How To Help Someone Struggling With Mental Health?

1 in 5 of us lives with a mental illness.

If you know someone struggling with their mental health, then these a question you should ask yourself regarding the matter is:

How can you help and support them?

Be A Good Active Listener

 By giving them space for discussion, but also interacting by asking questions and giving advice, you will be showing you care about them and show them that you are interested in their opinions and that would as well improve mutual understanding.

Do Not Judge

 It is so crucial that we listen when someone

tries to talk to us. Even if it seems like

it's the slightest issue in the world from our personal point of view, it can feel like a big problem to the person facing it. Listening to how someone feels will not cost us the world. Their feelings are their own and the least we can do is let them express them, without the extra worry

that they will be judged or cut off.

Be Supportive

People living with mental health
  challenges may become overwhelmed
  when we don't know how to support
  them. Our emotions can be managed
  and conversations can be facilitated
  compassionately when we have the
  the right information at hand.

Embrace Empathy And Validation

Empathy can be demonstrated by all of us, even if we don't fully understand what someone else is going through. Genuine caring and concern increase the likelihood that those in our lives will reach out to us when they are in need. 

An expression of empathy and validation

might sound like: "I understand that you’re

angry right now, that must be difficult."

Do Not Force It

Do not force someone to talk to you or get help, and do not go to a doctor on their behalf. This may make them feel uncomfortable, with less power, and less able to speak for themselves.

Offer Practical Help

Little acts of kindness like offering to do the shopping or to go to professional appointments with them can help. Find out what works for them.

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