NIP it in the bud: How to initiate mental health conversations

Headspace’s latest initiative aims to help people to begin conversations on mental health. These guidelines can be a powerful tool for people leaders and their teams.

The “NIP it in the Bud” framework released by Headspace is a great way to engage with those who may be struggling with mental health.

NIP stands for:

• Notice
• Inquire
• Provide

“Whether you’re a young person, a parent, a professional, or someone who’s running a sports club, NIP it in the Bud is for everyone to use,” said head of Headspace schools and communities Kristen Douglas.

“N stands for notice. This is the stage where you may notice that someone’s not acting like themselves, or you might just have a gut feeling that they aren’t OK.

“I stands for inquire. You may want to ask the person if they are OK or try and gather more information about what is going on in their life.

“Finally, P stands for provide. Sometimes, it’s as simple as providing a hug, listening, or checking in. Other times, you might need to offer them guidance towards a service or a professional for support.”

These guidelines can be an effective tool in the workplace and allow colleagues and leaders to connect with one another and help tackle issues with mental health.

Ms Douglas added: “NIP it in the Bud is really simple, and it’s one of the best ways that we can get young people support early. The earlier we can work with and support that person, the better we can respond and get them back on track.”

Understanding how to recognise when somebody isn’t feeling 100 per cent and being able to chat with them can make a huge difference. ReachOut listed the benefits of speaking to someone when going through a hard time:

• Talking to someone can help you feel less alone and like you’re not the only one going through something.
• Sometimes, you’re not looking for the person you speak to to solve your problems; you just want them to listen. You can feel a lot better after just letting it out.
• Often, people find talking to someone so helpful that they wish they’d done it a lot sooner.
• Experts say that talking can provide stress relief and can lighten the load of a concern someone might be having.
• Talking about a problem can help to start breaking it into smaller parts, which can stop you from feeling so overwhelmed.
• Choosing someone from outside of the situation can help you have a different perspective on things.

Applying these techniques in the workplace can help to create a healthier and more psychologically safe workplace.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, reach out to Lifeline at 13 11 14.