Action 2: Listen and communicate non-judgementally
It is important to always listen and communicate non-judgmentally throughout the Youth MHFA action plan. Our brains are designed to evaluate a situation and judge people immediately. We all spend a great deal of time listening to what people are saying, and most of the time the words we hear trigger a reaction in our own minds. This means that we are often switched off to what the person is really saying and instead are following our own train of thought. Listening and communicating non-judgementally means setting any judgements about the young person and their situation aside, to ensure that they don’t feel judged. Most young people who are experiencing distressing emotions and thoughts want to be listened to before being offered options and resources. When listening non-judgementally the Youth MHFAider needs to practise active listening. The Youth MHFAider also needs to use helpful listening and communication skills that: – Allow the Youth MHFAider to really hear and understand what is being said to them, and – Make it easier for the young person to feel that they can talk freely about their worries without being judged. Active listening It is more important for a Youth MHFAider to be genuinely caring than to say the ‘right things’. Active listening is key to communicating non-judgementally and is built on three core conditions: acceptance, genuineness, and empathy (97). All are necessary to create a safe, comfortable environment that enables the young person to talk openly.
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