Before this piece goes any further, it’s important to note that if you or anyone in your family needs urgent help with their mental health there are so many professional resources to reach out to. These numbers can offer expert advice and help you or the ones you love. You should make sure they get professional help if you think that’s the best path for them. In the meantime, there are small things which can make a world of difference when helping your loved ones going through their mental health struggles.
Communication
One of the most important things you can do to help someone you love going through a tough time with their mental health is to let them know you’re there for them. This isn’t about offering them advice, and it’s especially not to do with trying to make them feel better. It’s simply about letting them know you’re there for them to talk to. You can be a person they can vent to. You can be someone they can talk to, without feeling like a burden. Don’t downplay their feelings or tell them to cheer up or don’t worry about it. Listen and acknowledge their what they’re going through.
Understanding
You need to understand mental health can impact everyone differently. Each person sees the world in a unique light, so the darker shadows of mental health will impact their minds differently. There will be good days and bad days. Sometimes your loved one will seem fine and others it will be a struggle for them to get out of bed. You need to be patient. Talk with them and ask what you can do to help them.
Complexity
It’s been established mental health can impact everyone differently, and it can happen to any kind of person. The current face of mental illness is young, white, middle-class, diagnosed with a condition such as depression or anxiety. This couldn’t be further from reality. Mental health isn’t something you grow out of or goes away with age. The elderly population needs to be looked after as well. There are some days when it can seem like it’s impossible to get out of bed. When someone is going through a tough time with their mental health, you can make a success from the small things. Like taking a shower or going on a walk. This can be harder for the elderly, but with Mobility Solutions, this can be made much easier.
Mental health is such a complex issue that can’t easily be summarised or advised in a single blog post. What do you do with your loved ones if you know they’re struggling with their mental health? The more we help each other understand, the more we can learn.
This post is in collaboration.
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