Knowledge Assessment

A mentee who is suddenly less engaged in your sessions, avoids eye contact, and begins showing extreme changes in mood might be experiencing:

• Normal teenage behavior

• Difficulty with schoolwork

• Possible signs of underlying mental health distress

• An attempt to manipulate your attention

Answer explanation

There is no single correct answer for this. This question is meant to gauge the mentor’s self-assessed confidence level.

Mentors sometimes face challenges in building relationships with mentees. Which of the following behaviors is most likely to damage the trust between you and your mentee?

• Checking in regularly about their life

• • Telling them that you “know what’s best” for them

• • Asking them questions about their personal interests

• Encouraging them to think for themselves

Answer explanation

Telling a mentee you "know what’s best" undermines their autonomy and can break trust. Checking in, asking questions, and encouraging independent thinking build trust.

Trauma can manifest in ways that may seem unrelated to the original event, such as academic struggles, behavioral changes, or physical symptoms.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

True: Trauma can manifest in many ways, including emotional, physical, and academic issues. These symptoms may not always appear directly related to the traumatic event.

Which of the following could indicate that a mentee is experiencing prolonged mental health distress? (Choose two)

• Gradual withdrawal from social or extracurricular activities over time

• • Showing extreme enthusiasm for new hobbies or interests

• Frequent absenteeism or inability to focus during mentoring sessions

• Always agreeing with everything said to avoid conflict

Answer explanation

Gradual withdrawal and frequent absenteeism or inability to focus are indicators of prolonged mental health distress. Extreme enthusiasm for new hobbies may not be indicative of distress, and always agreeing could suggest conflict avoidance but may not necessarily point to distress on its own.

Which of the following best represents the qualities that define a strong, healthy mentor-mentee relationship? (Select all that apply)

• Active listening and validation of the mentee’s experiences

• Consistently offering advice to guide the mentee in every situation

• Setting rules early to ensure the mentee understands who is in control

• Creating a space where the mentee feels they can share without judgment

Answer explanation

Active listening, validation, and creating a safe, non-judgmental space are key aspects of a healthy mentor-mentee relationship. Offering advice in every situation and setting strict rules may hinder the relationship.

If a mentee who has experienced trauma becomes suddenly disengaged, angry, or emotional during a mentoring session, what is the most appropriate way to respond?

• • Take a firm approach to help them stay focused

• Show empathy and allow them space if they need it, while maintaining a calm presence

• • Encourage them to talk through their anger immediately

• • Redirect the conversation to something more positive and uplifting

Answer explanation

It’s essential to maintain a calm and empathetic presence, allowing the mentee to have space to process their emotions without feeling rushed or pushed to talk.

Effective mentorship requires maintaining professional distance and avoiding personal connections with your mentee to protect boundaries.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

False: While boundaries are important, avoiding personal connections entirely can prevent the development of trust and rapport. Mentorship thrives on healthy connections, where both boundaries and a personal relationship can coexist.

Which of the following statements about trauma-informed care is true?

• Trauma-informed care involves diagnosing and treating the mentee’s trauma

• • Trauma-informed care means you should avoid all difficult conversations

• Trauma-informed care focuses on understanding the mentee’s behavior in the context of their past experiences

• Trauma-informed care is primarily about controlling a mentee’s emotional responses

Answer explanation

Trauma-informed care is about understanding how past experiences, particularly trauma, may affect a mentee’s current behavior. It does not involve diagnosing or controlling emotional responses.

Which of the following strategies would help establish trust in the early stages of a mentor-mentee relationship? (Choose all that apply)

• Offering advice at every opportunity to show that you are knowledgeable

• Establishing consistent meeting times and showing up as scheduled

• Asking open-ended questions to understand more about their world

• • Sharing your own past mistakes to prevent them from repeating them

Answer explanation

Consistency and open-ended questions build trust early on by showing that the mentor is reliable and genuinely interested in the mentee’s perspective. Offering advice or sharing past mistakes may not always foster trust, especially in the early stages.

How would you handle a situation where your mentee expresses a need for support in an area where you lack expertise?

Answer explanation

A good response would involve acknowledging your limitations, listening empathetically, and referring the mentee to professional resources when necessary, while continuing to provide emotional support.