Wellbeing support encompasses practices and programs that improve employees’ physical and mental wellbeing, such as occupational safety, ergonomic environments, sports programs, healthy lifestyle education and clinics.
Nurses’ wellbeing can be affected by various external and internal environmental factors, organizational structures and policies, and working conditions in general; all three can either bolster or diminish nurse well-being.
Social support
There are various kinds of social support available to us today. Some forms may be emotional in nature, such as listening when we vent about our problems and offering emotional assistance or just providing transportation, while other types may provide instrumental help like paying rent or providing transport to the doctor, while some form can even provide informational help through sharing helpful books or websites to overcome difficulties in life.
Researchers differentiate between perceived and enacted support, both of which are linked to health outcomes. However, one must make a distinction between quality of support received and its effect on wellbeing and physical health.
Societal support offers numerous advantages, yet not everyone benefits from it. Negative relationships may take their toll on mental health and can lead to unhealthy coping behaviors; those in healthy relationships tend to enjoy better emotional well-being and experience fewer stressful life events that affect them adversely.
Emotional support
Emotional support refers to any kind of help that involves listening and validating someone’s emotional distress, providing validation and encouragement – this could involve verbal expressions of empathy or physical gestures such as hugging or patting someone on the back. Emotional support is crucial because it gives individuals a sense of connection while helping them cope more easily during times of hardship.
If a friend is suffering from anxiety and depression, one way they can provide emotional support is by listening and asking what their needs are. Reassuring them of how normal their feelings are as well as emphasizing that seeking assistance shows strength.
Therapists provide emotional support services that enable clients to manage their emotions in healthy ways. Therapy services often use this type of support as part of an overall approach that enhances mental well-being by decreasing stress levels and increasing happiness; in turn this leads to improved physical health with reduced risks of disease.
Mental health support
Psychologists and mental health professionals frequently advise individuals to spend more time with friends and family, since these relationships provide numerous forms of beneficial support ranging from practical assistance (like being there when sick), emotional validation and shouldering emotional burdens. Furthermore, supportive relationships help manage daily stressors as well as improving overall well-being.
Apart from emotional and instrumental assistance, some forms of well-being support are tailored towards treating specific mental health conditions. Such therapies, known as cognitive-behavioral therapies, have proven themselves as successful at alleviating symptoms associated with various mental illness diagnoses.
Unfortunately, many individuals in need of help don’t seek it – often due to believing their symptoms don’t warrant one-on-one attention or fear and shame from stigmatisation or lack of access to appropriate mental health resources. But there are ways of breaking down these barriers and increasing accessibility.
Physical health support
Physical health refers to the state of being physically fit, including regular exercise, adequate sleep and nutrition. Being in good physical condition reduces risks of illness while making everyday tasks easier without feeling fatigued.
Physical health plays a crucial role in overall well-being and should be prioritized as such. Physical activity increases self-esteem while simultaneously mitigating feelings of anxiety and depression, making physical fitness essential to our wellbeing.
EHS leaders who prioritize physical health as one of their strategic imperatives are making an intelligent move toward operational readiness and safety culture. A healthy body helps support a calm mind, which in turn supports faster responses and higher workplace performance levels. Physical health should be part of an EHS success strategy alongside employee engagement and operational readiness.
