Remember that your goal isn’t to “win” the conversation. If you’re leading with compassion, the process should feel collaborative. By showing compassion and by seeking and accepting the youth’s perspective in all your interactions, you can help strengthen their own motivations and commitment to change. This intervention applies a youth-friendly communication strategy called ‘motivational interviewing’ and you can learn more about it below.
A dance, not a wrestling match
Becausemental healthmatters.
Why compassion?
Youth experiencing poor mental health are 1.8 times more likely to vape.*
31% of all youth who vape report doing it as a form of stress reduction.**
However, some research has found that youth who vape were more likely to report anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts.
DObe compassionate throughout your conversation.
The young person you’re talking to could be going through a lot, and recognizing that could help you break through.
Dig even deeper into helping youth make healthier choices by exploring a wide range of to a wide strategies (e.g., more information on motivational interviewing, cessation strategies, quit plans, and more resources)
