Active listening is different than just hearing what a person has to say. A good active listener puts everything aside and gives complete attention to the person who is talking; asks open-ended questions to get more details about the topic that is being discussed and takes moments throughout the conversation to summarize what they've been told to make sure they are understanding clearly.
Check out these conversation starters "Talking To Adolescents And Teens: Starting The Conversation" from Mental Health America:
You can also check out the "In the Open" podcast:
Wondering about your own mental health, but not sure where to start?
Take a Mental Health Screening Test. Screening is an anonymous, free and private way to learn about your mental health and if you are showing warning signs of a mental illness.
A screening only takes a few minutes, and after you are finished you will be given information about the next steps you should take based on the results. A screening is not a diagnosis, but it can be a helpful tool for starting a conversation with your doctor or a loved one about your mental health.Online screening is one of the quickest and easiest ways to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition.
Mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, are real, common, and treatable. And recovery is possible.
Screening Effectiveness
Getting screened increases the chances of getting treatment.
When positive screening results were given during a primary care visit, doctors were over 3 times more likely to recognize the symptoms of mental illness and to plan to follow up with the patient.
Treatment following screening has been shown to reduce symptoms of mental illness, and the positive effects of treatment are still seen a year later.
Many people do not seek treatment in the early stages of mental illnesses because they don't recognize the symptoms.
84% of the time between first symptoms and first treatment is spent not recognizing the symptoms of mental illness.
16% of the time is spent getting help(1).
The delays in treatment for mental illnesses are longer than for many other health conditions(2-4). The delay in treatment for some mental illnesses are:
Anxiety Disorders: 9 to 23 years
Mood Disorders: 6 to 8 years
Psychosis: 1 to 2 years
Early Intervention Is Cost-Effective
The earlier that mental health problems are caught and treated, the less it costs and the better the results.
