Moving Toward Whole-Person Health

Whole-person health is the recognition that our mental and physical health are interconnected and that an illness rarely affects a single body part or system. When you consider that nearly 1 in 5 U.S. adults live with a mental illness, and 6 in 10 adults in the U.S. have a chronic disease, it’s easy to consider how one might impact the other. (NIH, CDC). As educators guiding the next generation of health professionals, you’re in a unique position to both influence learning about health science and impact the health of young people.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the need for whole-person health and emotional well-being to the forefront, and especially with our youth. We will explore the concepts of emotional wellbeing; mental health promotion and substance use prevention and how this impacts health and health outcomes. Learn tips and tools on modeling healthy behaviors that support National Health Science Standard 9: Health Maintenance Practices.

Get resources from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and that work to engage young people in the efforts to promote mental health, prevent substance use, and transform to whole person care.

Presenter: Courtney Esparza
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Date: Wednesday, April 26, 2023, 4:30 – 5:30 PM (ET)