MENTORING AN MENTAL HEALTH
- Mar 6
- 3 min read
By Doug Lawrence
You wonder what the noise is about mentors being the bridge for people suffering from mental health challenges. If you haven’t heard let me share some info that could change your healing journey. What does that mean and why would I be concerned. In the research that I have been doing I have found a number of important statements.
Mentors hold a unique relationship with mentees; one which cannot be replicated with professional therapists and counselors.
Developing and then nurturing and maintaining a trusted relationship is critical whether it be personal or professional.
It has become that way even more so when you explore the use of mentoring in the mental health space. The mentor needs to create that safe place for conversations to take place. The mentee can help make that happen but it is the responsibility of the mentor to actually create the safe place. I know a number of people that will not engage if that place of safety has not been established. I have had potential mentees that have not engaged and rather choose to bury themselves in the pain and suffering that comes with a healing journey that has come off the tracks. I have also had mentees who were looking for someone to act as a baby-sitting service and shift all the accountability to the mentor. That is not the way that this works.
Mentors are able to speak to mentees, in ways that make sharing problems easier. This usually comes from the ability of the mentor to story tell. Story telling is when you take your lived experience and share it in the form of a story that is relatable and relevant to the situation at hand. It is a gift to be able to use this technique effectively. The outcomes go without saying. Mentors have likely encountered similar situations in the past and when they translate that through story telling into a path to take on the mentee’s healing journey it is profound.
Most individuals who are struggling with their mental health just need someone to listen, hear and to talk to. I know from personal experience that having someone to lean on, to share what I am feeling is important.
Mentees can openly share professional and personal problems; and feel confident their mentors will be able to relate on higher levels. Mentors that are helping others deal with their mental health challenges typically are able to communication more freely.
It is very important that we as mentors do not cross over – cross the line for what is mentoring and what is counseling. It is easy to do and sometimes we think it is the right thing to do. Where the mentor plays the most important role is acting as the bridge between professional treatments. What I mean is that the mentor can provide support if there is a break in when the mentee can get to see their counselor. The role is not to do what the counselor does but to be that resource that can listen and hear what the person is feeling and walk beside them so they have support. They would still engage with their counselor at the earliest possible time.
I have sadly seen the shortfall of not enough professional resources such as counselors, and psychologists. People end up waiting months and sometimes years to get to see these people and get the help that they need. Now the mentor is the bridge between those treatment sessions and the bridge that is needed to ensure consistency in the treatment plan.
The stigma that is attached to mentoring and mental health is diminishing. Issues of anxiety are still prevalent. These are places where mentoring can be part of the solution. Seeking help is moving in the right direction. Running the other way does not help with the healing journey and adds to the stigma that seeking help is a sign of weakness and we know that it is not.
Reach out to your mentor and get the support that you need to take you to your next session. Ask for help – it is okay to reach out for help. Remember that mentoring is a part of the support structure for mental health and you are not alone.
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