More and more people are beginning to talk about mental health openly and share their thoughts on an issue that is so relevant to so many people.
Every day people are encouraged to get help, talk to someone and to seek support from friends and family. But most of our friends and family are not experts on health and it can be difficult for them to know what to say in order to support their loved ones.
Here are some guidelines on things you shouldn’t say to someone who is suffering from a mental health issue.
“Why are you depressed?”
This implies that there is a sole reason that someone might be suffering from a mental health issue.
Although there can be contributing factors, there is often no straightforward cause of feeling down. Asking someone to give you a reason for their illness could be seen as unfair considering they probably don’t know themselves.
“Your life is so great, though.”
Even those that appear to be having a great time could be struggling.
Observing that the person has a great life won’t cancel out the fact that they are having a tough time. While it is important to remind those who aren’t feeling well that they have support and good things going on, it’s essential to acknowledge that they still have the right to feel what they are feeling.
“You need *x* type of treatment.”
There is a range of services and treatments available from counselling to medication, for a number of mental health issues, but a personal opinion is not the same as a medical one. You cannot tell someone how they should deal with their suffering; you can, however, advise them to seek help and from there they can make decisions about their treatment.
“Everyone has bad days.”
Telling someone they are having a bad day can seem dismissive to a person suffering from depression, anxiety, low mood or any other such issue. If you are trying to comfort someone with a mental illness try not to compare it to yourself feeling ‘a bit sad sometimes’ or having an off day.
“You just need to keep busy.”
Everybody handles stress and emotional turmoil differently. Sometimes the internal weather, as author Michael Harding puts it, is stormy and the only thing for it is to do nothing.
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