Good morning 👋
How are you doing lately?
I don’t mean superficially, but really doing?
The reason I ask is that this is what I want today’s blog to start discussing – how we can create more space for open, personalised and genuine conversations around mental health.
Hello and Welcome to Sweeney’s Blogs!
Mental health is a subject which impacts us all in its own way as we move through life – sometimes, we can face challenges, sometimes, things are going a lot better than what we thought they would.
While it’s such a core part of what makes us who we are, a lot of people really struggle to be open about their mental health.
If you’re thinking, “Why is that?”
There really are a multitude of potential answers, including:
😔 Fear of looking weak, vulnerable or that they “can’t cope”
⏰ Feeling as if they havem’t got the time or mental space to open up
😅 Not knowing how to put it into words
There are many ways, and, of course, as with many other areas tied to this, it can differ from person to person. I’ve always tried to be as open and honest as I can with the content I share on this page.
Over the last seven years, I’ve mentioned some of my past struggles with my own mental health, the lessons I have learnt from them, and some of the ways they have shaped me into who I am. Although I am a very open person, I too can be a tad apprehensive or weary about sharing certain things – depending on what it actually is, the environment it is being shared in and much more.
So, with this being said, how can we make it easier for people to say what’s on their minds?
The thing is, is that it’s such a difficult question to answer. Here are some ways that I try to use:
🙌 Consistent reinforcement – when life feels like it’s flying by at a million miles an hour, it can be easy to forget that people are around to support us. dropping friends, family members or anybody a message to say you’re thinking about them, you care, or that you’re around can make more of a difference than you realise
🙏 Acting on what you say – saying to someone that you’re there for them is great; however, sometimes, it doesn’t matter unless you actually mean it and are there for them when times are tough. This isn’t supposed to sound negative; it’s more coming from the angle of taking action on the words that we say
🎧 Genuine listening – sometimes, when someone comes to us with problems, we feel this need to try to resolve them all, when what they actually want is someone to just vent to and someone to listen. Making the expectations, or what you want to get out of a conversation, clear can be very very helpful here.
In a world where we can quite literally be anything, let’s all do what we can to be a bit kinder – making a difference one person, one conversation, one day at a time. Sometimes, we forget just how much of an impact we can make on those around us.
And with this comes the end of today’s blog. What do you think? How do you try to encourage open conversations around mental health? Would you like to see more blogs like this going forward on the page?
I’d love to hear what you think 😊
Thanks for reading, and I hope you have a lovely day!
James
Sweeney's Blogs 