Cultivating a Thriving Inner Landscape Where Our Potential Can Bloom: 7 Learnings on How Mental Health Helps Achieve Social Change and PeacebuildingCultivating a Thriving Inner Landscape Where Our Potential Can Bloom: 7 Learnings on How Mental Health Helps Achieve Social Change and Peacebuilding

Guest post by:

Catalina Cock Duque

Co-Founder and President, Fundación Mi Sangre

Growing up in Colombia, a country with an armed conflict, filled with bombings, massacres, and displacement, I always felt the need to heal our wounds of violence and work towards the construction of peace. Fundación Mi Sangre, co-founded with songwriter and singer Juanes, has been my primary vehicle for pursuing this purpose. Since 2006, Mi Sangre has played a pivotal role in fostering systemic cultural change in Colombia by involving youth and the actors surrounding them as key contributors to personal, community, and systemic transformation. This model equips participants with life, leadership, and entrepreneurial skills, empowering them to co-create positive changes in their communities, including solutions towards peace.

Our work encompasses a multifaceted vision of leadership, emphasizing the development of both individual and collective skills. It involves nurturing awareness, empathy, critical thinking, and curiosity while fostering collaboration. We address the challenges young people face due to living in impoverished and violent environments, providing comprehensive mental health support as a valuable resource for personal and collective transformation. With this emphasis on inner work, mental health, and wellbeing, we have seen positive results not only in our participants’ lives but in the systems all around us.

From more than 15 years of service to young people in Colombia, here are some of the lessons from our journey that have now become integral to our work.

1. We can support the individual through the collective.

In dealing with trauma and other mental health challenges, some specific cases require individual psychosocial support. However, our organization and country lack the resources to provide it individually at scale. Therefore, we have integrated mental health skills into leadership programs, to offer support in a collective setting while integrating a preventive approach. These programs blend self-discovery and introspection, with safe spaces, fostering social connections and a sense of belonging. The mental health dimension of our leadership programs holds a special place in the hearts of our participants. From our retreats, I recall with emotion their warm hugs, the tears of healing they shed, and the laughter that set their spirits free, all within the safe space we helped create for them.

2. Holistic wellbeing – connecting mind, heart, body, and spirit – is essential.

Our programs prioritize a holistic approach encompassing the mind, heart, body, and spirit. Engaging the mind fosters critical thinking, self-awareness, and informed decision-making. Emotional aspects, represented by the heart, nurture empathy and meaningful relationships. Physical well-being, supported by the body, ensures energy and vitality, offering valuable wisdom through a strong mind-body connection. Nurturing the spirit, which encompasses purpose and resilience, provides inner strength to face challenges. Collectively, these dimensions empower individuals to lead authentically, while achieving significant change. Our young participants have successfully created more than 1,800 change initiatives, achieving profound systemic transformations in areas such as violence prevention, reconciliation, gender equity, migrants’ inclusion, and prevention of forced recruitment to armed groups.

3. The creative arts and nature are our biggest allies.

Creative arts and nature are central to our programs. We offer creative outlets like painting, music, and writing to serve as therapeutic outlets, hellping to alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression. Art encourages mindfulness, fostering social connections and deep interactions. Simultaneously, nature provides purpose and tranquility and teaches the vital concepts of oneness and interconnection. Whether it’s a simple walk in the park, incorporating plants, or outdoor experiences in natural settings, these holistic approaches significantly enhance our program’s effectiveness. My heart fills with gratitude when I remember a participant who shared that she had discovered the wisest counselor in nature and had never received such profound guidance from anyone else.

Credit: Fundación Mi Sangre/Alejandro Bonnells

Credit: Fundación Mi Sangre/Alejandro Bonnells

“My heart fills with gratitude when I remember a participant who shared that she had discovered the wisest counselor in nature and had never received such profound guidance from anyone else.”

4. Mental health and wellbeing have to be cultivated.

From our community engagement, it is clear to us that mental health and wellbeing are not static conditions; they are cultivated over time through a combination of self-awareness, self-care, and positive life choices. To help our communities make these choices, we have developed several strategies, including an open-source library with tools and resources, along with trainer approaches and curriculums for parents and educators, on how to develop 17 different holistic leadership skills. To our surprise, this library, originally created for our team, has more than 2,500 visitors per month, demonstrating its regular use. We also don’t limit our mental health support to our participants: since the pandemic, our full team holds weekly online meetings to share various practices, encouraging us to lead by example and embody the change we want to be in our communities.

5. We must shift paradigms around mental health.

Transforming mental health paradigms is a crucial piece to this puzzle, given historical stigma that discourages those who are struggling from seeking support. To help change this dynamic, we have launched grassroots and national campaigns at Mi Sangre to normalize mental health discussions, emphasizing the importance of open, empathetic, and non-judgmental conversations. Recognizing that change starts at the individual and community levels, we are committed to creating tailored approaches to mental health, considering differences in ethnicity, gender, and age while incorporating local wisdom. We also seek to expand the dialogue on mental health to include wider audiences: inspired by the Wellbeing Summit for Social Change in Bilbao, we co-created the Wellbeing Summit Bogotá in September 2023. Mental health was a central topic at this event, which convened changemakers from the social change, business, academic, and public sectors. We aspire to extend this initiative to other Latin American cities, further advancing this crucial agenda for mental health.

