Mental health conditions are not always visible. What a person may be going through is sometimes not readily apparent. We can do our part to help by keeping an open mind and approaching people with compassion and empathy.
Canadian Mental Health week is a national acknowledgement supported by the Canadian Mental Health Association of Canada. CMHA is a nationwide organization that promotes mental health and supports people recovering from mental illness.
#GetReal About How to Help is the theme this year, focusing in on the importance of empathy.
What does empathy look like? Some struggle to understanding how to provide emotional care to those in need. Not because they don’t want to but because they just don’t know what to do.
It might be easier than you’re making it. All you have to do is listen. You can start by practicing active listening. Put down your phone, your computer, your list of to dos, and just be present. It is really so important to listen well. When you actively listen, others feel valued and acknowledged. This builds trust and will increase your ability to empathize with them.
When you are talking to someone who is going through a tough time, it’s important to remember that you don’t always have to have the answers. Sometimes all people want is for someone to listen and be there for them.
Practicing empathy is simply about trying to understand someone else’s perspective. It doesn’t mean that you have to agree with them; it just means that you take the time to try and see things from their point of view. This can be a challenge if the other person’s ideas are very different from your own but we can be empathetic without excusing the person’s behaviour.
By practicing empathy and active listening, we can build better relationships with our friends, family members, coworkers, classmates, neighbors, or anyone else. You will find out more about each other and grow closer as a result.
Tips on how to be a good active listener:
- Although it can be difficult sometimes, practice listening without interrupting others when they are speaking. If the urge strikes, wait until they finish what they’re saying before responding.
- Try to deny the immediate reaction to share a story about yourself. Stay present and hold that thought a little longer. It’s great to tell a relatable story but wait until you have all the info. Decide later if it’s even necessary.
- Ask questions and repeat back what you think someone has said to clarify that you are understanding their point of view correctly. Listen, ask, don’t judge.
- Pay attention to body language as well as speech to see if a person is feeling uncomfortable or unhappy about something (a frown, crossed arms).
By creating an empathetic mindset you are also cultivating compassion for yourself. Humans are innately self-critical, but learning to be kind to yourself can have a significant impact on your capacity for compassion toward others. Treating yourself with kindness allows you to be more patient and understanding when difficult situations arise for those around you.
As always, seek professional help if you or anyone you care about is in crisis or could be suicidal. The CMHA can help.
I’m always here if you need me. Check out my contact me page to see the ways in which we can connect.
Let’s continue to work on our empathy so we can dissolve the stigmas that surround mental health issues and grow our compassion for all people.