Mental Health: Creating Safe Spaces
“We have brains in order to get along with each other, to be with other people, to connect with other people. That’s really what we are fundamentally all about. And so, much of trauma is about a rupture of the safety of the people who are supposed to protect you and the people who are supposed to come to your help.”
Bessel Van Der Kolk, MD Best-selling Trauma Researcher, and Author of The Body Keeps the Score
Mental health and the lack thereof, are of primary concern today. The need for mental health providers and solutions are on the rise while the supply fails to meet the growing demand. What’s needed are scalable trauma-informed human systems designed to help entire communities support the healing and wholeness of one another and to minimize future trauma based in developmental patterns that must be dismantled. Based on recent in-depth research on trauma, including developmental trauma in homes and schools, the assumption should be that most people are more likely than not to have a sufficient history of trauma, the cause of which are significant levels of anxiety, depression, and debilitating stress.
In order to talk about mental health, it first helps to understand the root causes of mental illness. As Van Der Kolk states, “trauma is about a rupture of the safety of the people who are supposed to protect you and come to your help.” That means a root cause of mental illness is that in such a rupture (which we are inadvertently and unconsciously swimming in), the body experiences feeling and thinking “I am inferior. I’m not safe.” This leads to struggles that reinforce old trauma and recreate new trauma in the here and now. The answer is not usually more medication, disengagement, or distraction. The answer largely lies in our human systems and their evolution.
In Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, he states one must have the most basic survival needs met to grow forward and once physical needs are met, psychological safety is next in the lineup; this means each feeling accepted, and respected in our personal and professional group dynamics, making risk-taking reasonable, and innovating and co-creating an adventure. Psychological safety enables resiliency even when one is faced with frustration and negative conditions. Only then are problems solved without diminishing the stature of one’s self or others. What are some of the key mindset and behavior shifts that create safe spaces in any aspect of community living?
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Creating conditions and conversations that result in psychological safety, trauma-informed practices, and equity and inclusion are not only possible, they are crucial to the success of meeting your every goal or objective, including joy and fulfillment for yourself and those you lead. If you and your people are experiencing stress, disengagement, and struggle, it’s a clear sign you need to create safe spaces. If you’re ready, we’re here to help!
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Business owners, community leaders, and educators hire Lifework Systems because they want the advantages of an extraordinary workplace and recognize a systems approach ensures consistency and sustainability in the transformation process. They know that conscientious employees grow your business and improve your reputation, giving you competitive advantages. We help organizations instill into every person a common language and toolset for how to participate in a responsibility-based Teal workplace. Visit our website at?www.lifeworksystems.com , and click the link at the bottom to complete a culture assessment and schedule your first consult to review a report on your feedback, all at no cost.?You can also contact Judy Ryan at?314.239.4727?or [email protected].