Existensiell hälsa - En outnyttjad resurs

Abstract

”To seek meaning is a basic human need. We seek a sense of connection, someone or something to believe in. A need for legends who personify
courage, endurance, strength and fighting spirit.”
These words are Ing-Marie Wieselgren’s, taken from the Swedish weekly radio program Thoughts for the day (Tankar för dagen). To me, Ing-Marie was exactly what she described; the tireless fighter who never gave up working for the most vulnerable. In many ways a legend in her field.
In recent years she also focused on existential health, within her work, leading Mission Mental Health at Swedish Association for Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR). Questions and insights about the importance of both mental and existential health continue to be high on the agenda of both politicians and civil servants at SALAR and in municipalities and regions. In order to bring a sustainable change, some first helpful initial steps have been to create arenas for conversation and collaboration between a broad and diverse range of organizations and people interested in the topic. These steps hope to build a solid path forward to integrate existential health in mental health promotion to a greater extent.