What constitutes well-being? Well-being is more than just being free from disease. According to the World Health Organization, health is “…not only the absence of infirmity and disease, but also a state of physical, mental and social well-being.” According to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, well-being is comprised of six measurements:
- Life Evaluation
- Physical Health
- Emotional Health
- Healthy Behavior
- Work Environment
- Basic Access
The purpose of the Well-Being Index is to provide public and private sector leaders with data to improve and prioritize policies to help communities thrive and grow. The Well-Being Index has been calculated since 2008. It took an enormous tumble in 2009, in response to the economic collapse and alarming unemployment. However, it’s once again on the rise. In 2012, the Well-Being score for New Jersey was 66.1. The national average was 66.6.
The top states for well-being do not include the Northeast. Hawaii and Colorado top the list with Minnesota, Utah, Vermont, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Iowa and Massachusetts trailing behind. New Jersey ranks 32, behind Alaska and New York.
Work environment is an important component of the Well-Being Index. When workplace injuries occur, everything else in your life can fall apart. Physical and emotional health can suffer as you worry about mortgage and car payments, health insurance premiums, even about such essentials as food and gasoline. A first step after any workplace injury is immediate consultation with an experienced workers compensation attorney so that you and your family know your rights and receive benefits as soon as possible to maintain your well-being.