An example of posters co-designed with local communities, written in Nasa Yuwe, the language indigenous communities of Toribio, Norte del Cauca, Colombia, with an invitation to reach out to mental health support services. Literal translation: “Weaving the good life. Mental health is harmony, source of inspiration and wisdom”. Credit: Fundación Mi Sangre/Alejandro Bonnells

6. Our personal journeys influence our professional work

Leading Mi Sangre has been a profoundly personal journey.My pursuit of inner growth and wellbeing commenced 18 years ago after facing burnout during my first venture. However, this journey evolved recently when I developed a deeper understanding of trauma’s impact on my work, through participation in the Inner Development Program by The Wellbeing Project. In a retreat with fellow change agents, I was transported back to a poignant childhood memory. I overheard the tragic fate of our neighbors, the parents of children my age who were kidnapped and brutally murdered. The re-emergence of this memory unleashed profound emotions, revealing the lasting impact it had on me. This experience unveiled the roots of certain unhealthy patterns in my entrepreneurial drive – a fear of losing what I cherish, an unconscious drive to do everything to survive and protect my loved ones, and a limiting belief that I must accomplish everything now because tomorrow is uncertain. I have undergone profound transformations as a result. When leaders embark on deep explorations of their inner selves, a much deeper layer of meaning emerges about who we are, what we do, how we pursue it, and, more importantly, how we want to pursue it. I have witnessed numerous stories of leaders similarly elevating their modes of operation (and impact!) by embarking on journeys of inner work.

7. Inner work can help heal systems.

In the pursuit of positive social change and lasting peace, inner work stands as a pivotal force that transcends individual growth to mend the very systems that have been fractured by violence and turmoil. The power of inner work is not confined to self-discovery and personal development; it extends to our collective consciousness and societal structures. Mi Sangre’s work involves weaving ecosystems, bringing together a wide array of participants from the public, private, and third sectors – sometimes even including former enemies and victims – to co-create solutions. Through our methodologies, we have witnessed the potential to transcend differences, hate, and fear in order to act collectively towards peace. By delving into the depths of our inner selves, we unearth the empathy, resilience, and wisdom required to reshape these systems.

“By delving into the depths of our inner selves, we unearth the empathy, resilience, and wisdom required to reshape these systems.”

Both through my work and personal experience, I’ve learned to embrace pain and struggles as inherent aspects of life. However, I’ve also seen the potential for leading a life filled with profound meaning, even in the face of persistent challenges. Equipping leaders with the skills to address trauma, support their mental health, and enable wellbeing is essential. In doing so, we are able to help them cultivate resilience, enabling them to reach their highest human potential, foster healthy relationships, and serve life with freedom and joy.

Looking back at the dream Juares and I had 16 years ago – working towards peace – I am convinced that including inner work in our systemic approach has been pivotal in catalyzing extraordinary leadership. Without it, we may have never been able to advance the reconstruction of our social fabric, influence decision-makers, and help heal systems that impact over 2 million people who have undergone profound transformations toward peace-building and social change. I invite you to explore how mental health, healing, and inner work may transform your work in social change – with a thriving inner landscape, there’s no limit for our how our potential can bloom.

About the authorAbout the author

Meet Catalina Cock Duque

Catalina Cock Duque, a seasoned catalyst for systemic change with over 25 years of experience, is a passionate leader in sustainable development, peace-building, and social impact. Distinguished as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and recognized by Silla Vacía in Colombia, she co-founded Fundación Mi Sangre, impacting over 2 million people in Colombia. As a Co-Founder of Oro Verde and the Alliance for Responsible Mining, Catalina played a pivotal role in establishing the first global certification for artisanal gold mining, expanding its reach to over 10 countries. She holds a BA from the University of Maryland and a Master’s from the London School of Economics, complemented by executive courses in leadership and innovation from top institutions worldwide.

Hear from Catalina's experience on taking part of The Wellbeing Summit Bogotá: Hear from Catalina's experience on taking part of The Wellbeing Summit Bogotá:

Four Seasons Under One Sky: Arts as a Collective Approach to Creativity and Healing in South Africa Four Seasons Under One Sky: Arts as a Collective Approach to Creativity and Healing in South Africa

Guest post by:

Marlize Swanpoel

Co-Founder & Director, sp(i)eel arts therapies collective (Cape Town, South Africa)

sp(i)eel is an arts therapies collective (including drama, music, dance/movement, and art) of arts therapists, applied arts practitioners, and arts activists addressing intergenerational and complex trauma in South African communities. Over two centuries of colonialism and the oppressive regime of apartheid has left a nation grappling with systemic inequity and intergenerational trauma. Ongoing poverty and high incidences of violence and crime coupled with a dire lack of mental health services are contributing to complex and ongoing trauma, with more than a quarter of South Africans suffering from probable depression (Craig et al, 2022). This mental health crisis our country is facing is a systemic issue, not an individual one, and it needs a collective response. Our approach to mental health is culturally informed and sees people as each other’s greatest resource and source of support. As a result, our ultimate goal is to develop collective resilience that can affect social change.

Our name, spieel, is derived from two words that have different meanings in the Afrikaans language: “to play” or “mirror”. To “play and mirror” speaks to several reasons for our use of art as a healing tool. It refers to the function of the arts as a mirror to society for expression, reflection, and understanding. It also speaks to the therapeutic aspect of art therapies, where an art form is applied as a mirror to Self for exploration and understanding. Furthermore, it is through the playful nature of the arts that we can connect with our innate creativity.

It also speaks to the therapeutic aspect of art therapies, where an art form is applied as a mirror to Self for exploration and understanding.

