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The natural environment and sustainability play an increasingly important role in social work as a discipline and profession. This is often described as the ecosocial paradigm. Even though the paradigm shares important ethical foundations with human rights–based social work, the connection between both is rarely examined in social work scholarship. This article addresses the gap by asking the following questions: How is the ecosocial paradigm linked to the human rights discourse in social work? What is the environmental dimension of human rights, and what implications does it have for social work? How can a human rights–based social work encompass the environmental dimension? In response, the article argues for the integration of new environmental perspectives into human rights–based social work. First, it shows that social work needs to refocus on collective human rights, such as the right to a healthy environment, recently recognized by the United Nations. Regarding the rights of children and youth, good examples of social work advocacy can already be found. Second, research knowledge and practice within the ecosocial paradigm are valuable resources for human rights–based social work, mainly regarding environmental justice and the principle of sustainability. Ultimately, it is only possible to strive for the realization of human rights, social change, and an inclusive and sustainable future if the natural environment is integrated as a social work concern.

Labour market and unemployment policies in particular are rarely connected to issues of environmental sustainability. In the present article, the link is examined by focusing on ecosocial innovations in four European countries – Finland, Germany, Belgium and Italy. These innovations are small-scale associations, cooperatives or organizations that create new integrative practices combining both social and environmental goals. By asking how their social practices are linked with labour market and unemployment policies, we explore the scope for new ecosocial policies. The results of this cross-national case study lead to three lessons to be learnt for a future ecosocial welfare state: at the sectoral level, organizational level and individual level. In summary, many valuable ideas, instruments and programmes towards sustainability already exist in the field, but they are not yet integrated in the current labour market and unemployment policies.

Die Takotsubo-Kardiomyopathie basiert auf einer akut einsetzenden, transienten linksventrikularen Dysfunktion unterschiedlichen Ausmases. Die daraus resultierende Akutsymptomatik, aber auch die elektrokardiographischen Veranderungen sowie der Anstieg myokardialer Biomarker ahneln haufig dem Verlauf eines akuten Myokardinfarkts. Mittels Koronarangiographie kann jedoch ein Gefasverschluss nicht nachgewiesen werden. Es gibt bislang nur wenige Daten uber diese Erkrankung, die uberwiegend aus Fallbeschreibungen und deren Metaanalysen stammen. Die Pathophysiologie ist noch nicht eindeutig geklart. Berichtet wird uber den Fall einer 56-jahrigen Patientin mit typischer Manifestation einer hochsymptomatischen Takotsubo-Kardiomyopathie. Die Verdachtsdiagnose wurde im Rahmen einer Linksherzkatheteruntersuchung unmittelbar nach der Notfallaufnahme gestellt. Bestatigt wurde die Takotsubo-Kardiomyopathie mittels bildgebender Verfahren (Kardio-MRT, Echokardiographie) im Verlauf. Nach Einleitung einer konservativen Therapie konnte die Patientin nach kompletter Wiederherstellung der Herzmuskelfunktion am 12. Tag beschwerdefrei entlassen werden. Die Takotsubo-Kardiomyopathie stellt eine seltene, aber klinisch relevante Differentialdiagnose zum akuten Myokardinfarkt dar, an die vor allem gedacht werden sollte, wenn sich koronarangiographisch kein Verschluss eines Herzkranzgefases zeigt. Trotz insgesamt guter Prognose unter konservativer Therapie sind ernste Komplikationen im Verlauf in bis zu 17,7% aller Falle beschrieben worden, so dass eine intensivmedizinische Versorgung notwendig ist.