- Listen - The best thing that anyone can do for someone suffering with mental health problems is to listen. You may not understand what your friend is going through or feeling, but just to know that someone tries to understand makes the world of difference.
- Talk - If you have never experienced such problems yourself, just be as supportive and understanding as you can. Each case of mental health is different and there is no one-size-fits-all solution or programme to ease the problem. Social contact is a key element to recovery and progress from mental health problems. Try to persuade your friend to get out of the house, even if it's only for a walk in the park. It's very easy for anyone with mental health problems to shut themselves away and avoid normal life.
- Support - Even if you can't see your friend every day, a quick call or even a text message reassures your friend that someone out there cares. Mental health problems are incredibly isolating and when you feel that you are all alone, any contact with a support network is crucial.
- Research - Try to find out about the illness to enable you to understand it. Family and friends who live with someone suffering need to have a grasp on the problem - and, because any condition like this can affect the lives of those around the ill person, they need support too. There are lots of books and websites you can look at.
- Danger signs - If you think your friend is getting worse, has suicidal thoughts, is becoming more insular and reclusive, be aware. Also watch their eating and drinking habits - alcohol and medication don't mix well.
- Patience - If your friend is on strong medication, be aware that they might suffer from side effects such as sweating, nightmares, hand tremors, drowsiness, weight loss/gain, tiredness, headaches, stiff muscles, clumsiness, confusion, - and that's just for starters! If they do suffer, be supportive.
This resource is part of the 'Wellbeing and Mental Health Collection' created by the Open University in Wales. You can learn more and find courses, articles and other activities on the collection's homepage.
-
Wellbeing and mental health collection
Read now to access more details of Wellbeing and mental health collectionThe mental health and wellbeing collection (Wales) provides a hub of free, bilingual resources that aim to promote positive wellbeing and support good mental health.
Level: 1 Introductory
More on Mental Health
-
Making sense of mental health problems
Learn more to access more details of Making sense of mental health problemsOver the past century there has been a radical shift in responses to people who experience mental health problems. In this free course, Making sense of mental health problems, you will learn about how key perspectives in the field have made sense of mental health problems. By directly relating key perspectives to a case study, you will reflect ...
-
Exercise and mental health
Learn more to access more details of Exercise and mental healthEach year thousands of pounds are spent on medications to treat conditions such as anxiety and depression. These medications often have negative side effects. Exercise is an alternative treatment that is low cost and has few side effects. In this free course, Exercise and mental health, we will look at the links between exercise and improved ...
-
Mindfulness in mental health and prison settings
Learn more to access more details of Mindfulness in mental health and prison settingsThis free course, Mindfulness in mental health and prison settings, introduces the key ideas and practices of mindfulness, describes how it is helping counselling clients and prisoners, and also looks at some of the criticisms mindfulness has received in recent years.
-
Exploring anxiety
Learn more to access more details of Exploring anxietyThis free advanced level course, Exploring anxiety, serves as an introduction to masters level study in neurosciences and mental health. Focusing on anxiety, you will consider key issues concerning diagnosis, causes and interventions. You will also learn how to evaluate news items, and to go behind the headlines and begin to explore some of the ...
-
Panic attacks: what they are and what to do about them
Learn more to access more details of Panic attacks: what they are and what to do about themPanic attacks: what they are and what to do about them is a free course that should be helpful to anyone who experiences panic or panic attacks, for their family and friends, and anyone more generally interested in mental health and mental health treatment. The course starts by exploring formal definitions of panic and panic attack. These ...
Rate and Review
Rate this article
Review this article
Log into OpenLearn to leave reviews and join in the conversation.
Article reviews
In my point of view I must say learning capacity and patience are the two crucial factors helps at the time of interacting and handling a mental disorder patient.
(external website removed by OpenLearn Moderator 09.10.12)
(Commercial website removed by OpenLearn Moderator 23.03.12)