A break from busy environments can help mental wellbeing
Quiet Rooms offer a place to unwind for a few minutes
More specifically , the pandemic has affected people ’ s anxiety levels . “ People are experiencing anxiety at a much-exacerbated scale than previously ,” she says . “ It ’ s estimated that people who have experienced poor mental health over the last few years is one in two . For adults , this means one in every two ( over the age of 25 ) and for teens and adolescents , this means two out of three ,” Moon reveals . Whilst anxiety levels are at an “ all-time high ” because of the uncertainty , Moon encourages us to realise that “ it ’ s normal to feel anxious , anxiety keeps us alive .”
“ Due to the increased anxiety levels , people ’ s confidence has also dropped ,” says Moon . How has this affected the return to in-person events now that the industry is bouncing back ?, I ask . “ Some people don ’ t want to attend events or mix with people at the moment ,” says Moon . Whilst this could be due to the virus , Moon states , “ it ’ s also because people want to place their attention in other places , such as family .” “ This is where people want that hybrid element ,” she says . On the other hand , “ it ’ s important for other people to mix because they might live alone , so they ’ ll want to be there in person .”
On the flip side , the pandemic has resulted in much greater awareness and understanding of mental health and wellbeing . “ There ’ s going to be different mental health and wellbeing needs emerging at events , where delegates are going to want to do things in different ways ,” says Moon . This is something event planners , producers , and managers are becoming aware of . “ It ’ s going to be a trend that we see . It ’ s going to become a norm , and less of a need ,” she adds .
Quiet Rooms
Although many people are returning to live events , it may cause some delegates to become overwhelmed or ‘ triggered ’. “ Examples of triggers include lighting , sound , crowded spaces , and lack of breaks throughout the day ,” explains Moon .
This is where EventWell ’ s new Quiet Rooms come in . “ Quiet Rooms are about offering a space for anybody to reset and renew ,” Moon says . In these rooms ,
eventprofs can find meditation stations , tablets with noise-cancelling headphones , books , magazines , water , coffee and even somewhere to lie down for a short power nap .
Each Quiet Room is also fitted with aromatherapy burning oils and lighting , which is designed around Autism . “ It ’ s all about immediately creating a sense of calm through all of the senses ,” explains Moon . “ We also have a qualified Mental Health First Aider on site if eventprofs want to talk to anyone ,” she adds . On average , Moon tells me , eventprofs typically spend 20 minutes in a Quiet Room , and even come back throughout the day . “ We see a lot of keynote speakers use our Quiet Rooms , simply to deal with nerves before going on stage as everybody gets them ,” she adds .
Whilst Quiet Rooms offer peace of mind to eventprofs , Moon reminds us : “ the idea of a Quiet Room is not about taking people away from an event . It ’ s about keeping people at an event , and giving them a space where they can go in just to sit and take a breather if they need to .” CN www . conference-news . co . uk