Helping people feel seen and heard can help to reduce isolation, strengthen relationships and build community. Intentionally creating space for listening can be one of the best ways to support our colleagues and students during difficult times.
The purpose of creating space for listening is not to provide answers - often the answers are not known. Rather, the purpose is to simply create a space where people are invited to share their feelings and experiences with each other. Beyond listening, participants can share what they are doing to take care of themselves and those around them. By creating listening space, we support individual and community wellbeing.
Guidelines:
- Open the space by sharing your intention to give people an opportunity to talk.
- Acknowledge the reality of the situation.
- Express concern for the participants.
- Invite people to share their feelings and experiences but don’t require it. Don’t directly
call on people to speak. - Use empathic listening strategies (eye contact, avoid interrupting, make space for all
voices) to ensure participants feel heard and to establish trust. - Invite participants to share:
- What they are feeling and experiencing
- What they are doing to take care of themselves and those around them
- How you as leaders can support them
Mental Health Resources
Please visit the Safe Campus website for mental health and personal wellbeing resources
around mental health: https://safe-campus.umn.edu/personal-wellbeing
Contact the Center
Please contact Molly Manko, Community Relations Program and Event Manager, at [email protected] to learn more about Bakken Center resources.