Helping Someone Who Has a Psychological Disorder

How to Support Friends or Family Struggling With a Mental Health Issue

Jul 15, 2009

Is a friend or family member struggling with depression, schizophrenia, or another mental health issue? Here's how to help someone with a psychological disorder.

Mental health issues such as depression, schizophrenia, or anorexia nervosa are serious psychological disorders. But, people struggling with these issues aren’t always willing and able to accept help!

Here are several things to remember if you're trying to help someone struggling with a pschological disorder.

Recommending Psychological Help May Put Rifts in Relationships

The rift could be temporary, and the relationship could resume when the person is more stable. Or, your relationship could suffer from a permanent rift. People struggling with mental health issues don’t always happily accept the perspective and suggestions of friends or family members! It depends on the person.

Talking About the Abormal Behaviors Could Help

One way to support your friend or family member is to gently point out the abnormal behaviors and ask what the person thinks is happening. Again, this depends on the person and situation. Some people struggling with psychological issues are relieved when their problem is brought out into the open, while others are in complete denial.

Psychological Resources Are Available

Call a local distress line, hospital, counseling center, or community health center- any place that offers mental health services. Find out what psychological services are available, and ask for suggestions on helping friends or family members who are displaying abnormal behaviors.

Getting Support For Mental Health Issues is Important

Arm yourself with support from friends and family members – especially people that the person respects, trusts, and likes. Parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, godparents can all be helpful in supporting people with psychological issues.

Taking Care of Yourself Helps You Care For Others

Take care of yourself by creating your own physical, emotional, and spiritual space. Accept that people struggling with mental health issues ultimately have to help themselves. Nobody can solve their problems, and they have to live their own lives - even if their lives are unhealthy or destructive. Sadly, people with psychological disorders aren't necessarily rational about seeking and accepting help.

Consider Counseling If You're Directly Affected by Psychological Disorders

Get help for yourself, if necessary. If you’ve been directly affected by the person’s psychological disorders, talk to a psychologist, therapist, or counselor. Learn to live with what’s happened, so you can have a happy future and healthy relationships.

Unfortunately, there are no easy solutions for helping people with psychological disorders. The only thing to do is offer support and resources, and hope the person decides to accept help.

The copyright of the article Helping Someone Who Has a Psychological Disorder in Counseling is owned by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen. Permission to republish Helping Someone Who Has a Psychological Disorder in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.