The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, aka SAMHSA, was established in 1992 by Congress as an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. SAMHSA aims to promote mental health and prevent substance misuse by providing information, treatment, and support for a positive recovery experience. SAMHSA consist of councils and committees that draw advice from the public and mental health and substance abuse professionals to help advance their mission. Through this process, they devised the 2023-2026 SAMHSA Strategic Plan. This plan is what they call “person-centered.” It’s an individualized mission and vision highlighting vital guiding principles and presenting new goals and objectives. They focus on healing the person based on their needs and not just providing general facts and treatments. This strategic plan customizes treatments and support to the person, making them the center instead of the condition. Everyone is unique in their need to live life healthfully.
Everyone has their path, journey, and experiences. However, you want to refer to an individual’s story; each person has their own. Having that understanding about yourself is what is going to be your biggest strength when understanding personal wellness.
Wellness is being healthy in all dimensions of our lives, which include;
Emotional
Financial
Social
Spiritual
Occupational
Physical
Intellectual
Environmental
Each dimension is equally important because they are all interconnected. One dimension builds on the other, so when you’re struggling in one area, it’s likely to affect the health of another.
An example of this is not making enough money at a job you don’t like. When dealing with money issues like debt, unpaid bills, and inability to afford the cost of living, you are dealing with poor financial health. Having to struggle with financial health can lead to anxiety and depression, which affects your emotional health. This can lead to you dealing with physical issues like fatigue, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, headaches, and overall discomfort. Your physical health is now affecting your performance at a job you dislike, and you’re currently stressed. Your occupational and emotional health is being challenged; when this happens, we may question our purpose in life. That questioning is your spiritual health declining from not being in a desired place in life. Overall wellness is about how much joy and fulfilment we get through healthy living. The goal is to find a balance in your for the sake of your health.
Finding balance means finding time to invest in your eight dimensions and the things that give you joy. Self-discovery is very important through this process of your wellness journey. As mentioned, recovery is an individualized experience that should not be compared to anyone else. Because individual needs differ, what we consider balanced will also be different. Tools like journaling and meditation are helpful with focusing on ourselves well and understanding our roles in our lives. Who am I? Am I a student, a coworker, or a hobbyist? How do I interact with friends? Am I a parent or a spouse? You won’t know until you allow yourself to spend time and learn you. Understanding the eight dimensions of wellness will help you gain more knowledge about yourself and how to gain control over your life. Life is about living; somewhere along the way, we allow society to make us forget.
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About Us. SAMHSA. (n.d.). https://www.samhsa.gov/about-us
Creating a healthier life - substance abuse and mental health services ... https://www.samhsa.gov. (n.d.). https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/d7/priv/sma16-4958.pdf
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