Suicide Awareness & Prevention: The Power of Active Listening

To close out our series on suicide awareness and prevention, we wanted to discuss a timeless skill that will promote healthy relationships and communication with those around you. 

All humans have a fundamental need to be understood by others. Active listening conveys understanding even when one disagrees with the person's perspective. Active listening allows the person speaking to feel important and valued. Here are a few ways to practice active listening in your next conversation:

Put away distractions.

Active listening involves removing distractions and facing the person you are listening to. Make sure your phone is on silent and out of sight. If the conversation is serious, try having it in a quiet and private environment to minimize noise.

Watch your body language.

Often, our body language says more than our words! Show the speaker that you are engaged by keeping eye contact and nodding when appropriate.

Listen with an open mind.

Listening with an open mind means you're listening to understand instead of listening to respond. Don't generate your own opinions or responses while the person is talking. Concentrate on what they're saying and how they're saying it.

Summarize what was said.

Once they are done speaking, summarize what they have said and ask if you understood correctly. This helps you have all the correct information and shows the speaker that you were engaged while they were speaking.

Ask open-ended questions.

Ask open-ended questions to encourage them to continue talking so you can explore the perspective more thoroughly. Open-ended questions require more than a "yes" or "no" answer. Try asking questions that begin with "Who," "What," "When," "Why," and "How."

Following these steps to listen actively validates the speaker's experience, reducing negative emotions and relieving someone feeling distressed. It also increases connection and enhances relationships. This communication skill takes practice, but it is well worth it.

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