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Digital Dialogues
Guidance for conversations on mental health and digital technology with young people
‘How’ - to encourage disclosure and ensure a non-judgemental approach
Most appropriate ways of starting and conducting conversations about online activities to maximise engagement and minimise blame or stigma
Good Practice Indicators
1. Discussion about online activities should be started spontaneously as part of the flow of conversation, with questions naturally embedded within broader topics rather than as a standalone item
2. Conversations should be supported by open-ended prompts
3. All young people should be offered an opportunity to discuss their online activities without their parent/ guardian being present
4. When discussing online activities, clinicians should be curious and ask questions
5. When discussing online activities, clinicians should be up-to-date in their knowledge of the online world and able to use up-to-date language
Clinicians should
6. Ask about positive aspects of online activities before addressing the negative
7. Always explain why they are asking the young person about the online activities
8. Always openly communicate understanding that online activities can be beneficial
9. Normalise online activities and acknowledge how commonplace online harm can be when discussing this with young people
10. Explicitly address fears of judgement or of ‘being in trouble’ when introducing questions about online activities
11. Explicitly discuss confidentiality and its limits when asking questions about online activity
12. Let young people know that they ask questions about online activity routinely during consultations
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