In South Africa, access to therapeutic arts programmes is limited and not accessible to everyone. We aim to enable accessibility to the intentional use of various art forms to further have a positive impact on general health, wellbeing, development, and transformation for all.

Given our deep connection with the arts, our story and impacts can best be shared visually. This photo essay illustrates the journey of healing and wellbeing experienced through our Families and Collective Futures programme. It is a resilience-focused, trauma-informed programme that applies the arts and creativity to build psychosocial support systems. These systems are created through research (in collaboration with Brunel University), training, and the implementation of arts-based groups for children and their social circles.

The journey of this programme is presented within the frame of one of our core guiding metaphors: the four seasons. It represents the following. Firstly, just like the seasons, our mental health and wellbeing are not in a fixed state. We experience constant ups and downs. By accessing tools such as embodied awareness, reflexivity, and regulating skills, we can support ourselves and each other to navigate through these seasons of illness and health.

Secondly, this metaphor understands mental health and wellbeing in the context of the ecosystem. Communities are made up of people in different seasons of life. Collective resilience implies that the pressure to bounce back from hardship is not the sole responsibility of the individual. When one person suffers, it affects everyone. Everyone plays a role in collective health; as a collective, we are stronger together.

Collective resilience implies that the pressure to bounce back from hardship is not the sole responsibility of the individual. When one person suffers, it affects everyone.

Lastly, the seasons mirror people’s relationship with nature, and offer a platform to reflect on cultural and indigenous knowledge embracing nature as a source of healing.

We begin our journey in the season of (re)birth: Spring.

SPRING SPRING

Tending to the Soil So the Seedlings Can Thrive

Spieel 1 — Three generations of men raise a baby boy in the air. Cerderberg, 2022. Credit: sp(i)eel arts therapies collective

In a community workshop, participants create an embodied image of Spring. A healing-centered approach to intergenerational trauma in family systems involves the adults developing reflective and regulating skills to take care of their own mental health, so that they are better aware of unhelpful patterns of relating in their families and community.

Burning David’s Root. Cederberg, 2022. Credit: sp(i)eel arts therapies collective

Arts activist Gershan Lombard facilitates a ritual of gratitude at the end of a community workshop, with the small children keeping a close and curious eye. Culturally-informed psychosocial practice includes honouring indigenous knowledge and spiritual practices of health and wellbeing to share this wisdom with the next generation.

Summer Summer

Young People’s Shining Stories

A Summer of Self-expression: Making our stories known. Robertson, 2023. Credit: sp(i)eel arts therapies collective

A group of young women share their story about Summer as a starting point to explore themes of health and wellbeing. It is vital to offer young people multiple ways to share their thoughts and feelings, as words are not always readily available to express their inner worlds. As one participant (grade 11, high school leaner) revealed to us:“You might have noticed that we are a generation that keeps to ourselves, and we don’t trust anyone with our feelings and our thoughts. Especially because we don’t know how to talk about our feelings and our thoughts. You have come to show us that we can also show you through our songs and through our dances how we feel and what we are thinking. And that is freedom.”

Glimmer Boxes shine light on tools for health. Koue Bokkeveld, 2023. Credit: sp(i)eel arts therapies collective

A young woman creates her “Glimmer Box”, a tool that supports participants to explore what resources are available to them to support their mental health and wellbeing. These include positive relationships, safe spaces, and activities that regulate their emotional states. Some of these are drawn, painted on stones, or represented by found objects in nature and placed in the box as tangible reminders of available support systems.

“You have come to show us that we can also show you through our songs and through our dances how we feel and what we are thinking. And that is freedom.”

Autumn Autumn

A Season of Trust and Letting Go

Leaning into each other. Worcester, 2022. Credit: sp(i)eel arts therapies collective

A couple rests back-to-back and connects with each other’s breath. Our embodied, trauma-informed practice is drawn from Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory as a way to understand the autonomous nervous system’s responses. This helps us understand our reactions to triggers and to develop tools for regulating and finding safety and connection in the present moment. The couple shared afterwards: “My partner and I are having difficulties in our relationship. This workshop has given us the space to sit and just be with each other, to re-connect, and we were able to talk about things. This had a positive influence on our children and family life.”

Bridging generations. Worcester, 2023. Credit: sp(i)eel arts therapies collective

In a workshop for mothers and daughters, mothers embody the support of a bridge, coming together to keep a girl above water. This workshop took place during a time of heavy flooding in the area in which some participants had lost their homes. This role-playing offered a way to express the traumatic experience: “The only way to keep safe is when we all look after each other’s children. We are not alone in this world, and your child is my child,” shared one mother. The embodied work where non-verbal communication is encouraged also supported bonding between mothers and daughters: “Girls don’t open up to parents, this exercise helped us to open up to each other,” said a young participant.

“We are not alone in this world, and your child is my child.”

Women’s circles and cycles. Vlottenburg, 2019. Credit: sp(i)eel arts therapies collective

A group embodies the word “women” in Circles of Support, one of our workshops for women. This workshop explores the female menstrual cycle as its four phases are linked with the four seasons, inviting conversations around menstrual and sexual health, menopause, and mental health and wellbeing. These circles are filled with generational knowledge, beauty, hope, and wisdom. One participant expressed her joy: “My experience was that I can be comfortable with myself as a woman. And I can express my feelings and accept my body. To be a woman is great!

Winter Winter

Embracing the Wisdom of the Elderly

Offering stories to the next generation. Cederberg, 2022. Credit: sp(i)eel arts therapies collective

A whole community, including the elderly, adults, youth, and children, are enchanted by a storytelling circle. We witnessed a beautiful moment where the children sat and listened to the stories of the elderly, and asked them questions about the history of their community. Such events where the stories of the elderly are centralized, offer a means to narrate collective and cultural history to the next generation.

