Developing helpful communication skills with the person who is unwell and agitated

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Title: Developing helpful communication skills with the person who is unwell and agitated (PDF file - 160 KB) (Links to English resource)

Summary: Communicating with someone experiencing severe/acute mental distress and who seems to be a danger to themselves or others can be a diffi cult, frustrating and frightening experience. It is vital that you remember that the person will have a reduced capacity to understand, process and act on information in a logical, reasonable and socially acceptable way. During severe mental/emotional distress the person very often feels frightened, confused and out of control.

Organisation: Victorian Mental Health Carers Network

Publishing date: March 2005

Last reviewed: March 2005

Target audience: General

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