Action 2: Listen and communicate non-judgementally cont.
Acceptance Acceptance is respecting a person’s feelings, experiences, and values, even though they may be different from your own. As caring adults and professionals we can often try to minimise a young person’s worries in order to put them at ease. To a young person, however, this can be seen as trivialising, or as us not taking their worries seriously. Helping a young person to appreciate that what they are going through is valid can be empowering and reassuring for them. Remember that experiences of poor mental health are not due to personal weakness – the young person is unwell and trying to cope. If you are a parent/carer and have been approached by your child’s teacher, or another adult in their life, with concerns about your child, it is important that you accept and take it seriously. Sometimes a young person seems relaxed and happy at home, but at school your child may be very anxious, socially isolated, or showing other signs that are not apparent in the home. It can be emotionally difficult to accept that your child needs mental health support, and you may feel a level of guilt. The reality is that many things contribute to the development of poor mental health. Genuineness Genuineness is when you show a person that you accept them and their values. You can do this with a young person by being open and authentic during interactions. This in turn can be achieved through helpful verbal and non-verbal actions. Don’t compare the young person’s life to your own experiences from that age. Adults often fall into the trap of thinking that young people today have a much easier life. The world changes constantly, and new opportunities mean new challenges.
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