Glimmer Maps. Cederberg, 2022. Credit: sp(i)eel arts therapies collective

Elderly men create their own Glimmer Maps to identify their “glimmers”: small moments when we are in a place of connection or regulation, which cues our nervous system to feel safe or calm – the opposite of triggers. They are made by tracing a hand on paper, followed by a symbol of nature representing the Self drawn into the palm. Each finger represents a glimmer with prompts from nature, for example: air for breath, fire for warmth, love, comfort and rest, water for movement, and earth for grounding. Finally, we connect the glimmers to our community, and include the name of a person who makes us feel safe.

Concluding Concluding

One Cycle, Inspiring Another

A core element of the Families and Collective Futures programme is the creative methodology. One participant reflected that the manner in which we engaged with them has helped people to come out of their shell, as “ons mense neem nie maklik deel nie” (“our people do not engage easily”). To help ease our participants out of these shells, we understand several contributing factors help create a sacred and safe space where mental health and wellbeing can be addressed:

A scaffolded approach to introduce arts-based work;

The invitation to engage in any way that feels comfortable;

The knowledge that attendance is voluntary; and

The modeling of respect, tolerance, and kindness.

The above learnings speak to a healing-centered approach to trauma and essentially it is a message of hope. When we work within the ecosystem in a culturally-informed way, it creates space for innate and indigenous knowledge to be heard and received. As a result, when we understand that healing is available to everyone and happens in relation to each other, we can create circles of psychosocial support that are resilient enough to affect social change.

When we understand that healing is available to everyone and happens in relation to each other, we can create circles of psychosocial support that are resilient enough to affect social change.

Glimmers of girlhood: Families and Collective Futures are in our hands. Ganyesa, 2022. Credit: sp(i)eel arts therapies collective

We conclude this photo essay with a reflection of a participant on the theme of seasons and the image of a Glimmer Map, made by a young girl. “Every season produces something for the other season so that, in the end, nature can provide for us. Everything is a circle. And we are all part of the cycle.”

About The Author About The Author

Meet Marlize Swanepoel

Marlize Swanepoel is a Dramatherapist and the founding director of sp(i)eel arts therapies collective, an NPO that addresses intergenerational trauma and co-create community-based models of mental health care that are culturally informed and relevant to the South African context. She serves on the Secretariat of the South African National Arts Therapies Association (SANATA) and is a guest lecturer at the University of Cape Town. She is an enthusiastic advocate for the Arts for Health movement in South Africa that speaks to healthcare from a global South perspective. She loves being in spaces of learning, unlearning and dancing.

Learning From the Climate Mental Health Convergence Learning From the Climate Mental Health Convergence

Webinar Held By Catalyst 2030

August 2023

This webinar focused on the Stanford Social Innovation Review article of the same name. Read here.

The webinar was moderated by Matt Hughsam, speaking to Kelly Davis and Lian Zeitz as they expanded on the ideas within the article they co-authored with John Jamir Benzon R. Aruta.

Speakers Speakers

KELLY DAVIS

Kelly Davis is the AVP of Peer and Youth Advocacy at Mental Health America, where she leads efforts to expand peer support and young adult leadership. Kelly is a person with lived experience and is passionate about lived experience-driven and led programs, policies, and research. Examples of her current projects include partnering with college students to advance mental health rights in higher education and collaborating with youth to create priorities for school mental health policy.

LIAN ZEITZ

Lian Zeitz is the Co-Founder at the Climate Mental Health Network and was previously the Global Director of Love and Compassion for citiesRISE, a global platform committed to transforming the state of mental health policy and practice in cities and beyond to meet the mental health needs of populations across the world. He has conducted national and global research on youth mental health, family therapy models, trauma, and community mental health interventions. He has published work in leading journals, such as Contemporary Family Therapy, Cities & Health, Environment international, and Journal of Adolescent Health. Lian recently completed a Master of Divinity at Naropa University, studying contemplative wisdom, bioethics, youth mental health, and community healing. Lian earned a BASc from Quest University Canada, where he focused on public mental health and literature, and a certificate for Leadership in Mental Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

MATT HUGHSAM

Matt Hughsam is a facilitator, researcher, and coach committed to pursuing well-being and justice for people, our communities, and our planet. He is passionate about bringing together grassroots-led and systems-led efforts toward transformative change. At citiesRISE, Matt builds research, innovation, and movement building initiatives supporting youth-driven mental health transformation, primarily in India, Kenya, the U.S., and Colombia. He previously worked on programs ranging from community-based interventions to supporting evidence-informed decision-making in national governments. Matt loves speculative fiction and outdoor adventures.

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EL FACTOR INVISIBLE: Bienestar y salud mental para fortalecer el ecosistema emprendedor de alto impacto en América Latina y el Caribe

ENG: THE INVISIBLE FACTOR: Well-being and mental health to strengthen the high-impact entrepreneurial ecosystem in Latin America and the Caribbean

By The Wellbeing Project, Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo

SOBRE EL ESTUDIO SOBRE EL ESTUDIO

En el ecosistema de innovación y emprendimiento de alto impacto en América Latina y el Caribe (ALC) vemos cómo emprendedores/as cuentan experiencias difíciles de su día a día para mantener o hacer crecer exitosamente sus emprendimientos. Estas presiones diarias suelen estar vinculadas a factores que comúnmente podemos ver y medir, como el factor financiero, el factor operativo y los factores de sostenibilidad o escalabilidad. Pero se puede ver y conocer poco sobre el impacto y las posibles consecuencias de estas presiones en la vida personal, familiar o cotidiana de los seres humanos detrás de los emprendimientos. Un factor invisible que es hora de visibilizar. Si queremos fortalecer el ecosistema emprendedor de la región e impulsar su gran capacidad innovadora, es necesario atender un factor invisible pero fundamental: el bienestar y la salud mental de emprendedores/as de alto impacto.

