Training Toolkit: Problem Solving and Making Decisions

MEW Topic: Developing Skills in Problem Solving and Decision-Making to promote emotional and mental wellbeing

Why do it

Problem Solving, by accessing the materials in this topic, it will enable you to:

  • Have more of an understanding of the wider perspective of mental and emotional wellbeing – what it is, where it can go wrong for people, who it affects and how
  • Understand the link between effective problem solving and our mental and emotional wellbeing
  • Understand the link between making effective decisions and our mental and emotional health
  • Know the basic principles and stages of problem solving and learn how these might be applied in real life
  • Know the basic principles and stages of decision making and learn how these might be applied in real life
  • Learn two basic problem -solving tools and be able to apply these to your own challenges
  • Learn two basic decision-making techniques and be able to apply these to decisions you need to make
Problem Solving

Feeling able to solve a problem plays a part in helping us to feel mentally and emotionally stronger, more in control and more capable of dealing with life’s issues and obstacles. It is important to being with dispelling ‘myths’ relating to mental and emotional health and solving problem, which, if we do more effectively, will help us to feel more positive.

It is important to recognise that everyone is unique and how people both perceive mental and emotional wellbeing and how they deal with challenges will vary based on their own personalities and personal experiences. We will look to explore and broaden people’s understanding of different aspects of mental and emotional wellbeing.

The way we approach problem solving can make a huge difference to the outcome of the issue. If we approach it with as positive and optimistic an attitude and outlook as we possibly can and if we deal with it in manageable, efficient stages, we will have much more success in resolving challenges and achieving our desired outcome.  There are different ‘methods’ and ‘models’ that can be used to solve challenges. These tools and techniques are coached as part of leadership and management training, but although this is a more formal and training-based setting, they can be very useful for solving challenges in our personal and social as well as professional lives.

People learn best from examples and stories from other people who have managed to do something well or successfully and then applying the same attitude and approach as them (effectively modelling what they did) so we want to share a range of different examples and stories from those who have had mental and emotional struggles and how they have solved the challenges that this presented for them, linking in with different ways in which people have done this. Please refer to the How to Do It section below for further practical examples.

Decision Making

Making decisions can be scary, complicated and overwhelming for various reasons, particularly when that decision is a greater and more significant one. Plus, decisions can be harder when they involve other people and / or the outcome of this decision will have an impact on others.

The more effectively and efficiently we can make a decision, using techniques that will help enable us to do this, the more positive we will feel about making even the toughest of decisions and the more in control we will feel of our own actions, attitudes, behaviours, feelings and thoughts. How we approach making decisions will determine the outcome, impact and effect of those decisions.

There are many different types of decisions that need to be made. We have to make decisions every day. Some more minor, some more major. Some at work, some at home, some relating to our family and friends. Please refer to the How to Do It section below for further practical examples.

How to Do It

Are you ready to work on developing skills to improve problem solving and decision making? 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.

Case study/video

Add hyperlink to supporting narrative content or use individual case studies/video examples to be used

Are you ready to work on developing your problem solving and decision-making skills? If so, you may start considering the following activities by clicking on the hyperlinks and following the instructions:

Problem Solving ACTIVITY 1: Exploring and understanding mental and emotional health and wellbeing and problem solving

Statements to read that the user can agree/disagree with and can add their own viewpoint / comments before clicking to read a helpful and reassuring supportive statement to encourage them to think about their own perception of challenge solving within the context of mental and emotional wellbeing.

ACTIVITY 2: Stages of problem solving

Interactive game where users look at different stages of solving a challenge then put them into order of how they would approach solving a challenge

ACTIVITY: Problem solving tools

Informal training videos of two different methods of challenge solving made easy

ACTIVITY 4: Watch interviews

With people who have had various mental and emotional health struggles and how they have solved their challenges

ACTIVITY 5: Exploring and understanding mental and emotional health and wellbeing and decision making 

Statements to read that the user can agree/disagree with and can add their own viewpoint / comments before clicking to read a helpful and reassuring supportive statement to encourage them to think about their own perception of problem solving within the context of mental and emotional wellbeing

ACTIVITY 6: Decision making tools

Informal training videos of two different methods you can use to help you make better decisions

ACTIVITY 7: The decision-making process in action

Interactive game where users look at different stages of solving a challenge then put them into order of how they would approach solving a challenge

ACTIVITY 8: Watch interviews

With people who have had various mental and emotional health struggles and how they have made some difficult decisions as best they can

For further information and References See Appendix: MEW Topic: Developing Skills in Problem Solving and Decision Making.

Disclaimer:

 “The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.”

This is an educative website to help develop strategies for improving mental wellbeing. If you are currently experiencing emotional distress and you have a history of experiencing mental health challenges you are strongly advised to contact your general practitioner /doctor.

X