You have influence in every space where you exist – your classrooms, your organizations, your home – and you can leverage your agency to nudge that environment to be more supportive of mental health.
Provide structure and routine
- Provide a roadmap toward collective goals. Make space for people to step away from activities and return with a full understanding of what happens during their absence.
- Give clear details on behavior expectations, policies, and assignments.
- Simplify work by using a minimal number of technological tools or complexities.
- Create regular routines for task completion.
Be flexible and understanding.
- Build flexibility into the structure itself. Plan remote options in advance so people can reengage if they need to step away for a period of time.
- Set expectations for open communication about what happens when someone cannot complete tasks or focus.
- Be aware of and discuss larger events that may impact the community’s mental health as a whole. Plan ahead for flexibility and lighter loads during times that you anticipate being challenging.
Maintain open communication.
- Host individual or small group conversations.
- Create opportunities for individualized interactions.
- Communicate in a welcoming, compassionate tone.
- Maintain consistent communication.
- Help people find the spaces to check in with each other.
Create a safe atmosphere.
- Remember that some may not feel safe speaking openly due to persistent inequities, previous experiences, or fears of repercussions.
- Set a tone of inclusion and respect.
- Create opportunities for members to engage with and get to know each other.
- Give frequent feedback and offer opportunities for improvement.
- Design your space to be as inclusive as possible.
Take time for self-care.
- The demands of campus combined with all the factors happening in the broader community and world can feel overwhelming at times. Take time for self-care to maintain your own wellness.
- Focus on healthy habits.
- Support and engage with your group and encourage them to have healthy habits.
- Share ideas about how to support your community.
Advocate for systemic shifts that prioritize well-being.
As you work to create a healthier ecosystem in your spaces, consider what barriers may be faced. Look for opportunities to advocate for removing those systemic barriers, by joining an advocacy organization or otherwise.