Glazba, emocije i okoliš: održivi alati za mentalno zdravlje budućih zdravstvenih djelatnika

Music, Emotions and the Environment: Sustainable Tools for Mental Well-being and Empathy in Future Healthcare Professionals

Short Description of the Activity

The workshop “Music, Emotions and the Environment: Sustainable Tools for Mental Well-being and Empathy in Future Healthcare Professionals” is designed to strengthen emotional literacy, raise awareness of mental health, and foster understanding of the connection between human well-being and the environment through the One Health approach.

Through mindfulness exercises, active listening to music, guided reflection, and the development of a personal stress-reduction plan, students explore how music, nature, and conscious breathing can support mental well-being and help prevent stress and burnout. Participants analyse their emotional responses to music and reflect on the importance of empathy, emotional regulation, and professional well-being in healthcare professions.

By strengthening their own emotional literacy, students also improve their ability to recognise, understand, and appropriately respond to the emotions of others, particularly patients. Through analysing emotional reactions to music and participating in guided reflection, they learn to identify signs of sadness, fear, stress, and anxiety, which contributes to the development of empathy and more effective patient communication. These competencies provide an important foundation for a professional, compassionate, and patient-centred approach to healthcare.

The workshop promotes sustainable lifestyle habits, responsible self-care, and the use of natural resources to support psychological and physical well-being.

Objectives of the Activity

• Develop emotional literacy and the ability to recognise and understand emotions.

• Strengthen the ability to identify, understand, and appropriately respond to the emotions of others, particularly patients.

• Raise awareness of the importance of mental health and well-being for personal and professional development.

• Introduce students to the One Health approach and the interconnection between human health and the environment.

• Encourage the use of music, nature, and mindfulness techniques as sustainable tools for stress management.

• Foster empathy and resilience among future healthcare professionals.

• Promote healthy and sustainable lifestyle habits.

Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being

The workshop promotes mental well-being, emotional resilience, and the prevention of stress and burnout through practical self-care strategies and emotional regulation techniques.

SDG 4 – Quality Education

The activities develop socio-emotional competencies, critical thinking, self-awareness, and lifelong skills that support both personal growth and professional development.

SDG 15 – Life on Land

Participants explore the benefits of green spaces, natural environments, and healing gardens for mental well-being, highlighting the importance of preserving and valuing natural ecosystems.

Target Group

Fourth-year nursing students at the School for Nurses Vrapče, Zagreb, Croatia.

Methods

• Mindfulness and breathing exercises

• Active listening to music:

o W. A. Mozart: Eine kleine Nachtmusik, Allegro

o F. Chopin: Nocturne in E minor

o L. van Beethoven: Moonlight Sonata, Presto agitato

• Individual reflection

• Pair discussions

• Guided group discussion

• Completion of an Emotional Map

• Development of a personal stress-management plan

Expected Learning Outcomes

By the end of the workshop, students will be able to:

• Recognise and name their own emotions.

• Explain the relationship between mental well-being and the environment.

• Understand the impact of music on emotional states and well-being.

• Apply simple stress-management and mindfulness techniques.

• Develop a personal Green Stress-Reduction Plan.

• Recognise the importance of sustainable habits for maintaining health and well-being.

• Identify patients’ emotional needs and understand how emotions influence behaviour and the experience of illness.

• Apply an empathetic approach when communicating with patients.

• Connect emotional self-awareness with the provision of higher-quality, patient-centred healthcare.

Programme Summary

During this 90-minute workshop, students participate in mindfulness breathing exercises, explore emotional responses to selected musical works by Mozart, Chopin, and Beethoven, and engage in guided discussions connecting musical experiences with mental well-being, professional stress, and the benefits of natural environments.

The final part of the workshop focuses on creating a personal Green Stress-Reduction Plan, which includes digital detox practices, breathing techniques, grounding exercises, time spent in nature, and the use of music as a tool for emotional regulation and relaxation.

The activity promotes sustainable development through care for mental well-being, responsible behaviour towards oneself and the environment, and the development of professional competencies essential for future healthcare professionals. Particular emphasis is placed on fostering empathy, emotional literacy, and the ability to recognise and understand patients’ emotions, thereby contributing to more compassionate, patient-centred, and sustainable healthcare practices.