Blog Post Challenge 2: Health Promotion

“a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”

This is how the World Health Organization (WHO) defines health.

In professor Flick’s lecture, she discussed the importance in health promotion in maximizing physical, mental and social well-being. Occupational therapists have a major role in health promotion. Because being able to participate in your occupations brings balance to your life, your health is being maximized. Prevention is the basis of health promotion. I think that pretty much makes occupational therapists responsible for promoting health to prevent illness and disease.

I took a health promotion class in undergraduate school and had the opportunity to put it into practice. I interned at a local non-profit organization that advocated for the underserved in the Chattanooga area. The organization worked with individuals directly in helping them find jobs, manage their money, and other things they needed to participate in. I helped in implementing a walking group for the clients targeted at improving their physical and social health. I also created a bulletin board that promoted healthy eating habits and exercise.

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