Health, Illness and Wellbeing: Perspectives and Social Determinants introduces students to the important ideas that underlie the field of public health today. Written for beginning students, it provides an overview of the forces and trends that combine to shape the health of individuals, communities, and populations, within a conceptual framework of determinants of health. The book examines the biological, environmental, social, cultural and economic determinants of health, within the context of their causes and interrelationships. It is structured to enable students to understand and reflect upon health; how it is informed by biological, environmental, and social factors that affect whole populations. More advanced sections of the book focus on the social, cultural and economic determinants of health to show the ways in which the experience of health is influenced by the characteristics of the society in which people live. Through its perspective of considering the causes of health, rather than simply the effects of health status in society, the book provides students with the basis for a career in any of the health sciences where insight into the meaning of health will allow for the development of effective practice and greater sensitivity to the needs of the community.

1. Health, illness and well-being: An introduction
Part 1 – Perspectives of Health, Illness and Well-Being

2. Introduction to pathogens and impacts on health and illness
3. Introduction to epidemiology
4. Human genetics and human inheritance: Biological, social, cultural and environmental perspectives
5. Chronic disease and the Genome
6. Ageing and health: Biological, social and environmental perspectives
7. Introduction to health promotion
8. Anthropogenic change and human health
9. Climate change: Drivers and health impacts, mitigation and adaptation strategies for the health sector
10.Health and the living environment
Part 2 – Social Determinants of Health, Illness and Well-Being

11. Social determinants of health: Historical developments and global implications
12. Health as a social construct
13. Health throughout the life course
14. Language, culture and health
15. Deviance, difference, and stigma as social determinants of health
16. Health and the media
17. Health and social justice
18. The economics of health and disease
19. The social determinants and the health care system

Pranee Liamputtong – Personal Chair in Public Health, La Trobe University
Rebecca Fanany – Lecturer, School of Public Health, La Trobe University
Glenda Verrinder – Senior Lecturer, School of Public Health, La Trobe University

The below resources are available for students using Health, Illness and Well-being:

Further reading suggestions:

• Part 1: Perspectives of Health, Illness and Well-being
• Part 2: Social Determinants of Health, Illness and Well-being

Useful weblinks:

• Part 1: Perspectives of Health, Illness and Well-being
• Part 2: Social Determinants of Health, Illness and Well-being