wellbeing in academia - inasp.info
TRANSCRIPT
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Wellbeing in Academia: Early Career Researchers in
East Africa
AuthorAID Webinar
Tuesday 2nd November 2021, 3pm to 4pm EAT
Dr. Wangari J. NgugiConsultant Psychologist
& Research MentorAuthorAID webinar
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Goals
Putting wellbeing plan into action
Stigma-informed challenges
Trauma-informed strategies
Sustainability
AuthorAID webinar
‘Cura personalis’
Wellbeing in academia
Holistic and integrated focus
Intersectionality
Contextualized African personhood
in academia
Afrofuturism in the academic mental
health space
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Quadrants of Mental Health
MAXIMUM MENTAL
HEALTH
MINIMAL MENTAL
HEALTH
MINIMAL MENTAL
ILLNESS
MAXIMUM MENTAL
ILLNESS
Individuals having a high sense of
subjective
well-being despite suffering from
mental illness
Ideal state of functioning where a
person
experiences happiness with no
mental illness
Lowest level of functioning where
a person feels languishing and has
significant mental illness
Subjective state of unhappiness in
the absence
of any noticeable mental health
disorder
Courtesy of PositivePsychology.com
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What is wellbeing?
STIGMA
ST
IGM
A
STIGMA
Maximum Mental
Wellbeing/Fitness
Minimum Mental
Wellbeing/Fitness
No absolutes The continuum
Apperson with a diagnosis
of a serious mental illness
but who copes well and
has positive mental health
A person with a diagnosis of a
serious mental illness and who
has poor mental health
A person with no mental
illness or disorder and
positive mental health
A person with no
diagnosed mental illness
or disorder but who has
poor mental health
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Contextualized academic wellbeingDecolonizing academia: African personhood
◦ Peer-to-peer mentorship vis-à-vis boss-to-junior supervisory relationships
◦ Afrofuturism and academic mental health: Technology
Centering the student/Early Career Researcher’s experience
https://www.tcc-africa.org/my-tcc-experience-joyce-wangari-ngugi/
◦ Friendship bench analogy: Study Smart & Virtual Monthly Cocktail programs under Eider Africa
https://youtu.be/A3PmRN9Fq10
Photo credits: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-55726054
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Utu-Ubuntu philosophy
Utu/Ubuntu “Humanity”: I am because you are, (fast alone but) further together, I am only well if you are well
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_philosophy
Radical and Afro-centric educational reforms
https://www.amazon.com/uMunthu-Ubuntu-Utu-Introduction-Philosophy/dp/613988456X
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The place of self-care for the student or researcher
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Mental Health continuum
IN CRISIS STRUGGLING UNSETTLED THRIVING EXCELLING
● Very anxious
● Very low mood
● Absenteeism
● Exhausted
● Sickness,
physical pains
● Isolation
● Very poor
sleep
● Weight loss
● Psychotic
phase
● Severe
alcohol/drug
abuse
● Anxious
● Depressed,
sad
● Low self-
esteem
● Tired
● Poor work
performance
● Presenteeism
● Poor
concentration
● Poor sleep
● Poor appetite
● Drug/alcohol
abuse
● Worried,
nervous
● Edgy
● Irritable
● Frustrated
● Self-doubting
● Sad, gloomy
● Trouble
sleeping
● Tired
● Distracted
● Decreased
Social activity
● Normal mood
● Some
variations
● Calm
● Functioning
well in job
● Sleeping well
● Focused
● Eating
normally
● Normal social
activity
● Cheerful, joyful
● Solution
focused
● Energetic
● High job
performance
● Prioritizing
sleep and
recovery
● Fully realizing
potential
● Actively
seeking
connections
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Holistic and optimal wellbeing
Source: Swarbrick, M. (2006). A Wellness Approach. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 29(4), 311–314.
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Holistic self-care plan
❏ Physical
❏ Psychological
❏ Emotional
❏ Spiritual
❏ Relationships
❏ Workplace
❏ Overall balance
❏ What might get in the way
❏ What negative strategies do you need
to avoid?
❏ It you implement your plan, how
might you feel?
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Challenges of wellbeing in context
⮚Discuss
⮚“Exam season” focus: Longer hours, stressed cramming, fast-approaching deadlines, burnout
⮚Balancing personal and professional life with minimal support
⮚Struggle with lifestyle changes amidst daily stress
⮚Perception of research as difficult in itself
⮚Add…
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Solutions for sustainable wellbeing for long-term research/academic development
⮚Discuss
⮚Make time for your favorite people
⮚Plan something you can look forward to
⮚Challenge yourself physically
⮚Do nothing
⮚Practice the 20-20-20 method to avoid digital eye strain: Look at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes or so to cut down on eyestrain and give yourself a quick break.
Source: https://rapidly.co/blog/self-care-for-accounting-and-tax-professionals/
Add more solutions…
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THANK YOU
Thank you to AuthorAID team.
Please email [email protected] or WhatsApp +254 717 736 524 for further engagement
www.wangari.africa