May 2 – 8 is Mental Health Week. The 2022 Canadian Mental Health Association Mental (CMHA) Health Week Theme is #GetReal. #GetReal is about having open conversations about mental health, and findings ways to support individuals who are struggling with mental health issues. They key to having open conversations, and the driving idea behind #GetReal is empathy.
Being empathetic means taking the time to try to understand what someone else is going through, even if you don’t agree or cannot personally relate to their situation. Compared to sympathy, which is about feeling sorry for someone else, empathy goes beyond pity and refers to putting yourself in the shoes of another person and really attempting to understand and feel what they are feeling. Empathy is about listening to someone and trying to see the issue through their eyes without trying to solve their problem or fix their pain. It is important to use empathy when engaging in an open conversation with someone about mental health. Taking the time to tune into another’s emotions before offering an opinion or advice is the key to providing meaningful support to your peers.
The pathway to empathy is through listening without judgement, and demonstrating that you are listening by giving your undivided attention, restating to show you have heard and understand, and following up. It is completely okay, normal, and reasonable to not to know what to say when someone expresses their struggle to you. Most of us do not have professional training that would allow us to feel comfortable providing an appropriate response or the right support, which can make conversations around mental health challenging to navigate. A lot of the time, being there for them and being willing to listen empathetically without offering ‘harsh truths’ or ‘tough love’, and without trying to find a solution, is all you can do to help them. Although you may feel inclined to try to deflect or problem solve, demonstrating your support through empathetic listening can still be extremely valuable in showing the people in your life who are struggling that you are trying to understand them and provide comfort.
Upcoming Webinars
The Ontario Public Library is offering free webinars for everyone. Topics include mindfulness, stress, and meditation.
Rebekka Wallace Roy, Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist, and Kirsten Wallace, Certified Yoga Teacher and ECE of Be Brave, Be Kind, Be Present, will run this free 1-hour workshop as part of Ottawa Public Library’s Mental Health Week. Click the links below to register!
- Mindfulness Meditation for Older Adults – May 2, at 10am: This course will guide older adults in a meditation techniques, to explore meditation and include in your everyday practice.
- Stress Reduction for Adults – May 4, at 11am: This course will guide adults in a stress reduction techniques, to discuss everyday stressors and how to reduce their impact on you and your everyday life.
Additional Resources
CMHA Resources on Empathy and Listening
Empathy and listening are two important skills that we can continue to practice and learn. Empathy can strengthen relationships at home, in the workplace, and in our broader community. After two years, the pandemic has weighed us down in so many ways. It’s been stressful, isolating, and emotionally exhausting. Practicing empathy is one way to support each other through these trying times and come out more resilient on the other side. Here are some ways to cultivate empathy in your own life:
- Talk to people and be genuinely curious when posing questions. Ask open ended questions and pay attention to how the person is responding (facial expression, body language and tone of voice).
- Read fiction as an easy and enjoyable way to increase empathy. Reading allows you to enter a character’s thoughts and feelings and to see their point of view. You will be able to explore how someone else’s mind works and better understand what shapes their perspective.
- Teach your kids about empathy. Parenting or looking after children are great opportunities to practice your own empathy and to help children develop theirs. You can ask them questions about how they think others might be feeling, like their siblings or characters in a TV show, and give positive feedback when they show empathy.
Click on the following links for more information and resources: