Connect

Sometimes individuals may share with us concerns that require assistance beyond our ability and expertise. In these instances, it may be best to connect that individual with a trusted resource. A trusted resource may include medical professionals, mental or behavioral health professionals, faith leaders, teachers, or other individuals with specialized training. There are a number of such resources in your community. Information on who those individuals are can be found in the Community Resources module at the end of this training.  

To help someone find a trusted resource, you may first want to start off by asking whether they have already tried to reach out. Some helpful questions may include: 

• Who have you already talked with? 
• Do you have someone you trust who you can go to?  
• Have you considered talking to your [doctor, faith leader, teacher]? 
• Who would you feel most comfortable talking with? 
• Would you like me to come with you?  
• Would you like me to reach out to a resource on your behalf? 

Negative Reponses 

It is possible that the person you are concerned about may respond negatively or defensively. Here are some things to consider and potential steps to take if this happens. 

• Apologize for misreading the situation. You could state that you care for them and will support them should they ever need it. 
• It may take multiple conversations before someone is ready to share. If you feel it is appropriate, try following up after a couple of days to see how they are doing.   
• Don’t push individuals to share if they are not ready. It may take some people more time to acknowledge the concern you identified and to seek help. That is okay. 
• You can seek advice from a trusted resource about how best to proceed.