I have always been drawn to a career where I am able to help people. Starting early on I worked in retail customer service and while I was helping people find the goods they were looking for, there was no real reward from this type of job for me. I started to think about what people value in life whether it was family, job or financial security, education or an active social life, all of these values were difficult if your health was not 100%. That brings me to the very frequently asked question, what is health? I could give the World Health Organization definition of health from 1948 (“…a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing…”), but to me, health means to be in the best state of physical, mental and social wellbeing by making conscious choices that impact that feeling. I think the definition of health is highly personal and difficult to put a label on.

So what about health promotion? I think of health promotion similarly to marketing a product. Health is a product that can be achieved by doing X, Y and Z depending on the individual’s definition of health. To promote health, means to find target populations, communities or individuals and promote lifestyle changes that will have a positive impact on their health. These “promotions” need to be culturally sensitive and tailored to the specific target group. Choosing health promotion as a career is an exciting way to help people live the best lives they can based on their own situations. From a public health perspective, health promotion is a vital component of increasing public health and wellbeing and I’m excited to be involved in this industry.

Zoe

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton