Sajila Nudrat | Health Editor
Featured Image: If a person does not understand an issue at hand, doing research to learn more is a vital aid. | Courtesy of Pexels
Some people can talk in front of a crowd of hundreds, or introduce themselves to strangers and start up a conversation like its no big deal. They can talk about anything and everything, except their mental health.
With initiatives like “Bell Let’s Talk” in place, people are actively encouraged to talk about their mental health—something easier said than done. So what makes it so hard for people to talk about mental health?
For starters, it’s difficult to begin the conversation. Initiatives like “Bell Let’s Talk” are intended to begin a dialog, but even with an entire community’s support, it’s not easy to open up about one’s vulnerabilities to a stranger. However, that doesn’t automatically mean the only alternative is to talk to someone one’s comfortable.
There’s always some hesitation when it comes to talking about something as difficult as mental health. This is due to a number of reasons, whether it be stigma, the fear of being judged, or simply the fear of being vulnerable. Whatever the reason may be, it’s not important. What’s important is that the conversation begins. Here are a few methods that may assist in moving the discussion forward.
It can be as simple as asking a person how their day has been. Whether a change in behaviour or mood has or has not been noticed, it doesn’t matter. Most likely a person won’t open up about their internal struggles on the first nudge—a certain amount of trust and support needs to be developed before that happens, which is a gradual process. What’s important, is that a safe environment where a person feels they can open up about their feelings is established.
According to Beyond Blue, an online Australian organization aimed to promote mental health wellbeing, the steps to creating positive discourse on mental health include: being an attentive listener, asking open ended questions to try and get an individual to talk more about their feelings as opposed to asking yes/no based questions, and acknowledging their feelings – never downplaying or minimizing their emotions. It’s also vital to be mindful of a person’s privacy and never force or coerce them into divulging information their not comfortable doing so. The goal of starting mental health discussion is to keep it going to provide support—not to drive a person away.
Mental Health America states on their website that if a person talks to someone about their mental health, they should listen without interruption, focus on the individual’s needs, and let them know that they have support. They should avoid being judgemental and take them seriously. No matter how big or small the issue may seem, no one is in position to judge another person’s journey.
