Summary
The Department of Health has produced presentation slides and a set of short documents reviewing the evidence about: (i) the value and importance of wellbeing for health (mental and physical) throughout an individual’s life-course, and (ii) exploring the implications for policy makers and commissioners.
Wellbeing has the following potential advantages and common characteristics:
- It adds years to life and improves recovery.
- It is associated with positive health behaviours in adults and children’s
- It is broadly associated with positive outcomes.
- It influences the wellbeing and mental health of family, friends and the community.
- It affects how staff and health care providers work.
- It has implications for decisions about patient care practises and services.
- It has implications for treatment decisions and costs.
- It has implications for decisions about local services.
- It may ultimately reduce the healthcare burden and help the NHS to meet mounting financial and efficiency challenges.
Read more: Wellbeing and health policy.
Reference
Wellbeing and health policy. London: Department of Health, February 6th 2014.
Reference
Wellbeing: why it matters to health. Health is the top thing people say matters to their wellbeing. London: Department of Health, January 2014.
A compendium of wellbeing factsheets is available. The titles of most interest here comprise:
Reference
Ageing well. A compendium of factsheets: wellbeing across the lifecourse. London: Department of Health’s Health Improvement Analytical Team, January 2014.
Reference
The relationship between wellbeing and health. A compendium of factsheets: wellbeing across the lifecourse. London: Department of Health’s Health Improvement Analytical Team, January 2014.
Reference
Health behaviours and wellbeing. A compendium of factsheets: wellbeing across the lifecourse. London: Department of Health’s Health Improvement Analytical Team, January 2014.
Reference
Wellbeing and longevity. A compendium of factsheets: wellbeing across the lifecourse. London: Department of Health’s Health Improvement Analytical Team, January 2014.
Reference
International comparisons: where does the UK stand? A compendium of factsheets: wellbeing across the lifecourse. London: Department of Health’s Health Improvement Analytical Team, January 2014.
Reference
Evidence gaps and current / ongoing research. A compendium of factsheets: wellbeing across the lifecourse. London: Department of Health’s Health Improvement Analytical Team, January 2014.
