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Our society can truly be classified as accomplishment orientated. Only when we fall behind in our race for excellence or even become ill, do we stop to think about maintaining our health. We often take our mental health for granted and fail to recognize the first signs of emotional strain. We are inclined to ignore symptoms of stress or anxiety. A Survey conducted in early 2012 established that many people are embarrassed about seeking out a counsellor.

 

The big Question, when a pathological diagnosis is established is " What caused it" "Where did it come from (patho = disease. genesis = creation/origin) The term Salutogenesis salus = health genesis= origin = Salutogenesis on the other hand is a term coined by a professor of medical sociology called Antanovsky 1923 - 1994. As in physical health - matters, where some peoplle are more resistent to infections than others; emotional health can be present in one person and absent in the next. Aaron Antanovsky studied these phenomena closely and came to some very interesting conclusions. How can we survive despite the detrimental conditions we may be exposed to ? The salutogenetic approach focuses on three aspects:

 

1) Problem solving, finding solutions

 

2) Identification of generalised resistence sources that help people to move in the direction of positive health

 

3) Identification of a global and pervasive sense in individuals, groups and populations or systems that serves as the overall mechanism or capacity for this process - the sense of coherence (SOC)

 

SOC developes througout life. SOC increases throughout the life span and it has strong positive correlations to percieved health, mental health and quality of life

 

 

 

Antonovsky compared the situation one can find oneself in to an unknown, perilous river.  At times we get caught up in the current, are hurled through the rapids or thrown against the banks. We are  in permanently challenged circumstances, especially when we are not champion swimmers. He compares medication, eg anti-depressants, prescribed by the medical profession, to the life- jacket thrown in at us from the shore and describes this as being a pathogenic approach.   The salutogenic approach however, looks at how to improve the swimmers water skills - given that we humans are born swimmers. Similarly, we learn again how to use the basic tools to deal with conflict, challenges, problems and dangers. Instead of thrashing ahead with a life jacket, we can learn to improve our swim techniques, how to take a break along life’s journey and maybe engage a helper to learn and renew skills we had thought lost or never realized we have

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