How Can I Care For the Mental Health of My Friends? Here Are 5 Non-Negotiables
It’s May. That means four things: Spring, Star Wars Day, Cinco de Mayo, and most importantly, Mental Health Awareness Month. Every May, the goal is to stop and focus a bit, not just on our mental health but the mental health of those we care about.
So, today, I want to talk about how we can actively care for the mental wellness of our friends and family.
My wife loves to remind me that I’m not the most empathetic person in the world. I am a very matter-of-fact, to-the-point kind of person. It’s not that I don’t care; I just want to find the solution and move on to new things. But I have, over the years, discovered the harsh reality of acting that way around those who are really struggling with mental health issues.
If you are looking to help your friends with mental health, there are several things you can do.
Be Supportive and Understanding
Let them know that you are there for them and willing to listen to whatever they say. If they are open, offer to be a sounding board or a shoulder to lean on. Additionally, provide resources and advice if they are willing to accept it. Showing that you take their mental health seriously and are ready to help in whatever way possible can make a tremendous difference. We all want to be heard. There isn’t always a solution or the perfect thing to say. Sometimes the perfect thing is just to listen.
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Encourage them to seek professional help if they are not already doing so.
Help them research mental health resources in your area, such as counselors, support groups, hotlines, and other resources. Offer to accompany them to any appointments if they need your help. But there is a slight nuance to this. While offering to help them find professional help—because sometimes that is just what we need—the mere suggestion can come off as dismissive. You don’t want to send the false message that you don’t care or that things are so bad that they need “professional help.”
Be mindful of what you say to them.
Avoid language that could be seen as dismissive or invalidating, such as “Just get over it” or “It’s not that bad.” Also, don’t get trapped into playing the on-up game. Sometimes in our efforts to emphasize and relate, we end up playing a game of comparison and unintentionally turning the attention on ourselves. Instead, focus on being empathetic and validating their feelings. This is important because it helps the person to feel heard and understood, which can be a powerful way of showing support. It can help build trust and encourage the person to open up and seek help.
Make sure you are taking care of yourself too.
It can be emotionally taxing to help your friends with their mental health, so make sure you take time to care for yourself. Check-in with yourself regularly, and if you need to talk to someone, seek out your own support system. It's important to remember that you, too, need to take care of your mental health. It can be easy to forget that taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of your friends. Make sure you set aside time to relax and recharge so that you can be there for your friends when they need you.
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Invest in those who are helping.
There are still so many people who are afraid or just unwilling to share their struggles with someone they trust. This is why RemedyLIVE’s 24/7 chat line is so critical. Our SoulMedics do a tremendous job of bridging that gap from complacent and afraid to confident and fearless. And our partners help provide the necessary resources to continue to reach as many people as possible, start as many conversations as possible, and change as many lives as possible.
