Reflective Entry 1 – A Challenging Encounter at a Bus Stop(Using Gibbs' Reflective Cycle

 Reflective Blog on Mental Health, using Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle

 

Reflective theories and methods of thought help us to better understand out mistakes, and what can be done to improve on ourselves. In this piece of writing, I will be using the Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle to analyse my own behaviours and learn more about my faults, when it comes to dealing with mental health issues (Ocampo et al, 2025). Especially within the mental health sector, reflecting on experiences to become a kinder and more efficient worker is essential, so I will be using this context to reflect on. The Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle requires you to first describe the issue, then write down your personal feelings on the situation, and then to look at it objectively and evaluate what worked and what did not. Next you analyse this further, followed by a conclusion, and finally an action plan for improvement based on your own reflection. This way of reflecting is supposed to cover all bases and allow you to think introspectively about any given experience.

 

Description

Since the theme is mental health, I will be using an example from my personal life relating to this. Some time ago, a family member of mine opened up about feelings of anxiety and exhaustion. This is something that I noticed previously but did not mention, since I did not want to assume the worst. I noticed them withdrawing from gatherings and communicating less, even over the phone, but most people assumed they were busy. During our conversation about their mental health, I listened carefully, but was not sure what advice to give. I ended up suggesting they see their GP, and helped them look up where they should go, since they are bad with technology.

 

Feelings

I was shocked to hear how my family member was feeling. This was later replaced with concern for them, but ultimately, I was glad that they trusted me enough to open up to. I also felt guilty for not noticing sooner, and assuming that they were just busy. It can be difficult to support people with mental health issues without becoming drained yourself, and I definitely felt this. It made me realise how skilled mental health care professionals must be, to be able to take on that stress daily (Najib et al, 2019).

 

Evaluation

There were positives and negatives to this experience. I was able to help someone I am close to reach out for help from their GP, and also made them comfortable in opening up to me about their feelings. I tried my best to be supportive, and encouraging them to not feel embarrassed was a key part of what I feel went well. Still, there were aspects I could have improved on. I was taken aback initially, and could have responded with less surprise. Since I am not a health care professional, I did not know what help and resources were available for someone struggling. It might have been harder to give advice to someone I’m close to, since I was more emotionally invested and could not view the situation objectively.

 

Analysis

The entire situation made me reflect on the importance of mental health awareness. It benefits people, even those who aren’t health care professionals, to be aware of how to respond to someone struggling and what to recommend to them (Tobin et al, 2024). It is clear that someone mentally struggling cannot rely on someone close to them for help, since it can be draining and they would lack the expertise. It is important for people to recommend professionals into these situations.

 

Conclusion

From my experiences, I learnt that being there for those in your life who are struggling is very important, it is not enough by itself. It is possible to notice signs of mental decline in friends and family before it spirals, and more people should do so. The Gibbs’ Cycle helped me to see what I did well, but also what was not done well (Patterson, 2016). I cannot assume that I would act perfectly if put in this situation again, but I have learnt from this experience.

 

Action Plan

If something similar happened in future, there are many things I would look out for. I would look out for signs on mental decline earlier, and not just assume that someone is fine. I would also familiarise myself with resources that allow me to guide people in the right direction, which is getting professional help. I will also look at my own mental health when assisting others, and make sure I do not become too drained from it. Using the Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle has helped me realise all of this, and is something I can use again in the future (Sibson, 2008).

References

Najib, M., Abdullah, S., Narresh, S. and Juni, M.H., 2019. Brain-drain phenomenon among healthcare workers. International Journal of Public Health and Clinical Sciences, 6(3), pp.90-103.

Ocampo, F.A., McIntyre, B.G., Massey, D. and Saunders, R., 2025. Nursing student reflections on a research internship: A reflective discussion following the Gibbs' reflective cycle. Nurse Education Today, 145, p.106481.

Patterson, C., Moxham, L., Brighton, R., Taylor, E., Sumskis, S., Perlman, D., Heffernan, T. and Hadfield, L., 2016. Nursing students' reflections on the learning experience of a unique mental health clinical placement. Nurse education today, 46, pp.94-98.

Sibson, L., 2008. An introduction to reflective practice. Journal of Paramedic Practice, 1(3), pp.121-125.

Tobin, M., Carney, S. and Rogers, E., 2024. Reflective supervision and reflective practice in infant mental health: A scoping review of a diverse body of literature. Infant Mental Health Journal, 45(1), pp.79-117.