The Science and Soul of Mental Health

As science continues to unearth new insights into the inner workings of the human brain and body and wellness practices continue to gain traction in the mainstream, it may be time to consider ways to approach mental health in a new way. Combining emerging neuroscience data with ancient intuitive practices allows us to gain a deeper understanding of how the brain and nervous system can radically transform both mental health and overall quality of life.

In a special Art & Science of Health Promotion Conference preview webcast, “Claim Your Brain: The Science and Soul of Mental Health,” Jocelyn Pepe, M.Sc., spreads the word of holistic, neuroscience-backed approaches to mental health care.

A Soulful Practice

Pepe advocates for a whole-person, holistic approach to health, merging multiple disciplines and modalities to support both body and brain. A variety of lifestyle factors impact our brains, so when working with mental health, wellness practitioners must treat not only the thoughts and emotions of individuals, but the whole psychology and physiology.

Many holistic practices originate from ancient wisdom traditions, and now neuroscience is supporting them. Our bodies are intelligent systems—When we slow down, ask our body what it needs, and take time to listen, we get lots of valuable information. This soulful practice of tuning in and regulating the nervous system allows us to put ourselves in the right conditions for healing.

The science of awe works in a similar way, helping us see something bigger than ourselves and taking us out of the “micro” and into the “macro.” This process of noticing alleviates mental looping and puts individuals into a curiosity state vs. a fear or judgement state, tapping into neuroplasticity in the mind and body.

Three Pathways

Holistic approaches should also be trauma-informed, as about 64% of U.S. adults surveyed have reported at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE). Pepe points to Dr. Sarah McKay’s model of three pathways for a trauma-informed approach to care: top-down, bottom-up, and outside-in.

The bottom-up pathway recognizes that our nervous systems store our life experiences, dictating our behaviors, avoidances, and triggers. This phenomenon is explored in Bessel van de Kolk’s The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma. The top-down pathway reminds us that the thinking brain makes meaning of our memories. These are the stories we tell ourselves, and they aren’t always reliable when our memory plays tricks on us. The outside-in pathway recognizes that we do not exist in isolation. Whether we see it or not, we always have an impact on each other, and those impacts can be positive or negative. When we “claim our brain” and make an effort to take better care of ourselves, we can create a positive ripple effect for all those around us.

The Power of Neuroscience

What we do with our brain today will impact our brain tomorrow. This is why integrating neuroscience with health and wellness approaches is so important—It allows us to dig deeper into the “why” of behavior and how our brain and bodies react to stressors. Any integrated approach to leadership should include neuroscience, merging coaching with psychology and an understanding of biological reactions in order to support individuals working to reach their full potential.

Resources

Jocelyn Pepe, M.Sc., is the founder of TrU and author of Claim Your Brain: Your Practical Guide to TrU Mental Health. Attend her keynote session at the 36^th Annual Art & Science of Health Promotion Conference and visit truliving.ca to learn more.

Join us for the 36^th Annual Art & Science of Health Promotion Conference from March 25-27 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

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  Rebecca Plier

  PR/Communications Specialist

  IFEBP

  Favorite Foundation Product: The Talking Benefits podcast! What an engaging way to get timely benefits insights.

  Benefits-related Topics that Interest Her Most: Mental health, diversity, equity and inclusion, and workplace wellness.

  Personal Insight: When Rebecca isn’t diving headfirst into the world of benefits, she enjoys organizing her monthly book club and expanding her vinyl record collection.