When someone opens up to you about their mental health, it can be challenging to know what to say or do—and, most importantly, how to react and respond. You can make a big difference through small gestures like carefully listening, keeping in touch, and showing you care.
Listen with empathy
- When someone is opening up to you about their mental health, listen to them with empathy – carefully and thoughtfully without making assumptions or jumping to conclusions
- In a situation where someone opens up, the least you can do is listen with an open mind and an open heart
Treat them normally
- One of the biggest reasons that stop people from talking about their mental health is that they believe that they will be ostracized or treated differently
- They have chosen and trusted you for sharing a piece of their lives with you, but it’s not who they are and it’s not their identity
Create a connection
- Listen without any judgment or shame and create a sense of reassurance, care and trust
- Ask how you can help
- Direct questions like “how can I support you?” or “what would be most helpful for you right now?” This will give direction and make the person feel heard and cared for
Validate their feelings
- Mental health needs to be normalized and if the person feels heard and seen, they will never hesitate in coming to you with their problems in future
- Normalize their experience without any judgements
- Think of how much courage it must have taken to start the conversation
