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7 Tips to Talking to a Loved One about their Mental Health

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7 Tips to Talking to a Loved One about their Mental Health

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While 1 in 5 people will experience a diagnosable mental health condition in their lives, 5 out of 5 people will go through a challenging time that affects their mental health. There are simple things that every person can say or do to help the people in their life who are struggling to get through the tough times.

Practice active listening.

Active listening is different than just hearing what a person has to say. A good active listener:

puts everything aside and gives their complete attention to the person who is talking

asks open-ended questions to get more details about the topic that is being discussed ("And how did that make you feel?")

takes moments throughout the conversation to summarize what they've been told and make sure they are understanding clearly

Don't compare.

If a friend or loved-one is going through a tough situation and they come to you for support, you might feel tempted to tell them about something that happened to you and how you were able to get through it. It's okay to share about similar experiences, but be careful not to compare. It can make someone feel like their pain isn't valid. For instance, if they are telling you about a breakup, don't mention how you had a much harder divorce. Focus on what you did to cope with feelings of loss or loneliness.

Ask what you can do.

It can be tempting to assume what would be helpful to someone who is struggling, but it's always better to ask them what they need from you. If you ask and get a response like, "nothing, I'm fine," offer up a few suggestions for things you would be willing to do (without being pushy). For instance, you could offer to come sit with them and watch a movie, cook them a meal, or pick up a few things for them at the store.

Keep your word.

If you have offered your support to someone and told them you would do something, keep your word. When a person is struggling, the last thing they need is to feel abandoned by someone else. If you absolutely can't honor your promise, make a sincere apology and find another time that you can do what you said you would.

Don't judge.

To be truly supportive of someone, you need to put your personal opinions and biases aside. They may be struggling because of a mistake that they made, or you may think that they are overreacting, but you will never know what it is truly like to be that person in this moment, and criticism is not helpful to their recovery.

Offer to join them.

When someone is going through a time of sadness or uncertainty, their emotions can take over and leave them feeling paralyzed and unable to take care of life's obligations. Offering to go with someone to help them take care of responsibilities like walking the dog, going to the grocery store, attending doctor appointments, or picking up the dry cleaning can help them feel a sense of accomplishment and lift their spirits.

Know when more serious help is needed.

Sometimes the support that you can offer won't be enough. If you notice that your friend or loved-one continues to struggle after weeks or months, they may be showing signs of a mental health condition and likely need professional help. Don't be afraid to encourage them to seek help from a mental health professional and offer to help them find a provider if needed. If someone you care about is in immediate danger of taking suicidal action, seek help. Trained crisis counselors are available 24/7 by texting "MHA" to 741-741 or calling 1-800-273-TALK(8255).

This worksheet from Mental Health America's 2020 Mental Health Month Toolkit can help you think about how to start this conversation.

This worksheet is also available in Spanish.

References

Ozbay, F., Johnson, D. C., Dimoulas, E., Morgan III, C. A., Charney, D., & Southwick, S. (2007). Social support and resilience to stress: from neurobiology to clinical practice. Psychiatry (Edgmont). 4(5),35.

Inagaki, T. K., Bryne Haltom, K. E., Suzuki, S., Jevtic, I., Hornstein, E., Bower, J. E., & Eisenberger, N. I. (2016). The Neurobiology of Giving Versus Receiving Support: The Role of Stress-Related and Social Reward-Related Neural Activity. Psychosomatic medicine, 78(4), 443-453. https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000000302

The Trevor Project. (2019). National Survey on LGBTQ Mental Health. New York, New York: The Trevor Project.

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7 tips for talking to a loved one about their mental health | MHA Screening

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While 1 in 5 people will experience a diagnosable mental health condition in their lives, 5 out of 5 people will go through a challenging time that affects their mental health. There are simple things that every person can say or do to help the people in their life who are struggling to get through the tough times.

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Great toolkit with turnkey handouts and worksheets

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Purpose Norwalk-La Mirada USD is committed to cultivating wellness of our students, families and staff through a multi-tiered system of support with an emphasis on prevention and early intervention.

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Visit our stress and coping center for advice on how to handle stress, including different stressful situations.

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Understanding Anxiety in Children _ Teens

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SuperBetter uses the psychology of game play in all of life to improve resilience, mental health and social-emotional learning. Played by over 1 million people, SuperBetter unlocks your heroic potential to overcome obstacles and achieve your goals.
How it Works

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Social-Emotional Learning, Mental Health & Resilience Training

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SuperBetter uses the psychology of game play in all of life to improve resilience, mental health and social-emotional learning. Played by over 1 million people, SuperBetter unlocks your heroic potential to overcome obstacles and achieve your goals. How it Works

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NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)

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NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)

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National Adolescent and Young Adult Health Information Center

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National Adolescent and Young Adult Health Information Center

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NAHIC || National Adolescent and Young Adult Health Information Center

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Home - NAHIC || National Adolescent and Young Adult Health Information Center

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NAHIC: The National Adolescent and Young Adult Health Information Center is based within the University of California, San Francisco's Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Department of Pediatrics and the Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies.

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Resources for students, parents & staff

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Purpose Norwalk-La Mirada USD is committed to cultivating wellness of our students, families and staff through a multi-tiered system of support with an emphasis on prevention and early intervention.

