OSM, support for essential professionals to deal with crisis situations and strong stress

admin on 12 February 2021

Program to help first responders and professionals of essential services (social, health sector, emergency…) manage crisis and stress situations, such as Covid-19. It features online tools, such as Podcasts recorded by specialists, and also in-person activities, based on the OSM method (Operational Stress Management).

The OSM method works the resilience to adversity, teamwork, stress management, and decision-making in crisis contexts. It addresses essential service professionals who work not only in situations of physical danger, but also of great psychological pressure, and who suffer from anxiety, depression, stress and, in extreme cases, risk of suicide. The goal of the OSM programme is that public servants are able to serve citizenship in a more effective and at the same time healthy way.

Characteristics of innovation

Bank of innovations, Cross-cutting intervention, Lab, Mental health, New service, Prediction and prevention, Proximity care

Location

New Jersey (USA)

Partners/Funders

NATAL (Israel Trauma and Resiliency Center) and UASI (Urban Areas Security Initiative)

Genesis

This type of program was created in 1998 in Israel by the NATAL organization to treat psychological trauma and stress situations, mainly from health professionals, in contexts of terrorism and armed conflict. UASI has subsequently implemented this strategy in the State of New Jersey, USA.

Level of implementation

In Israel, NATAL has 250 therapists and over 180 volunteers trained to provide this type of assistance according to the OSM methodology. In New Jersey, UASI has different teams in the large metropolitan areas of this state, the most populated in the United States.

Witnesses of professionals who have participated in the activities of the OSM program are very positive, stating that it has brought about a great change in their lives to better understand resilience and, at the same time, having tools to manage the stress and crises they face in their daily work.

Further information

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Therapeutic gardens for dementia or Alzheimer patients

admin on 22 February 2019

Foto: Mati 1909

In January 2016, the Fontenuovo residence opened a unit for Alzheimer’s patients that includes an innovative therapeutic garden designed by a multidisciplinary team that emphasizes the social value of the garden.

The design meets the requirements defined in the most recent scientific studies aimed at improving the health, behavior and quality of life of patients. Thus space is planned naturally, with inputs, outputs, paths, work and rest areas and well-defined points of reference that allow easy orientation and reduce the feeling of insecurity. The garden has five sensorial areas that contain more than thirty plant species and that allow the stimulation of the senses of the patients.

Other Italian institutions and companies are working on the design of these types of gardens. Recently, two companies, Mati 1909 and Generali Arredamenti, presented in Pistoia a garden prototype for patients with Alzheimer’s disease, also with the aforementioned general characteristics.