Los emprendimientos de alto impacto son una parte esencial de las economías dinámicas de nuestros países. Sin embargo, en muchos casos, estos/as emprendedores/as enfrentan circunstancias y desafíos muy particulares de la región. A las presiones financieras y operativas cotidianas se suman contextos políticos, económicos y sociales muy cambiantes, así como recientemente los duros impactos por la pandemia del COVID-19. Esto ha generado un ambiente de alta tensión e incertidumbre en los emprendedores/as para poder mantener o hacer crecer sus iniciativas sin descuidar el compromiso laboral con sus equipos. El hecho que este desafío personal muchas veces parezca invisible y se suela enfrentar en solitario, por estigmas o prejuicios, hace que el sector de EAI sea “mucho más propenso a sufrir dolencias en bienestar y salud mental, como estados de ansiedad, fatiga, depresión o agotamiento generalizado (síndrome de burnout), en comparación con la población en general” (Endeavor, 2020).

Con el objetivo de entender y visibilizar la situación del bienestar y la salud mental, específicamente en el ecosistema emprendedor de Alto Impacto en la región, esta investigación realizó un estudio de carácter exploratorio para identificar y entrevistar a un grupo diverso de emprendedores/as en varios países de ALC. Fundadores/as o colaboradores, de diverso género, en varios tipos de industrias, con emprendimientos en distintas etapas y con diverso alcance geográfico o de mercado aceptaron participar voluntariamente para compartir sus experiencias y opiniones. Desde esta exploración, que se enfoca puntualmente en analizar la situación actual de las personas participantes, creemos que es posible reflejar lo que potencialmente afecta a una mayor parte del ecosistema. Esto puede ayudar a visibilizar la importancia de atenderlo para quienes están detrás de los emprendimientos, pero también para quienes los incuban, los aceleran o invierten en ellos. Ayudar a potenciar buenas prácticas, financiar investigación y ofrecer programas o herramientas de acompañamiento especializado al ecosistema emprendedor de la región es fundamental. Entendiendo el momento que vive la región y buscando fortalecer el crecimiento del ecosistema, se debe impulsar estratégicamente un nuevo enfoque: si los/ as emprendedores/as están bien, los emprendimientos irán mejor.

ABOUT THE RESEARCHABOUT THE RESEARCH

In the high-impact innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), we witness entrepreneurs grappling with challenging experiences in their day-to-day efforts to sustain or expand their ventures. These daily pressures are often tied to factors that are readily observable and measurable, such as financial, operational, sustainability, or scalability considerations. However, we have limited insight into the impact and potential consequences of these pressures on the personal, family, and daily lives of the individuals driving these ventures—the human beings behind the scenes. This invisible factor demands attention and acknowledgement. If we are to fortify the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region and foster its remarkable capacity for innovation, it becomes imperative to address an unseen yet indispensable element: the well-being and mental health of high-impact entrepreneurs.

High-impact ventures are an essential part of the dynamic economies of our countries. However, in many cases, these entrepreneurs face very particular circumstances and challenges in the region. Added to daily financial and operational pressures are highly changing political, economic and social contexts, as well as recently the harsh impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This has generated an environment of high tension and uncertainty for entrepreneurs to be able to maintain or grow their initiatives without neglecting the work commitment with their teams. The fact that this personal challenge often seems invisible and is usually faced alone, due to stigma or prejudice, makes the EAI sector “much more prone to suffering well-being and mental health ailments, such as states of anxiety, fatigue, depression or generalized exhaustion (burnout syndrome), compared to the general population” (Endeavor, 2020).

With the objective of understanding and making visible the situation of well-being and mental health, specifically in the High Impact entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region, this research carried out an exploratory study to identify and interview a diverse group of entrepreneurs in various LAC countries. Founders or collaborators, of different genders, in various types of industries, with ventures in different stages and with diverse geographic or market scope, agreed to participate voluntarily to share their experiences and opinions. From this exploration, which specifically focuses on analyzing the current situation of the participating people, we believe that it is possible to reflect what potentially affects a greater part of the ecosystem. This can help make visible the importance of serving it for those who are behind the ventures, but also for those who incubate, accelerate or invest in them. Helping to promote good practices, finance research and offer specialized support programs or tools to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region is essential. Understanding the moment the region is experiencing and seeking to strengthen the growth of the ecosystem, a new approach must be strategically promoted: if the entrepreneurs are doing well, the ventures will do better.

Wellbeing Rituals To Support Your Mental Health Wellbeing Rituals To Support Your Mental Health

Post By

The Wellbeing Project Team

Welcome to a world where mental health takes center stage, and every step forward is a cherished milestone on our wellbeing journey. As we commemorate Mental Health Action Day 2023, join us on a heartfelt exploration of our team’s daily rituals—a tapestry of unique paths that nurture our minds, bodies, and spirits. Witness the transformative power of self-care, inspiring you to embark on your own wellbeing journey towards resilience, purpose, and lasting joy:

Walking in nature, writing, reading books, inspiring quotes or poems, spending time with friends or family, and laughing!

