Navigating Mental Health: Tips for Supporting Friends and Family

-Preksha Gabrielle

Intern, Jan- Apr 2024

Mental Illness is a tough topic for many people. There is so little known about it and less still about how to help and support your loved ones, struggling with a specific mental issue. A happy existence is based on having a healthy mind. However, understanding the complexity of mental health can be difficult for those who are struggling as well as for those who are close to them. We made an effort to go beyond simplistic methods by providing useful resources and knowledge that would enable people to effectively support the mental health of their friends and family members.

While these are just a starting point, remember to be responsive to your loved one's specific needs. They may require additional support beyond what's listed here – be open to offering it willingly.

• Recognising early warning signs of mental health issues is an essential first step in promoting honest dialogue. Even if it's difficult, starting a conversation about a loved one's emotional health shows that you care about them. It is important to remember that the person in issue might not be self-aware when it comes to their mental health, so being kind and understanding is crucial. Remind them how strong they are for seeking help from a professional. 

• Try to learn with your loved one about their mental illness and how to care for it. There is a wide range of mental health illnesses, each with its own distinct set of symptoms, course of therapy, and possible adverse drug reactions. You can be a more effective support system for your loved one if you take the time to learn about their particular disease. 
  

• Don’t be afraid to ask insightful questions. This could be about how they feel currently or what they’ve learnt from their therapist about their mental health. However, always remember to be respectful of their boundaries. 
  

• A big help, especially if you live with them or close to them, is to help out with basic daily tasks. Dealing with their declined mental health is a long upward battle, but additional chores and tasks may hinder the process or even set them back. The added stress causes them to feel even more exhausted mentally, so help out where you can. Picking groceries, washing the dishes or offering to clean the house is a good start. These small acts of kindness when unprompted can help and will be appreciated.
  

• DO NOT suggest staying busy as a coping mechanism or distraction from the issue. Keep in mind that they are dealing with something massive and new. Invite them out but be prepared for rejection, they may not have the mental strength to socialise as often as they used to. 

• To acquire a basic understanding, look into reliable resources such as the National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH] (https://www.nimh.nih.gov/) or the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): https://www.nami.org/Home. 
  

• Recovery from mental illness is rarely a straight line. Along the route, hiccups, plateaus, and even regressions are unavoidable. Being a supportive friend or family member involves more than just responding to a problem right away. It's not a sprint; it's a marathon. 

Be ready to provide constant support and encouragement for the duration of their adventure. If you have their permission, think about working with their medical staff to better understand their course of treatment and figure out how you can best support their long-term health. There is seldom a direct path back to mental health. Trying a variety of strategies to find the best course of action may be necessary, and prescription drugs can have individualised side effects. As you travel this path with your loved one, practise patience with them and with yourself.

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