It’s time to start talking about mental health. If you’ve ever been in a place where you’re struggling, then chances are you know how hard it can be to ask for help. Maybe you’re here, reading this blog, because you can feel something changing in someone you care about. Maybe you’ve seen a change in their daily routines, or they’ve lost interest in doing things they love. Or maybe, they’re having a bad day and you don’t know how you can emotionally support them.
In this post, we’ll explore 3 resources that can help you find the words to say to someone who’s struggling and learn how to provide effective emotional support.
What are emotional support skills?
Emotional support can look different for everyone, but some common qualities can help you provide effective emotional support.
These qualities include, but are not limited to, respect, compassion, active listening, and non-judgement. To help provide effective emotional support, it’s important you practice skills that help create a safe space for your loved ones.
Why do people need emotional support?
When you provide emotional support, you’re showing care, compassion, and empathy to your loved ones. Whether you’re caring for a friend, partner, child, or family member, it can be hard to find the words—but luckily, supporting someone doesn’t require any training! Providing emotional support to someone who is struggling can help them cope with life’s difficulties, help them build a strong social network, and help reduce psychological distress.
3 Resources to help build your emotional support skills
So, you want to show up for someone you care about, but you don’t know what to say? It’s not always easy to know what to say, but what matters is that you show up and let your loved ones know that you care.
1. Emotional Support Human “what would you say” – interactive game
The Emotional Support Human “What would you say” interactive tool is a resource to help you practice what to say in real life scenarios. Interact with the tool and learn how you can show up!
After you’ve practiced your emotional support skills, explore the Emotional Support Human website for more tips on how you can show up for your loved ones.
MakeItOK.org is dedicated to breaking the stigma and stopping the silence around mental illness. Like the Emotional Support Human website, MakeItOK.org offers more ways to practice talking about mental health.
Complete the conversations on MakeItOK.org to learn how you can talk about mental illness with your loved ones. MakeItOK.org also provides simple tips on what to say, and what not to say, when talking about mental illness.
“Make It OK” is a campaign to reduce the stigma of mental illness and is a trademark of Health Partners Inc.
3. Join an online support group
NAMI Howard County offers a multitude of support groups where family members and friends can openly share with each other the challenges of living with someone who has a mental illness and explore ways together to meet those challenges.
These support groups are available to individuals 18 years or older, always free of charge, and are led by a NAMI trained and certified leader. Joining a NAMI support group can help you feel more confident in talking about difficult topics.
NAMI Howard County is an affiliate for NAMI Maryland and NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness). NAMI operates at the national, state, and local levels to provide support, education, and advocacy.
Continue to show up
Even when you don’t know what to say, or how to say it, you can make a difference when you continue to show up for those you care about. A small gesture or kind word can go a long way and, together, these small acts of bravery add up to a healthier Howard County community.