Discussing Mental Health
- 28 Aug
Discussing mental health can be a challenging concept, but something that can help a person with mental health problems is talking.
Leading on from our post ‘Do you discuss mental health at work?' and from seeing the amount of people wearing their heart on their sleeve thanks to Time to Change, this post aims at helping you start a conversation on mental health.
It can sometimes feel difficult approaching someone who you know is going through a hard time with their mental health, but it can also have a positive impact on those who are suffering. Even if they don't appear to want to talk about it to you, ensure that they know you are there for them and are ready to listen when they want to talk.
Whilst it may appear easy to rely on well-known clichés they won't be go down so well. Ensure you keep an open mind and make no judgements.
Offer your help and support. Although it may not be taken up straight away, making sure people know you are there for them when they are ready can be a relief for someone who is suffering.
Remember that there are other topics other than mental health. Many don't want to discuss their mental health problem and you should remember that it is not the only topic open for discussion. Just talking, and knowing someone is there, can help someone who is suffering with their mental health.
Acknowledge that there is an issue rather than avoiding it. If someone comes to talk to you, ensure that you are ready to help with the issue at hand and don't ignore it because you find the situation difficult.
For more information and help go to the Time to Change website.
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