[TT 040] biomimicry brainstorm, home identity, trauma-informed care, friendship bench, coiled animals
Hello again,
This week I had an epic trip to Epic, the US's largest electronic medical record company. A handful of classmates and I got to meet with senior executives and tour the unparalleled Epic campus. Also got to watch the jaw-dropping Quinteto Astor Piazzolla concert at Bing Hall. Amazing musicianship and stage presence in my favorite concert hall in the US.
Professionally, I started to consider what work I may pursue after university and it's about as clear as mud. Or maybe I just need to run away to a circus island.
With that, let's tightrope walk into this week's Thriving Thursday
On the brilliance of biomimicry brainstorms
In my BioDesign course (entrepreneurship in medical settings), during the section on brainstorming new ideas the speaker pointed us to Ask Nature - a collection of systems and strategies curated from non-human nature.
For example, here is their collection on cooperation to maintain a community.
As I've learned, brainstorming is a relatively well-defined and potent art form. IDEO, the famous design firm, has great resources teaching how to brainstorm effectively.
Looking to nature is an example of the "analogous" brainstorm technique - just one of twelve brainstorm methods that IDEO suggests. Having done a few constrained brainstorms here, I appreciate that (when done well) brainstorms can bring incredible creativity and original thought to a problem.
On recovering identity and home after climate disaster
Back in TT 036 (forgive the gaff on subject line update) and TT 035 I wrote about climate anxiety and eco-distress. One recent learning is that it can take up to 4 or more years to fully recover housing and other core infrastructure - that's a long time to live without a sense of home.
After interviewing wildfire survivors, community caretakers, and psychiatrists, we've heard time and again that telling their story and feeling part of a larger community is important for healing and integration. One of our course advisors shared The Response, a podcast all about disaster relief responses around the world. Worthwhile for anyone interested in this domain.
On the importance of trauma-informed healthcare
From three distinct Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) studies (Original with n =9.5k, conceptual interdisciplinary framework, Philadelphia Urban study), we know that trauma causes downstream complications for physical and mental health. Most important to the US healthcare system, these complications are expensive and preventable with thoughtful trauma-informed care.
This Center for Healthcare Strategies trauma-informed care white paper is a really good primer and set of recommendations. One quote that stood out to me:
> Trauma-informed approaches to care shift the focus from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?”
Also worth noting is the common definition of trauma from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA):
> “Individual trauma results from an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life-threatening and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being.”
This is an important and thoughtful approach to unlock more (and more cost-effective) healing for more people.
On the brilliant simplicity of a friendship bench
A young man's unexpected suicide sparked a Canadian movement. Sit on a yellow bench, have a conversation. That's it - Friendship Bench.
The origin story is very touching and what they've accomplished in 4 years is incredible.
Oh, and this website for global mental health innovators is quite inspiring.
On casting coiled animals
Korean artist Lee Sangsoo uses coiled stainless steel to create colorful animal and human sculptures. He refers to his work as "drawings in the air" and the use of negative space and color definitely upholds the idea of substantive sketches. Really beautiful work.
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Don't forget, this weekend is daylight savings! If you're in one of the foolish countries that still practices this killer, wasteful policy ...
Until next week,
~Henry