I value knowing that I’m part of something bigger than myself, whether it be my purpose in life, the world that surrounds me, or part of a community like my friends or family.

– Alejandra Garza, Networks Advancement Manager

Connecting with nature.

Nature grounds me and reminds me that we are all interconnected . As I reflect on the beauty of the natural world I feel a sense of awe which allows me to understand that I am part of a bigger ecosystem and everything is they way it’s supposed to be. Only then I am able to let go, to surrender.

– Silvana Cisneros, Networks Lead

Activities that help me enter the flow state include listening to music, riding my motorcycle, going for a nature walk, chopping vegetables or cooking, pruning shrubs, enjoying a private moment with my comfort food, birdwatching and sitting out in the balcony looking at falling leaves. Additionally, conversations with friends and family in my innermost circle also play a significant role in helping me stay centered.

Engaging in flow-state activities allows me to focus on something other than the pressing problem, which frees my mind to concentrate on finding solutions in the background. This helps me mentally unwind and serves as a reminder that there is so much more to life than just the current situation I’m in. Conversations with my friends and family help me to think more clearly about dominant thoughts as they challenge me with provocative questions and different perspectives.

– Anubha Agarwal, Research & Learning Manager

Sleep well, eat healthy, manage money wisely, have meaningful relationships and be mindful as much as possible of every moment I am alive.

It helps me to tave a positive and optimistic attitude.

– Ricardo Paz, People & Culture Elder

Baking.

Baking allows me to focus my attention on the present moment. The process of measuring ingredients, following a recipe, and mixing them together requires concentration and mindfulness. It also engages multiple senses, including sight, smell, taste, and touch. The process of working with ingredients, observing the transformation in the oven, and savoring the final product can provide a sensory experience that is both pleasurable and stimulating.

Besides, I think baking is a form of creative expression that allows me to experiment with flavors, textures, and decorations. It provides a space to showcase my imagination and personal style. The act of creating something delicious and visually appealing can definitely boost my mood and provide a sense of accomplishment.

Finally enjoying homemade treats help me to evoke positive memories, evoke nostalgia, and provide a sense of emotional comfort.

– Fernanda Martínez, Networks Manager

For me it is important to recover energy: time for fun and sharing moments with family and friends, good sleep, yoga and meditation. Time spent in this way re-energizes me.

It helps me to take a positive and optimistic attitude.

– Valeria Peredo, People & Culture Lead

Weekly calls with my closest and dearest friends. They are usually not update calls, rather proper conversations, long, honest, fun at times, painful at others, the same I would have if we were leaving in the same place and see each other regularly. I think the most special aspect it’s that they have been weekly rituals for almost 15 years.

Long term friendship are an incredible gift because your friends are also your memory, your mirror, your diary. And you’re the same for them. You grow up, and old, together, sharing different live stages and milestone events. They are your net, your chosen family, you are never lonely, nor lost if you can count on such meaningful relationships, no matter what happens.

– Alessandra Gatti, The Wellbeing Summit Director

Meditation, contact with nature, physical activity, art, time with family, and friends.

It keeps my feet on the ground to bring down my head (mental activity) into my body and soul

– Eugenia Di Fiori, Organisational Exploratory Program Manager

5 minutes of morning meditation.

It helps me settle the energy for the day.

– Beatriz Retamar, Leadership Assistant

As we bring our exploration of daily wellbeing rituals to a close, we invite you to carry the torch of self-care and mental wellness forward. Let our stories serve as a reminder that your wellbeing journey is unique and deserving of celebration. Embrace the power of rituals that nourish your mind, body, and spirit, and surround yourself with a compassionate community that uplifts and supports you.

Remember, cultivating mental health is an ongoing process—a lifelong commitment to self-discovery and self-care. As we honor Mental Health Action Day 2023, let us ignite a collective spark, encouraging conversations and actions that prioritize mental wellbeing in all aspects of life.

Global Summit on Dance Movement Therapy for Change – Reflections Global Summit on Dance Movement Therapy for Change – Reflections

By: Anubha Agarwal , Research & Learning Manager at The Wellbeing Project

Date: January 2023

Last month I had the pleasure to represent The Wellbeing Project at the Fourth Biennial Global Summit on Dance Movement Therapy for Change in the eclectic and colorful city of Jaipur, Rajasthan in India.

The two-day event was co-hosted by Kolkata Sanved – a non-profit organization based in India promoting holistic well-being through Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) and Center for Lifelong Learning (CLL), Tata Institute of Social Sciences – a unit of the leading public research university in India.

The fourth biennale held on January 12-13th , 2023 in Jaipur was focused on exploring the role of DMT and other creative expressions in building our collective resilience for navigating a world that seems to be at a heightened risk of diminished ecological health and well-being. The 2023 Fourth Biennale DMT for Change was attended by a diverse global audience comprising of development sector professionals, including DMT practitioners, Creative Art Therapy (CAT) practitioners, social scientists and public health experts.

With a colorful mix of experiential sessions, workshops, panel discussions and art installations, the Summit events wove together seamlessly in a rich tapestry. While ecological well-being of planet Earth and the looming danger of the climate crisis was the dominant theme at the Summit, the event was peppered with participatory sessions and workshops employing music, visual arts and storytelling to express individual reflections.

