How to support someone with a mental illness

You know how you would take care of them if they had a cold or flu, but what do you do for a mental illness? Like any other health problem, someone with a mental illness needs extra love and support. You may not be able to see the illness, but it doesn’t mean that you’re powerless to help.

Talking to someone is often the first step to take when you know they are going through a hard time. This way you can find out what is troubling them and what you can do to help.

Important tips for talking about mental health:

1)Understand the things what they tell you:

Try to understand what they are saying carefully.You don’t have to agree with what they are saying, but by showing you understand how they feel, you are letting them know you respect their feelings.

2) Give time to them with no distractions:

It is important that you have to give time for them.So they can open up and tell what they exactly feel.You have to provide an open and non-judgemental space with no distractions.Try to give them appropriate environment so they can feel free to tell what they actually feel.

3)Let them share as much or as little as they want to: :

Don't force them to tell the things that they don't want to tell.Don’t put pressure on them to tell you anything they aren’t ready to talk about. Talking can take a lot of trust and courage. You might be the first person they have been able to talk to about this.So try to listen & understand how much they are telling.

4)Be friendly :

It is very important that you sholuld be friendly so that they can tell what actually they feel.Try to be friendly so that they can feel that you are appopriate person to express their emotions and feel like you are understanding them.

5)Don't try to second guess their feeeling:

You are probably not a doctor or medical counsler so don't make guess of their feelings and try not to make assumptions about what is wrong or jump in too quickly with your own diagnosis or solutions.

6) Know your limits:

If the problem is serious then ask them for a help.f you believe they are in immediate danger or they have injuries that need medical attention, you need to take action to make sure they are safe. More details on dealing in a crisis can be found below.