Health and Wellbeing
The Right Words: Supporting Young People in Distress
Stay calm and find the right words when a young person comes to you in distress, even when what they say is hard to hear.
- 8 modules
- 0.25 CPD hours
- Certificate
Members
14 days free, then £70 a year or £7 a month.
Have a join code from your school?
Already have an account? Sign in
What you'll learn
- Swap rapid-fire questions for open ones that let a young person lead
- Keep your own voice and manner calm when a young person is distressed
- Respond to disclosures of self-harm or suicidal thoughts without shock or avoidance
- Agree next steps with the young person once the distress has eased
- End a difficult conversation in a way that recognises their courage
About this course
"Can I talk to you?" Five words that can make any adult's stomach drop. What if it's self-harm, or suicide, or something at home you've no idea how to handle?
You'll see how a string of anxious questions (What happened? Does your mum know?) can turn support into an interrogation, and why one open question does more. You'll learn to keep your voice slow and low when a young person is angry or upset, to stay steady when they raise something taboo, and to work out next steps with them once the worst has passed, rather than taking over.
You don't need to fix anything to help. What a young person tends to remember is the adult who stayed calm and thanked them for trusting them with it.
- For mental health leads. All phases. England only.
8 modules
Open in order
The Foundations of Communication with Distressed Students
Creating an Environment Where Young People Feel Heard
The Art of Asking Less and Listening More
Walk With Them
What Comes Next — Moving Forward With the Young Person
Talking About Taboos
Thank You for Trusting Me
Becoming Someone a Young Person Can Talk To