How to Talk to Someone with a Mental Health Issue

Mental health conditions affect millions of people all over the globe. There is no certain way to find out whether a person is suffering from some mental health condition. This is because no one can read the mind of others.

Also, Dr. Phil McGraw commented on this and said that there is no certain way to predict what is going inside a person’s mind or what are they going to do. However, he suggested that we, as a member of society, can reach out to these people who need emotional support and can help them in recovering or coping up with their condition.

But, the most important thing about providing help to a person with a mental health issue is how to talk to them. Generally, it may be difficult to talk to a person with some mental health issue because we never know that what can affect them emotionally. However, Dr. Phil suggests some dos and don’ts while talking with someone with a mental issue.

Dr. Phil suggests to not directly talk about their condition, i.e., he advised that if a person is suffering from depression, schizophrenia, psychosis, or some other mental condition, it is better to not talk about it, instead ask them about why they are stressed or if they need some help or support. Also, he advises to not use the phrase “you need help”, instead use “you deserve help”, because it is a more positive phrase with a sense of care that is essential for a person with mental illness.

But, how can we find that a person is suffering from mental condition? Dr. Phil suggests some signs that can be observed in a person suffering from some mental condition. If a person observes these signs in someone close to them, they should try reaching them and talk about their condition.

These signs are:

• Emotional sensitivity, i.e., crying a lot, or outbursts of anger
• Anti-social behavior, i.e., spending time alone and isolating themselves
• Not getting over the past, i.e., reliving the moments of past, even while sleeping
• Loss of interest in things that once they were so excited about, such as hobbies like painting or writing
• Mood swings and various symptoms of depression or anxiety

It is important to observe these symptoms carefully and provide help to a person with mental illness as soon as possible. Providing help at the right time can save an innocent life.