Practical strategies for effective support

There are lots of things to keep in mind when working with someone with a mental health condition. Having practical tips and strategies up your sleeve can help you provide more effective support.

1. Building relationships
• How can I build a good working relationship?
• How can I work effectively with the person I am supporting?
• How can I include families and carers?
2. Understanding diversity
• How can I support an Aboriginal person with a mental health condition?
• How can I support a culturally and linguistically diverse person with a mental health condition?
• How can I support a LGBTIQA+ person with a mental condition?
• How can I support a person with a mental health condition living in a rural or remote location?
3. Communicating effectively
• What is appropriate language when speaking with someone living with a mental health condition?
• How can I overcome communication barriers?
• How can I communicate with someone who has depression?
• How can I communicate with someone experiencing a panic attack?
• How can I communicate with someone who has an eating disorder?
• How can I communicate with someone experiencing psychosis?
• How can I communicate with someone who harms themselves?
• How do I respond if someone says that they want to kill themselves?
4. Managing behaviours
• How can I de-escalate a situation when someone is angry or agitated?
• How can I work with someone who may be violent?
5. Accessing services
• How do I support someone to access mental health services?
• How do I help someone to access support and recreation services?
6. Developing knowledge
• How can I learn more?
7. Scenarios for supporting someone with a mental health condition
• Scenario: A story of recovery
• Scenario: Working with someone who experiences a coexisting intellectual disability and mental health condition
• Scenario: I suspect the person I am supporting is not taking their medication
• Scenario: The person I am supporting appears to have seriously harmed themselves - emergency
• Scenario: The person I am supporting is missing our appointments
• Scenario: The person I am supporting is becoming angry or agitated
• Scenario: I am concerned that the person I am supporting is thinking about suicide
• Scenario: The person I am supporting has difficulty in advocating for themselves
• Scenario: I am worried I might say the wrong thing when supporting a person with a mental health condition
• Scenario: I suspect the person I am supporting is harming himself