Why is Wellness Important?

Wellness is about all the things that support us — as individuals and groups — on an emotional, mental, physical, social, spiritual, occupational, and environmental level. It helps us thrive, with or without the presence of illness, and it helps us achieve our greatest potential at any time. Wellness is different for every person or group. It doesn’t always stay the same and it must always be nurtured.

To better understand what helps us to be healthy and well, we must first understand the factors that play a role in a person’s — and a community’s — wellness. These factors, known as the “Determinants of Health”, are mostly outside of healthcare and outside of an individual’s control. They include social support, income, early life experiences, and more.

These Determinants matter not only for our individual health and wellness, but for the health of everybody. Our opportunity to stay healthy and be well is impacted by them everyday. Statistics show that communities that encourage health and wellness — socially and economically — are home to healthier, happier people. In turn, these supportive social and economic conditions help reduce the likelihood of poor health, and ease the pressure on the healthcare system (the need for more doctors, hospitals, and medications).

So, you can see how the people, places, and conditions we live with and that surround us have a great impact on our ability to be “well”. We are all part of the effort to achieve a healthy New Brunswick where, together, we can live in a culture of wellness. Wellness Lives with Us.