Caring For You While You Connect:

If you are struggling with your mental health and well-being, reaching out to others can be the first step to getting the help you need and deserve. While talking to your friends or loved ones about your mental health, you may find that you reach a point where they can no longer be helpful or they are getting overloaded. If this happens, there are providers who can help.

Sometimes we can be concerned about others’ mental health. We may be scared to bring it up because we don’t think it’s any of our business or we don’t want to offend them. Approaching it from a place of concern because we care about them is always a good place to start. Making observations about their behavior(s) and how we feel about their behavior(s) (e.g., worried, scared) can help. Sharing your own mental health struggles can be a way to help others open up too. If you approach someone and they don’t want to talk, let them know you care and are available when they are ready.

The best way to let others know that you are open and supportive of them talking to you about their mental health is to talk to them about your own mental health. If they do open up and share, the best thing you can do is to listen to them without trying to fix their problems. Giving quick solutions can make it seem like their problems are simple or that they are unable to figure them out. Stay non-judgmental and consider they have life experiences you don’t have that influence their situation. Encourage them to seek out professional help if it seems their concerns are beyond what you can support.

If you have been supporting someone with their mental health and feel overwhelmed, it’s ok to set boundaries. Setting boundaries is not a selfish act, but will actually be more beneficial to your relationship by being honest about what you can and cannot offer them. You can be a part of helping them find the support they need so you can move back into what you feel able to offer.

Mental health stigma still creates a barrier to care for many people. If you are in a situation where others don’t understand your mental health concerns and need for treatment, it may be important to take some time apart from these people. If this is not possible, surrounding yourself with others who can support your choice to engage in mental health treatment is essential. The ideal situation is to do both at the same time.