It probably needed the Coronavirus crisis to realise that our current model of living is unhealthy, unsustainable and prone to collapse. The virus was born from the suffering of animals, has spread in overcrowded and polluted cities and kills the most vulnerable members of our fast-paced society. The destruction of nature does not only increase the likelihood of pandemics, but is above all self-destructive. The current circumstances are a unique opportunity to regenerate our health systems, ecosystems and communities. Above all, it’s about realising that they are tightly linked to each other.

The current Coronavirus hysteria is in many ways a convergence of trends rooted in a growth-obsessed development model. Industrial agriculture, industrial health systems and industrial standards of the meaning of a « good life » have contributed to the despairing situation we are in today. Many now gladfully realise that their health – and happiness – is intimately linked to the one of other human beings and the natural environment.

Western medicine has for a long time ignored the role of the immune system, the interdependence of organs and the role of bacterial ecosystems, kept healthy by healthy and fresh food. The current response to the Coronavirus could be labelled as purely reactive and pathological. If we don’t consider the social dimension in health, lonely people will see their health deteriorate quickly, damaging their immune system and thus its response to viruses and bacteria. While public health systems come close to collapse, almost nothing is done to actively improve the health of citizens. Put very simply, Western medicine often starts when it’s almost too late.

Provenly, a varied and fresh diet, the contact with nature and deep human relationships are what keeps us healthy. We therefore need to use this unique historic opportunity to see health more holistically, by shifting away from a narrow and growth-obsessed mindset, which has for a long time also influenced scientific research through research funding and lobbying. Citizens need, from an early childhood, to learn about health, their bodies and the role society and the natural environment play in it. With the right skills and mindset, we can get ready for a global #ReGeneration.

Against this background, the Perspectivist offers customized services, including coaching sessions, to improve health holistically, by taking into account individual differences, but also the social, cultural and nature-related aspects of health.