No one should have to suffer alone. Mental health affects all of us, and when someone you care about is struggling, it can be difficult knowing how to support them. Fortunately, there are many ways you can be an ally for someone dealing with mental health challenges. With a focus on compassion and understanding, you can make an enormous difference in their life. Read on to learn more about how to be an ally to someone dealing with mental health issues.
1. Empowering Others in the Fight Against Mental Illness
We can’t fight the stigma and discrimination of mental illness on our own – it takes effort from the whole community. We can start by . Here are a few ways to show your support:
- Educate yourself: Get educated on the facts concerning mental illness – learn the warning signs and impacts of mental illness so that you can be better prepared to provide assistance in times of need.
- Become a Mental Health First Aider: Mental Health First Aid-certified individuals are trained to recognize the signs of mental illness and to be able to provide effective support. Taking a course can make a meaningful difference when supporting a family member, friend, or coworker in crisis.
- Curate a list of resources: Compile and share information about local mental health resources. This could include crisis lines, online mental health portals, support groups, and other channels for finding professional assistance.
Connect: Connect with others about their mental health journey. Ask open ended questions and provide a space for meaningful dialogue. Avoid assumptions and judgement – be an open and compassionate listener.
Destigmatize & Normalize: Help reduce the stigma of mental illness by understanding and pouring light on the facts. Mental illness is more common than people realize and by normalizing the conversation, we can make it easier for those affected to come forward and get the help they need.
2. Lending an Ear: Active Listening for Mental Health Struggles
It is natural to want to help our loved ones through their suffering. Too often, though, we take the wrong approach and exacerbate the issue. Mental health struggles often require special attention, and active listening can be the key to unlocking our attempt to alleviate the burden.
Active listening is a form of communication in which a listener carefully takes in the speaker’s words, generally without judgment. This is one of the most compelling ways to show that you are taking the conversation seriously and paying attention to what is being said. To practice active listening:
- Repeat back exactly what the other person is saying after they have finished speaking
- Acknowledge the feelings stated by the speaker through comments such as, “I understand how frustrated you feel”
- Avoid forming your response in the background as the other person is speaking
Attempting to move on to problem-solving and action-taking too quickly can be detrimental. This can make the person feel as though you are invalidating their experiences, when really, you just want to help. Suddenly directing the conversation to finding solutions can lead to frustration and tension. So, by practicing active listening, it is easier to bridge the gap between the conversation and finding possible solutions. By feeling heard and understood, the mental health struggle just might be able to be lessened or removed!
3. Providing a Safe Space for Vulnerable Conversation
Creating a safe space can be especially beneficial for people who come with vulnerability and are in need of empathetic understanding. This starts with having conversations that are conducive to acceptance and understanding, where no individual is judged or criticized. To provide such a safe space, here is what we can do:
- Reduce Pressure: Lower the risk of feeling socially judged by encouraging nonjudgemental and open conversations.
- Avoid Pointing Fingers: Offer constructive solutions without pointing the finger at any one person or group.
- Enhance Understanding: Show empathy, listen and ask questions with an open mind with respect to everyone’s position.
In the pursuit of creating a safe space, it is also key to remember to strive for an environment of self-respect. Respect yourself and the opinions of others, while avoiding inappropriate or overly critical remarks. We want to create a space that helps build strong relationships and encourages healthy dialogue, even when there are differences.
In addition to these points, it is essential for us to remember that a safe space is a place of acceptance. Be respectful of others, regardless of identity; we aim to be a community of people who are welcoming and accepting of all identities, points of view and backgrounds.
4. How To Take Action To Promote Understanding and Acceptance
It’s important to actively promote understanding and acceptance in order to create a culture of acceptance and inclusion. Here are some practical steps you can take to do just that:
Pay Attention to Your Own Biases – We all come with our own set of biases and prejudices, which can prevent us from seeing the richness of diversity. The first step to promoting understanding and acceptance is being mindful of our own preconceived notions and recognizing that we are operating from a place of unconscious bias.
Practice Active Listening – Listening attentively to what someone has to say is the best way to really understand them. Openly listen to their stories and allow yourself to learn from what they have to share. Taking the time to listen from an open heart can go a long way in fostering understanding and acceptance.
Engage in Difficult Conversations – Our society is constantly changing and it can be difficult to talk about controversial topics. But if we don’t talk about them, we won’t be able to educate each other or foster understanding and acceptance. So it’s important to engage in conversations with respect, allowing space for both points of view.
- Maintain an attitude of curiosity.
- Be open to hearing new perspectives.
- Be respectful of the other person’s opinion.
- Be considerate when sharing your own thoughts.
Be an Advocate for Social Justice – Take a stand against anything that threatens the rights and opportunity of a marginalized group – through social media, rallies, or volunteer work. Prejudice and bigotry often thrive in silence, so make your voice heard and take part in the struggle for equity.
By showing support, compassion, and understanding for those around you struggling with their mental health, you have an opportunity to make a real difference in their lives. Show those around you that you are an ally and that they can find comfort and acceptance in you. Your efforts can help them find strength and confidence in themselves to seek out further help, guidance, and resources. You can be an advocate for change in your communities, offering support and understanding for those in need. Your kindness can be truly life-changing.
