Prince Harry's insightful perspective on mental health challenges conventional wisdom. His stance on why telling someone 'You Need Help' can be counterproductive, offers a fresh look at empathy and understanding in mental health discourse.
Saying “you need help” turns a process that would actually be beneficial into the absolute last thing anyone would want to do
It implies that you’re beyond personal care and only a therapist can “fix” you
- In reality, people living with mental health conditions need both professional and social support
- Research shows that loved ones play an integral role in our mental health
- A lack of social support is associated with an increased likelihood of developing post-traumatic stress disorder following a traumatic event
How to check in
Ask them how they want to be checked in.
- Do they prefer a text every so often? What kind of questions actually help them open up?
- Would they rather you ask about symptoms or distract them from what’s going on for a while?
Ask, “Would you like me to help you find a professional to speak to?”
Offer to search for someone with them
- Help people navigate the mental health system
- If you are making jokes or snide comments about someone’s mental health, know that it says more about you than it does about them
Ask an open-ended question that acknowledges mental health issues
“My favorite way to get into these conversations is to lead with normalizing it,” said Jessica Gold, an assistant professor in the department of psychiatry at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. “Like, ‘This has been really hard on me mentally, what has it been like for you?’ And see where the conversation goes.”
I noticed _____ and I wanted to check in.”
Lead with non-accusatory statements
