Holistic health: does it really include mental health?
Kimberly K McClanahan1, Marlene B Huff, Hatim A Omar
1Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
Thescientificworldjournal
|March 21, 2007
Summary
Holistic health, integrating mind and body, is not fully realized in the U.S. due to persistent stigma and disparities in mental health care.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Policy
- Mental Health Research
Background:
- Holistic health, emphasizing mind-body unity, has been present in U.S. healthcare for 30 years.
- The U.S. healthcare system often views mental and physical health as separate entities.
- Historical factors like mind-body dualism and stigma impede holistic health integration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the barriers preventing the U.S. from fully adopting holistic health principles.
- To examine the conceptualization of mental and physical health within the U.S. healthcare context.
- To propose strategies for fostering a more integrated view of health.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of U.S. healthcare paradigms.
- Review of historical and societal factors influencing health perceptions.
- Examination of mental health parity and public perception data.
Main Results:
- The U.S. generally does not incorporate holistic health tenets into its citizens' overall health perspective.
- Mind-body dualism, mental illness stigma, insurance inequities, and public misconceptions are significant barriers.
- Mental and physical health are predominantly perceived as distinct, not unified, components.
Conclusions:
- Full realization of holistic health in the U.S. requires addressing deep-seated issues in mental healthcare.
- Overcoming these barriers is crucial for a unified understanding of health.
- Systemic changes are needed to align U.S. healthcare with holistic health principles.
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