How does someone ask for help when they’re struggling with mental health? While the stigma around Black mental health is slowly shifting, it hasn’t disappeared. When we see someone we love is struggling with their mental health, we should know how to support them, and what to say. We have to look out for each other.
When folks are struggling, even small gestures can make the biggest difference. A gentle check-in, an open-ended invitation to talk, or even a simple reminder that they don’t have to go through it alone. It doesn’t take much to let someone know they’re not alone.
Just Be Present
You don’t have to know exactly what to say to make your loved one feel better. You just need to show up in a way that feels safe. Here are a few ways to express that:
- I’m here for you, even if you don’t want to talk.
- You’re not a burden. I care about you.
- You don’t have to go through this alone. I can help you find someone to talk to if you want.
These phrases are open and supportive without adding pressure. They let someone know they’re seen and valued, even when they aren’t feeling their best.
What Not To Say
On the other hand, some things you say might come from a good place, but can shut someone down quickly:
- You’re overthinking it.
- Just pray on it.
- It could be worse.
Even if we’ve heard these growing up, we don’t have to keep repeating them. We get to practice something different, an approach that encourages sharing and openness.
How to Support Mental Health Authentically
Support doesn’t have to be complicated. It could be noticing when someone’s energy is off and not pretending you didn’t see it. It’s texting “thinking about you,” or even better, picking up the phone and calling. It’s asking, “Want to get out of the house? I’m on my way,” or “I’ll call around and help you find a therapist.”
If you don’t know what to say, it’s okay to say that, too. You can say, “I’m here to listen. You can rage, cry, or scream. I’m here for you.”
Struggling with mental health can feel so isolating. Make sure your friends and family aren’t suffering alone.
