Mental health can be a tough topic to speak about with anybody and a lot of people unfortunately suffer in silence due to the fear of not being heard or feeling embarrassed to talk about their struggles. Let’s try and change that and encourage our loved ones to speak up and understand it is okay to feel like this and there is help and support available.
Top 5 tips that will help you support your loved one.
- Show your support – Remind them that you are there to support and help them through this, so they are not alone. Assure them that there is also professional support available if this is something they would like to do, don’t force them to seek professional help but assure them that there are options.
- Be open-minded – Be mindful of the words and phrases you are using, saying things like “cheer up” “you’ll be fine tomorrow” or “pull yourself out of this” definitely will not help with how they are feeling, this is not the right way to deal with the situation so be mindful in what you are saying. Instead, assure them you are there to support them and allow them to talk to you about their struggles at their own pace.
- Ask how you can help – It is important to ask your loved one how you can support them, as helping your loved one with the smallest of tasks can be a massive help. For example, if they want to go for a walk or get some exercise you could be supportive and go with them or if they are worried about seeking professional help alone, you could also go with them and support them through this.
- Tackle issues together – A problem shared is a problem halved. If your loved one is struggling with a situation in their life or has several personal struggles, assure them that you can tackle these issues together, one step at a time and you will be there to support them. The difference this can make to somebody who is worrying will feel like a weight off their shoulders.
- Look after yourself- It can sometimes be stressful supporting someone else. Make sure you are also checking in on yourself and how you are feeling, don’t take too much on too quickly, take things step by step. Making sure you are looking after your well-being also means you can better support your loved ones.
I hope you have found these tips helpful, and it has given a little insight into what you can do to help support the people closest to you suffering from mental health. Always check in on others, even if they seem okay, a simple How are you feeling can go a long way, always check in.
Lots of love x