Non-violent Communication and Narrative Medicine for Promoting Sustainable Health

Beschreibung

The Covid-19 pandemic and current international circumstances have left many individuals feeling vulnerable, both economically and psychologically. At the same time, pressure is put on healthcare systems, particularly in Europe, resulting in doctor shortages, heavy workloads, and low salaries for healthcare workers. Patients are experiencing longer waiting lists, shorter visiting times, and emergency rooms that underestimate patients' clinical problems. As a result, episodes of self-violence and violence resulting from different causes are happening more frequently, also in hospitals.

However, there is hope, and it starts with sharing our needs, thoughts, and feelings. This is where narrative medicine comes into play, as it helps bring stories to light, listen, ask open questions, analyze the spoken words, metaphors, and timing of communication, and promote a non-violent narrative. The key is to transition from violent to non-violent narratives and the consideration of relationship as a fundamental part of the therapeutic process, deserving an in-depth educational program. This is even more true if one considers that the ecosystem of health, together with the inclusion of diversity and the promotion of peace, is one of the main pillars of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

This book aims to inspire care for one another through the narratives of people with disabilities, patients, nurses, doctors, students, carers, and individuals who meet otherness and resolve conflicts.

The Covid-19 pandemic and current international circumstances have left many individuals feeling vulnerable, both economically and psychologically. At the same time, pressure is put on healthcare systems, particularly in Europe, resulting in doctor shortages, heavy workloads, and low salaries for healthcare workers. Patients are experiencing longer waiting lists, shorter visiting times, and emergency rooms that underestimate patients' clinical problems. As a result, episodes of self-violence and violence resulting from different causes are happening more frequently, also in hospitals.

However, there is hope, and it starts with sharing our needs, thoughts, and feelings. This is where narrative medicine comes into play, as it helps bring stories to light, listen, ask open questions, analyze the spoken words, metaphors, and timing of communication, and promote a non-violent narrative. The key is to transition from violent to non-violent narratives and the consideration of relationship as a fundamental part of the therapeutic process, deserving an in-depth educational program. This is even more true if one considers that the ecosystem of health, together with the inclusion of diversity and the promotion of peace, is one of the main pillars of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

This book aims to inspire care for one another through the narratives of people with disabilities, patients, nurses, doctors, students, carers, and individuals who meet otherness and resolve conflicts.

Autor*in

Maria Giulia Marini

Themen in »Non-violent Communication and Narrative Medicine for Promoting Sustainable Health«

sustainable developmental goals neuroscience coping factors SDG 3 wellbeing disability psychology of grief needs of young and old population

Stimmen zu »Non-violent Communication and Narrative Medicine for Promoting Sustainable Health«

“This is a questioning  and challenging book. Drawing on numerous academic disciplines to understand the violence within our culture, it reveals much of the violence within our healthcare systems, particularly those based exclusively on a so-called evidence base dictated by numbers. It extols the virtues of narrative based medicine centred on its capacity to reflect the variety of human ways of knowing. Each chapter ends helpfully with practice based exercises. This is a fascinating book to read because of the quantity of stories and wisdom from literature and poetry.  I recommend it warmly not only to medical practitioners but also to all who seek to replace the repetitive warfare and violence based systems of our culture with reconciliation, compassion, empathy and understanding.” (Dr. June Boyce-Tillman, MBE, PhD, MA, LRAM, FRSA, FHEA, Professor Emerita of Applied Music, University of Winchester, Extraordinary Professor, North-West University, South Africa)

“Maria Giulia Marini in her text explains that one way to eliminate violence is to communicate to the other person that they are free to be themselves, releasing emotions and feelings without constraints. We must offer others the tools to cut the chains of discomfort. Narrative Medicine is a potential tool, a message of freedom to those oppressed by suffering, pain, depression, and despair. It asks from those who suffer to become protagonists on their own theatre, inviting everyone to be who and where they want to be. This is a very complex book, very heterogeneous and presented in such a mosaic of topics. The pages highlight the concept that everyone can stop feeling to be dominated  leaving room for a world full of beauty, hope and joy.” (Prof. Emilio Bombardieri, Scientific Director, Humanitas Gavazzeni, Bergamo, Italy)

“Maria Giulia Marini’s book addresses crucial questions about healthcare. While we need doctors and medications, we are more than just bodies. Each language has terms for both "body" and concepts like "spirit" or "soul." From personal experience, my husband, who has dementia, requires caregivers who can provide not just medication but also meaningful communication. Marini emphasizes that during vulnerable times, effective communication is essential. Her insights from cross-linguistic semantics reveal that healthcare professionals must connect with those suffering from dementia, depression, or language barriers, including immigrants. Often, this connection can only be achieved through "minimal language," a vital tool for health professionals. I commend Maria Giulia Marini for recognizing this need and advocating for enhanced communication in healthcare.” (Anna Wierzbicka, Professor Emerita of Linguistics, School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics, The Australian National University, Canberra. AU)

“Nonviolent Communication and Narrative Medicine for Health and Well-being is a remarkable work that weaves together health humanities, global health, literature, moral psychology, and medicine. Marini’s extraordinary command of a wide breadth of topics gives rise to some deep insights on the nature of violence and how listening to one another’s narratives can provide a way to a better world. It is not only a work that wonderfully demonstrates the instrumental values of the humanities in epidemiology and clinical medicine, it is also a powerful reminder of the intrinsic importance of kindness and compassion. Marini manages to offer compelling analyses of communication in addition to inspiring us to be better people. It is a transformative work that readers will revisit again and again.” (Dien Ho, Director of the Center for Health Humanities, Massachusetts College of  Pharmacy and Health Care, Boston) 

“This is a powerful book, which places narrative medicine at the centre of answers to the increasing violence that pervades society. By focussing on non-violent communication Maria Giulia Marini opens the door to the human qualities that challenge violence. She shows us how to transition sensitively from violent to peaceful narrative. The book is a must-read and a tour de force for the times we live in.” (Dr. Muiris Houston Medical Journalist, The Irish Times)

“In her latest book on health and well-being, Maria Giulia Marini weaves together two different threads from contemporary thinking: non-violent communication and narrative medicine. Intertwining these two is entirely original on her part and an act of creative imagination, but she makes it appear both necessary and inevitable. Drawing on her deep knowledge of literature, philosophy and health care, she shows readers persuasively how you cannot enhance well-being without paying attention to stories, and you cannot attend to stories without curiosity, empathy and clarity about needs and wishes. Every health care professional will benefit from its extensive scholarship and deep humanity.” (Dr. John Launer, Honorary Lifetime Consultant at the Tavistock Clinic, London and Columnist for the British Medical Journal)

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