On Time to Talk Day 2022, Mahieddine speaks about the importance of listening to those who speak about their mental health problems. He encourages us to offer ‘warm hearts and big ears’ instead of jumping to try and ‘fix’ people. Read his story.
As we approach two years since the start of the pandemic, it’s never been more important to talk about our mental health. The last two years have affected us all and we know that talking about it can help us feel less alone, more able to cope and encouraged to seek support if we need to.
Talking and listening about mental health has the power to change lives. We, as humans, only have one mouth, but two ears. I don’t know the scientific reason behind it but I think it could be to listen more or less as much as talking. Therefore being ‘all ears’ for someone seeking understanding could be more than helpful and important. This is what we should call ‘investing in people’. Imagine how we could change their lives for the better by being an active ear for them.
You might wonder how to do it right and not judge them. We might think it's confusing but it's actually an easy matter if you slow down a bit when somebody is nervous or worried. It can be hard or overwhelming when someone speaks about their mental health problems as we live in a world that expects each person to be individuals and solve their own matters. For this reason, it's even harder for people to not be able to figure out what's even wrong due to the mental hardship! For myself, I try to be in my comfort zone when I listen to someone who comes to me for help. I try to offer the best perspective and absorb the pressure they face to make them hope more. The fact is, there's things we only see when we slow down, things we can only make better by our warm hearts and big ears as well as mouths! It's time to listen, time to make changes and time to end the stigma and all the mental health shaming nonsense among our communities.
For a better environment and for a strong community, as society we all should talk less and listen more. Only because the ideal solution while you're talked to is to let silence do the work.
Talk.Listen .Change Lives