Talking is good for your mental health, and talking about mental health is important. But starting a conversation isn’t always easy. Whether you’d like to talk to someone about how you’re feeling, or check in with someone you care about, our animation has some useful tips to help.
This might be a friend, family member or a colleague or you might be more comfortable talking to someone you don’t know, for example, through a support helpline.
It’s important to choose a place where you feel comfortable enough to open up. You might want to choose somewhere private where you’re less likely to be disturbed. You also might want to talk while you do an activity, like walking together.
Hopefully, you will have a good experience when you open up to someone, but there’s a chance that they may not react in the way you hope. This may be for different reasons, like they may be worried or not fully understand at first. If that’s the case, try to give them time to process what you’ve told them.
It might help to give them information to read to help them understand. Don’t forget to be kind to yourself and practise self care.
Talking to someone about their mental health
If you’re worried about someone, try to find a place where you know you can have a conversation without being distracted. Make sure you give them your full attention and it might help to switch off your phone.
Listening can be one of the most valuable ways to be there for someone. Show them that you’re actively listening by facing them, making eye contact, and not interrupting.
Questions can help you clarify what they mean and also show that you’re actively listening. Make sure the questions are relevant to what they’re saying, and not changing the subject.
Ask how you can help or make suggestions, rather than telling them what to do next. They might want support with making a GP appointment, help around the house, or just for you to keep things normal and chat about what’s going on in your life.
Urgent mental health support
A mental health crisis often means that you no longer feel able to cope or be in control of your situation. It often involves a sudden or continued worsening of your symptoms. You may feel great emotional distress or anxiety, feel you can't cope with day-to-day life, think about suicide or self-harm, or experience hallucinations and hearing voices.
If you live in Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens or Warrington and need urgent help with your mental health, you can call NHS 111 and select the mental health option to talk to a mental health professional and get help 24/7.
Support for young people
Our 24 hour response team is for young people up to the age of 18 experiencing emotional, behavioural or mental health difficulties which are causing difficulties in their school, family or social life.
The service is for children and young people who are registered with a GP in Halton, Knowsley, St Helens and Warrington, up to their 18th birthday presenting in crisis needing an emergency response.
They provide:
- No wrong front door for emergency referrals, providing advice and consultation to professionals, parents, carers and children and young people
- Emergency assessment and follow up
- Brief intervention and home treatment.
Within four hours they will do an assessment, a risk assessment, keep young people safe, offer advice to children and families, working with social care, schools and other professionals.
You can contact the team on 01744 415 640 – 24 hours a day seven days a week.
Symptoms, mental health conditions and medications
There are many different types of mental health issues and symptoms. Check out our dedicated page on our website, that has information to help you understand more.
Help Us Help You
Help us help you stay well by following the top tips on our dedicated webpage to look after yourself and your family. You can also view/download our self help guides and apps.