Health and well-being in a healthy society

The theme 'Health and well-being in a healthy society' is one of the focal points of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences (FSW). We are committed to promoting health and well-being for people of all ages.

Due to the aging population and the growing number of people with chronic conditions, the focus in our society is shifting. Whereas in the past the main focus was on combating disease, the emphasis is now on maintaining health and preventing mental and physical problems – from the earliest years of life. Here health is viewed from a broad perspective, and physical, mental, and social well-being are all part of the picture.   

Collaboration  

Collaboration is essential to promoting health, preventing disease, and enabling good care (and self-care) for people with a health condition. We collaborate across disciplines, both within the Netherlands and further afield. This includes addressing challenges in our local cities, Leiden and The Hague, for example through the Leiden Healthy Society Center and Health Campus The Hague. 

Three focus areas  

Within the theme Health and well-being in a healthy society, we distinguish three focus areas, in which the Faculty’s institutes – Psychology; Education and Child Studies; Political Science; Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology; and the Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS) – collaborate closely and have built up unique expertise: