Tips for supporting family or friends

How can we get alongside our friends and family in need of support?

It’s World Mental Health Day today. And whilst we think about what services, hospitals, medication and therapy our friends, family and community need. Let us also remember that the number 1 suffering reported with mental illness is Loneliness.

Mental illness, a breakdown, grief or chronic periods of distress create a deeply disconnected and detached reality. Loneliness is a silent ‘epidemic’ and most people who have experienced this report the loss of key relationships, connections and community as a huge contribution to their worsening feelings of depression and hopelessness.

So on a day when we all need to think about how we tackle the issue of worsening mental health, I wanted to share just how important and valuable you can be for your community and your family if you can offer:

* A regular visit, a cup of tea and some of your time

* A trip to the beach, the forest, the riverside

* A walk, some exercise and time in nature

* An offer to go shopping together

* A couple of phone calls to check in

* Help understanding GP and hospital letters

* An invite to dinner, to a family BBQ, or a birthday party

* What hobbies did they love and have stopped doing?

* Sit and play scrabble, chess, read, watch movies

* Talk and listen

But mostly just be there, and whether you are active and engaging or also quiet and reflective you are there, connected and together. Giving a really clear communication that they are loved and cared about and being connected is vital.

GP’s, Hospitals and Services can create Mental Health Care Plans.

But we can create Relationships, Family, Community and Connection