Health, human development and the community ecosystem: three ecological models

Health, as both an expres and a component of human development,has to be seen in an ecological way as ‘the pattern thatconnects’ and the radical and subversive nature of anecological approach needs to be recognized. Three ecologicalmodels are presented, that of health, the links between health,environment and economy (or between ‘health for all’and sustainable development); and the social, environmentaland eco nomic dimensions of a healthy and sustainable com munity. The ‘Mandala of Health’, as a model of the humanecosystem, presents the determinants of health as a set of nestedinfluences, ranging from the biological and personal to theecological and planetary, including the social and political The health-environment-economy model shows the crucial linksbetween health (or social wellbeing) and environmental and economicwellbeing with a particular focus on two key public health principles—equityand sustainabilizy. The final model applies these concepts atthe community level, introducing such issues viability, convivialityand liveabilily. These models could be used to better understand health, to definekey criteria for hea Ithier public policies and to define somekey action areas for healthy city projects. It is in their applicationthat their value—and their ‘subversiveness’—willbe tested.