The concept of health

To make the claim that the Arts can make a positive contribution to the health of individuals and society, we need to explore the concept of health. This paper explores the diverse definitions of health, the different measures of health and the factors that contribute to enhancing or harming health. In defining health, the paper examines how the subjective experience of health changes over a person’s life and how expectations of health change over time and between cultures. Emphasis will be placed on the dynamic nature of health and in particular, the interrelationship between an individual’s state of health and their social, political, historical and cultural environment. In addition, the distinction between physical and mental health will be explored and the impact the arts can have on the mind and body will be discussed. One of the central questions raised and discussed in this paper is: why is health important? If we agree that health is important, then we can agree that health enhancing activities, such as participating in the arts and engaging in art therapies, are worthy pursuit