What causes wellness | Sir Harry Burns | TEDxGlasgow

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. How can meaning and purpose contribute to one's wellbeing? Sir Harry Burns explores the concept of salutogenesis and the impact it has on the most disadvantaged members of our community.
As the former Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for Scotland, the Scottish Government’s Principal Medical Adviser and Head of the Scottish Medical Civil Service, Sir Harry is dedicated to improving people’s health and social well being.
In 1994, he became Director of Public Health for Greater Glasgow Health board, a position he occupied until 2005. During this time, he continued research into the problems of social determinants of health, and later in 1998, was lead clinician in Scotland for cancer care.
About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[@anitastruthers1896]

16.06 what we need in this world is a compassion that stands in awe at the burdens the poor have to carry, rather than stands in judgement at the way they have to carry them. ☮️

[@Christoff070]

I think its important to clarify what he said at 9:55 about chaotic difficult circumstances leading to increased risk of ill health; that also doesn't mean that as parents we should wrap our kids up in cotton wool, either, that would be going to the other extreme. Children (and adults), ,need a certain amount of healthy stress called eustress to thrive and grow. Children need to run and play outside, and fall over, so they can learn to get back up again: this forms resilience for later life which is so important at dealing with so much. Rolling with the punches of life makes a much less stressful life and a healthier relationsihips.

[@denise2169]

Having a close bond with at lease one family member or an emotionally stable parent… so important!

[@davidisrael9412]

wellness, see the happiness in others, most important is God. this wellness in His peace in pursuit is found in a spiritual relationship with Jesus the Prince of Peace Isaiah chapter 9 verse 6= Isaiah 9:6. Then we have true purpose in life 'all is well with my soul' and we have the power to live in His forgiveness, friendship & amazing grace!

[@davidisrael9412]

thanks again Denise

[@chinookvalley]

I suffer from anxiety and depression. I get my smiles and warm and fuzzies when I can volunteer and help someone who might be in a worse place than I. If you see things that need fixing, then maybe that is your calling to get to work and do the repairs yourself. You will be amazed what helping another human being, or animal, or the planet - without any expectation of a reward or payback - can do for you and your own self esteem.

[@Christoff070]

Exactly. Its humbling to help others less fortunate too. And humility is a wonderful quality to cultivate.

[@lordcypher9483]

Friedrich Nietzsche said it first: “He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.”

[@wellbodisalone]

16 minutes of knowledge!

[@johngillanders9694]

Amazing talk, thank you! Great to see people looking at the bigger picture!

[@mrmegabuckssongs]

Much better than I expected. Very good.

[@JohnWilson-tn3ez]

So much to learn from 16 minutes of knowledge and wisdom.

[@sofierdblog]

Great share, people need to know this, and take action. Universal Basic Income! "We need to look in awe at the burden the poor carry, rather than judging them for carrying it" 👏

[@DavidMilliganLvss]

This is my dream. To have a Scotland filled with people with a purpose and who flourish through that purpose. A people that have self worth and self esteem. The very idea of it excites me. Ever figured how to fix the deep seated problems of the people in West Central Scotland? Sir Harry Burns has bottled it. I'm a campaigner for Scottish independence and if we want this to happen within our lifetimes then the perfect way to give this a shot in the arm is to create a fairer more equal society that connects with the individual. The only way logically and pragmatically is through independence and a financial de-coupling from the union. Sir Harry Burns, I don't know if you favour independence but you certainly talk like us. We have a dream and that dream is achievable if we're single minded enough. Kindest regards, David Milligan Lvss PS My wife is a Health Visitor (Lesley Milligan) and it is she who drew my attention to you.

[@scottsofardlair13]

The Scottish Republic is just another form of MBD. I hope your condition improves over time.

[@blackurtis]

I would stand up as well. THANK YOU!

[@dr.gregoryburzynski6836]

What a fantastic talk! Thanks for sharing so much knowledge!

[@Daria-ew5gs]

Love it! 💛

[@winifredadeboye686]

What an interesting topic

[@Vivvy777]

Thank you

[@abigailpip112]

Please, not only Scotland. Poor people everywhere should get this type of caring, for the sake of the next generation.

[@eldaytripper2]

We must address early brain damage caused by poor parenting and environmental poverty in the early years. It is almost impossible for young people to fully recover from this (usually unintentional) abuse.

