2.4 How to help people who identify with a mental health problem and/or neurodivergence

As you are treating clients who may present with mental health conditions and those who may identify as neurodivergent, it is essential to remember these points:

Be open-minded and nonjudgmental

- Remember, many people who have mental health condition histories and those with neurodivergence have likely experienced stigma from society, family, friends, and themselves. As a helper and healer, you can be someone who takes away the judgment and stigma allowing for a safe space.
- Openly state something to this effect for all your clients:

- “This is a safe space, and all identities and concerns are welcome here. Please share with me anything you would like and know that I will not judge you.”

Be time conscientious and patient

- We are all busy with our schedules, but to allow for space and safety you will need to make sure there is adequate time. Depending on the mental health identity and neurodiverse aspects, a client may need more time or ways of processing information that you share.

Be aware of intersectionality and complexity

- See that a person with neurodivergence may have other concerns that are physical or mental that intersect and affect each other. No issue or concern is isolated and likely they interact, including the problem the client is seeing you for.

Kindness, calmness, and genuineness

- At the end of the day, approaching all people from a genuinely kind, compassionate, and calm way will allow for less struggle in their healing process.

Unconscious bias, judgments, and stereotypes

An important part of being able to connect with people who have diverse behavioural and cognitive presentations is that we be aware of our own biases (conscious and unconscious), judgments, and stereotypes. We all have biases and judgments that form in our mind about people. We may stereotype by associating common themes or generalisations from media and culture. We may find ourselves liking certain people over others...where does this come from? Project Implicit, based on the Harvard Implicit Bias tests, is an interesting place to look at possible unconscious biases you may hold.

Try completing the implicit tests on Disability, Sexuality, and Race and see what your results are. Journal and reflect on the experience.

https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/

References:

ADHD Australia. (n.d.). About ADHD. Retrieved December 11, 2023, from https://www.adhdaustralia.org.au/about-adhd/

Australian Dyslexia Association. (n.d.). What is dyslexia? Retrieved December 11, 2023, from https://dyslexiaassociation.org.au/what-is-dyslexia/

Autism Spectrum Australia. (n.d.). What is autism? Autism Spectrum Australia. Retrieved December 11, 2023, from https://www.autismspectrum.org.au/about-autism/what-is-autism

Brain Foundation. (n.d.). Acquired brain injury. Brain Foundation. Retrieved December 19, 2023, from https://brainfoundation.org.au/disorders/acquired-brain-injury/

Developmental Coordination Disorder Australia Inc. (n.d.). DCD Overview. Retrieved December 11, 2023, from https://dcdaustralia.org.au/what-is-dcd-2/

World Health Organization. (2022, June 17). Mental health. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-our-response