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Situational Awareness, Mindfulness and Combating Depression

Human Factors • What are ‘Human Factors’? • Human factors refer to the interaction between humans and their environment when undertaking a task • Factors relate to the individual, organisation, the task and the environment • Essentially, it involves the person, what they are being asked to do and where they are working • These factors can influence behaviour • Knowledge of these factors can help individuals establish their strengths and limitations

Human Factors Key Category • Individual • Job • Organisation Factors • • • Competence Skills (Technical/Non –Technical) Attitudes Personality Risk Perception • • • Type of task Workload Working Environment Design of displays Procedures • • • Culture Work patterns & fatigue Available resources Communication Leadership

Human Factors • What causes people to makes errors? • A loss of Situational Awareness • Decision Making • Distractions and Interruptions • Task Saturation and Fatigue • Stress and Communication • Organisation

Situational Awareness and Processing Abilities

Loss of Situational Awareness • There are 3 primary causes of Situational Awareness • Distraction • Focussed Attention • Task Saturation

Distractions & Interruptions • How can we minimise the opportunity for interruptions? • Check work • Complete a task prior to turning your attention • Behave assertively (both mentally and physically) • Use checklists, worksheets and ‘tabs’ • ‘Do Not Disturb’ tabards • Isolate yourself from the distraction • Tell family, friends or work colleagues that you are trying to complete a complex/stressful task • IF YOU ARE STILL DISTRACTED GO BACK 3 STEPS

Task Saturation • Saturation results when the brain takes in the maximum amount of stimulation that it can handle • However; the information keeps coming • When the brain gets completely saturated with task demands, it simply cannot process any more information

Situational Awareness Requires Focused Attention

Recognising Loss of Situational Awareness • The Signs • Potential Action • Improving Decisions • Inaccuracy • Admit the problem personally • Make decisions and learn from them • Mistakes • Tell someone • Learn from others • Deviation from task • Use all your sources of information to rebuild • Preparation • Fixation • Prioritise • Greater personal awareness • Confusion • Communicate • Do not be afraid of delegating where necessary • Failing to communicate • Teamwork • Take breaks

Circadian Rhythms and Mindfulness • Stress can be both positive and negative • Stress plays an important role in either stimulating or degrading our performance • Stressors – • Physical • Psychological • Noise • Exhaustion • Temperature • Fear of failure • Lighting • Pressure • Physical work • Frustration • Illness • Financial concerns • Family/relationship issues

Circadian Rhythms and Mindfulness • Circadian rhythm is a mix of personal sleeping habits and animal instinct • In scientific terms, circadian rhythm is the physical, mental and behavioral changes following your daily cycle, instinctually making you perform actions for your health

Circadian Rhythms and Mindfulness • Naturally Effective Periods (Periods of High Alertness) – • 1000 -1200 – Due to light exposure and hormones produced following breakfast, this is a peak processing period. Learning, engaging in work related tasks are far more productive during in this period. • 1430 -1700 – This period reflects when we undertake faster cognitive and physical responses. Physically our bodies are at their strength peak around 1700 (should you wish to exercise; this period will have the greatest effect on your body and the secretion of ‘happy hormones’) • Naturally Ineffective Periods (Drops in Body Temperature) – • 0600 – 0730 – As our melatonin secretion slows, we begin to wake. Rushing this process as our bodies naturally raise our temperatures can lead to slumps during what is usually considered a ‘peak output time’ in our bodies • 1200 – 1400 – Following lunch, this is the point in the day when we are least effective, naturally our bodies require sleep following a meal. We all have had that early afternoon slump following lunch. Therefore, where possible try to do simple tasks during this period, return phone calls, send simple emails etc… • 1800 – Onwards – As light reduces throughout the day our temperatures naturally begin to rise, this signals in our bodies that it is time to start to wind down.

Mindfulness • Understanding our bodies is key to combating stress • Learn how YOUR body works • Make a diary • Accept when you need a rest • Do dips in your psychological and physical abilities coincide with a natural hormone drop? • Mindfulness, is not just about illness • Strip things back to basics

Confidentiality • Confidentiality can be a complex issue in respect of mental health, professionals have to weigh up the right of the individual to have their personal information safeguarded and addressing the concerns of close people (family, friends & work colleagues) • Apart from the legal rules on confidentiality and the GDPR • There is a duty to colleagues to treat every circumstance as confidential • We are in a position of trust • We must never betray that trust without appropriate, legitimate reasons • Respect is built through confidentiality

Thank you for joining this week's webinar! If you have any questions or queries you can contact the team via: • https: //www. ltckent. co. uk/ • 0330 088 8495 • info@ltckent. co. uk