What is the role of social awareness in mental health communications?

Social awareness is the ability to recognize and understand the emotions, thoughts, and perspectives of others. The concept is often reflected in how mental health professionals approach caring and communicating with patients in person or digitally. In both these cases, providers must recognize the patient’s emotions and provide consistent and empathetic care. 

Understanding the concept of social awareness in healthcare

A study published in the Current Directions in Psychological Science provides a basis for the concept of social awareness, “It has been suggested that our complex social awareness makes us unique in our thinking. But it is likely that a uniquely human ability did not come from nowhere and that it has its foundations in brain systems that humans share with other social animals, especially nonhuman primates.”

A high degree of social awareness is one of the primary skills required of healthcare professionals to interpret nonverbal cues and adapt approaches to meet the emotional needs of patients. For example, a doctor or nurse displaying social awareness would notice when a patient is anxious about a procedure and take the time to offer reassurance or explain the process in simpler terms. 

A lack of awareness often exacerbates issues faced by patients. Some patients may feel nervous about expressing themselves to doctors, and if doctors don’t have social awareness, this problem could be worsened. 

Related: Ensuring inclusion in demographic email marketing

How social awareness plays a role in mental health communications

Social awareness is necessary to tailor care to the specific needs of patients. The degree of awareness that allows these professionals to tailor their treatment approach is also a tool that allows patients to feel understood and seen in their most vulnerable states. 

As the mental health field requires the ability to treat patients with widely varying needs, using social awareness correctly to express empathy eases this vulnerability, opening the way for trust-based interactions. 

How to use HIPAA compliant email as a tool for social inclusivity in healthcare 

When diverse teams work with patients from various backgrounds, HIPAA compliant email can be used in the following ways: 

• Email campaigns can be used to share the best practices for engaging with culturally diverse communities with specialized materials that also address local cultural needs and challenges. 
• Peer-to-peer support networks can also be set up by management to combat the challenge of physician burnout. The expectation that providers engage each patient with empathy and care while balancing educational content to improve social awareness and inclusivity can be a heavy burden that increases the chances of burnout. 
• Employee recognition programs are useful ways of improving provider morale by reinforcing positive behaviors. 
• Bias detection and reporting systems ensure there is a sense of accountability for healthcare providers engaging in discriminatory behaviors. HIPAA compliant email is a method of keeping these reports confidential and secure. 

Related: Top 12 HIPAA compliant email services

FAQs

Who sets the ethical guidelines for medical professionals?

It is set by professional medical organizations and regulatory bodies including: 

• American medical association
• Medical licensing boards and regulatory bodies like the Federation of State Medical Boards
• Specialty organizations like the American College of Surgeons 

What divides ethical guidelines from definitive regulatory consequences?

Ethical guidelines are typically advisory and aim to direct behavior based on moral principles like integrity and compassion. Violations of these guidelines can lead to disciplinary action in professional bodies. Regulatory consequences are tied to laws and regulations enforceable by legal means.