What factors lead to good communication and its effect on one’s mental health?

By: Sethuki

Peter Drucker, Austrian-American Educator once said "The most important thing about
communication is to hear what isn't being said". Effective communication is about understanding
others' feelings and problems while offering an empathetic solution. The most compelling way is
to talk to the heart of a person. Communicating effectively means that your ideas and concepts
are being heard and people are acting upon them. It also means you can listen, understand, and
take action. Today, it is more difficult to have a fine conversation because there are so many
more ways to connect and people are only able to communicate virtually.

Listening is a gift we are given which allows us to understand each other. Listening doesn't mean
just understanding the words or the information being communicated but also understanding the
emotions the speaker is trying to express. As an engaged listener, you will better understand the
other person as listening is more meaningful than speaking so you’ll also make that person feel
heard and understood, which can help build a stronger, deeper bond between you and to give a
very thoughtful response. Listening will make it easier to come up with a solution as we put
ourselves in their shoes.
 
Non-language communication is the use of physical behavior, expressions, and characteristics to
communicate. Over 90% of our communication comes from the things we don’t say, so it’s
really important to get our body language right. If the receiver says one thing, but their body
language says something else, the listener will feel that they're being deceitful. For example, you
can’t say “yes” while shaking your head no. When nonverbal signals match with the words said,
increases trust, clarity, and connection. When they don’t, they can generate tension, mistrust, and
confusion. People from different cultures use diverse nonverbal gestures.
 
Empathy is the skill of fully understanding and seeing through the other's eyes. Recognize the
other person’s dismay, and let them know you want to comprehend more about what they’re
going through, you’re curious and you care about them. Reminding people about their positive
qualities is pleasing when they’re down, keep the attention focused on them, not on you.
Nonetheless of what you say, let them know you’re firmly on their side and you’re there to listen
and support them. Being empathetic will build more of a trust and care relationship in the
conversation.
 
To communicate effectively with someone, you don’t have to like them or agree with their ideas,
values, or opinions. However, you do need to set aside your judgment and withhold blame and
criticism to fully understand them. The most difficult communication, when successfully
achieved, can often lead to a far-fetched relationship with someone. If biased personal judgments
get in the way, you may not obtain the full picture behind the story and will assume
concepts based on your earlier judgments.
 
Having a comfortable relationship with the receiver or listener is most compelling.
Communication is meaningful in any relationship, as it allows everyone to effectively share
emotions, opinions, and expectations. Many people fail to communicate due to a fear of denial or
the fear that they'll end up upsetting the other. So, it's important to be comfortable and trust each
other with secrets. 

Poor communication skills can not only stimulate anxiety, depression, and stress it leads many to
social isolation and loneliness. Lack of communication, stresses one out which is a major factor
in obesity. Poor communication can cause conflict in relationships as they will falsely assume
incorrect concepts; it also decreases productivity. People would start to feel like they are
worthless so would be less productive. The peace treaty negotiations between the countries
involved in World War II resulted in miscommunication, causing the beginning of the Cold War.

One of the best examples of poor communication can be taken from the government and the
citizens of my home country, Sri Lanka. Beginning in April 2022, the negligence and corruption
of the government led to the printing of local money which reduced the value of local money and
increased the value of an American dollar. Sri Lankan citizens are suffering from: extreme
shortages of food, fuel, and medicine, more than 6-hour power cuts, and increases in taxes.
People are protesting for a better leader, but the adamant government acts as if they are deaf and
not responding.
 
With hardly any communication, protests have gotten worse, many people have died, people are
burning minister's houses and up to the beginning of July 2022, this is because people are
extremely suffering to find food to put on the table; if there would have been effective
communication between the government and people, they could have understood each other and
could devise a solution.

Globally, the Covid-19 pandemic drastically affected all of our lives, and at times when we are
the most vulnerable and isolated, we need someone to talk to and connect with. Communication
helps to make the world a closer place, diminishing distance and language barriers. Suicide rates
fell between 2000 and 2019, with the global rate decreasing by 36%, but in 2020 (the year of the
Covid-19 pandemic) 1.20 million people attempted suicide. So, it's very important to keep our
minds stable by having effective conversations and exchanging our thoughts to conciliate
ourselves.

Personally, I tend to be more open to one's my age as it's easier to communicate with one
another. As a student, stress is built up with tons of assignments and high academic expectations,
sometimes, it's helpful to talk with family and the ones I am closest to and let go of all my
feelings. I firmly believe that good communication in any type of relationship or scenario can be
the ultimate cure for unseen sentiments. 

Communication creates a comfortable atmosphere for everyone, giving one's ear to another's
hardships and bumpy roads gives value to the other person. If you are willing to listen instead of
talk, understand instead of criticize, and comfort instead of judge, you can quickly turn a
conversation into an authentic human interaction.

Word Count: 1000

Sources:

https://evolutionjobs.com/uk/media/7-key-elements-of-effective-communication/ - Reliable, the

article was written not too long ago (June 29, 2021) and it is secured by cookies policy and
privacy policy. 

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/relationships-communication/effective-communication.htm -
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https://ideas.ted.com/4-easy-ways-to-express-empathy-in-your-next-conversation/ - Reliable, the

article was published recently, and it is based off a TED talk, which is a very educational show
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https://www.who.int/news/item/17-06-2021-one-in-100-deaths-is-by-suicide- Reliable, WHO is

the most reliable organization to find medical facts as they are spread worldwide and published
by experienced and knowledgeable authors.

https://afsp.org/suicide-statistics/- Reliable, the article provides latest numbers and is a national

website by the American Government.