“If a young person is speaking and then they stop for a second, don’t immediately jump in, because they might just be thinking things through.” Jamie 17 years old Unhelpful listening actions The following actions may feel natural but could alienate, intimidate, or put pressure on the young person. Try not to: – Sit directly opposite and facing the young person – Say something to fill what you see as an embarrassing silence (you may interrupt their thoughts) – Look at your phone or the clock on the wall – Use slang you are unfamiliar with to try to connect with the young person – Ask too many questions – Talk about your own related issues Combining these skills and attitudes so that you can take part in a supportive conversation is not difficult, but it does take practice. Professional mental health workers and counsellors are trained to take this approach. This course does not give you that length or depth of training. However, as a Youth MHFAider, you need to be aware of this approach and increase your skills in this area through practice. Using these techniques will enable you to be more confident in providing Youth MHFA. The BATHE technique If you are unsure how to start, a useful template for Youth MHFAiders to follow is the BATHE technique (100). B: Background Ask: “What is going on in your life?”
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