5 Ways to Help Someone with a Mental Illness

During Mental Health Awareness Week and World Mental Health Day, it’s critical to learn how to get help for mental illness in a loved one. At times, helping someone who is battling a mental illness can be challenging. You may not know what to say or do or even how to act. Even individuals who want to help their loved ones can feel afraid, lost, or frustrated. However, it is possible to help your loved one work through their diagnosis and get the treatment that they need. Social support is essential for this process. Your loved one needs to know that you’re standing by to support them, so they are not alone in this challenging time.

If someone you love is struggling with a mental health condition, you can help them get help. Contact BoardPrep Recovery at 866.796.4720 today to learn more about getting help for mental illness.

How to Help Someone With a Mental Illness

Supporting a loved one who needs help for a mental illness can seem challenging, but it is vital to their healing process. It can encourage them and strengthen your relationship between you and your loved one. There are several ways you can help a loved one battling a mental illness.

1. Provide a Listening Ear

Many people who need help with mental illness feel like they’re isolated. They don’t have anyone who understands their experiences, which can lead to shame and guilt. To be fair, you may not understand precisely what your loved one is experiencing. You may not have battled a mental health condition yourself, so the experience can seem intimidating. However, you don’t have to understand to be supportive. Instead, just provide a listening ear. Ask your loved one what they’re going through and try not to give suggestions. Simply providing a listening ear can prevent your loved one from isolating themselves and losing contact with the rest of the world.

2. Educate Yourself About Their Illness

Many people don’t understand the specific symptoms of their mental illness. Because myths, misconceptions, and fears often entangle mental health conditions, you should try to get a better understanding of your loved one’s condition. Doing so can provide meaningful support. There is a wide array of resources online to educate yourself about their specific needs. You can also talk to local mental health professionals to ask particular questions.

3. Set Realistic Expectations

At BoardPrep, we realize that you want your loved one to recover as soon as possible. You may have specific ideas of what your loved one’s recovery looks like and how everything will go back to normal. In many cases, however, the recovery process rarely happens quickly, and there is no set process for how it will look. Work with your treatment expert to discuss what you should expect during your loved one’s recovery.

4. Remember How Valuable Support Is

Having the support of your loved ones can be instrumental in their recovery process. In many cases, support can also lead to better outcomes in mental health recovery. Even when it gets difficult, supporting your loved one is critical.

5. Seek the Appropriate Treatment

Those living with mental health conditions can rely on their loved ones with the necessary treatment. However, connecting with treatment programs and talking with treatment providers is also essential. Many individuals who need mental health treatment don’t seek the treatment that they need. If your loved one has not yet found the right treatment program, it may be time to find our mental health treatment program in South FL.

Contact BoardPrep Now

At TMS Therapy Now, we’re proud to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Week and World Mental Health Day. However, we don’t stop celebrating after the week is over. We provide mental health treatment all year round. Our treatment options include: