“The science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals” C-.E.A. Winslow, 1920¹

“Public health is what we, as a society, do collectively to assure the conditions in which people can be healthy.” – Institute of Medicine, 1988²

Medicine focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of the individual.
Public Health focuses on the prevention of disease in the population using evidence-based practices, such as vaccination, sanitation,
and health promotion and education.

• Focus on the individual.
• Emphasis on diagnosis and treatment, care for the whole patient.
• Biological sciences are central, stimulated by the need of patients.
• Predominant intervention is medical care.
• Personal service ethic, conditioned by an awareness of social responsibilities.
• Uniform certification of specialists beyond professional medical degree.

• Focus on the population.
• Emphasis on prevention, health promotion for the whole community.
• Biological sciences are central, stimulated by major threats to the health of populations.
• Varied interventions targeting the environment, human behavior (lifestyle) and medical care.
• Public service ethic, tempered by concerns for the individual.
• Variable certification of specialists beyond professional public health degree.

During the 20th century, the health and life expectancy of persons residing in the United States improved dramatically. Since 1900, the average lifespan
of persons has lengthened by greater than 30 years; 25 years of this gain are attributable to advances in public health.

Many notable public health achievements have occurred during the 1900s, and other accomplishments could have been selected for the list. The choices for
topics were based on the opportunity for prevention and the impact on death, illness, and disability and are not ranked by order of importance.⁴

For more information about Mental Illness, please visit the following sites:

Mental Health America

National Alliance on Mental Health – Geauga Co.

Geauga County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services

Ravenwood Mental Health Center

Centers for Disease Control

Ohio Department of Health

World Health Organization