Lending a Hand

Shyra Rahman

May was Mental Health Awareness Month, yet for many of us, mental health discourse and education don’t stop right after the month ends—it’s an everyday struggle. According to the NIH, 1 in 5 adults live with mental illnesses which means we all know someone who is going through these difficulties. How exactly can we support our loved ones? 

• Be available to offer support. Give a space to let them talk without interrupting, being judgemental, or offering your opinion - let them know you’re there to talk or just listen (keep what they say to you private, don’t break their trust!)
  
• Encourage treatment and support healthy behaviors. See and help make sure that they are sleeping well, exercising, eating healthy, and offer to engage in healthy activities with them, such as going on a walk or taking a movie night. You can help set realistic goals and help deal with setbacks.
  
• Respect boundaries. Continue to talk and include them in activities, but make sure not to be overbearing or impatient. It’s important to reach out, letting them know that you care, but don’t force plans and understand that they need space too
  
• Educate yourself! Don’t rely on the person to tell you everything or expect to be spoon fed information. The best way to support anyone with a mental illness is by learning more about the topic. Take time to read some articles or books and constantly be open minded as new information comes out and we expand our knowledge about mental health. 
  
• It can be tempting to always say to “look at the brightside!” or try to ‘connect’ by saying things like “we all go through these things.” But this undermines their difficulties and will make them feel misunderstood, outcasted, and not want to confide in you. You can offer words of encouragement instead and let them know you’re there to learn and help. 
  
• Most importantly, sometimes, the best thing you can do is ask them what they need. This way, you’re helping in the most effective way possible that caters to the individual. 
  

Don’t forget to take care of your own mental health as well. As you help, it can be overwhelming or possibly triggering. Make sure to take time, check in on yourself, and get help if you need it. Even after mental health awareness month ends, don’t stop the conversation or spreading awareness! It’s everybody’s job to ensure that we can support each other and ourselves and break from the idea that we need to live with these struggles alone. 
​

Sources 
“Mental Illness.” National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services, www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness.

“Showing Support.” Campus Mind Works, 
campusmindworks.org/support-a-student/showing-support/.

Shyra Rahman, BHSEC Queens
Staff Writer

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