The power of connection at Holos&Lotus 🌟

On our path to personal well-being, we often focus on mental health care on an individual basis: we do our best to heal ourselves and grow internally. However, we must encourage more collective healing practices, as mental health is intrinsically linked to the well-being of those around us.

That's why the title of this initiative fits like a glove because “together we can strengthen everyone's mental health,” looking beyond our own horizons to turn our social groups into active support networks. Taking care of ourselves is always the first step, but promoting mental health in our environments is the next level of holistic well-being.

When we create these spaces of support and empathy, we are not only helping others on their journey, but also building an environment that will sustain us when we need it most. Strengthening collective mental health requires small, consistent daily actions, normalizing talking and expressing emotions freely.

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What can you do, no matter how small the action or gesture, to make someone around you feel heard?

The most powerful gesture we can make towards others is to be present, to listen attentively to those who speak to us without distractions of any kind. How many times have we wanted to unburden ourselves to someone, only to find them constantly checking their phone? Or they change the subject, putting themselves first... That's why it's important to sit down and really listen, without rushing and without the urge to give advice.

Validating emotions and feelings is essential to creating a space of trust and relief. We should avoid typical phrases such as “it's not that bad,” “so-and-so is in a worse situation than you and isn't complaining,” “it will pass,” “you make a big deal out of everything,” “I know how you feel,” among others. Understanding and empathy with others is essential.

What recommendations would you give to community members to strengthen their mental health?

To begin with, distance yourself from harmful people. Many people end up going to therapy because of the bad actions of others, who carry serious trauma and untreated psychological problems that contribute to affecting the mental health of those around them. This can happen in any setting, with the family being the most common: parents passing on their problems and insecurities to their children.

Another recommendation would be to designate moments in social groups for wellness breaks, genuinely sharing “how are you?” conversations, speaking sincerely, or contributing ideas to improve mental health. Doing group dynamics to integrate with others in a healthy way could be helpful in combating isolation.

Finally, setting “digital boundaries” is very important so that we do not become overwhelmed by pessimistic news, junk content, and “influencers” who incite hatred and disconnect us from ourselves. We must encourage ourselves to use our free time to connect more in person and with nature. It has been proven that screens are addictive and are killing our dopamine.

What does the phrase “Caring for others is caring for yourself” mean to you?

We are social beings by nature, and isolation makes us more prone to developing some form of dementia. Human contact is necessary for good mental health and maintaining social skills. It can be difficult for some of us who are more introverted and prefer quieter activities, but we must find a way.

Inevitably, we all need each other because it also helps us reduce our burden, manage our internal discomfort more efficiently, and improve our coexistence with others. Having a solid support network strengthens our bonds and activates more empathy in each of us, which will ensure that, if we need help, we can count on that network to truly support us.

That is why the phrase “caring for others is caring for ourselves” is so true, because mental health is communal, not an island. For example, when a person decides to end their life, there is a social responsibility involved because the risk factors are not limited to the family environment; they are rooted in a social, cultural, and economic context.

In Venezuela, statistics have been on the rise due to the terrible situation we have been experiencing for years, and one of the areas most affected is employment. It seems unbelievable, but there are no opportunities for professional growth except for those lucky enough to work virtually. The salaries offered seem like a bad joke, the atmosphere is often terrible, and there is an absurd fixation on age: they do not look for employees over 25 so they can pay them little and exploit them at will.

So, there are a lot of highly trained professionals with plenty of experience who are struggling to find something and never get called. It seems that you are already old when you reach 30, not to mention people who are around 45 and 50. These are supposed to be the ages of knowledge, full of expertise that should be a priority for high-level positions and teaching the next generations. The world is upside down.

Suicide is a social phenomenon because when a person feels isolated, excluded, or under enormous stress (as I mentioned before), the risk of taking their own life increases. As a society, we have a responsibility to mitigate these risk factors by taking care of each other, destigmatizing mental disorders and suicidal ideation so that more people who are going through a difficult situation feel free to share it.

More state-provided facilities and access to health services are needed to ensure real and affordable access to mental health care for everyone. Because when resources are unavailable or treatment is expensive, society is failing in its duty. Many lives could have been saved, and it is sad that more and more young people are making this terrible decision.

What is the most significant commitment you can make this week to actively contribute to making your places of interaction (family, work, neighborhood, etc.) more mentally healthy for everyone?

The most significant commitment we could make is to communicate with our loved ones, to take five minutes to share how we really feel. In my case, my network is quite small because I grew up in a very divided, chaotic, and dysfunctional family. The people I communicate with can be counted on one hand, and they are not my blood relatives. We always keep in touch and talk about how we feel without judgment or pretense.

Virtual communication in wellness spaces like this is another way we can vent and support each other. It has helped me to read many of the people who share their experiences in this way. Some do it with humor, and others create profound reflections through stories full of metaphors that leave incredible morals and life lessons. Together, we are the network that sustains us all! 🤝

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That's all for today's post for the Mental Health initiative created by Holos&Lotus. I look forward to reading your comments. Best wishes to the entire community 🤗.

En nuestro camino hacia el bienestar personal, con frecuencia nos enfocamos en el cuidado de la salud mental de manera individual: hacemos lo posible por sanarnos y por crecer internamente. Sin embargo, debemos fomentar el hacer más prácticas de sanación colectiva, pues la salud mental está intrínsecamente ligada al bienestar de quienes nos rodean.

Por eso el título de esta iniciativa quedó como anillo al dedo porque “juntos podemos fortalecer la salud mental de todos”, observando más allá de nuestro propio horizonte para convertir a nuestros grupos sociales en redes de apoyo activo 🙌. Cuidarnos a nosotros mismos siempre es el primer paso, pero promover la salud mental en nuestros entornos es el siguiente nivel de bienestar integral del ser.

Cuando creamos esos espacios de contención y empatía, no solo estamos ayudando a otros en su camino, sino que también construimos un ambiente que nos sostendrá cuando más lo necesitemos. Fortalecer la salud mental colectiva requiere de pequeñas y constantes acciones cotidianas, normalizando el hablar y expresar las emociones libremente.

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