How do you heal? How do we all heal, collectively?
Welcome to our October newsletter. This month we are talking about healing and the challenges that come with it. This month I reflect on the trauma of social injustice, individual and collective recovery. What is healing for you?
This year, the World Mental Health Day (10.10.) is dedicated to the reality of mental health provision: the response to the challenges of an unequal world. Now, more than ever, especially with the fluidity of online experiences so perfectly mirroring our offline reality, we start to talk about the inequalities persisting in our collective spaces openly. Yes, it’s late! However, it’s never too late to face the truth and change, collectively and individually. Where are you in those landscapes? Where are your health and wellbeing today, and what access do you have to support it?
Tomorrow, here in the UK, we will be talking about the truth of mental health inequality. This is perfectly aligned with the Black History Month too. I am ever so happy to see this shift happening on a national and global scale. More and more of us wake up to the truth so apparent to those who always suffered from the lack of basic privileges. Many leading organisations prioritise social justice and restorative justice, build relevant strategies and openly report on the first steps. It’s encouraging to see this modelling of accountability. This summer, mental health was finally included in the global standardisation. And so I hope we will see fundamental changes in many more industries. What is the situation in your industry and your organisation today? What can you do to make a real difference today?
As we move towards change, we also see the backlash. The news can be pretty terrifying, and no change is enough if a single life is lost…so many lives are lost, in fact. Even workplace mental health in times of COVID19 is pre-defined by our gender status still. So personally, I am also thinking about my place in those stories. About the importance of recovery from the collective trauma, waking up, moving beyond the wilful ignorance…” I did not know” finally is an excuse that is simply not good enough. We all need to wake up, step up, make changes and move towards better realities. However, we need to do it softly, with grace. Because if we do not process the trauma and transform through it, we will transfer it.
I am pleased to see wonderful free online events opening up the conversation about collective trauma‘s significance and suggesting solutions. I am hopeful when I listen to psychologists, coaches and technologists talking about the importance of reflection on our inherent negative bias, as well as the need for positive intent and more equal solutions. Because at the end of the day, our wellbeing, our success and our future depend on all of us, united, as one kind.
This month, I am asking you to reflect on what is stopping you from acting towards a more just future of our kind? It’s natural to feel scared when the reality is unsafe. So please remember that activism comes in many forms. For me, it is in one to one work with my clients – one person at a time. And in my personal healing and recovery. Where is this movement for you?
This October, Voxel Hub is reflecting on a digital detox and on the accessibility of our content. You might see some changes on our website and blog soon. We hope to practice what we preach and ensure that our approach is as inclusive and just as it’s possible. We know it is not a static goal, it is an ongoing process, but we are determined to make it work for you all. So we look forward to your feedback too.
I wish you a mindful, connected and hopeful October!
My favourite topic this month
This month my recommendations are about trauma and recovery. Here they my recent reads:
“Recovery is my best revenge: my experience of trauma, abuse and dissociative identity disorder” by Carolyn Spring
“Unshame: healing trauma-based shame through psychotherapy” by Carolyn Spring
“Healing Trauma: A Pioneering Program for Restoring the Wisdom of Your Body” by Peter A. Levine
“Sedated: How Modern Capitalism Created our Mental Health Crisis” by James Davies
“Healing Developmental Trauma: How Early Trauma Affects Self-Regulation, Self-Image, and the Capacity for Relationship” by Laurence Heller and Aline LaPierre
“It Didn’t Start with You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle” by Mark Wolynn
“What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing” by Oprah Winfrey and Dr Bruce Perry
If you have a recommendation on this topic, please do let me know!
Resources
Where do we learn from? How to stay informed? Here are some starting points from me:
The World Mental Health Day – social media visuals for joining in online
Black History Month – resources, facts and so much more
The Economist – contextually explained news with a truly global perspective (the subscription comes with access to fantastic podcasts, apps and other resources
Prebunking – a great guide to tackling misinformation
WHO Factsheets – a good place to start exploring health and wellbeing
WHO COVID19 at work – online course
MHFA COVID19 support – how to look after your mental health during the pandemic
I hope the above links are helpful.
Thank you for reading our Newsletter. Talk to us online, check out our blog and let us know what else you would like to see here in the upcoming months.
Stay safe. Stay well. Stay connected.
Sylwia
Photo by Roman Kraft on Unsplash
