If you think someone may be struggling with their mental health, it’s important to approach the conversation with sensitivity and care. Here are some steps you can follow to start a conversation with someone who you think may be struggling:
- Choose a private, quiet location to have the conversation. This will help ensure that the person feels comfortable and able to speak openly.
- Use an open-ended question to invite the person to talk about how they are feeling. For example, you could say “I’ve noticed that you seem a bit down lately. Is everything okay?” If the standard “how are you?” is answered with a bland “not too bad, thank you”, then get used to asking twice, or being more specific.
- Be an active listener. Pay attention to what the person is saying, and try to show that you are genuinely interested in understanding their perspective. Avoid interrupting or judging them. You might want to consider using the Samaritans SHUSH technique which can be a useful tool for having these types of conversations.
- Validate their feelings. It’s important to acknowledge that their feelings are valid and normal, even if you don’t necessarily understand them. You could say something like “It sounds like you’re going through a really tough time. That must be really hard.”
- Offer support. Let the person know that you are there to help and that they don’t have to go through this alone. You could say “Is there anything I can do to help?” or “I’m here if you ever need to talk.”
- Suggest resources. If the person is open to seeking help, you can offer to help them find resources such as a mental health hotline, a therapy directory, or support groups in their area.
Remember, it’s important to be patient and understanding. It can be difficult for someone to open up about their mental health struggles, so be sure to thank them for trusting you and to let them know that you are there for them.
Learn more about mental health and wellbeing here and read our Quick Tips Series here.
