Mental Wellbeing in Times of Crisis

Mental Wellbeing in Times of Crisis

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“Mental health is not just the absence of mental disorder. It is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.” (World Health Organization)

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These past two years haven’t been easy for any of us. It started with the global COVID-19 pandemic which brought multiple disruptions into our daily lives and had a devastating toll on the mental health. Many had challenges with developing a healthy routine under quarantine, and many experienced hardship related to housing, distance learning, finances and family/community contacts. More common mental issues  included fear from the virus and stress, anxiety, and fatigue due to the interruption to everyday life. In some cases the reduced opportunities for stress management triggered more complex and severe conditions, such as addictive behaviors and symptoms of depression or psychosis. 

And just as we have seen the pandemic subside, here comes another disaster, the Russia-Ukraine war, sending shockwaves all around the globe leading to widespread human physical and mental suffering, and further compounding feelings of fear and uncertainty. Every day the media delivers the horrors of the ongoing conflict.  The constant stream of devastating news and demoralizing information is causing us to become more drained, daunted, anxious, and depressed, causing a huge negative impact on our thinking, emotions and behavior. The stress continues to pile up, affecting our performance in various spheres of life.

What can we do to help ourselves during these highly uncertain times and simply keep our sanity? What steps are essential for reducing distress and sustain normal healthy behaviors? How can we keep up with the work routine and remain productive? Join us to learn from the expertise of our guest speaker, who will share his experiences and provide recommendations on the mental health habits to develop in the time of crisis. 

We are meeting on Thursday, March 31, 2022 at 17.00 CET in our virtual space on Zoom. 

Our guest: 

Klaas Jan de Vries (1962) is currently working as Brain & Mind Leadership Coach|Trainer. He joined Valk Leadership as partner in 2021. He has a background in European politics, with extensive experience as a trainer with the Eduardo Frei Foundation. Originally from the Netherlands, he lives in Wicklow, Ireland, where he is actively engaged in the community as musician and field hockey player and coach. 

Should you wish to take part in the upcoming discussion please fill in the registration form. 

The REGISTRATION DEADLINE is 31 March, 2022 (Thursday), 12:00PM

Zoom meeting code will be sent to the confirmed participants 3 hours before the start of the meeting. 

In case of questions, please do not hesitate to contact the responsible project manager Evgenia Jarabik at evgenia.jarabik@schuman-institute.eu. 

Looking forward to see you all in our chat room!

Evgenia Jarabik