That artistic underlying theme at the Summit was evident, when at the time of registration, each Summit attendee was offered an option to choose a handheld musical instrument ( displayed below ). I found it amusing to briefly fiddle with the wide range of percussion instruments and select one, even though the intended use was not entirely clear to me. It became clear in time as the attendees enthusiastically sounded the percussion tools to endorse a speaker or an idea, infusing fresh energy and cheerfulness into the Summit events in the process.

Before the Summit, I was unfamiliar with the role of dance movement therapy as a psycho-therapeutic healing practice. Even though it is commonly known that dancing releases mood-enhancing hormones in humans, I was curious to understand how DMT was different in terms of providing subsistence to trauma victims and survivors of violence in our communities.

While I was quite thrilled to avail an opportunity to experience DMT through an experiential workshop at the Summit, I was also mindful not to participate in the workshop with the possibly unfair expectation to fully imbibe the therapeutic benefits of dance movement therapy. Considering DMT is a therapy, it might need longer duration support and intervention, than joining in one hour and a half long session. Having personally experienced the de-stressing effect of many dance forms in the past despite having two left feet, I was looking forward to experiencing DMT first hand.

During the workshop, free flowing movements that came naturally to each one of us were encouraged, the underlying thought being that DMT is a safe space where in every individual is free to express themselves in the way they want. In line with this tenet, an unfamiliar yet intriguing section of the workshop encouraged each participant to imagine their physical body as a paint brush and to use their limbs and torso to paint a limitless, imaginary canvas. Shifting my mental lens to think of my physical form as a paint-brush took some getting used to but eventually the infectious energy of the workshop cohort took over.

I admit to feeling mentally relaxed and exhilarated post-workshop but still curious to understand how DMT could potentially serve as an antidote to counteract violence in our vulnerable communities. In a country like India, society norms can be quite restrictive of womens’ movement outside the society- or family-ordained ‘safe’ physical spaces, so I felt it would have been insightful to know how the DMT practice can support individuals in freely expressing their possibly repressed agency and take better care of their holistic well-being. In retrospect, I think hearing narratives from DMT practitioners who use DMT as a tool to navigate everyday threats to their physical and mental well-being, would have been of immense value in understanding the practice better.

It is entirely possible that such narratives may have already been shared in the past Summit editions, but as a first-time participant, I missed the absence of such narratives. I did get to interact with a couple of DMT practitioners who mentioned that the practice helps them cope with everyday stress and shift the lens on how they view their lives.

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One of the key learnings for me during the Summit was the reinforcement that approaches to enhance one’s well-being are quite individualized. Availing the opportunities to experience different expressive art forms at the Summit was a constant reminder that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to well-being. An art therapy that might have a profound impact on one, might fail to put a dent on another individual’s well-being.

There is also the question of lack of funding to support well-being – the proverbial elephant in the room. However, until the world decided to acknowledge the presence of the aforementioned elephant and fully awaken to the mental health crisis we are in, one of the speakers at the Summit offered a slightly simpler solution to cope, “Art therapy is expensive… a good place to start is to start noticing what art tools you have easy access to at home such as fallen leaves, spices or other readily accessible elements of nature often overlooked. Art material could be taken from elements that are part of an individual’s environment or identity.”

The two-day DMT Summit for Change feels like a great step in the right direction as such gatherings help mainstream conversations on mental well-being and facilitate the oft-forgotten human connect. Overall, the two days left me feeling happier, joyous and craving for more opportunities to rekindle the deeper human connect, that often gets overlooked in our everyday lives, but that such events help us remember.

The reigning emotion for me at the end of the two-day art-based DMT for Change Summit and 2022 The Wellbeing Summit was that of HOPE. Hope for mental well-being taking center stage at a global level, specifically in cultures that in the aftermath of the pandemic are slowly opening up to talking about mental health and well-being.

David Feinstein

Innersource

Ashland, Oregon,
United States.

DAVID FEINSTEIN, Ph.D., is a pioneer in developing innovative therapeutic approaches, leading to nine national awards for his books on consciousness and healing. A licensed clinical psychologist, he has served as an Instructor in Psychiatry at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and as an Associate Professor of Psychology at Antioch College. He is a recipient of the Marquis Who’s Who Lifetime Achievement Award, the U.S.A. Book News Best Psychology/Mental Health Book Award of 2007, the Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology (ACEP) Outstanding Contribution Award (2002, 2012), and the Canadian Association for Integrative and Energy Therapies’ 2015 Outstanding Leadership Award. David and Donna were honored by the Infinity Foundation as the first couple to receive its annual “Spirit Award” for their contribution to “the evolution of consciousness” and its “impact on society.”

To learn more about David’s work with energy psychology, visit www.EnergyPsychEd.com.

What does inner wellbeing mean to you?

Peace, clarity, and purpose.

How would you define wellbeing in one word?

Relationship.

Are there any rituals or practices you use to enhance your wellbeing?

Tuning inward, taking care of business, and prioritizing relationships.

Why is it important that we prioritize individual, organizational and societal wellbeing?

So the culture can thrive.

Do you have any favorite books, podcasts, or articles that you believe support, promote or educate on wellbeing and related themes?

Too many to mention, yet none are complete. The Harvard Study of Adult Development reveals a lot.

