The way we communicate, and how we are communicated with, impacts mental health. In recognition of this fact, Supportiv has released a new Communication article collection that guides the ins and outs of mental health-conscious conversation.

When approaching a challenging conversation topic, we need to consider our own emotional needs, the needs of those on the receiving end, the contexts of those needs, and the ways in which we share and receive information about all the factors at play.

Our communication style affects others, so the approach we use truly matters. Supportiv’s new communication articles provide step-by-step, how-to guides for reducing anxiety, overcoming awkwardness, confidently conveying your point, and more. Most importantly, these articles highlight how to stay true to oneself while staying conscious of others’ emotional needs in conversation.

Underlining the difficulty of conversing nowadays, Supportiv CEO & Co-Founder Helena Plater-Zyberk notes that “Communication is most effective if it gets the message across without distressing the recipient, which can put them into a defensive or shut down mode. In today’s world, where most of us live on the edge of stress, our conversations are trickier to navigate and become more challenging.”

Supportiv’s communication articles aim to simplify the act of communicating–removing the guesswork, shame, or fear of managing emotions that can come with conversational exchanges. Topics in the collection include:

Being An Authentic Email Communicator

The purpose of email might not always be social–after all, it’s a major form of work communication for many of us. However, email is always an opportunity to connect. So why not do so authentically?

How To Apologize Effectively

An effective apology should make you and the other person feel better. Use these 5 steps for how to apologize (plus examples), in order to build an apology that covers your emotional bases.

I’ve Been Told I’m A Mansplainer. How Do I Stop?

To communicate more effectively and stop getting labeled, check out the information in this guide, including the definition of mansplaining, examples, and 3 concrete ways to stop.

Ask For What You Want With These Easy Phrases

You might want help, a seat at the table, or to be treated a certain way. Whether you’re talking to your boss, your partner, your coworker, or a friend, try asking for what you want with the starter phrases listed here.

15 Things You Can Say To A Friend Who’s Struggling

Want to comfort a friend who’s struggling, but aren’t sure what to say? Here, find a framework for verbally supporting someone, along with specific phrases that may help when you’re at a loss. Maybe there aren’t words for the situation, but these phrases can help show that you care enough to try.

Boost Your Social Skills With 3 DBT Techniques

DBT teaches different skills to self-check and modify your behavior in the moment. These skills can help you move from discomfort to connection in everyday life. In this downloadable reference sheet, find three easy-to-remember acronyms that will help your social skills with minimal effort: DEAR MAN, GIVE, and FAST.

How To Decline An Invitation Without Being A Jerk

Spending quality time with friends, in laws, and your own family is important. But you can’t always accept their invites, whether you want to or not. It shouldn’t be a problem, as long as you know how to decline an invitation without being a jerk.

I Screwed Up: What To Do If You’ve Made A Mistake

Screwing up doesn’t make you a bad person. We all do “bad” things at times, but the difference between being bad and being flawed is acknowledging your mistakes. Here’s how.

How Not To Suck At Listening

Listening — really listening — is not always intuitive. And, unfortunately, not feeling heard can lead people to feel misunderstood, lonely, and frustrated. To help solve this problem, we walk through tried and true techniques for how to be a better listener.

Balance Your Wellbeing With Others’ Expectations

This worksheet helps you outline the expectations you feel weighing on you–what’s expected, by whom, and why. You’ll be asked what makes you feel this expectation, and how complying might require a sacrifice to your wellbeing. Then, the worksheet guides you to find and communicate a compromise solution between your wellbeing and others’ expectations.

How To Respond When Someone Is Overly Self Deprecating

It’s ok to feel uncomfortable when someone else’s self-deprecation goes too far. It’s hard to hear friends put themselves down! In order to respond, let’s first understand why it’s tempting for some to communicate through self-deprecation. Then, we’ll go over ways to reply when someone is overly self-deprecating.

Build Assertiveness Skills

Even if you haven’t successfully asserted yourself before, you have to start somewhere. Maybe by completing this worksheet. Assertiveness skills are within reach, no matter how shy you are now.

How To Recommend Therapy To Someone You Care About

What can you do when someone close to you seems like they are struggling more than they deserve to? How can you recommend therapy to someone who might benefit from professional help? Find tips to get someone the help they need while also being a kind, respectful friend.

Learn How To Take A Compliment

It’s hard to know how to take a compliment. To receive a compliment with grace, you have to accept positive feelings about yourself–and that can feel uncomfortable when you haven’t done it much!

Does Your Relationship Need A Boundary Contract?

Use this worksheet to have productive conversations about boundaries, by creating a boundary contract. Explore both sides of the situation, identify compromises, and agree on how to handle boundary violations.

Browse all of the communication guides in Supportiv’s new collection.

Supportiv Co-Founder Pouria Mojabi adds: “Whether you’re communicating something positive or negative, asking for help or forgiveness, supporting someone else, or just navigating daily social interactions–these new articles hold insights that apply to everyone at one time or another.”

Supportiv has already enabled over 1.1 million users to feel less lonely, anxious, stressed, misunderstood, and hopeless through its moderator-guided chats with AI-driven content and resource recommendations. See what real Supportiv user reviews have to say, here: www.supportiv.com/users-testimonials.