Training Toolkit: People and Environment

Understanding and exploring the people and environment can identify external stressors which affect emotional wellbeing and general resilience. This topic will explore 3 discrete but interlinked components which focus on:

Hazardous conditions at work

By completing the subcomponent of this module, you will be able to gain greater understanding:

• Of your current working conditions that may not be good and impacting on your mental wellbeing

• The link between work and the impact on mental and emotional health and wellbeing

• Of practical tips to develop and mitigate potential distress in the work environment

Quality of Housing

By completing the subcomponent of this module, you will be able to gain greater understanding:

• Of the awareness of their own quality of housing and how this impacts on wellbeing

• Understand the link between quality of housing and the impact on mental and emotional health and wellbeing

• Be aware of practical skills, advice and strategies techniques to develop healthy environment to live in.

Social isolation

By completing the subcomponent of this module, you will be able to gain greater understanding:

• Make the difference between solitude and isolation

• Understand the link between social relationships and the impact on mental and emotional health and wellbeing
• Be aware of solutions to avoid social isolation

Each topic will consider skills tips and advice that can be developed and utilised in improving emotional wellbeing linked to the above identified components of this topic.

Work has a great impact on our mental well-being. Indeed, it is proportional to the time we spend in it. This impact can be positive if we feel useful and enjoy our work. On the contrary, it can be very negative if we do not feel listened to and recognised.

A poor working environment is generally identified with high employee turnover, high absenteeism and unsatisfactory productivity.

The risks for employees are depression, burnout or even suicide. According to the WHO, work-related mental health risk factors include inadequate health and safety policies; poor communication and management practices; limited participation in decision-making or little control over what people do in the workplace; little support for employees; inflexible working hours; unclear organisational tasks or objectives; and a lack of understanding of the organisation’s role and responsibilities.

Risks may also be related to job content, such as unsuitable tasks for the person’s competencies or a high and unrelenting workload. Some jobs may carry a higher personal risk than others (e.g., first responders and humanitarian workers), which can have an impact on mental health and be a cause of symptoms of mental disorders or lead to harmful use of alcohol or psychoactive drugs. Risk may be increased in situations where there is a lack of team cohesion or social support.

Bullying and psychological harassment (also known as “mobbing”) are commonly reported causes of work-related stress by workers and present risks to the health of workers. They are associated with both psychological and physical challenges. These health consequences can have costs for employers in terms of reduced productivity and increased staff turnover. They can also have a negative impact on family and social interactions.

Please refer to the How to Do It section below for further practical examples.

Several scientific studies demonstrate the importance of housing quality on mental health. For example, British researchers have asked residents of a poor neighbourhood to judge their well-being according to several criteria: the quality of their homes, the availability of recreational spaces, the crime rate, and the possibility of social interaction with other residents. The results showed that individuals who complained about the humidity level in their homes, the noise generated by their neighbours or the crime rate were more likely than others to report feelings of depression or nervousness. The study also found that people are most interested in community spaces, a quiet neighbourhood, enough space in their homes and a sense of security.

Indeed, security is a need that ranks second in Maslow’s pyramid, which shows how important it is for human beings. Housing must therefore represent a comfort zone for the individual living in it, in which danger is non-existent. However, some people are forced to live in neighbourhoods where they do not feel comfortable, often for lack of money. It is all the more important to feel good once you get back inside your home.

Security is, for example, a matter of reliable electrical installations or burglar-proof doors and windows.

Please refer to the How to Do It section below for further practical examples.

A defining characteristic of human society is that individual lives are intertwined through social relationships. A person’s ability to develop and flourish is strongly influenced by his or her immediate social environment – including opportunities to interact with family members, friends or colleagues and to earn a living for oneself and one’s family. Full social participation is such a basic human need that research since the 1900s has shown that the absence of social ties increases the chances of death by at least 50%.  When multidimensional assessments of social relationships are considered, the chances of death have increased by 91 per cent among socially isolated people.

The magnitude of this effect is comparable to that of smoking and exceeds that of many other known mortality risk factors, such as obesity or physical inactivity. In humans, deficits in social relationships such as social isolation or poor social support can similarly lead to chronic activation of the immune, neuroendocrine and metabolic systems in the pathways of transmission, leading to cardiovascular, neoplastic and other common age-related diseases.

Isolation is the experience of being separated from others. It can result from physical separation, such as when a person lives in a remote area. Isolation can also result from being emotionally removed from a community. Separation can be real or perceived.

An isolated person may feel loneliness or low self-esteem. Over time, a person may develop social anxiety, depression or other mental health challenges. Anyone can become isolated. Understanding what is behind the isolation can help. Isolation can happen even when a person has lots of social contacts. Isolation is a growing challenge in modern society. However, isolation does not have to be permanent. There are many ways to build a social network or strengthen emotional ties.

However, loneliness, a subjective perception of reality, should not be confused with social isolation, which can be determined by certain criteria. Loneliness is distinct from the number of friends or time spent without company but is rather defined by the desire for greater social interaction. Loneliness can also be an experience that allows one to recharge one’s batteries. As long as it remains occasional. Loneliness can also be a positive experience (albeit more marginally) and have beneficial health effects. It is then internalised, inhabited and assumed, reflecting a solid inner unity, thanks to a personal universe sufficiently containing to be self-referential. In this type of case, it is even a necessary condition for well-being and fulfilment, allowing for a break from the daily grind, troubles and responsibilities. It is a moment to oneself and for oneself, a parenthesis that encourages reflexivity about oneself.

Please refer to the How to Do It section below for further practical examples.

There are various tips to help you feel better in your work environment:

• Make your workspace your own: as much as possible, it is essential to recreate a comfortable and reassuring environment at work by bringing a few personal objects such as photos or souvenirs and by putting a little greenery in it.

