Educating Yourself on Mental Illness by Phoenyx Greicius
One way you can support a loved one with a mental illness is by educating yourself. Learning more about their illness can help you recognize their symptoms (National Alliance on Mental Health, n.d.). Not only will this help you spot warning signs, but it can also help with not taking their symptoms personally. For example, irritability can be a symptom of a depressive and/or anxiety disorder. Having a better understanding of how a mental illness may be affecting your loved one may help you see that these are symptoms, not personal attacks against you.
You can also educate yourself by learning which words and phrases are stigmatizing and how to replace them with more respectful terms (Paquette, 2020). Here are a few examples of stigmatizing language and how they can be replaced (Volkow et al., 2021):
Instead of “a schizophrenic,” say “a person with schizophrenia”
Instead of “a psychotic,” say “a person with psychosis”
Instead of “committed suicide,” say “died by suicide”
Instead of “unsuccessful/failed suicide,” say “survived a suicide attempt”
Instead of “substance abuse,” say “substance misuse/use”
As you might have noticed, some of these examples use a person-centered approach. This is done to show how a person’s illness or disorder is just one aspect of their life (Volkow et al., 2021). Similarly, you might want to avoid saying “committed suicide,” as the word “commit” is associated with sin and crime (e.g., “committed murder” or “committed adultery”). Overall, these are just some examples of how you can shift your language around mental illness to be more neutral and less negative and judgmental. You can also ask your loved one if they have preferred terms or labels. Using respectful language may seem like a small change, but many people with mental illness are stigmatized by others and may even experience self-stigma (Paquette, 2020; Volkow et al., 2021). By educating yourself about mental illness and changing how you talk about it, you can signal to your loved ones that you care about them and will continue to be a source of support.
Creating a Safe and Supportive Environment by Lindsay Tran and Melanie Zepeda
Bringing more awareness to mental health struggles allows for more initiatives to be taken place. For one, keeping a safe and supportive space for those who struggle with mental illness fosters an environment where they’re not hesitant to seek help (National Alliance on Mental Illness). There are numerous ways we as family and friends can make our loved ones feel supported through a mental health crisis:
Active listening.
Paying close attention and allowing them the space to express their feelings nonjudgmentally reassures your loved one that they feel heard!
Allowing them to make their own decisions.
There are assumptions that people who struggle with mental health issues are not capable of making their own decisions, however, that is not true. Making decisions without their consent can cause more harm than good as encounters with law enforcement for wellness checks can be overwhelming, and traumatize them further (Finch, 2020). The best precaution is to contact local crisis teams ahead of time for guidance.
Show respect and acknowledge their feelings.
Showing respect to the individual and acknowledging their feelings shows that you are actively listening and validating how they feel. It can be seen as comforting to your loved ones when you are making them feel seen and heard. Through acknowledgment, your loved ones feel that they can open up more in a conversation since a safe and supportive environment is established.
Give your loved ones hope that they will recover.
During a mental health crisis, an individual is vulnerable and may be experiencing thoughts of hopelessness and helplessness. They may feel that they will not recover and that they will forever be experiencing a mental health crisis. Reassure them that this is not the case and that they will recover with the proper help and treatment. Offer encouragement to help them continue to receive the help they need.
Methods such as these create an environment that is safe and loving for your loved ones to open up to you and seek help. Being willing to seek help is one of the toughest and most intimidating things someone going through a mental health crisis might have to do. However, fostering a safe and supportive environment for your loved ones may help with the fear or difficulty of seeking help when going through a mental health crisis.
Talking About Mental Health and Responding to Mental Health Crises by Melanie Zepeda
Being able to talk to your loved one about their mental health is one of the best ways to take initiative and support them during a difficult time. Sometimes, it can be difficult for someone struggling with a mental illness to actually reach out and seek help. In order to prevent losing valuable time in helping your loved one receive the help they need, it is essential to be able to reach out and show your support by creating a safe space for them to discuss their current mental health with you. Here are some of the ways to create a safe space and talk about mental health with your loved ones:
Have a time and space without any distractions and start the conversation in a way that ensures the person is in a safe and loving environment.
It is important to be able to create a non-judgmental space where they also feel like you are listening to them. Starting off the conversation by saying, “I am someone who cares and wants to listen. What do you want me to know about how you are feeling?”, shows that you care and that you are ready to listen and help (SAMHSA, 2023).
Let your loved one share as much or as little as they’d like.
Being able to let the individual set the pace for the conversation allows them to be more open and comfortable with what they are feeling. A person should not feel pressured to share their feelings and should only do so when they are comfortable and ready.
Listen carefully to what they have to say and thank them for being transparent and trusting you.
For most individuals, talking about their feelings can be difficult. When put in a vulnerable situation where your mental health is not the greatest, sharing your feelings can take a lot of courage (Mental Health Foundation, n.d.). Let them know that you appreciate them for trusting you and having a conversation with you when they are feeling very vulnerable.
Offer them different resources that they can use.
Being able to direct your loved one to professional help can be a step in the direction of healing. Present those options of talking to a mental health professional to your loved one, and support them in the decision they end up making regarding treatment options. Some options that you can present are: reaching out to a general practitioner, talking to mental health hotlines, and joining support groups. There are many options that can help your loved one through a difficult time that they may be experiencing.
Along with creating a safe space to talk about mental health with your loved one, it’s also important to know what to do in the event of a crisis. At times, someone who is struggling with their mental health may experience suicidal thoughts, depersonalization, or derealization. In the event of a crisis occurring with your loved one, the best thing you can do for the situation is to remain calm (MHF, n.d.). Although it can be upsetting and frightening to see your loved one experience a mental health crisis, being able to remain calm in the situation can help you concentrate on their needs during the crisis.
Knowing how to approach your loved one to talk about mental health and knowing what to do in the event of an emergency will help prepare you to help your loved one through a vulnerable and difficult time for them. Ultimately, being able to ensure that you support them and love them during this difficult time is a step in the right direction for your loved one to receive the mental help they need.
References
Finch, S. D. (2020, July 28). The do’s and don’ts of supporting someone in a mental health crisis. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/supporting-someone-in-a-mental-health-crisis
How to support someone with a mental health problem. Mental Health Foundation. (n.d.).
National Alliance on Mental Health. (n.d.). How to love someone with a mental illness. https://www.nami.org/Personal-Stories/How-To-Love-Someone-With-A-Mental-Illness
National Alliance on Mental Health. (n.d.). Tips for How to Help a Person with Mental Illness.
Norian, I. (November 2022). Helping a loved one cope with mental illness. American Psychiatric Association. https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/helping-a-loved-one-cope-with-mental-illness
Paquette, A. (2020, October 2). What people with mental illness want you to know. National Alliance on Mental Illness. https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/October-2020/What-People-with-Mental-Illness-Want-You-to-Know
Supporting a Friend or Family Member with Mental Health Problems. SAMHSA. (2023, April
Volkow, N. D., Gordon, J. A. & Koob, G. F. Choosing appropriate language to reduce the stigma around mental illness and substance use disorders. Neuropsychopharmacol. 46, 2230–2232 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-021-01069-4