Eden Method's website

Reflections on the Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Carnival in Bangladesh, an event supported by The Wellbeing Project Reflections on the Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Carnival in Bangladesh, an event supported by The Wellbeing Project

“I felt privileged to have witnessed a seminal moment in the journey of Bangladesh as a nation, toward an era where wellbeing and mental health are acknowledged and prioritized”

By: Samuel Smith , Senior Community Manager at The Wellbeing Project

Date: October 2022

In November 2022 I had the pleasure of representing The Wellbeing Project at the inaugural edition of the Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Carnival at The University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Co-hosted by the Aachol Foundation and the Innovation for Wellbeing Foundation , the carnival brought together youth groups, media, education & health experts, as well as organizations working at the heart of campaigns relating to the development of youth wellbeing. Significantly, there were also government representatives present, as one of the objectives of the carnival was to influence the upcoming creation of a national mental health framework; the first policy of its kind in Bangladesh.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Dhaka, and I took a lot away from hearing the inspiring stories and experiences of those present. There is a fascinating vibrancy and energy that comes from a movement fronted by young people and students. Their enthusiasm, dynamism, and willingness to tackle difficult and sometimes daunting topics with a smile and laughter is truly infectious.

I felt privileged to have witnessed a seminal moment in the journey of Bangladesh as a nation, towards an era where wellbeing and mental health are recognized and prioritized. The impact of YMHWBC will be felt well beyond the borders of the university campus, and perhaps even beyond the borders of this beautiful south Asian country.

A personal thank you to Monira Rahmen for the invitation and for giving me the opportunity to contribute. I would also like to show my gratitude to Heal Bangladesh , Heroes For All , No Passport Voice , SAJIDA Foundation , Moner Bondhu and ADD International for taking the time to explain to me how their work is helping to foster a sense of wellbeing across a variety of sectors in Bangladesh and beyond.

TO MARK MENTAL HEALTH ACTION DAY, WE ASKED SOME MEMBERS OF THE WELLBEING COMMUNITY TO SHARE SOME ACTIONS THEY TAKE TO PRIORITISE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. TO MARK MENTAL HEALTH ACTION DAY, WE ASKED SOME MEMBERS OF THE WELLBEING COMMUNITY TO SHARE SOME ACTIONS THEY TAKE TO PRIORITISE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

I realised that if I wanted to regain my mental health I must unlearn denial of anger.

“Depression is anger turned inwards” – my Psychiatrist.

Like many people, particularly women, I grew up believing I should never be angry. Various influences taught me that it is bad to be an angry woman — she is ugly, untrustworthy, and unhealthy. I became expert at denying myself anything resembling anger, avoiding conflict, taking responsibility for maintaining harmony, and never having a strong opinion.

At 33, I experienced a profound loss that triggered a major depressive breakdown. Sitting in front of my psychiatrist week after week, I gradually began to understand his statement. Anger is an essential step in the grieving process, but because I couldn’t allow myself to even acknowledge anger I wasn’t able to grieve and move on from my loss. Over the years, a repressive toxicity collected inside me, condensed over decades, and had finally imploded. I was pulled into a blackhole of depression where my ability to feel anything was gone. All that existed was a robotic sense of nothingness. I was trapped in the vacuum of depression for 13 months.

I became expert at denying myself anything resembling anger, avoiding conflict, taking responsibility for maintaining harmony, and never having a strong opinion.

Several years later, I’ve experienced several different types of grief including the loss of: a belief system, people I’ve loved, faith in those I’ve trusted, an organisation and team I co-created, a perception of my identity and contribution in the world. With each loss the invasive thoughts of depression and anxiety attacks have resurfaced.

While I’m still terrified of depression and what it takes away from me each time, the length of my episodes have decreased as I’ve gathered tools that increase my awareness of when I’m repressing anger and skills to redirect the process towards allowing myself to feel and work through it.

The journey is often one step forward and two steps back as I clumsily learn to explore expressions of anger. But I’m making messy progress.

Tools that help me realise I’m repressing anger :

Weekly Therapy: Being completely honest with my psychologist about my symptoms and thoughts.
Keeping a list of my cognitive biases and unhelpful assumptions that I can refer to and ask myself if I am unwittingly applying them. A few example: I must never show anger; I must always improve a situation; I must not be a burden to others).
Let others around me know what signals to look for and how to gently ask me if that might be what’s happening when they notice those signals.
Dream analysis with my psychologist or psychiatrist.
Time in nature to allow space for subconscious thoughts to rise to consciousness.

Skills I use to redirect myself towards working through anger:

Saying out loud to someone I can trust, ‘I’m angry–here’s why…’.
Writing about why I might be angry and why I might be repressing that reaction.
Gradual exposure therapy exercises set by my psychologist.
Reading about why it’s not unusual to repress anger and the benefits of unlearning it (the book, Rage Becomes Her was a great example of this).
Meditation focused on awareness and acceptance of anger.
Controlled destruction (I went to a smash room on one occasion; took a hammer to a watermelon in my back garden on another).
Finding those who understand the type of situation that made me angry and discussing to gauge if anger seems to be a normal or appropriate response.
Asking others what their strategies are for appropriately and healthily acknowledging, expressing, and processing anger.

My hope is to eventually feel comfortable in acknowledging, experiencing, and expressing anger in a way I’m confident is productive and appropriate —regardless of what other people think. Because what could be more beautiful, honest, and healthy than being able to embrace the entire emotional spectrum of the very human condition of love and loss.

Bio

Jessamyn Shams-Lau was previously co-CEO of the Peery Foundation, where she implements and advocates for grantee-centric philanthropy, aiming to minimize the power dynamic inherent to grant-making. She is creator of Do Good Better, a university curriculum for social change leaders, and co-wrote and illustrated the book Unicorns Unite: How Nonprofits and Foundations Can Build EPIC Partnerships with Jane Leu and Vu Le.