The first of its kind, this practical and in-depth resource
presents mental wellness as a missing policy domain separate from,
and complementary to, mental health policy. It details a host of
actionable, inclusive mental wellness strategies—whether social
prescribing, arts and cultural engagement, access to nature, or
restructuring our built environment
MIAMI, June 26,
2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The non-profit Global
Wellness Institute (GWI), the leading research organization
for the global wellness industry, today released "Wellness Policy
Toolkit: Mental Wellness," a crucial new addition to its
ongoing Wellness Policy Series. While there have been
countless policy papers on mental health, this is the first policy
report to focus on mental wellness as a key resource that can help
us cope with stress and adversity while also promoting mental
health. Mental wellness has been overlooked in policy, and the
85-page report is the first to give policymakers, businesses and
community leaders clear, concrete strategies to tackle the most
pressing crises, such as stress, loneliness and inequitable access
to critical resources. The report details the many specific mental
wellness pathways (and examples of global programs underway) that
can support all populations, including social prescribing, arts and
cultural engagement, access to nature, incorporating technology,
reimagining our built environment, and practices like yoga,
meditation, spirituality, sleep, healthy food, physical activity,
and more.
With such a severe scarcity of traditional
mental health resources, the time is now to bring accessible,
evidence-based mental wellness approaches into policy at every
single level.
"Supporting our mental wellness doesn't mean we need to spend a
lot of money or take an expensive trip. This toolkit will help
everyone, from the newly initiated to seasoned policymakers,
understand why focusing on mental wellness is so crucial," said
Tonia Callender, GWI research fellow
and the report's lead author. "The report is the first to explain
the many strategies we can choose to improve our resiliency and
wellbeing and to demonstrate how new mental wellness initiatives
could prove the missing weapon in combatting skyrocketing rates of
loneliness, anxiety and depression."
Download the free report HERE.
The Dire Need for Mental Wellness Policy: The toolkit helps
readers grasp the scope and costs of poor mental wellbeing.
Globally, rising rates of depression, anxiety and loneliness—all
accelerated by the pandemic—are straining traditional community
health and social resources beyond their breaking points. The World
Health Organization estimates that the pandemic increased worldwide
rates of anxiety and depression by over 25%; Gallup's 2023 Global
Emotions Report reveals that 40% of people report recently
experiencing a lot of worry or stress; and Gallup research also
reveals that almost a quarter of the global population feels fairly
or very lonely. While in a developed country like the US, mental
health proponents worry about having only 105 mental health workers
per 100,000 people, the global average is only nine workers per
100,000 people. For African nations, the average is only 2.4
professionals for every 100,000 individuals.
"One of the biggest shifts in the wellness sector over the last
decade has been towards more mental wellness modalities and a
greater understanding of how they can support our mental health,"
said Susie Ellis, GWI chair and CEO.
"With such a severe scarcity of traditional mental health
resources, the time is now to bring accessible, evidence-based
mental wellness approaches into policy at every single level."
Five Key Policy Actions for Mental Wellness:
The heart of the toolkit is the in-depth discussion of five key
policy objectives and practical actions that can be taken to
improve mental wellness. Each section describes the problem to be
solved, the many possible policy actions and global examples, and a
list of sample tangible activities.
Policy objective #1: Improve mental wellness literacy
Action: Improve knowledge and understanding of mental wellness
to nudge its adoption by individuals and communities
Sample policies: One awareness-raising policy is the
Australia-born Mental Health First
Aid program, which has spread to 25 countries and trained over 6
million people. Much like physical first aid training, the program
teaches community members practical skills on how to proactively
recognize, respond to, and support someone experiencing a mental
health problem, until professional help can be received. Since
2019, the UK's National Health Service has run a publicly funded
"Every Mind Matters" campaign to build adults' literacy on mental
wellbeing issues and strategies.
Policy objective #2: Increase access to activities and spaces
that promote mental wellness
Action: Leverage community infrastructure, nature, arts/culture,
and technology to expand access to mental wellness, especially for
underserved groups
Sample policies: Zimbabwe
originated the simple but effective Friendship Benches program,
where trained volunteers provide conversation and emotional support
at public benches. Similar programs have spread around the world
(in Guyana, the UK, the US, etc.).
In Washington, DC, a new program
trains older adults in the basics of talk therapy and empathetic
listening to occupy benches near senior wellness and community
centers. Men's Sheds, in Scotland
and Australia, is a community
crafting program that blends woodworking, pottery, and social
activities to help men find connection and purpose in learning new
skills.
Policy objective #3: Create more socially-connected
communities
Action: Strengthen social connections through programs, social
prescribing, the built environment, and technology
Sample policies: Denmark's
Ventilen (Friend to One) organization uses volunteers to facilitate
organized social activities (e.g., cooking, movie and board game
nights) to help young adults build social networks. Originating in
the UK in the 1980s, and now used in more than a dozen countries
(including Portugal, Sweden, Korea, Australia, and China), social prescribing helps people facing
loneliness, depression, and health issues to connect with social
community activities. Employees called "link workers" or "wellbeing
coaches/coordinators" connect individuals to activities such as
volunteering, time in nature, group mindful movement, fitness, arts
activities (such as the UK's Arts on Prescription program), museum
visits, and walking groups.
Policy objective #4: Promote mental wellness among children and
youth
Action: Given the alarming rates of stress, anxiety and
depression in the young, teach them coping skills and build their
social networks to improve their mental resilience
Sample policies: The global David Lynch Quiet Time programs,
Smiling Mind in Australia,
Finland's Time Out project,
Universal Promise in South Africa,
SEHER in India, and Positive
Action in the US are all examples of programs designed to combat
stress for children or teach youth coping skills. The Lively Minds
program in Uganda and Ghana teaches young people social and
emotional skills development.
Policy objective #5: Integrate mental wellness-supporting
policies into healthcare and other wellness sectors to facilitate
much needed coordination between sectors
Action: Embed mental wellness activities across many other
wellness sectors and domains to support holistic mental
wellbeing
Sample policies: The Japanese government's "Stress Check
Program" requires employers with more than 50 workers to conduct
annual screenings for psychosocial stressors and mental health
issues. In Mexico, the government
requires all employers to monitor and address psychological risk
factors facing employees.
About the Global Wellness Institute:
The Global Wellness Institute (GWI), a nonprofit 501(c)(3), is
considered the leading global research and educational resource for
the global wellness industry and is known for introducing major
industry initiatives and regional events that bring together
leaders to chart the future. GWI positively impacts global health
and wellness by educating public institutions, businesses and
individuals on how they can work to prevent disease, reduce stress
and enhance overall quality of life. Its mission is to empower
wellness worldwide.
Media Contact
Beth
McGroarty, Global Wellness Institute, 2133000107,
beth.mcgroarty@globalwellnesssummit.com,
https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/
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SOURCE Global Wellness Institute