5 Tips to help a loved one that is struggling with mental health issues
By: Aliya Blackburn
Disclaimer: I am not a licensed therapist. Trigger Warning: topic, mental health issues.
Do you have a loved one that is living with a mental illness? You are not alone. If your loved one is suffering with a mental illness, they may be having some symptoms. Symptoms vary between each person. Some may experience: feeling sad or hopeless, having less energy, having trouble sleeping, feeling guilty or worthless, eating more or less, seeming less interested in spending time with people, and feeling irritable or upset. These symptoms can leave a person feeling drained. But there are things you can do as a friend, to help!
Here are 5 tips to help a loved one that is struggling with mental health issues:
1. Listen and Validate Their Feelings
Talk to your friend. Show them you really care and are there for them. Listen to what they have to say. Ask them questions such as, “I can tell you are not yourself lately, what’s on your mind?” or “How have you been feeling lately? I can tell you have been going through a tough time.” Simple questions like this can get a person to open up. Use active listening skills to show your friend that you truly care. But realize your friend may not want to talk about how they feel. Let them know you are here when they are ready to open up and will be there for them always. Having one main friend to talk to can be very important for someone struggling with mental health problems; and you can be that support for your friend. Reach out.
2. Learn About Mental Illnesses on Your Own / Educate Yourself
One of the best ways you can support a loved one is to educate yourself on what illness they have. You can best support them if you know what they are going through. You will have a better understanding; and that will help with your overall support. Read up on symptoms for that disorder, causes and treatment options. Reading about symptoms can teach you what your loved one is going through, and hopefully get a better outlook overall. Looking up treatment options can help you see what help is out there, and see that maybe your friend or family member needs that extra help. Educating yourself can only benefit your loved one that is struggling.
3. Make Open-Ended Plans with Them
This one is important. Making set plans with someone who struggles with mental health issues can be very overwhelming. A thought that goes through my head is, “What if I’m not feeling well that day… I don’t want to make set plans.” This anxiety can prevent people from socializing and seeing friends and family. But making open-ended plans can help this issue. This basically means making a plan with no set date and time. An example would be, “Hey! We should go get coffee soon.” You’re letting the person know you want to see them, without the pressure of setting an exact time. If the person agrees but hasn’t followed through with the plans, follow up with them; show you care. Going out with your loved one can be very beneficial for them. Just going out of the house for a drive in the car can make someone’s day.
4. Help Them to Find Support
Getting help or treatment can be very difficult for someone. It can be scary, especially if it is your first time. The person may need assistance looking up therapists, treatment centers or hospitals. Knowing they are not alone while looking for treatment can be so helpful for them. Also, if your friend needs help talking to a school counselor or parent, going with them can be hugely beneficial. Being there for them shows you care. Helping your loved one find support can be a huge first step for them to get the help they need.
5. Make Them Smile
This one is so simple, but can make the biggest impact. Did you know forcing yourself to smile when you’re sad will actually elevate your mood? Making someone smile can change someone’s mood drastically. Telling someone a joke, a past funny memory, or a silly story can brighten someone’s day. If they are going through some tough stuff, smiling for a couple seconds could be the highlight of their day. Smiling is contagious; so, if you are constantly smiling around your loved one, it can actually cause them to smile as well. Smiling is so good for the soul and overall, just makes us as humans happy. We all need to do it more. So, if you’re reading this, make it a point today to make someone smile… literally anyone! Make someone’s day.
These 5 tips are simple things you can do every day to help your friend or family member that is dealing with a mental illness. These few steps can really make a big impact on the person, and show them you really do care. Showing that you are there for them is so important because it tells them they are loved and cared for. Make sure you tell them that as well.
I hope these tips helped! 🙂
