A 5-step guide for how to better connect with the people around you, from a wellbeing educator with a mission to ‘change the way the world feels’

Healthy relationships are the heartbeat of life: research tells us the number-one thing that keeps us happy is who we have around us. The best way to improve your own life, and the lives of others, is to invest in your ability to connect. But so often, when the people around us experience emotional pain, we don’t know how to support them.

You may be a parent supporting your child with anxiety, a partner supporting your spouse with depression or addiction, a manager trying to support your employee through grief, a co-worker supporting your teammate with relationship issues, a friend supporting a loved one through financial stress or a teacher supporting a student being bullied.

If you can see yourself in any of these situations, this book is for you. Like the tens of thousands of people Mitch Wallis has trained over the years through his Real Conversations workshops, you will learn from an evidence-based 5-step framework: Engage, Listen, Safety, Action and Boundaries.

Real Conversations will help you to form unprecedented trust and closeness in your most important relationships, without hurting yourself in the process.

‘The ultimate guide to supporting someone through emotional pain’ Mallika Chopra, bestselling author of Living with Intent: My Somewhat Messy Journey to Purpose, Peace, and Joy

‘A very compelling read at a time where a significant number of our community are going through particularly challenging times’ Colin Seery, CEO, Lifeline

‘Mitch Wallis has penned a must-read mental health guide for anyone who cares for, works with or supports a person living with mental illness. Read this book – and learn exactly how your conversations and connections will save lives.’ Antoinette Lattouf, journalist and author

‘Humans are more disconnected than ever before; Real Conversations acts as the practical guide to bring us all back together. A much-needed read for everyone seeking to foster genuine connections.’ Joe Williams, mental health advocate, author and former professional athlete

‘After the disconnection and distress of a serious mental health issue, Mitch Wallis seeks to connect himself and us more authentically to this planet and to each other through real conversation. His personal journey of discovery speaks of the power of connection, compassion and story to enable genuine sharing, listening and talking with each other.’ Tim Heffernan, Deputy Commissioner of the Mental Health Commission of NSW

‘Sometimes it can be challenging to talk to someone about mental health – feeling like you need to ask the “right” questions, or feeling scared to say the wrong thing. Even as someone who has suffered poor mental health, this book has given me the confidence to talk to anyone who might be suffering. Mitch has made having real conversations about tricky topics easy.’ Liesel Jones OAM, Olympic gold medallist

‘Turning up for those we love the most is one of the most important yet challenging things we’ll ever do. More difficult yet is being able to turn up while still maintaining one’s own sense of self and identity. Throughout this book, my beautiful friend Mitch is able to guide us through those conversations with the warmth and honesty he is so well known for.’ Madison de Rozario OAM, Paralympic gold medallist