Undoubtedly mental health awareness has increased over the past few years. More of us are aware of disorders like depression, anxiety, OCD, etc. Campaigns like #DobaraPoocho had a huge role to play and made a big impact. Posts about the symptoms of various mental illnesses are circulated on social media more frequently. We have all started to notice that friend/ family member who may need help. But now what? What do you do after you know there is a problem?
I know my friend / parent / partner / child needs mental health attention. Now what?
As a friend, our instinct is to be there for this person. We hear them out, advise them, give them leeways because we know and understand that they are struggling themselves. And we keep up with this, because honestly, this is the only way we know how to be there for them. But this is only the beginning. Your friend/ family member needs you as a support and ally, but they may also need to see a professional counsellor.
So, if you feel someone close to you may be having a mental illness or may need counselling/ therapy, here is how you can actually help them:
Listen: Hear them out. About what they are experiencing and what is bothering them. Do not disregard or argue with what they are saying. Take their feelings seriously.
Be there: Ask them in what way you can help. Their needs may be different from what you think.
Check for safety: Gently find out if they may be posing a risk to themselves or others. If they are, contact emergency services and do not wait to seek help.
Get informed: Learn about the condition. Speak to a mental health professional about it and what you can/should do.
Encourage them to get help: Discuss the option of therapy. Talk through their fears and hesitations. If required, seek guidance from a mental health professional on this. If they are not receptive, do not push them, but keep trying occasionally.
Help them get help: Actively help them find a good therapist. If they need, fix the appointment and accompany them for the first visit.
Help them prepare for the visit: You can help them make a list of symptoms/ incidents/ questions they may want to discuss with the professional.
Support and follow up during treatment: With their permission and consent, check in on how therapy is going. Are they keeping their appointments? Taking medication (if any)? Following other exercises/ practices advised? Do they need any support from you? Try not to be overbearing.
Self-care: You cannot help your loved one if you yourself are not ok. Take steps to ensure your emotional resource bank is being recharged and not going into negatives. Learn here about how to take care of yourself when you have a loved one with a mental illness.
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