Supporting young people to open up and speak about their own mental health experiences can have its challenges.
It is very important to be aware of effective methods to help encourage these conversations, both individually and in a group, while keeping in mind that each young person’s experience with mental health difficulties will be unique. A person-centred approach is vital.
In our ‘read more’ section we have offered some Do’s and Don’ts for how to engage a young person in discussions around mental health. These are broken down into 4 main categories; creating a safe environment, how to start the conversation, remaining calm no matter what they disclose, and some tips around active listening.
3 top tips!
- Generating conversations around mental health and wellbeing in the classroom will help normalise the topics, making it easier for students to open up.
- Take individual differences into account when beginning these conversations, adapting your language and the environment accordingly.
- Acknowledge what the young person is saying, using positive words of affirmation to encourage them to open up more.
