BUSY Health recognises the International Day for Tolerance, celebrated on the 16th of November each year. It was declared by UNESCO in 1995 following the Year of Tolerance that marked the 125th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi.
At BUSY Health we actively promote tolerance as a value and a skill to build. We believe every person, whatever their background may be, has the right to respect. Unfortunately, intolerance still exists and for some people this can lead to feelings of distress.
In its 1995 declaration, UNESCO writes “Tolerance is harmony in difference.” We are reminded that tolerance is neither self-indulgence or indifference, but a respect and appreciation of the variety of cultures, forms of expression and ways of being human that are all around us.
International Day for Tolerance is a time for people to learn about and reflect on the negative effects of intolerance and how injustice, oppression, racism, and unfair discrimination have a negative impact on society.
The theme of this day is to help people understand tolerance, human rights, and non-violence. It’s a day that workplaces can embrace the importance of tolerance, respect, and dialogue between different cultures, civilisations and people.
How can tolerance help us with distress?
Distress tolerance skills help us accept reality when we are experiencing times of distress and reality is hard to accept. An easy to remember strategy you can use is the STOP strategy:
 | Stop – take a moment so you stay in control. Take a moment to name the emotion you are feeling. |
 | Take a step back – get unstuck from what is going on. |
 | Observe – what is going on around you and inside you? |
 | Proceed mindfully – what act will allow for success? |
BUSY Health aims to offer a safe place to support people from all backgrounds, experiencing different challenges in their lives as they set about improving their mental health and feelings of wellbeing.
If you’d like to talk to a professional about gaining tools and support for distress you’ve been experiencing, please get in touch with BUSY Health on 1800 270 984
Want to learn more about tolerance or start building your tolerance skills? Here’s some links:
- About the UNESCO International Day for Tolerance: https://www.unesco.org/en/days/tolerance
- UNESCO Declaration of Principles on Tolerance: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000151830
- Distress Tolerance Tools: https://dbt.tools/emotional_regulation/stop.php
Article contributed by BUSY Health counsellor, Rebecca Stavely.