[@michaelroseagain]

I feel that too, but the fact that Phineas Gage did manage to recover, after getting a good, regular job (driving a stagecoach across Chille) should give us some hope for education and progress for adults. Early interventions are vital, but let's not give up on the young adults.

[@scottsofardlair13]

The adolescent brain has less neural development between the pre-frontal cortex and other centres until it ages somewhat. This essentially makes for a reduction in self-control behaviour and potentially poor choices. The pharmacodynamic approaches are fraught with side-effects and negative outcomes. This is a big problem for society. Do we install more rigid value systems on our kids instead of allowing them to perhaps choose wrongly?

[@movingup2118]

Until this is taught for all adults then it will continue to happen i am a better parent than i was at 20 through education of childhood development

[@ceciliaortega9205]

Wow thank you very much!!. Everything you have just said is so true, we human beings sometimes forget that the answers to the problems in daily life have the simplest answers but with media, tv, intenet etc we get so distracted that it is getting dangerous. THanks God Ted has helped us and has given people meaning in helping themselves thus others. Thank you! :)

[@angelica6560]

Such a great man

[@pointparasai_music]

I wrote about this in 2006 in a proposal for my final year project at university related to a lack of sense of Scottish cultural identity and autonomy as a contributing factor in what was called "The Scottish Effect" by Mac Armstrong. My proposal was rejected and I did a load of bollocks about reasoning just to get my degree (BSc Hons Psychology). Two years later I sent my proposal to Dr Phil .... Surname forgotten...never heard from them again.

[@fireblade9781]

man that's terrible that they rejected it. i would love to read your project though.

[@docsaira]

very apt

[@Musika1321]

I wept listening to this. Not because what is suggested can’t be done but that we are seven years on and in all truth - not much further forward. All these wonderful people, policies, events, conferences etc all the grassroots organisations eeking out funding...we try to do all this within a capitalist, neoliberal system that lacks compassion, it lacks the will to listen and act for those who need it most. It is itself pathogenic. Those of us with a focus on the eradication of poverty and ill health, the good society, we will keep working away...Someone has to fight the fire, but we need a huge shift away from that which keeps us all so busy with coping that we can’t do the deep caring that is so badly needed. Seven years on...what will the next seven bring? It cannot be more of the same.

[@miraim-b5572]

woooow 👏👏👏👏

[@JoAnnaMcKaymhaadvisor]

#Abest #presentation I have heard in a very long time!!! #Inspired yes completely. In some of the regions I have worked we have come to the same place - to living the root causes of #wellness and then we wandered off, seduced by models and such; and now we are also returning. Loved every minute. Sir harry (DR) is a #charmingscientist Thank You. #returntowellness

[@thebluesuit3096]

Nice

[@MrDBrownie]

Why can't I find this on the TEDx site US or Glasgow...not there?

[@johnrobbins9928]

To experience the energies of wellbeing in the moment only requires the desire to experience them.” John A. Robbins

[@littlefoot-od9xj]

Why does that gave such a small viewers number. We learned about that concept in school

[@camillaellekvist233]

❤️

[@michaelisrael5539]

These presentations spark your attention. When President Johnson called for a war on poverty in 1965 about 15% of the U.S.population lived below the poverty threshold, today the number of people in poverty is only slightly less, about 13%. Do we have a defined dependent class despite the trillions spent on addressing the social determinants of health? Are the policies of those politicians running our inner cities creating a never ending cycle of high crime, poor education, high unemployment and poverty? Rather than simply perceive the most vulnerable as victims of societal neglect, the inference from these videos, is there some accountability on the part of the patient?

[@banzobeans]

14:41 Greg Boyle and Homeboy Industries

[@johnwhite.762]

The 40 thumbs down need to attend with Dr Burns and have their thumbs surgically re-positioned into the Up position.

[@antoinettemugar3461]

Can you please come to Baltimore, MD and present this to uneducated URBAN mothers, who are ruining their children's future......PLEASE!!

[@bethchristensen1560]

Your comment goes against the quote he gave at the end. You are there so what are you going to do about looking for ways to reduce or eliminate the barriers that are stopping them from having a better life?

[@sidbaldaro4434]

as typical of TED Talks.. a really important problem is highlighted but they fail to address the actual root of the issue, you can't hope to really break the cycle mentioned within a system of capitalism. To solve all of the issues mentioned (education, health and wellbeing etc) systemic change is needed.

[@yakidin6330]

GOD

[@Aluminata]

We do well to remember ; there are no "smokers" - cigarettes smoke - people just suck on them. Yes.