How practicing effective communication can make you an impactful Mental Health First Aider.

Part of having success as a Mental Health First Aider is developing and perfecting the tool of communication. There are a vary of different communication skills and being confident in interchanging them to adapt to different situations is imperative to being an impactful Mental Health First Aider.

What are communication skills?

Communication skills allow you to understand and be understood by others. Top communication skills include listening, strong non-verbal skills, clarity, friendliness, confidence, empathy, open-mindfulness and respect. People with strong communication skills tend to think about potential outcomes and select the right communication channel for the right situation. Other traits good communicators have in common include optimism, emotional intelligence, and a non-confrontational style. There are many ways to communicate through speaking, writing and body language.  

Speaking Communications 

When communicating verbally it is important to speak clearly and directly. Asking the right questions when communicating with someone can prompt the answer you are seeking. Using a range of open questions (Open questions usually begin with who, what, where, when, why and allow the other person to give a full and more detailed answer) and closed questions (closed questions limit the response someone can give you by either suggesting a range of answers like multiple choice or asking yes or no questions.

 Writing communications

 Your business emails should make responding easy by telling your recipient what you want within the first few lines. You should also use an explicit subject line. You should make your emails content easy to skim read, as only a few people read online content in detail. Use bold font and paragraphs to draw your reader’s eyes to where you want it.

 Body communications

 You should use body language to show you are actively listening. Nodding, smiling, asking relevant questions, open questions, and paraphrasing to show you understand are all traits of a good listener. Open gestures include a relaxed posture, direct eye contact and enthusiastic hand gestures. Closed gestures include crossed arms and legs, leaning back, fiddling and turning away, tight lips, little or no eye contact and furrowed eyebrows.

 Difficult conversations

 When faced with a difficult situation/conversation it is important to face up to it as soon as possible to stop the situation escalating, preventing stress, and minimising time and money. You should remain calm and objective during these conversations; your positivity or negativity will affect the other person so use this to your advantage.  Allowing gaps in conversation for silence will allow for the person you are speaking with to continue to speak. Trying to fill the gap of silence takes away from the person speaking and their train of thought.