How to Support Someone in Need of Mental Health Support

Picture of plants and couch with block text reading “ how to support someone struggling with mental health”. Knowing how to help your loved ones is hard, but learning how to provide mental health support in Kansas today! We can help you through fami…

We all go through ups and downs, but watching someone we love struggle or have a hard time can be difficult and ultimately, heartbreaking.

Whether they are a friend, family member, co-worker, or spouse, there are many ways to support somebody that we care about.

If you are concerned about someone in your life, it can feel difficult to know how to provide mental health support. Once we are aware there is or might be an issue, it’s important not to wait! Waiting and hoping they will reach out for help loses beneficial time in which they could have been already seeking treatment or receiving support.

Just like how we need to take medicine and/or go to a doctor when we are feeling sick, someone struggling with a mental health problem may need to take medicine and/or go see an online therapist in Kansas in order to get better!

Warning Signs & Red Flags

Are you not sure if someone you know and love is struggling with mental health problems? That’s okay! Sometimes it can seem obvious when someone is going through a hard time, but other times it is easy to miss the red flags or even know what the warning signs might be. Feelings of sadness, anxiety, worry, irritability, or insomnia are common for most people. However, it’s when these feelings get very intense, last for a long stretch of time, and/or begin to interfere with school, work, and relationships, it may be a warning sign that someone is in need of mental health support in Kansas.

Although certain symptoms are common with specific mental health issues, no two people present symptoms in the exact same way. With that in mind, experiencing one or more of the following feelings or behaviors can be a warning sign of a problem:

How Can I Help a Person in Need of Mental Health Support?

Here are 9 quick tips on how to help support someone who is struggling with their mental health:

  1. Try to set aside some time with no distractions, have a conversation with them in a safe space, and BE PRESENT.

  2. Don’t put pressure on them to tell you anything they aren’t ready to talk about.

  3. Make sure you don’t dismiss their experiences or emotions.

  4. Give the person time to answer and try not to grill them with too many questions.

  5. Repeat what they have said back to them to ensure you understand it and this will also show them you are truly listening.

  6. Use validating statements such as “He really said that? I’d be angry too”, “You have every right to be proud; that was a major accomplishment”, “Wow, that would be confusing”, etc.

  7. DON’T use statements such as “You’ll be fine”, “It could be worse” or “At least [fill in the blank]”.

  8. Ask them what you can do to help them and let them know you are here for them.

  9. Know your limits and don’t be afraid to ask for help or encourage them in seeking professional support.

**Please seek immediate assistance if you think your friend or family member is in danger of harming themselves and could benefit from mental health support!**

Learn How to Support Your Loved Ones with Family Therapy in Leavenworth, KS and Overland Park, KS

If you believe someone you know and love is in need of professional support, our therapy team at JS Therapy Group is here to help. To schedule a FREE phone consultation or set up an appointment with one of the JS Therapy Group mental health professionals, please visit jstherapygroup.com or contact us at referrals@jstherapygroup.com // (913) 565-2131. If you’re looking to begin therapy in Overland Park, KS, Leavenworth, KS, or anywhere in the state of Kansas, then follow these simple steps:

  1. Contact JS Therapy Group and schedule a free consultation,

  2. Meet with one of our caring family therapists

  3. Start learning valuable ways to provide mental health support in Kansas today!

Other Counseling Services at JS Therapy Group

Couple therapy is not the only service we offer in our Leavenworth, KS, and Overland Park, KS counseling centers. Other mental health services JS Therapy Group provides include anxiety treatment, therapy for children and play therapy, trauma and PTSD treatment, addictions counseling, trauma and PTSD treatment for children, premarital counseling, family therapy, depression treatment, affordable and reduced therapy, and workshops, classes, and groups. We also offer professional consultations and supervision opportunities. If you can’t make it to see one of our skilled therapists for in-person therapy, consider online therapy in Kansas to receive mental health support. Contact us to get started or click on one of the links to learn more. Begin therapy today with JS Therapy group.