Why being honest can be a powerful moment of connection

The call to action for World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10 is “Start the Conversation”. This call encourages individuals, communities, organisations, and governments to engage in open, honest discussions about mental health and suicide.

When working in this sector, whether as a clinician, peer worker, or lived experience advocate, it can be easy to feel like you need to constantly be “strong” and avoid showing emotion or vulnerability.

However, it can be very meaningful to the person who is experiencing pain to hear that you may be struggling as well or that you do not have all the answers.

So, when in doubt, tell the truth. You could say something like:

“Thank you so much for sharing this with me. I’ve never experienced what you’re describing, so I’m unsure how to respond right at this moment. However, my team and I are committed to being there for you to help you start to feel better with the tools and resources we have. So let’s work together.”

Or

“I really appreciate your honesty in telling me how you are feeling. I don’t know what it’s like to feel that way, but I do know that, in my experience, if we work together as a team, there are things we can do to help you feel better.”

Remember - what you do matters, but how you do it matters more.

There are several mini-interventions you can use when connecting with someone around their situation. The things you say don’t have to be eloquent, but you can always express radical empathy and radical hope.