Achieving a state of good mental health means that an individual is able to recognize and act according to its capacities, performs well at work or school, dealing with normal stresses of life, and can positively impact their community. The nature of the human being encompasses three dimensions: the physical, mental/psychic and spiritual dimensions.
Health implies the integration of these three dimensions in a harmonious way, and that is not only an absence of disease but also the ability to manage and fulfil the roles and functions in life. With this definition of health, as presented and debated by the WHO, we have the foundation to proceed with the next steps.
Relational Sustainability is related to the idea of looking beyond the present and securing the future. In order to create and put in practice reforms that improve planetary health, humans need to align their self-identity and values to this purpose.
Assuming this definition of a person and health, we see that today, the relation of individuals and their own health coexist with a series of challenges that threaten them.
Mental health issues (depression, anxiety, stress), spiritual problems (such as existential questions, lack of identity, meaning, and purpose—as well as physical issues, like chronic and lifestyle-related diseases (especially in Western countries).
In this sense, additional issues arise, such as the impact of fulfilling the nature of the person on their relationships and interactions with others. We see a lack of belonging, as well as a lack of personal identity, connection, and bonding; we no longer know well who we are, where we belong, or where we come from.
This sense of not belonging can be understood geographically, in relation to nature—potentially indicating a disconnection from it—but it also extends to the community and groups. In other words, we now face challenges related to personal, community or social, and environmental dimensions—if there is no personal health, no sense of belonging, and no responsibilitytowards a place, then there isn’t a lifestyle that is respectful of the environment and community in which one is inserted in.
We then move on to the third part, that is, to possible pathways. Having recognized the challenges in the personal, community/social, and environmental dimensions, we can consider which paths could be taken within these three dimensions. Therefore, we talk about the need to recognize identity—knowing who we are—and, with this recognition, comes a stronger bond to our roots, a sense of belonging, a connection to others, to places, and to nature.
Working on this dimension of identity and bonding not only leads to improvements in health but also enhances responsibility—because with connection comes greater responsibility—and cohesion. This means that working on identity and bonding implies and enables the improvement of overall health, shared responsibility for resources, nature, and what we are connected to; as well as cohesion, in social, community, and relational aspects.
To effectively address the intertwined environmental and social challenges we face today, a new cultural approach is needed to unify the varied insights and values of today's society. It is not only about managing natural resources but also about keeping and maintaining them. Additionally, efforts should be made to build resilient relationships between people, communities, and ecosystems.
Giving emphasis to the interconnectedness of humans with each other and the environment, relational sustainability must arrange for solutions that take in account social, economic, cultural, and natural relationships.
And this means advocating for food systems that nurture healthy relationships between people, their communities, and the environment, ensuring that food production and consumption contribute to the well-being of all involved.
In this context, Nutrition for Happiness presents some pilot intervention examples in this dimension. On one hand, through community projects based on territorial identity. In the initial phase, this involves collecting and identifying the distinctive elements that set one community apart from another in terms of food. By working on these dimensions—first through participatory processes of anthropological surveys of these elements, and then promoting their recognition—a systemic approach to the territorial food system is fostered, addressing various dimensions from food production to consumption.
Food is tied to cultural identity and traditions; relational sustainability respects and preserves traditional food practices, recognizing the importance of cultural heritage in maintaining community cohesion and identity. This is one dimension, and one example of our ongoing work.
Currently, we are working with 27 municipalities and more than 2000 people, in areas such as municipal mentoring, education, support for rural development and the primary sector, and cultural and tourism sectors.
We focus on recognizing food culture as a means to encourage more balanced food choices, particularly by valuing local food resources, seasonal products, and promoting choices that lead to more respectful dietary habits for individual health, environmental health, and social health. This includes impacting small-scale production, cultivated landscapes, circular economy, etc.
The other example of Nutrition for Happiness in this dimension is clinical work, whether in individual nutrition consultations or group approaches. Here, food is seen not only as a predictor of health but also, due to its emotional, cultural, and relational nature, as a potential pathway to improve other life dimensions. When someone gets help to change their dietary habits, if this process is also one of self-discovery and overall balance—not just in diet but in lifestyle—it will have a broader impact on their physical, mental, and spiritual health.
By improving these three dimensions of health, with an integral view of well-being, there is also a positive social and environmental impact through the choices people make about which products to buy, where they buy it, and how often. This is the other contribution of Nutrition for Happiness in clinical work, both individual and group-based: using the practical aspects of food to address identity and connection, and thus promoting health in all its dimensions—personal, social, and community.
The Nutrition for Happiness approach with a holistic perspective, recognizes the interconnectedness between food, the people it nourishes, and the environment it comes from, focusing on individuals but also extending to improve the health and well-being of communities.
Ana Helena Pinto e Mariana Coelho Silva
Nutrition for Happiness
References:
https://www.new-humanity.org/en/projects/relational-sustainability-international-congress/
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