What is Wellness?

Wellness is the optimal state of health of individuals and groups.  To reach a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, an individual must be able to identify and to realize aspirations, to satisfy needs, and to change or cope with the environment. In January 2015 the Department of Health and Wellness launched a PEI Wellness Strategy (997 Kb) outlining 35 actions in five areas:

• Healthy Eating
• Physical Activity
• Living Tobacco Free
• Consuming Alcohol Responsibly
• Mental Health

What are the Goals of the PEI Wellness Strategy?

• To increase healthy eating behaviours of Islanders
• To increase the physical activity levels and reduce sedentary time of Islanders
• To reduce tobacco use and the harms it causes Islanders
• To reduce heavy and unhealthy drinking behaviours among Islanders
• To build the resiliency and coping skills of Islanders to help them in dealing with everyday challenges and situations.

What can I do to improve wellness?

Improving health is a shared responsibility.  It requires intersectoral collaboration by those who work both within the health sector and outside of health - whose activities, practices and policies may have an impact on health or the factors known to influence it.   Some examples might include:

• Establishing goals that improve individual and population health;
• Providing a safe and healthy environment (at home, school, workplace, & community);
• Protecting the environment to ensure a stable eco-system and sustainable resources;
• Developing partnerships that address the determinants of health;
• Involving citizens in setting priorities and implementing programs;
• Seeking out information to make informed health decisions;
• Building supportive communities by participating in community activities;
• Eating healthy food; staying physically active; decreasing use of tobacco or quitting smoking; and following Canada’s Low Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines to limit health and safety risks.

Communities, organizations and groups can also access PEI’s Wellness Grant Program to support initiatives and projects in one or more of the five priority areas of the strategy.

Who do I contact about PEI’s Wellness Strategy?

Health Promotion, Chief Public Health Office

2^nd Floor Sullivan, 16 Fitzroy Street

Charlottetown, PE   C1A 7N8

Telephone: (902) 620-3517

Fax: (902)368-3354