Mental Health: Creating Safe Spaces

by Judy Ryan

Mental health and the lack thereof are of primary concern today. The need for mental health providers and solutions are on the rise as supply fails to meet growing demand. What’s needed are scalable, trauma-informed human systems designed to help entire communities support the healing and wholeness of one another and to minimize future trauma based in developmental patterns that must be dismantled. Based on recent, in-depth research on trauma, including developmental trauma in homes and schools, the assumption should be that most people are more likely than not to have a sufficient history of trauma, the causes of which are significant levels of anxiety, depression, and debilitating stress.

In order to talk about mental health, it first helps to understand the root causes of mental illness. As Van Der Kolk states, “trauma is about a rupture of the safety of the people who are supposed to protect you and come to your help.” That means a root cause of mental illness is that in such a rupture (in which we are inadvertently and unconsciously swimming), the body experiences feeling and thinking, “I am inferior. I’m not safe.” This leads to struggles that reinforce old trauma and recreates new trauma in the here and now. The answer is not usually more medication, disengagement or distraction. The answer largely lies in our human systems and their evolution.

In his hierarchy of needs, Maslow states that one must have the most basic survival needs met to grow forward. Once physical needs are met, psychological safety is next in the lineup. Such as sense of safety exists when we perceive each feeling is accepted and respected in our personal and professional group dynamics, making risk-taking reasonable and innovating and co-creating an adventure. Psychological safety enables resiliency even when one is faced with frustration and negative conditions. Only then are problems solved without diminishing the stature of oneself or others. What are some of the key mindset and behavior shifts that create safe spaces in any aspect of community living?
1. We need to offset inferiority feelings by helping one another remember that we are social creatures and need a sense of healthy belonging and significance to feel empowered, lovable, connected, and contributing.

2. We need to develop individuation and social interest simultaneously. Individuation involves feeling seen, heard, supported, and validated within compassionate and curious relationships. Social interest means recognizing and being supported in using our personal power to intentionally cause positive consequences for all.

3. We need to learn and prioritize trustworthiness, recognizing when relationships have unresolved issues and how to overcome them by identifying, healing, and resolving neglect or violation of specific trust behaviors.

4. We need a new model of team that goes beyond individuals committed to achieving goals, to one in which each person does so while helping each other become wildly successful, a further extension of social interest.

5. We need to understand that there are stages for developing into true community. We must learn to move beyond playing it safe; we must learn to acknowledge what we have in common; and we must go beyond power struggles and attempts to fix, convert, heal, and change each other when we realize we have differences. Doing so will empty ourselves of fears, prejudices, and desires to change each other. In short, we must learn to be respectful and receptive, to offer recognition of differences with appreciation, and to disclose how we think and feel without an agenda to change others. Only then can we achieve true community, where it’s safe to be straightforward and honest, to seek excellence, and to follow through on agreements. This is when true community and exponentially high productivity occur.

Creating conditions and conversations that result in psychological safety, trauma-informed practices, and equity and inclusion is not only possible, but crucial to the success of meeting your every goal or objective, including joy and fulfillment for yourself and those you lead. If you and your people are experiencing stress, disengagement and struggle, these are clear signs that you need to create safe spaces. If you’re ready, we’re here to help!

Judy Ryan (judy@LifeworkSystems.com), human systems specialist, is owner of LifeWork Systems. Join her in her mission to create a world in which all people love their lives. She can also be reached at 314-239-4727.
People hire LifeWork Systems because we help businesses become agile and manage their priority system: their human system. I hope this article helps you make sense of what’s most crucial to your evolving organization!