• Improve communication between employees: for example, by organising team building events that will help to create links and thus create a climate of trust at work.

• Avoid stress: this requires a better organisation, for which there are various tools such as shared calendars.

• Arrange your working time: it is important to take breaks during the day to relax and think about other things. Your reflection and creativity will thank you! (Breaks are not just for smokers!).

Are you ready to work on considering skills and tips that may help in mitigating hazardous conditions at work? If so, you may start by referring to the Case studies/videos and then consider the identified activities in the Ready to take the leap section.

In addition to security, there are other elements to improve the well-being of your home:

• Moisture that can cause breathing problems, as well as bad odours (especially on clothes), mould on walls and an increase in electricity bills because moisture absorbs heat. To combat this, good ventilation is essential. Health professionals recommend opening all the windows in your home at least 5 minutes a day, whatever the season and if possible, early in the morning or late at night, to avoid bringing in polluted air. For rooms that do not have windows, especially some bathrooms, there are moisture absorbers that are effective and inexpensive. You can also use a simple fan to circulate the air

• The luminosity which plays on our morale: the sun’s rays provide us with vitamin D, which is essential to stay in a good mood. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with an increased risk of depression. If you are lucky enough to have a garden or a balcony, the ideal is to expose yourself to the sun as soon as possible. If not, you can use light reflectors or simple mirrors to bring the sun into the darkest rooms.

• Sound insulation: what could be more unpleasant than hearing everything that goes on in the neighbours’ house? Or being afraid to disturb them as soon as you turn the music up? Indoor noise can affect your mood and you ruin your life. Reducing noise pollution is a real source of comfort. To do this, you need to invest in more extensive work and insulate walls, floors and ceilings with different materials known for their soundproofing qualities. If you don’t want to invest in major works, there are simpler but less effective solutions, such as putting carpets on the floor, using earplugs or headphones to listen to music or watch TV. Above all, communicate with your neighbours, they may not realise that they are disturbing your home.

• The colour of the walls also has an impact on the mood. Vrije University in Amsterdam emphasises that the colours yellow and green are the colours of the whole rainbow that evoke the strongest emotions of joy in people. Well, without going as far as covering a wall, you can always opt for green or yellow accessories to be placed here and there in the house. However, remember that the choice of the right colour is subjective, because you should not forget that people perceive shades differently. It is therefore important to accommodate the tastes of everyone in the household.

• Layout to optimise space: there are several storage methods that are very trendy now, such as the Marie Kondo method. Numerous blogs or decoration magazines can also give you advice, cheaper than an architect. Note that according to the collaborative website Hunch: 71% of those who make their bed in the morning consider themselves to be happy, while 62% of those who don’t make their bed say they are unhappy. It’s worth a try! You can also create a cocooning atmosphere with candles, lights and photos of people you love, or positive memories.

• Add vegetation, because plants have a soothing effect. A study from the University of New Jersey states that the presence of flowers in a home triggers positive emotion and increases the feeling of satisfaction. In short, they boost happiness levels considerably.

Are you ready to work on considering strategies that could be used to mitigate distress associated with your housing? If so, you may start by referring to the Case studies/videos and then consider the identified activities in the Ready to take the leap section.

Tips to combat social isolation:

Participate in community life

Joining an association not only allows you to help others and feel useful, but also to stay active and meet many people. It is preferable to choose an association in which you have a major interest so that your motivation remains the same throughout the year. Take advantage of the association forums that are held in each city at the beginning of the school year or ask at your local town hall. The activities offered by the associations are diverse and varied: board games, dance evenings, organised trips, flea markets, reading, creations, etc.

Don’t lose touch with your loved ones and family!

Staying surrounded by family and friends is essential. Dare to call them, just to check up on them or to invite them to your home. Participate in family celebrations, receive them, organise family lunches and meals with friends, … All occasions are good to get together and share a good moment of conviviality.

Solutions for the isolation of the elderly

Associations and communities are involved in the challenges of addressing social isolation among the elderly. There are many structures that you can contact: The General Council of your department, the social service of your pension fund, the communal social action centre of your town hall, … These structures offer various services to facilitate transport, communication, integration into society and to reduce precariousness. Voluntary associations are also specialised in organising home visits for isolated and sick people.

Stay informed!

Staying informed of local, regional, national and even international news is very useful to nourish conversations with others. So read newspapers, magazines, listen to the news on the radio or through TV news bulletins. This will make it easier for you to talk to your neighbourhood, your shopkeepers and even your hairdresser!

Consult a psychologist

There is no shame in going to see a psychologist, quite the contrary! It is a way like any other to break social isolation. The psychologist’s role is to listen to you and is therefore totally dedicated to you to express your confidences and find solutions together.

Registering for a course

Anything you want to learn? Would you like to practice an activity? How about signing up for a course? It’s a chance to learn new things while socialising with other people. Let yourself be tempted by drawing, theatre, language or even computer classes… and have fun! You’ll feel productive and more surrounded.

Do some physical activity

If your physical condition allows, sign up for a sport outside your home to meet new people. Physical activity provides mental well-being through the secretion of hormones such as endorphins, which generate a real feeling of pleasure after the effort. Spend less time on social media, and instead invite social media friends to in-person outings.

Learn to appreciate your moments of solitude

For many, the idea of going to a restaurant, movie or museum is a source of anxiety. This fear sometimes deprives us of real moments of pleasure. It is better to go out alone and enjoy these moments, rather than staying at home! You can do activities on your own from time to time that will allow you to see the world and recharge your batteries.

Are you ready to work on developing strategies to combat social isolation that could be used to mitigate distress? If so, you may start by referring to the Case studies/videos and then consider the identified activities in the Ready to take the leap section.