Supporting a friend who is going through a mental struggle can be challenging, especially when you are not sure what to say, do, or how to react. However, it is not always important to say something or respond in a specific way to put someone at ease.
Sometimes, the simplest thing you can do is be there for your distressed friend. Your empathy, understanding, or mere presence can have a significant impact and help them heal more effectively.
Struggling with mental health issues like depression and anxiety can cause individuals to feel misunderstood and isolated. In such moments, having someone genuinely care for you can provide immense mental support. Let us discuss how we can be a good company during someone’s time of need. Read on to find out.
How to Offer Emotional Support?
When someone shares their difficult experiences, it often becomes difficult to understand what to do or say. It does not take any special training to show someone that you care. Here are some ways in which you can extend emotional support:
- Be a good listener: You don’t always have to listen to reply. Sometimes, you can just be kind enough to offer someone a safe space to talk in order to extend mental support. Listening to how a person is feeling can be a help in itself.
- Reassure them: Individuals struggling with mental health issues may often find it scary to share their feelings and experiences with others. Keep reassuring them and letting them know that they are not alone. This extends great mental support and gives individuals the courage to combat the devils in their minds.
- Be patient and calm: It may sometimes be upsetting to hear someone you love and care about go through such distressing times. However, do not lose your calm. You must offer them a safe space and allow them to express themselves freely. You do not have to make a move immediately to help them.
- Don’t make assumptions: Although your perspective may be valuable, try not to make assumptions about what might have caused the feeling of vulnerability, or what might help.
Some Ways to Extend Practical Support to Those in Need
If you find someone willing to seek help, you can offer them practical support as well. Here are some ways in which you can do so:
- Share helpful resources with them: Provide them with websites, leaflets, or contact details that may be valuable for mental health treatment and healing.
- Support them in decision-making: Help them in thinking through what might be helpful for their situation. However, make sure that you do not force your decision on them. Encourage them to explore options and express their preferences freely.
- Help them with their paperwork: Help them organise their paperwork, which means sorting and storing all important documents such as appointment records, prescriptions, notes, etc. You may also help them jot down the questions that they might want to ask their therapist.
- Accompany them to appointments: A great way to offer mental support or Mental Health to someone in distress is by accompanying them to the doctor’s appointments. Whether you attend the session or simply sit in the waiting room, your mere presence can mean a lot to the other individual.
What NOT to Do
It may be frustrating to see someone very dear to you suffering from mental health issues but not willing to accept any help being offered to them. Nevertheless, it is important to respect their boundaries. Here are a few things that you should avoid:
- Do not force someone to talk to you if they are not ready to open up yet. If they feel you are a safe place to resort to, they will share once they are ready.
- Do not force someone to seek help. This can cause them to think about their troubles deeply, make them feel uncomfortable, or put them in a more vulnerable situation.
- Do not seek professional advice for someone else. Unless a professional interacts with a person in need, it becomes difficult for them to assess the situation correctly. In this case, a doctor might offer them general information, but they may not be able to come up with any specific advice.
Conclusion
Supporting someone through mental health challenges is less about having all the answers and more about being present with care, empathy, and patience. Every individual’s journey is unique, and your willingness to stand by them without judgment can be a powerful source of mental support.
By offering both emotional and practical mental support while respecting their boundaries, you help create a space where healing feels possible. Remember, even small gestures of kindness can have a lasting impact. What matters most is showing that they’re not alone on their path to recovery.