Having a conversation about mental health - Part Two
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If you missed Part one of this series, with some thoughts on how to approach what could be a difficult conversation, you can catch up here
After a fear of making things worse, the major concern I have heard about talking to people about their mental wellbeing has been concerns over people becoming tearful or upset.
I don’t have a nice reassuring answer. The bottom line is there is every chance that the conversation will be emotional – it’s a tough subject for people to open up about, especially for the first time. But there are ways in which you can prepare yourself and manage the conversation. The most important thing is that offering a genuine, supportive conversation will always be better than doing nothing. So if someone starts to get emotional there are a few simple things to remember:
Stay calm.
Reassure them that it is OK to be upset and that you are listening. In fact, the process of listening may provide an important space for both you and the employee to gain insight into the problem and possible actions to help resolve it.
Reassure them that you value them and support them, because they might feel embarrassed at breaking down.
Make sure you give them an appropriate space where they can express emotion freely and compose themselves in privacy. Again, don’t feel the need to fill the silences.
Ask them if they would like you to contact anyone or if they would like someone to be with them.
Don't ignore someone who's upset, even if you're worried about how they will react to your intervention. Doing nothing may make the situation worse.
I’ll pick this up with Part 3 in the next few days and I will try to offer a few more tools and tips for having this sort of conversation Let me know if there is anything else you would like to see covered.
If you are struggling with anxieties as you return to work and looking for someone to support you then please get in touch at richard@newdaycoaching for a free, no obligation introductory chat to explore how I may be able to help you through this time. https://www.newdaycoaching.co.uk/121-coaching
If you are an employer and would like to talk about how to support people through anxiety and stress above and beyond an EAP then drop me an email at the same address to discuss the benefits holding a session or series of sessions to do just that. https://www.newdaycoaching.co.uk/public-speaking