Prevention lies at the heart of spa. Our ethos is to support people in developing habits that ensure they remain in the best health possible. Yet to date, mental health has been largely left out of the equation. The opportunity is there to bring it alongside and to become truly holistic
By Liz Terry | Published in Spa Business 2017 issue 1
Mental health needs as much attention as other parts of our wellbeing / shutterstock/Osadchaya Olga
The World Health Organisation estimates that more than 25 per cent of people around the world will suffer from some kind of mental health crisis or challenge in their lifetime, with more women than men affected.
As the spa industry seeks to grow both its reach and scope, the development of services relating to mental health – from both a preventative and a curative point of view – is an opportunity both to be useful and to broaden services.
The spa industry has borrowed from a wide range of disciplines on its journey so far – ancient healing traditions, the beauty market, the fitness industry, the wellness sector and many areas of specialism within allopathic, alternative and complementary medicine.
This rich mix is one of the things that gives the industry its vibrancy. We are a melting pot of skills and cultures and this leaves us well placed to extend our reach into the sphere of mental health, so long as we’re mindful of the challenges and of our limitations.
Prevention is the area we can move on most immediately: helping people to develop strategies and lifestyle habits that enable them to maintain good mental health is already within the remit of many spas.
We must be kind, frank and straightforward in how we present these services, so people learn that their mental health is as deserving of attention as all other parts of their wellbeing. We can be part of the solution when it comes to the shame and fear which many feel when confronting these challenges, especially those who find it difficult to seek help.
As we add wellness into the business mix, the opportunities to deepen this work will increase and developing mental health services for people already suffering from challenges will take things to another level. This is still within the remit of medical spas and there can be few places more able to create healing environments.
The proviso must always be that support is given by qualified people who guarantee the safety of the customer, while guarding the professional credibility of the spa operator and meeting the terms of their insurances.
The industry has begun to realise that people come through the door with all sorts of issues and just as the wonderful Wellness for Cancer initiative is making spa accessible for those battling with that challenge, so we can start to offer this same level of support for mental health.
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2017 issue 1
Interview: Jeremy McCarthy
Mandarin Oriental’s group director
of spa and wellness discusses mental
wellness, spas and technology
Promotional feature: Beautyworld Middle East
Set to take place May 14-16, 2017 in Dubai, Beautyworld Middle East is billed as “three days to rediscover wellness and shake up the industry.”
Promotional feature: ESPA
ESPA has been a leader in the field of therapeutic skincare and luxury spa design and management for 25 years. Founder Susan Harmsworth explains how the company’s recent brand evolution will make ESPA even more relevant to the future of wellness
Promotional feature: Riceforce
Rice Force is set to make further inroads into the spa market in 2017 with the
launch of its new aromatic oils and treatment protocol
Promotional feature: Oakworks
Oakworks’ new Masters’ Collection range, which will consist of over 15 models by the end of 2017, has been designed to offer spa operators the ultimate in modern styling, with solutions and functionality that address each spa’s practical needs
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally
opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its
next phase. [more...]
Prevention lies at the heart of spa. Our ethos is to support people in developing habits that ensure they remain in the best health possible. Yet to date, mental health has been largely left out of the equation. The opportunity is there to bring it alongside and to become truly holistic
By Liz Terry | Published in Spa Business 2017 issue 1
Mental health needs as much attention as other parts of our wellbeing / shutterstock/Osadchaya Olga
The World Health Organisation estimates that more than 25 per cent of people around the world will suffer from some kind of mental health crisis or challenge in their lifetime, with more women than men affected.
As the spa industry seeks to grow both its reach and scope, the development of services relating to mental health – from both a preventative and a curative point of view – is an opportunity both to be useful and to broaden services.
The spa industry has borrowed from a wide range of disciplines on its journey so far – ancient healing traditions, the beauty market, the fitness industry, the wellness sector and many areas of specialism within allopathic, alternative and complementary medicine.
This rich mix is one of the things that gives the industry its vibrancy. We are a melting pot of skills and cultures and this leaves us well placed to extend our reach into the sphere of mental health, so long as we’re mindful of the challenges and of our limitations.
Prevention is the area we can move on most immediately: helping people to develop strategies and lifestyle habits that enable them to maintain good mental health is already within the remit of many spas.
We must be kind, frank and straightforward in how we present these services, so people learn that their mental health is as deserving of attention as all other parts of their wellbeing. We can be part of the solution when it comes to the shame and fear which many feel when confronting these challenges, especially those who find it difficult to seek help.
As we add wellness into the business mix, the opportunities to deepen this work will increase and developing mental health services for people already suffering from challenges will take things to another level. This is still within the remit of medical spas and there can be few places more able to create healing environments.
The proviso must always be that support is given by qualified people who guarantee the safety of the customer, while guarding the professional credibility of the spa operator and meeting the terms of their insurances.
The industry has begun to realise that people come through the door with all sorts of issues and just as the wonderful Wellness for Cancer initiative is making spa accessible for those battling with that challenge, so we can start to offer this same level of support for mental health.
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2017 issue 1
Interview: Jeremy McCarthy
Mandarin Oriental’s group director
of spa and wellness discusses mental
wellness, spas and technology
Promotional feature: Beautyworld Middle East
Set to take place May 14-16, 2017 in Dubai, Beautyworld Middle East is billed as “three days to rediscover wellness and shake up the industry.”
Promotional feature: ESPA
ESPA has been a leader in the field of therapeutic skincare and luxury spa design and management for 25 years. Founder Susan Harmsworth explains how the company’s recent brand evolution will make ESPA even more relevant to the future of wellness
Promotional feature: Riceforce
Rice Force is set to make further inroads into the spa market in 2017 with the
launch of its new aromatic oils and treatment protocol
Promotional feature: Oakworks
Oakworks’ new Masters’ Collection range, which will consist of over 15 models by the end of 2017, has been designed to offer spa operators the ultimate in modern styling, with solutions and functionality that address each spa’s practical needs
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its
recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’
planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–
Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism inv
Shedd Aquarium has opened the Immersion Theater developed in partnership with SimEx-
Iwerks, as part of a wider strategy to enhance the guest experience and create additional
revenue opportunities.
The UK government has announced a temporary reduction in VAT on visitor attractions and
children’s meals as part of a summer cost-of-living support package designed to stimulate the
visitor economy and encourage family days out.
As designer Yinka Ilori prepares for his first solo gallery show in London, he speaks exclusively
to CLADmag about his mission to spread joy, the power of play, and his bold approach to using
colour (including the colours you won’t see in his work).
The government of Thailand is exploring plans for a THB300bn (£6.3bn, US$8.3bn)
entertainment complex in the country’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), with officials
proposing a large-scale theme park and sports destination as part of a broader tourism and
economic development strategy.
+ More news
COMPANY PROFILES
Simworx Ltd The company was initially established
in 1997. Terry Monkton and Andrew
Roberts are the key stakeh [more...]
Polin Waterparks Polin was founded in Istanbul in 1976. Polin
has since grown into a leading company in
the waterpa [more...]
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally
opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its
next phase. [more...]
