How to ask and how to give support for Mental Health

A few hours ago, I posted a poll on my Instagram for two reasons: to try to correct a shadow ban for sharing self-healing tools, and because I genuinely care about the topic. The poll asked Yes/No questions about mental health and the results so far are concerning. I asked two open-ended questions: "R U OKAY?" and "HOW CAN I HELP?" and received responses to the first question but not the second.

This raises the question: have we forgotten how to ask for help or did we never truly know how to do it? The truth is that reaching out for help is a skill that is not taught or modeled often, but it is important. Here are some ways to ask for help when it comes to mental health:

• Reach out to a friend

• Let them know you are feeling heavy and would like support

• Share specific needs or requests, such as a call or someone to check in with you

• Be honest about your struggles and state if you need extra support or are suicidal

On the other hand, here are ways to offer support to someone around you:

• Ask if they would like to talk about their situation

• Listen actively and offer to be a sounding board

• Ask specific questions and offer suggestions

• Check in with them a few days later to show you still care

Asking for help and offering support is a learned skill and takes practice. But know that your struggles matter and asking for help is a brave step. My inbox is always open and I wish you the best.

Elle xo