Last evening I was watching a National Basketball Association (NBA) game on television. During one of the timeouts, a commercial came on that emphasized the importance of making connections with each other to improve our mental health. During this year’s playoff, the NBA is expressing the importance of self-care and stress-free activities to maintain our mental health.
We are receiving support from different non-traditional venues in society such as the NBA. This brings hope that we can continue to reduce the stigma of mental health conditions and addictions.
Essential connecting and support processes include:
- Cultivating a hopeful and positive attitude, especially regarding the future
- Knowing when to offer the “gift of verbal silence” (while richly communicating nonverbally)
- Creating an emotionally safe relationship and communicating care
- Listening and staying present on a deep level
- Meeting people where they are
- Willingness to share one’s own emotions without overwhelming the person in distress
As a peer support to people going through troubling circumstances, I start by using these connecting processes to make people feel comfortable allowing them to reveal their suffering and pain to me. Usually what I find is people have the answers in their hearts to connect with someone they love who is experiencing a mental health challenge or addiction. I simply help friends and families find their voice and the steps to connect with someone they love.
Reflection: “I will connect through feelings first, respecting you as equally human by listening with my eyes, ears, heart, and respect.”
This blog was inspired by “The National Empowerment Center”, June 2021.