Looking for Mental Health advice that In fact help when you’re feeling down?
You are in the right place. Although there is now a wealth of support and information available, this is only a positive thing, but it can often feel overwhelming. That’s where this guide comes in: a simple, expert-led article detailing eight of the simplest ways to improve your mental health today or support someone who might be struggling with theirs.
Over the past decade, the way we talk about mental health has changed significantly. Seeking help if you’re feeling depressed is now actively encouraged, with celebrities like Meghan Markle and Michelle Obama opening up about everything from suicidal thoughts has low grade depression.
The stigma, while not completely gone, is slowly diminishing. And yet, for every person who feels able to talk openly about their mental health, there is another who doesn’t know where to start. Even if you know that talking to a friend, talking to your GP, or telling your boss can improve the situation, for many it can seem impossible.
“One of the biggest obstacles when you’re struggling with your mental health is knowing how to talk to others about it,” said Jo Loughran, mental health expert and former director of Time to Change. “This could be with your GP, your best friend, your husband, your wife or your colleague.”
We bought you guides for online therapyTHE best mental health appsand how to identify conditions such as PTSD And trauma. Next: eight mental health tips to help you get the help you need. Sure, asking for help or admitting you’re struggling can seem terrifying at first, but we’ve got the expert advice you might need to make things a little easier.
Mental Health Advice: 8 Ways to Get Help
1. Know that there are resources
If you are experiencing mental health issues or need urgent support, know this: there are many places you can go for help.
Samaritans (samaritans.org) offers confidential, non-judgmental emotional support to people experiencing feelings of distress or hopelessness, including those that could lead to suicide. You can call, email, write a letter, or in most cases talk to someone face to face. Telephone 116 123 (24 hours a day, free call) or email: jo@samaritans.org
SHOUT (giveusashout.org) is the UK’s leading 24/7 texting service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone in crisis, anytime, anywhere. It’s a place to go if you’re struggling and need immediate help. Text: 85258
Or similarly, the Mind Infoline: (mind.org.uk) provides confidential information about types of mental health problems, where to get help, medication treatments, alternative therapies and advocacy. Mind works in partnership with approximately 140 local Minds providing local mental health services. Call 0300 123 3393 (9am-6pm Monday to Friday) or text 86463. Email: info@mind.org.uk
2. Talk to a doctor
Mental health issues range from subtle to mild depression and daily anxiety (learn the difference between stress versus anxietyhere), to the most severe, like bipolar and schizophrenia. If, for whatever reason, your mental health isn’t great, seeing your doctor is an important first step in getting the help you need.
However, that doesn’t stop it from appearing intimidating. Even if you know it’s the right thing to do, the idea of trying to express everything you feel to an overworked doctor during a five-minute appointment can be a daunting prospect.
There are things you can do to make things easier. First, if you’re worried about having to rush into how you feel, you can ask for a double date. “This can help reduce pressure on you and the GP,” advises Loughran. If you think your usual GP is not the right person to talk to – perhaps you prefer to confide in a female doctor, you have the right to ask for another. Some GP practices have a dedicated practitioner who specializes in mental health, so check.
It also helps to be prepared, says Loughran. “When you feel nervous, your mind can go blank. Worried about getting there and not knowing what to say? Write down some tips.”
What you’re trying to do is understand what life is like, what your symptoms are, and how long you’ve been feeling this way. It is important to try to be as open and honest as possible.
3. Know that it’s okay to cry
Listen to this: crying is completely normal and a way to express your emotions. Don’t hold back – cry when and when you need to.
“When I first told my GP about (my mental health issues), I just used tissues and started crying,” Loughran says. “It was the opening game and we went from there.”
4. Know that a problem shared is a problem halved
Of course, it’s very intimidating, but opening up to someone you trust about your mental health can be an incredibly powerful thing to do.
“It’s like a huge weight is lifted off your shoulders when you’re able to explain to someone that you’re struggling right now,” Loughran says.
She advises thinking carefully about who you confide in. “For me it all comes down to who do you think you can trust with something that is a fundamental part of who you are and what you experience? Who has demonstrated that they “Are you open about health mentally and will you treat what you say to them with respect? »
Don’t feel like you have to make this an intense conversation. It may be easier to talk when you are side by side rather than face to face, such as when you are stuck in traffic or taking a walk. “We conducted research with young people to find out when they would be most likely to talk about mental health and a distracting activity when you are doing everyday things is helpful for both the person talking and the person doing listen.”
5. Try not to get discouraged about opening up
Another myth is that you need to talk for hours. “Sometimes you just need to talk about it before you can come back to it,” says Loughran. “Once you get the door ajar, it’s much easier to push it open when you’re both ready to have the conversation.”
When mental health appears in the news or popular culture – such as when Meghan Markle open about feeling suicidal or Hayley Bieber shared how she helped her depressed boyfriend Justin Bieber is healing – this may be a good opportunity to start talking. “You can say, ‘You know, I feel a little like that too.'”
People who care about you will want to help you.
6. Talk to your manager
Did you know? Mental health is one of the leading causes of sickness absence and employers are increasingly coming together and being proactive in how they can help address this. It can be especially scary to talk about how you’re feeling at work, but if you get to a point where you’re really struggling or your performance is being affected, it’s best to let your employer know there’s a good reason to that. Your employer has a duty of caremeaning they must do everything they reasonably can to support your health and well-being.
“The best person to talk to initially is your manager,” says Professor Cary Cooper, author of Well being at work and Professor of Organizational Psychology at Alliance Manchester Business School. “However, this boss should be someone you feel you can talk to. If your boss is not a good listener, or if you know he is not a very tolerant person and will not talk to you won’t listen, think about I’m going to HR instead.
Any conversation you have with HR is confidential by law – but if you’re speaking with your line manager instead, make it clear if you don’t want anyone else to know. It’s up to you to give as much detail as you want – there is no obligation to reveal more than you are comfortable with.
However, Dr. Cooper says it can help to be honest and open. “I think it’s definitely worth telling them what’s going on in your life. Think about what might help you in the work context,” Cooper says.
7. Try changing your mindset to focus on solutions, not problems
Although it can sometimes seem difficult to find a way out of mental health issues, presenting your boss with a solution, rather than a problem, will help them get there.
For example, if you go into a conversation with an idea of what support you need – whether that’s time off for counseling appointments, more flexible hours, or negotiating a work day at home – this means this is more likely to happen.
You can read more information about your rights at work on MIND website.
8. Know that you are not alone
And finally, know this: if your mental health is affecting your daily life right now, you are far from alone and help is available.
Around one in four people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year, and the best way to get help with mental health is to reach out. You will recover – trust us.
