How To Have A Conversation About Mental Health

What To Do:

• Listen with kindness, and patience
• Show empathy
• Give your mental and emotional support
• Validate their feelings
• Ask when you have time to listen
• Let them know you care
• Keep in touch even if you get no response
• Tell them that they’re not a burden

What Not To Do:

• Don’t interrupt or speak over them
• Don’t be critical and insensitive
• Don’t make them feel bad and alone
• Don’t insult their feelings
• Don’t say “you just need to…”
• Don’t try to give a million solutions
• Don’t hesitate to speak about feelings
• Don’t tell them that it’s their fault how they feel