Why are safe spaces important?

Have you ever felt alone in a room full of people?

Did you feel uncomfortable sharing your ideas?

In these situations, it's easy to feel like you're being mistrusted, judged, or invisible. This can be physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausting.

Safe spaces can help combat these experiences.

Safe spaces are designed to make you feel valued, respected, and supported.

A safe space is any place free from:

• Discrimination

• Undue or unfair criticism

• Harassment

• Other emotional or physical harm

A safe space can be physical, virtual, or social:

• Classrooms

• A doctor's office

• Domestics violence shelters

• Places of worship

• Hair salons and barbershops

• Support groups and community meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous

• Embassies in foreign countries

• LGBTQ+ spaces

• Youth centers

• Your own home or a friend's place

• Your bedroom or family foom

• A public event

• An online forum or social media app

Safe spaces can benefit all people.

Safe spaces are one tool to help combat mental health issues.

Safe spaces give people an outlet so they can better focus at home, work, school, or anywhere public and private.

Photo by S. H. Gue on Unsplash

Think about the spaces where you spend your time with others.