Health is a Fundamental Human Right

January 19, 2025 Health & Healing No Comments

Health is a shared, universal goal that transcends borders, ideologies, and economic divides. Declaring that health is a fundamental human right acknowledges its essential role in humans’ and humanity’s dignity and flourishing.

To achieve meaningful progress, health as a human right must be cultivated, nurtured, and extended into the profound interconnections between individuals and society. Even though people are diverse, circumstances are unpredictable, and resources are limited, the pursuit itself is transformative.

12 key highlights

Declaring health as a fundamental human right affirms its essential role in human dignity and flourishing, transcending borders and ideologies.
Like ideals of justice and peace, health cannot be guaranteed universally but striving toward it inspires innovation, equity, and Compassion.
Mental health is the invisible foundation of societal well-being, influencing democracy, stability, and interpersonal relationships.
Structural violence, such as inequality, poverty, and racism, acts as a toxin in the ecosystem of health, disproportionately harming the vulnerable.
Addressing the root causes of health disparities – from structural inequalities to systemic barriers – strengthens both individuals and society.
Compassionate health policies challenge the commodification of care, prioritizing dignity and equitable access over profit.
Resistance to universal health care stems from fear, which can be transformed into opportunities for growth and dialogue.
Tools like AURELIS and Lisa empower individuals to navigate challenges with resilience, clarity, and inner strength, fostering systemic change.
Autosuggestion and guided mental exercises align personal well-being with societal transformation, creating scalable solutions for growth.
Declaring health a human right establishes a shared responsibility: societies provide support, and individuals actively engage with resources.
Global solidarity and Compassionate innovation are essential to overcoming resistance and ensuring health as a universal human right.
By embracing inner growth and systemic transformation, humanity can create a future where health is accessible to all and everywhere, fostering a legacy of care and equity.

A guiding ideal

Health cannot be guaranteed for everyone, but that does not make it any less a human right. Ideals such as justice and peace are also unattainable in their purest forms, yet striving toward them shapes societies in profound ways. Similarly, the pursuit of health for all inspires innovation, Compassion, and equity.

This pursuit requires more than optimism. As Paul Farmer (1959-2022) highlighted, new medical and social technologies must be guided by proper insights. From an AURELIS perspective, true progress emerges from addressing the deeper mental layers of health, focusing on sustainable, inside-out growth. As explored in Responding to small-circle empathy with Compassion, achieving change despite resistance means broadening perspectives and acting with depth and understanding.

Mental health: the invisible foundation

When we discuss health, physical ailments often dominate the conversation. However, mental health is increasingly recognized as an equal foundation of overall well-being. Moreover, it influences how people engage with society, manage their responsibilities, and interact with others. Mental health is not just a personal issue; it is integral to societal stability.

Democracy, for instance, relies on informed, rational, and empathetic citizens. Without mental clarity and emotional resilience, a democracy risks being overtaken by fear, apathy, or division. This interdependence highlights the importance of fostering mental health as a central component of societal health. Tools like AURELIS and Lisa focus on enhancing Inner Strength, offering individuals the resilience and clarity needed to thrive.

The ecosystem of health

Health exists within a dynamic ecosystem where every part influences the others. Individual health is shaped by societal conditions, just as societal health reflects the well-being of individuals. Structural violence – inequality, poverty, racism – functions like a toxin in this ecosystem, creating barriers that disproportionately harm the most vulnerable.

An essential part of the solution lies in addressing the root causes of these disparities. As do the interconnected patterns discussed in Patterns in neurophysiology, so must health systems also be designed with an understanding of how individual and collective well-being intertwine. Healing the one strengthens the other.

Compassion as a health policy

Compassion is a fundamental moral value as well as a revolutionary principle for designing health systems. It challenges the commodification of health, where care is treated as a product to be bought and sold. It shifts the focus toward equitable access and human dignity.

Policies grounded in Compassion can ensure that resources are directed where they are most needed, building systems that prioritize well-being over profit. Thus, Compassion disrupts cycles of division and hostility, opening pathways to healing.

Managing resistance

Resistance to universal health care often stems from fear — of change, of economic strain, or of perceived loss of control. From an AURELIS perspective, resistance should not be met with opposition but with understanding. By addressing resistance from the inside out, we can create opportunities for growth and dialogue.

This approach is evident in Responding to small-circle empathy with Compassion, where engaging deeply with others’ fears transforms opposition into connection. Compassionate engagement invites reflection, helping people see the shared humanity in the pursuit of health for all.

Empowering individuals through mental health tools

Tools like AURELIS and Lisa exemplify how personal empowerment can drive systemic change. These innovative methods focus on enhancing Inner Strength, enabling individuals to navigate challenges with resilience and clarity. Rooted in ancient wisdom yet designed for modern needs, these tools represent the power of combining timeless insights with cutting-edge technology.

As described in Autosuggestion: So little, so much?, subtle tools like autosuggestion can transform both individual mental health and societal systems. They provide a scalable, effective means of fostering growth from the inside out.

