Small Things Count

During this month of May, which is Mental Health Awareness month, I think about people struggling with depression or who are bipolar or have other conditions–friends with mental illnesses they try to hide, and friends with a mental illness that is very apparent.  You probably do, too, since one in four people experience it within any given year.   Sometimes, dealing with them isn’t easy.  Because I care for them, I want to support them; I want to make their lives more livable.  But I’m not a professional, and I don’t want to do or say something that would be harmful to them.

I’d like to share with you a short yet helpful article.  I’ll give you its five recommendations here.  For an explanation of each, read “How to Help a Friend with Mental Illness.”

1. Listen to what they are saying.
2. Validate what they are saying.
3. Ask what they need.
4. Educate yourself about their experience.
5. Keep being a friend.

I’m trying to apply these steps to my friends.  I hope others will apply them to me when I need them.

I know people struggling with depression or who are bipolar or have other conditions–friends with mental illnesses they try to hide, and friends with a mental illness that is very apparent.  You probably do, too, since one in four people experience it within any given year.   Sometimes, dealing with them isn’t easy.  Because I care for them, I want to support them; I want to make their lives more livable.  But I’m not a professional, and I don’t want to do or say something that would be harmful to them.

Recently I found a short yet helpful article I’d like to share with you.  I’ll give you the five recommendations here.  For an explanation of each, read “How to Help a Friend with Mental Illness.”

1. Listen to what they are saying.
2. Validate what they are saying.
3. Ask what they need.
4. Educate yourself about their experience.
5. Keep being a friend.

I’m trying to apply these steps to my friends.  I hope others will apply them to me when I need them.