Supporting someone in a mental health crisis

When someone you care about becomes ill, it may be frightening. It’s much worse if they’ve been diagnosed with a mental disorder. It’s difficult to witness someone you care about in agony, and it’s perplexing when someone you know doesn’t act like themselves. You know what to do if they have a cold or the flu, but what do you do if they have a mental illness? Someone suffering from a mental illness, like everyone else, requires additional compassion and support. You may not be able to see the disease, but that doesn’t mean you can’t assist. Today, we’ll look at how to support someone in a mental health crisis.

Don’t make decisions for them

There’s a belief that people who are suffering from mental illness can’t be trusted to make their own decisions. But, for the most part, this isn’t the case. We should engage our loved ones in any and all choices that affect them whenever feasible.

Don’t treat them like babies and make all important decisions for them. If anything, this might make them feel even worse as they may feel that they are a burden to those around them!

Do help with medication

You can assist your loved ones remember to take their meds if you spend a lot of time with them. You may also be able to assist a doctor in determining why drugs aren’t being taken as prescribed. Similarly, you may be engaged in reminding your loved one to complete their counseling homework or fulfill treatment sessions.

Don’t play the blame game

It’s easy to pass judgment on our loved ones when they don’t make the same decisions that we would. Your loved one may, for example, be hiding information from their therapist, coping with drink or drugs, or making rash actions that appear to be making matters worse.

Blame and humiliation would seldom drive people to modify their habits. Instead, unconditional affection is more important than anything else to your loved one. Rather than condemning their decisions, it is preferable to provide assistance and support.

For example, you may mention to a loved one who is battling with alcohol, “Hey, I’ve noticed you’re drinking again and I am worried. How can I help you battle this together?” This would always work better than shouting at them and scolding them for drinking again!

Being a great support system

When supporting someone through a mental health crisis, it’s important to remember to try o be as supportive, understanding, and patient as possible. But keep in mind that taking care of a relative or friend going through a mental health crisis can be exhausting. You, too, require emotional support!