sexhealthnews.org

On July 9,2001, the Surgeon General of the United States, David Satcher, wrote a document introducing “A Call to Action to Promote Sexual Health and Responsible Sexual Behavior.” This “Call to Action” came because of “alarmingly high levels of sexually transmitted disease and HIV/AIDS infection, unintended pregnancies, abortion, sexual dysfunction, and sexual violence in the United States.” The Surgeon General went on to document that if we were going to change these negative public health outcomes, that it was then necessary to appreciate what sexual health is. He began a collaborative process based on a series of scientific review papers contributed by experts in relevant fields: on recommendations developed at two national conferences; and on extensive review and comment from a wide range of experience, expertise, and perspective with representation from the academic, medical, and religious communitites, policy makers, advocates, teachers, parents, and youth. This collaborative process concluded that the many aspects of sexuality are a fundamental part of human life and include not only the physical, but the mental and spiritual as well, and that sexuality is a core component of personality, important throughout the entire lifespan, not just the reproductive years. Healthy sexuality includes not only individual responsibilities but community responsibilities as well.

Taken from: Introduction to Healthy Sexuality, a SANE perspective, self study module. 2009. Tina Godby-Ware, BSN, RN, SANE-A

You can find the complete A Call to Action document on-line. I would like to hear comments on what people consider healthy sexuality is on the Southern New Mexico Wellness Alliance facebook page.