Dr. Vanessa Jaccoud explains how a healthy environment can improve the quality of life and mental health of individuals
Mental health care is not exclusive to people suffering from psychological or mental disorders and to maintain it one should always seek a better quality of life through self-care, healthy relationships, stimulating habits and support. In addition, taking care of mental health also contributes to physical health, as problems such as depression, anxiety and stress can be associated with low immunity, insomnia and other diseases. But did you know that the environment where a person lives, studies or works also affects mental health? The concept of mental health essentially refers to the ability to balance and manage emotions and, for this, it is necessary for the individual to live in a space (be it residential, educational or corporate) that brings him well-being, to be functional and not to let the daily stress take over. Over time, our body and mind feel the need to adapt to the environment we are in. What didn’t bother you before, or went unnoticed, can become an obstacle to a better life. Some things can disturb and affect people’s well-being, such as furniture, cleanliness, people, sounds, lighting, space, colors, smells, etc. According to Dr. Vanessa Jaccoud, “the most detrimental aspects to the mental health of space users are usually related to issues of proportion (ergonomic problems), insufficient incidence of natural lighting, presence of noise, inappropriate use of color and texture. For example, having little contact with natural light alters the production of certain hormones, which is crucial for changes in mood and sleep patterns, in addition to the development of various symptoms, which can lead to depression.”
It is important that the environment conveys a sense of security, is comfortable and provides enjoyment and happiness to the individuals who circulate in the environment. Unhealthy places have more disease. So the space itself should be healthy and wholesome enough for the physical and mental health of the people to be up to date. Therefore, nowadays, sustainability and the concept of healthy spaces have taken an important place alongside mental health care, using objects, colors and scents, vegetation and lighting, to bring sensory comfort, inclusion and a sense of warmth.
About Dr. Vanessa Jaccoud
Psycho-oncologist from FCMMG- Faculty of Medical Sciences of Minas Gerais; Title member of SBPO – Brazilian Society of Psycho-Oncology; Specialist in Psychosomatics from FCMSCSP-Faculty of Medical Sciences of Santa Casa de São Paulo; Director of ABMP-SP- Brazilian Association of Psychosomatic Medicine; Clinical psychologist; Certified member of WPATH – World Professional Association for Transgender Health; Certification in Advanced Excellence in Transgender Health from Harvard Medical School; Certification in Complex Trauma from Harvard Medical School; Certification in Psychological First Aid from Johns Hopkins University; Update in Neuropsychiatry from Albert Einstein-Instituto Israelita de Ensino e Pesquisa; Chronic Pain Certification from the University of Minnesota; Certified in Mind Body Medicine from Harvard Medical School; Update in Psychiatry 2022 from Harvard Medical School; Memory Enhancement Training from Harvard Medical School; Introduction to Clinical Neurology from the University of California-San Francisco; Update in Psychiatry from Mclean Hospital-Endorsed by the American Psychological Association. He also works in the fields of Psychoneuroendocrinoimmunology and Psychopharmacogenetics. Author of the brochure “Should we talk about transgenderism?” Lecturer on various topics in mental health, author of the book Transgenderity: A Case of Transcendence and Creator of the TRANquilaMENTE project.
