physical challenge, this deficit is amplified. The medical and psychiatric professions, due to training, are strongly focused on the treatment of illnesses. We often forget that wellness is an essential part of good health and deserves our attention. Wellness Deficit Disorder, if present, deserves to be identified and addressed. The WILD 5 Wellness Program was created to directly address this public health crisis.
Recently, there has been a growing focus on wellness, which is a broader concept than just health. While the absence of illness is a component of being healthy, it doesn't indicate whether you are truly in a state of wellness. Wellness isn't just the absence of disease. It's a proactive process designed to help you achieve optimum levels of wellness - for you. Wellness refers to living the best life you possibly can, regardless of whether you have a disease or disability.
Considerable research, conducted at multiple academic centers around the world, as well as our own research, shows there is a global hunger for mental wellness. Additionally, there is clear evidence that a "wellness deficit" of epidemic proportions actually exists. We think the absence of, or reduction in a sense of wellness should be identified and targeted. Some years ago, we coined the phrase Wellness Deficit Disorder, to highlight that wellness, and its absence is a 'disorder' that rightfully deserves our attention. Although currently this disorder doesn't exist in any of our established diagnostic and classification systems, it is nonetheless very real.
Is it possible that a deficit of wellness truly exists? How is this possible in the land of plenty? Aren’t we living in a time of abundance? Stock markets are up, food is readily available, and most of us have a roof over our heads, and financial resources to care for ourselves and our families. Shouldn’t this be enough to create happiness and contentment? The sad truth is, meeting basic needs, while incredibly important, is no guarantee for possessing optimum mental wellness.
When faced with a mental or physical challenge, this deficit is amplified. The medical and psychiatric professions, due to training, are strongly focused on the treatment of illnesses. We often forget that wellness is an essential part of good health and deserves our attention. Wellness Deficit Disorder, if present, deserves to be identified and addressed. The WILD 5 Wellness Program was created to directly address this public health crisis.
The HERO Wellness Scale
The HERO Wellness Scale is a validated wellness instrument that is designed to measure your overall wellness. This measurement tool is a guide to better understanding your current level of wellness. The scale asks you to rate your happiness, enthusiasm, resilience, optimism, and mental wellness during the previous seven days, using a scale ranging from 0-10 (0=lowest score and 10=highest score).
Recently, WILD 5 Wellness conducted a nationwide survey of 757 individuals, asking them to complete the HERO Wellness Scale. We presented the survey data at a national scientific meeting in San Antonio, Texas, in 2016. CLICK HERE to see results.
Let's briefly examine the results of the study.
Recently, WILD 5 Wellness conducted a nationwide survey of 757 individuals, asking them to complete the HERO Wellness Scale. We presented the survey data at a national scientific meeting in San Antonio, Texas, in 2016. CLICK HERE to see results.
Let's briefly examine the results of the study.
HAPPINESS
We asked participants to rank their desired level of happiness, and their average score was 7.8. Then, we asked what level of happiness they had actually experienced in the previous seven days, and their happiness dropped to 6.5. Scores were much lower if the individual was also experiencing a mental health problem. When a mental health problem was present, participants ranked their level of happiness during the previous seven days at 4.9. A deficit in happiness clearly exists. When faced with a mental or physical challenge, this deficit is amplified.
ENTHUSIASM
We asked the same question regarding desired levels of enthusiasm, and the average score was 7.5. However, when participants were asked what their level of enthusiasm had been in the previous seven days, their enthusiasm dropped to 5.9. A deficit in enthusiasm clearly exists. When a mental health challenge was present, their level of enthusiasm for the previous seven days was only 4.6.
RESILIENCE
Resilience is one of the key factors that determines success in life, both emotionally and physically. When asked what level of resilience people desired, the average score was 8.3. When asked what level of resilience they had actually experienced in the previous seven days, participant's resilience dropped to 7.2. A deficit in resilience clearly exists. When a mental health problem was present, resilience levels dropped to 5.9.
OPTIMISM
We asked participants to rank their desired level of optimism, and the average reported number was 8.0. When asked what level of optimism they possessed in the previous seven days, they reported a score of 6.5. A deficit in optimism clearly exists. This lack of optimism was magnified in those with a current mental health problem, as they reported their optimism at 5.0.
MENTAL WELLNESS
Finally, we asked participants to rank their desired level of mental wellness, and they reported 8.6. When asked what level of mental wellness they had actually experienced in the previous seven days, they reported a score of 7.4. A deficit in mental wellness clearly exists. When a mental health condition was present, the actual level of mental wellness dropped to 5.5.
This cutting-edge glimpse into mental wellness demonstrates that many people actually do have a Wellness Deficit Disorder. When faced with a mental or physical challenge, this deficit is amplified. The medical and psychiatric professions, due to training, are strongly focused on the treatment of illnesses. We often forget that wellness is an essential part of good health and also deserves our attention. And that's why WILD 5 Wellness was created!
This cutting-edge glimpse into mental wellness demonstrates that many people actually do have a Wellness Deficit Disorder. When faced with a mental or physical challenge, this deficit is amplified. The medical and psychiatric professions, due to training, are strongly focused on the treatment of illnesses. We often forget that wellness is an essential part of good health and also deserves our attention. And that's why WILD 5 Wellness was created!