Mar Cabezas

8 Children’s Mental Well-Being and Education1

8.1 Healthy Bodies and Healthy Minds: Why do Children Need Mental Well-Being?

Health has been defined, from the last sixty years on, in an extensive sense, referring not only to the lack of diseases, but also to well-being. In fact, as it is well known, the World Health Organization defines health as a “state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (Official Record of the World Health Organization, 2, 100). In turn, well-being is not understood just as a lack of discomfort, but as a positive balance between negative and positive emotions, moods, thoughts and circumstances.

This definition of health can surely be criticised ...

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