It’s hard to watch a friend struggle. Maybe they’ve been making jokes that feel a little too dark, they’ve told you that they’re feeling anxious all the time, or they’ve dropped off the face of the earth and stopped answering your messages. Whatever it is, you know something isn’t right, and you want to help. Even though you can’t force a friend to get help — that’s a decision only they can make — there are a few ways to encourage them to get the treatment they need.
Learn how to help a friend seek mental health support or how to help a friend with a mental illness find what they need through this guide from the experts at Ascend.
1. Open Up About Your Own Experiences with Mental Health
How you help a friend seek mental support is by destigmatizing it. Anxiety, depression, and other mental health struggles can make you feel totally alone. Your friend might be feeling like nobody understands what they’re going through or that something is deeply wrong with them. If you’ve had your own experiences with mental health, sharing them can help make your friend feel less alone. Everyone needs to know that it’s okay to not be okay sometimes. Let your friends know that you don’t think they’re weird or broken for having a hard time.
2. Keep Reaching Out
Wondering how to help a friend struggling with mental health? Your friend might isolate themselves if they feel like they’re no fun, are bringing down the mood, or don’t have anything to offer. Keep inviting them places anyway. This can show them that you don’t just like being around them when they’re feeling good — instead, you care about them as a person. They might not always accept the invite, but reaching out consistently shows that you’re there for them when they’re ready to hang out.
3. Talk About Mental Health Help
Going to a therapist, starting medication, or even just looking up articles about mental health on the internet can be scary. It’s hard to admit that something is wrong, and your friend might be worried that by seeking help, they’re admitting that they’re weak or crazy.
How you help a friend seek mental health support is by talking with them about what they’re worried about. Do they think that if they tell a therapist about how they’re feeling, the therapist will tell their parents everything? Do they think that medication will change who they are? You don’t have to have all the answers. Just listening can be how you help a friend struggling with mental health.
4. Make Sure You’re Taking Care of Yourself, Too
While you’re helping a friend struggling with their mental health, it’s important to make sure you’re taking care of yourself as well. It’s hard to support someone else if you’re stressed, burnt out, or feeling overwhelmed. Try to notice if you’re:
- Extra tired
- Irritated
- Isolating yourself
- Not interested in things you usually enjoy
- Feeling hopeless or helpless
Talking to a trusted friend or family member can help you get through this tough time. Think about how you’d help a friend seek mental health support — all of this advice applies to you, too!
Ascend Is Here to Offer Professional Help
Ascend is a teen mental health treatment center that can support adolescents struggling with their mental health. We’re here to help teens and their families work through challenges and develop the skills and tools needed to thrive.
Whether you want to learn how to help a friend seek mental health support or you need support for yourself, talk to a parent about reaching out to Ascend. Call 310.388.3713 or reach out online to get started.
