Supporting a Loved One Struggling with their Mental Health

By Kelley Maynard, LMHC

Mental illness is a global health issue that can affect anyone. When it impacts someone you love, it can be difficult to know what to do or how to help them. Common thoughts can include “What should I do or say? How can I help them? Who should I turn to?” It’s important to know that if you have someone in your life that is struggling with their mental health, you’re not alone.

Ways to Provide Support

• Recognize warning signs: Recognizing the warning signs of mental illness is often the first step you can take in helping your loved one. These signs can vary from person-to-person. Examples can include changes in sleep or appetite, social withdrawal, emotional changes, and difficulty functioning at work or school.
• Start the conversation: Once you notice these changes, it is important to express your concern to your loved one, even if it feels uncomfortable. You don’t have to have all the answers to start the conversation. You can begin by expressing your concern and acknowledging the reasons for it, such as “I noticed you’ve been more withdrawn lately. Is everything okay?” or “I’m worried about you. Can we talk about what you are experiencing?” Remember to actively listen when they are sharing their experiences. If they are not ready to talk yet, respect their decision and reassure them that you are here when they are ready.
• Educate yourself: Seek out resources to educate yourself on mental health or your loved one’s specific condition. Chronister et al. (2021) found that family members who had less knowledge about mental illness contributed to increased stigma and emotional distress of their loved ones. Showing interest and curiosity in your loved one’s lived experiences can help reduce stigma and provide person-centered support.
• Support autonomy: Research shows that encouraging personal choice and decision-making can increase one’s motivation. Autonomy support has shown to be positively linked to increased activity engagement and health behaviors (Adu et al., 2024).
• Know your limits: While you can provide support and encouragement to your loved ones, you cannot control their decisions. They may make choices that differ from what you would prefer or recommend. It is important to recognize that you cannot solve their problems for them and redirect focus to what is within your control.
• Take care of yourself: In order to care for those you love, you must first take care of yourself. Maintaining your own physical and emotional wellbeing is important for building resilience. Research shows that caregivers who pay attention to their own needs are better able to respond to challenges when caring for a loved one with mental illness.

The road to recovery from a mental health condition is not always linear. It often involves times of progress as well as setbacks. It’s important to remember that supporting a loved one with a mental health condition is a marathon, not a sprint. Caring for your own mental and physical health can provide the foundation to offer effective support to others. Support groups for family members are available through the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or the Mental Health Association of Rochester (MHA). If you or your loved one are experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

If you are facing the challenge of supporting a loved one with their mental health, Behavioral Health Partners may be able to help. Behavioral Health Partners is brought to you by Well-U, offering eligible individuals mental health services for stress, anxiety, and depression. To schedule an intake appointment, give us a call at (585) 276-6900.

References:

Adu, J., Oudshoorn, A., Anderson, K., Marshall, C. A., & Stuart, H. (2024). Negotiating familial mental illness stigma: The role of family members of persons living with mental illnesses. PloS one, 19(9), e0311170. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0311170

Chronister, J., Fitzgerald, S., & Chou, C. C. (2021). The meaning of social support for persons with serious mental illness: A family member perspective. Rehabilitation psychology, 66(1), 87–101. https://doi.org/10.1037/rep0000369

Supporting recovery. NAMI. (2024, February 12). https://www.nami.org/your-journey/family-members-and-caregivers/supporting-recovery/

Global Administrator | 7/1/2025