How You Can Help

If you have a loved one who is living with a mental health challenge, you are not alone. One in four Americans is diagnosed with a mental illness per year. Often times, there is a stigma associated with mental health challenges, preventing people from seeking help or talking about it with their friends and family. But in reality, mental illness is no different from physical illness. And like with any illness, supportive friends and family are crucial aspects to a person’s road to recovery.

Be there for them. (Click bullets to expand)

• Express your support and avoid being judgmental. Understand that there is a stigma surrounding mental illness, and do your best to keep an open mind and create a safe environment for your loved one. Make yourself available and let him or her know that he or she is not alone.
• Offer a listening ear. A listening ear is the best way to support someone struggling with mental health challenges. Giving advice or dismissing concerns can be counter-productive – sometimes even well-intentioned comments can be more hurtful than helpful. If your loved one wants to talk, just listen and don’t change the subject.
• Ask what you can do to help. Figure out what your loved one would find most helpful and how best you can support him or her. By talking openly about this, you are letting your loved one know that you are there for support. You might offer to help your loved one with errands, but be careful not to patronize him or her.
• Respect confidentiality. Let your loved one know that you are trustworthy so that he or she feels comfortable opening up to you. The only exception is if your loved one talks about suicide; when suicide is mentioned, it’s time to tell a professional and get help (the National Suicide Prevention line is 1(800) 273-TALK).
• Educate yourself about your loved one’s illness. This will help you understand it and help you know what to expect. Look into community resources for both your friend and for yourself.
• Be a part of your loved one’s recovery process. There may be some times that their disorder may prevent them from doing certain things or participating in certain activities. Respect their boundaries and don’t put extra pressure on them. Sometimes medication will interfere with lifestyle, so if your loved one can’t drink (or take other drugs), it’s helpful to find activities you can share with him or her that do not involve alcohol and/or drugs. Support healthy behavior choices your loved one makes, such as getting enough sleep or maintaining a healthy diet and exercise.
• Don’t forget to take care of yourself. Sometimes it can be stressful and overwhelming to care for a loved one living with mental health challenges. Take time for yourself and make sure you do something relaxing. Check out the free support groups for families and friends of people with mental illness.

Don’t know what to say to a friend or loved one? Here are some quick do’s and don’ts to help you through the conversation: Starting the Conversation.