Mental Health | Grace Cherian, BA, MTS: Professional Writer and Mental Health Advocate

This post was written by my esteemed friend, Mette Keating, CEO of InDeVision. I first met Mette many years ago when I hired her to design an office and sanctuary in my home. Since then, she has soared to greater entrepreneurial heights. Mette is currently designing Mozilla’s new 17.000 sq ft. space in Toronto. Book a free session with Mette to find out how you can make your space work for you.

Can Neo-Feng Shui® improve your mental health? Absolutely!

What is Neo Feng Shui® (NFS)? Where was it developed and by whom?

NFS was developed in Denmark in 2000-2002 by Sagar Constantin and has since proven itself as an incredibly strong tool to create balance within a space and support the people within.

In the early 2000s, NFS was mostly used in private residences. But institutions such as schools and day care centres followed quickly.

Businesses then started embracing NFS. They discovered it decreases stress and absenteeism but increases productivity which directly influences the bottom line. Not to mention the noticeable and positive impact on mood and the collaborative atmosphere in the workplace.

More recently, the health sector such as doctor’s offices, hospitals, specialty clinics and institutions are using NFS to support the healing process of patients.

Different from traditional feng shui, NFS has taken the essence and basic principles from the old wisdom but removed the layers of religious beliefs, superstition, cultural influences, traditions, etc. resulting in a feng shui philosophy that’s best suited to the 21st century. It focuses on creating well-being, a feel-good environment that supports the people and function within a space. NFS offers significant tools and depth that make it powerful, useful and yet simple, clear and precise.

One of these tools is ‘The Three Levels.’ All colour, materials and shapes that are used in creating balance in a space are divided into three levels and they influence you on the mental, emotional and physical planes. Here are some examples:

Patient A is sitting waiting for an appointment. The waiting room influences how comfortable and calm he feels before seeing the doctor. The pictures on the wall and the layout of the space all influence him.
Patient B is lying on a bed in a hospital room. The colour on the walls, the motif in the pictures, the patterns on the furniture and carpets in the room can affect the mental state of the patient by comforting her or causing unnecessary stress and worry. The physical environment can form part of the mental, emotional and physical rehabilitation of the patient.

Institutions that have children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, for example, can design a space to support the children by implementing a physical environment that can emphasize grounding, comfort and trust. They can limit busy colours, flickering fluorescent lighting and distractive layout. They can also reduce both visual and actual noise.

The diagram here illustrates simply:

how the colour brown is divided into the three levels;
how each level affects you;
and the resulting reaction.

This same division can be applied to all colours.

Have you felt out of sorts in certain environments but right at home in others? Now that you know a little about NFS, can you put a finger on why you feel this way? I’d like to hear about it.

One in five Canadians suffer from mental illness. It attacks people of all ages, educational and income levels, and cultures. Unfortunately, most of us won’t seek treatment. Why?

It’s very difficult to talk about mental illness. It carries a stigma that leads to discrimination. We’re afraid we’ll lose friendships and feel isolated. This leads to unnecessary suffering and death. Stigma is also one of the biggest barriers to seeking treatment worldwide.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. Talking about mental illness can:

take the mystery out of it
strengthen friendships
help with recovery
break down stereotypes
take the taboo out of something that affects us all

Bell is launching its second annual Bell Let’s Talk Day on February 8, 2012.

Myth or fact?
Challenging the myths about mental illness can be a good way to get us thinking and talking…

Myth: People with mental illness can’t work.
Fact: Chances are we probably work with someone who struggles with mental illness.

Myth: Mental health problems are very rare.
Fact: Mental health problems affect one in five people.

Myth: People with mental illness never recover.
Fact: People with mental illness can and do recover.

Myth: People with mental health problems are different from normal people.
Fact: There is no measurable standard for who is ‘normal.’

Myth: After experiencing a mental health problem, people are weaker.
Fact: Many people who go through mental health problems actually feel stronger.

Myth: People with mental illnesses are violent and unpredictable.
Fact: People with mental illness are more likely to become victims of violence.

Myth: It’s best to leave people alone if they develop a mental health problem.
Fact: Most people with mental health problems want to keep in touch with friends, family and colleagues. This can be a great help in their recovery.

Myth: I don’t know anyone with a mental illness.
Fact: Someone we know or love has experienced a mental illness or struggles with it.

Myth: People aren’t discriminated against because of mental health problems.
Fact: Nine out of ten people with mental health problems experience stigma and discrimination.

Contact me for all your professional writing and mental health advocacy needs.

Sources:
http://time-to-change.org.uk/take-action/talk-about-mental-health
http://camimh.ca/2012/01/the-second-annual-bell-lets-talk-day-is-coming-up-on-wednesday-february-8-2012/#more-339
http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/905865/bell-let-s-talk-2012-join-the-conversation-to-support-canadian-mental-health