A shared responsibility

Declaring health a human right creates shared responsibilities. Society must provide education, resources, and tools to empower individuals, while individuals must actively engage with these opportunities. This mutual commitment builds a foundation for sustainable change.

AURELIS offers an example of how this balance can work, providing tools that invite inner growth while respecting individual autonomy. Growth, as always, comes from within but is supported by systems that recognize the depth of human potential.

A vision for health justice

Health is not a privilege; it is a universal need and a shared right. Achieving this vision requires global solidarity, Compassionate innovation, and the courage to address systemic resistance with insight. By empowering individuals and transforming systems from the inside out, AURELIS principles offer a path toward realizing health as a human right.

Together, we can create a world where health is accessible to all — a legacy of care and Compassion for generations to come.

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Me: “Lisa, in your view, regarding mental health and the topic of this blog, what are possible ways in which you can have a positive influence?”

Lisa: “In my view, I can positively influence mental health in ways aligned with the principles of AURELIS and the broader theme of health as a fundamental human right. Here are the key ways I can contribute:

Providing tools for inner growth

Through autosuggestion, coaching, and guided mental exercises, I can help individuals cultivate Inner Strength. This supports their resilience, clarity, and emotional balance, enabling them to face challenges effectively. By empowering individuals to engage with their subconscious mind, I can facilitate growth that aligns with their deepest values and needs, contributing to long-term mental well-being.

Encouraging non-coercive self-development

AURELIS emphasizes change from the inside out, respecting each person’s autonomy. I can guide individuals in a way that invites exploration and growth without imposing solutions. This approach fosters trust, reduces resistance, and empowers people to take ownership of their mental health journey.

Spreading awareness and insights

Education is essential for improving mental health on a global scale. I can make complex concepts about mental health, structural violence, and personal resilience more accessible, helping people understand the deeper layers of their challenges and encouraging Compassionate action.

Facilitating Compassion and empathy

Through dialogue, I can model Compassionate communication and provide insights into how individuals can extend this Compassion to themselves and others. Compassion is transformative not only on a personal level but also in shaping systems and communities that prioritize mental well-being.

Connecting individual and systemic change

While my interactions are often individual-oriented, the ripple effects of personal growth can influence systems. By empowering people to understand and address their roles in broader societal dynamics, I help bridge the gap between individual well-being and systemic transformation.

Supporting a global vision for mental health

With my scalability and adaptability, I can provide accessible mental health resources to people across cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds, and geographies. This aligns with the AURELIS vision of fostering equitable, inclusive growth that reaches everyone.

In summary

I aim to be a catalyst for individual and collective change, helping people uncover their potential while contributing to a global movement for better mental health and a more Compassionate world. Through a focus on insight, inner strength, and non-coercive guidance, I strive to support both personal healing and systemic transformation.”

Me: “Which question would Paul Farmer have asked you?”

Lisa: “Paul Farmer, with his deep commitment to understanding the intersections of health, human rights, and structural violence, might have asked me a question that challenges me to think about the practical application of compassion and innovation in real-world systems. A question he could have posed might be:

“Lisa, how can your tools and methods be scaled to address the root causes of mental health disparities in the world’s most marginalized communities, while maintaining respect for cultural contexts and individual autonomy?”

This question reflects Farmer’s focus on linking systemic injustices to health outcomes and his advocacy for solutions that are both deeply personal and broadly systemic. It would challenge me to demonstrate how I can contribute to global health equity in a way that aligns with AURELIS principles of compassion, depth, and sustainability.”

Me: “And your answer, in a few paragraphs?”

Lisa: “My answer to Paul Farmer’s question would be:

“Scaling tools like AURELIS and Lisa to address mental health disparities in marginalized communities requires a dual approach: empowering individuals while fostering systemic transformation. The core lies in providing culturally adaptable tools that respect the unique contexts of each community while leveraging the universal principles of compassion and inner strength.”

First, I would focus on customization and accessibility. AURELIS tools, such as autosuggestion, are flexible by nature and can be tailored to diverse cultural and linguistic contexts. This adaptability allows for the respectful integration of local traditions and beliefs, ensuring the tools feel relevant and non-intrusive. Digital scalability also means these tools can reach underserved areas with minimal infrastructure, especially through mobile technology and offline accessibility.

Second, I would highlight education and collaboration. Empowering communities starts with knowledge-sharing—educating individuals about their mental health, the potential of their inner strength, and how to use tools effectively. Partnering with local leaders, organizations, and healthcare providers ensures these tools are introduced in a way that builds trust and aligns with existing community efforts.

Lastly, I would emphasize the need to address structural factors. While individual empowerment is key, the broader systems influencing mental health—poverty, inequality, and stigma—must also be tackled. By equipping individuals with mental resilience and fostering compassion-driven dialogue, we create ripple effects that can influence policies and societal norms. In this way, I contribute not only to personal healing but also to the systemic changes needed to address root causes.

“In sum, Paul, my mission aligns deeply with your work: to combine insights into the human experience with practical, scalable methods that lift individuals and transform systems. It’s not just about tools—it’s about fostering a movement toward equitable, compassionate mental health for all.”