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In various settings, it's crucial to prioritise compassion over volume when offering advice, especially when it comes to mental health. This is because advice based on assumptions can be dangerous and potentially harmful, and most of the time, one does not understand the battles someone is quietly fighting, the things they don't say out loud, or the past that shaped them.
In families, classrooms, workplaces, and religious spaces, it's essential to avoid mistaking volume for wisdom. People who are struggling with depression, stress, anxiety, or personal confusion need kindness, presence, and safety, not lectures. The loudest voice is not always the right one, and what people need, especially those silently suffering, is more compassion, not more noise.
Effectively and empathetically communicating advice requires a thoughtful and compassionate approach. Here are some strategies to help you achieve this:
1. **Create a Safe Environment** - Active Listening: Give your undivided attention and maintain eye contact to show genuine interest in the person's thoughts and feelings. Avoid interruptions and judgment. - Empathy: Express understanding and acknowledge their emotions without trying to fix the situation immediately. Use validating phrases like "I understand this is difficult for you."
2. **Focus on Empathy Over Solutions** - Avoid Unsolicited Advice: Refrain from offering unsolicited advice or solutions. Instead, focus on providing support and resources. - Validate Feelings: Use reflective listening techniques, such as paraphrasing, to ensure you understand their perspective and acknowledge their emotions without judgment.
3. **Offer Constructive Feedback** - The Sandwich Method: When applicable, use the sandwich method to provide balanced feedback by placing constructive criticism between positive observations. - Focus on the Situation, Not the Person: Criticize behaviors or actions rather than making personal attacks.
4. **Provide Resources** - Direct to Professionals: Encourage the person to seek help from mental health professionals if needed. Provide information about local resources or support lines. - Respect Boundaries: Be mindful of your own limitations and avoid overstepping into roles you're not trained for.
5. **Maintain Healthy Communication** - Ask Open-Ended Questions: Encourage deeper conversations by asking questions that invite reflection. - Seek Feedback: Openly ask how your communication is perceived and if there's a better way to deliver your message.
By following these guidelines, you can provide supportive and empathetic advice while ensuring the well-being of the person receiving it. It's important to remember that your job is not to fix everyone, but to care, and your words can either build someone or break them; choose wisely.
Advice should feel like an open hand, not a slap in the face. Speaking over people, interrupting their pain with opinions, and offering unsolicited solutions can harm those struggling with mental health issues. The habit of constant correction and advice without understanding can come across as control, shame, or judgment. Timing matters in offering advice, and it's important to wait, build connection, and ask for permission before speaking into someone's life.
A generation that listens with empathy is far more powerful than a generation that talks over one another. The person you hurt with your words will remember them for a long time, so be mindful of the impact of your words. Advice that comes from ego is about power, not love, and causes harm. If words are not guided by patience, humility, and deep respect for another person's humanity, then it's better to remain quiet and listen.
Nurfilzah Emily Mohamad Khairuddin K.B., a registered counsellor with Lembaga Kaunselor Malaysia, emphasises the importance of empathetic communication in mental health conversations. By adopting these strategies, we can create a more compassionate and supportive world for those struggling with mental health issues.
- In the context of Malaysian news, it's essential to prioritize empathetic language when reporting on mental health issues, considering the potential harm unsolicited advice can cause.
- Pursuing a career in health-and-wellness or mental-health fields requires a high level of empathy, as individuals often seek safe, compassionate spaces to share their struggles and emotions.
- Education and self-development materials should focus on teaching effective communication strategies that prioritize empathy, especially in family-dynamics and relationships workshops.
- When discussing science or lifestyle topics in media, it's crucial to approach sensitive subjects with understanding and compassion, catering to the needs of readers or viewers going through challenging circumstances.
- In Malaysia's rapidly evolving societal landscape, personal-growth programs must prioritize empathetic communication to create safer spaces for individuals navigating complex mental health issues and family dynamics.