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California Coalition for Youth Crisis Line

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California Coalition for Youth Crisis Line

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The California Youth Crisis Line is proud to be a program of the California Coalition for Youth
Youth can always call or text the California Youth Crisis Line, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at:
The California Youth Crisis Line (CYCL) operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week as the statewide emergency response system for youth (ages 12-24) and families in crisis. Professionally trained staff and volunteer counselors respond to 17,000 calls annually with crisis intervention counseling and resource referrals to service providers in the caller's local community. We have access to more than 5,500 free or low-cost resources for youth and families across California. For 34 years, we have listened to hundreds of thousands of youth and families in crisis from all over California about many struggles. Thoughts of suicide, depression, bullying, health and identity questions, trauma, human trafficking or any teen-related struggle are discussed with a crisis counselor in confidence and without judgment. We do not provide advice. We listen with compassion. If you or someone you know is experiencing any type of teen-related struggle or crisis, please call 1-800-843-5200. Translation services are available for multiple languages. The California Youth Crisis Line program and the California Coalition for Youth are proud members of Child Helpline International and the North America Alliance of Child Helplines.
What is a crisis anyway?
Anytime you are feeling misunderstood or overwhelmed and needing to talk to someone about what's happening, especially before you run away or cause harm to yourselves or others. Call us first to learn how to handle your current and/or future crises.
What youth and families can/do talk to us about:
- Family Conflict - Depression or Sadness - Assault and Exploitation - Dating Issues - Dating Violence - Running Away - Homelessness - Gang Involvement - Self-Harm - Suicide - Sexual Identity - Sexual Orientation - Bullying - Most (if not all) School Problems - Most (if not all) Topics Involving Youth - And more...
We Offer Referrals For Help With (but not limited to):
- Shelter - Counseling - Drug Abuse - Birth Control - Pregnancy Testing - Pregnancy Care - STI Testing/Care - HIV Testing/Care - Legal Assistance - Transportation - Reporting a Crime or Abuse - And much more...

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The California Youth Crisis Line is proud to be a program of the California Coalition for Youth The California Youth Crisis Line (CYCL) operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week as the statewide emergency response system for youth (ages 12-24) and families in crisis.

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Tips to Help Children and Teens with Anxiety and Stress

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Tips to Help Children and Teens with Anxiety and Stress

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Mental Health America is the nation's leading national nonprofit dedicated to the promotion of mental health, well-being, and condition prevention.

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In late 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), and the Children's Hospital Association (CHA) declared a National State of Emergency in Children's Mental Health. In addition, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued the U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory on Protecting Youth Mental Health to highlight the urgent need to address the nation's youth mental health crisis. Both the declaration from the AAP, AACP, CHA and the Surgeon General's Advisory have intensified efforts to align policymakers at all levels of government and advocates for children and adolescents to fight for stronger systems of prevention and care for our youth.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the nation was seeing increased rates of mental health challenges among children, adolescents, and their families, which has now only been exacerbated during the pandemic. In 2018, suicide was the second leading cause of death for youth ages 10-24 ( NIMH, 2019). The increased proportion of Emergency Department visits related to mental health emergencies suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified this crisis (CDC, 2020). Both the Declaration, and Surgeon General's Advisory, attribute the worsening crisis to the stress brought on by COVID-19 and the ongoing struggle for racial justice that have disproportionately impacted youth of color.

Through our MHTTC School Mental Health Initiative, we are responding to the nation's youth mental health crisis by:

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In late 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), and the Children's Hospital Association (CHA) declared a National State of Emergency in Children's Mental Health. In addition, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued the U.S.

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The NACG is the only professional member organization specifically addressing issues about childhood bereavement.

Our network is comprised of professionals, institutions, and volunteers who promote best practices, educational programming, and critical resources to facilitate the mental, emotional and physical health of children who are grieving and those who support them.

Join the Alliance today!

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National Alliance for Children's Grief | Home Page

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Our network is comprised of professionals, institutions, and volunteers who promote best practices, educational programming, and critical resources to facilitate the mental, emotional and physical health of children who are grieving and those who support them. Join the Alliance today!

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Greater Good: The Science of a Meaningful Life

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Based at UC Berkeley, Greater Good reports on groundbreaking research into the roots of compassion, happiness, and altruism.

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Infoaboutkids.org is an ongoing collaboration of the Consortium for Science-Based Information on Children, Youth and Families. Our goal is to promote healthy child and family development by highlighting science-based information for those who care for, or work with, children. Our site, updated annually, links to other well-established, trustworthy websites for parents, other caregivers, and professionals. Our monthly blogs will summarize science-based information on timely topics. Information provided on the site is meant to complement and not replace any advice or information from a health or education professional.

Body

How does healthy child and adolescent physical development occur? This section looks at physical milestones from birth through adolescence, including puberty. Topics related to healthy development, including healthy eating, exercise and activity levels, and doctor visits are available. Also included are areas that may be of concern, such as specific health conditions, drug abuse, and pain management.

Mind

How do children think and learn? This section looks at milestones in thinking, understanding, problem solving, and language. School topics such as homework and test anxiety are included. This section also includes challenges such as Intellectual disabilities and learning problems.

Emotions

How are emotions understood and managed by children and adolescents? This section looks at milestones in developing emotional well-being. This also includes information about challenges to emotional well-being such as conflict, stress, and trauma. Specific mental and behavioral health conditions are also included.

Relationships

How can children and adolescents relate with others effectively? This section looks at how healthy relationships are developed with family members, peers, and with others in the schools and community. This also includes challenges that happen within the family such as conflict, in schools such as bullying, or in the community such as involvement with the legal system.

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Infoaboutkids.org is an ongoing collaboration of the Consortium for Science-Based Information on Children, Youth and Families. Our goal is to promote healthy child and family development by highlighting science-based information for those who care for, or work with, children. Our site, updated quarterly, links to other well-established, trustworthy websites for parents and professionals.

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Child Mind Institute | Transforming Children’s Lives.

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The Child Mind Institute is an independent nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children struggling with mental health and learning disorders.

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NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.

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NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.