How To Support Friends And Family

Support your mates like you support the club. We all go through tough times but having a mate by your side can really help.

Sometimes it can be difficult to know what to say when somebody close to you is experiencing mental health difficulties. But in reality it’s easy to get it right – as long as you listen without judgement.

It could be nothing, but if you’ve noticed a friend or family member has become distant, it might be a sign that they’re not feeling great, so stay in touch.

Time to Change, the national campaign to change the way we think and act about mental health, shared these tips to support you in supporting others.

• Stay in touch and be yourself
• It might feel frustrating if you’re putting in effort but try and be patient – things are probably hard for your friend or relative
• They probably appreciate you being in touch even if they’re not responding – a mental health problem can be overwhelming and can make it difficult to maintain a ‘normal’ social life

For more top tips on how to support others, visit the Time to Change website.

If you’re concerned that somebody may be at crisis point or feeling suicidal, call the Samaritans on 116 123.