Mental health support: how to help someone going through a personal crisis

Experts say the first step to solving a mental health issue is to make people comfortable with the idea of reaching out for help

Helping someone deal with mental health issues is complex because people react in different ways; one may fall apart in public, another may wear a mask of happiness, while a third might isolate from loved ones. Getty ImagesShow less

Too much to deal with, too much fragility, too much uncertainty, too much to understand, too much to accommodate, too much to sign up for.

“Too much” may well be the unspoken phrase that lies at the heart of most mental health crises – not just for those living them, but also for those watching them unfold, unsure of what they can or should do to support. Unsure if they’re equal to the task of helping their loved one.

[Some people] might not realise how deeply depressed they are or that their symptoms are considered treatable

Dr Annette Schonder,
head psychologist, Clinic for Health and Medical Care

This is not a rebuke or criticism.

Mental health is a complex maze, and dealing with its challenges can be tricky for several reasons. For starters, the ways in which different people suffering from the same problem experience it could be polar opposites. Depression might make one person fall apart in public, as someone else may feel determined to present the illusion of happiness, and a third might want to isolate from loved ones.

Similarly, we process grief, anxiety and trauma in myriad ways. What follows, then, is that the care, help or support a person may need cannot be a templatedresponse.

'They might not realise how deeply depressed they are'

The UAE's Ministry of Health and Prevention has, in recent years, doubled down on its efforts to raise awareness about mental health as well as make help accessible to all. Even so, according to the ministry's website, an estimated 17.7 per cent of the population in the Arab world experiences depression.

Some people don’t think therapy can be effective because they would not know what to talk about to the therapist

Dr Elif Celebi,
clinical psychologist, Thrive Wellbeing Centre

This is a worrying statistic, especially when you consider that many incidences of mental health issues go largely unreported owing to the stigmas still attached. Far too many people deal with it silently, perhaps not even acknowledging to themselves that something is wrong, let alone asking for support from loved ones or seeking professional help.

Dr Annette Schonder, head psychologist at Clinic for Health and Medical Care in Dubai, explains that sometimes people don’t ask for help because they think it’s normal to feel a certain way and try to manage on their own.

“They might not realise how deeply depressed they are or that their symptoms are considered treatable mental health symptoms. Another reason is the belief that mental health is a family matter and should not be discussed with anybody on the outside.”

The stigma surrounding therapy

Clinical psychologist Dr Elif Celebi, from Thrive Wellbeing Centre, Dubai, also says that in addition to norms and beliefs, barriers to seeking help may be logistical — such as a difficulty in being able to access transportation and fees or bypass cultural or linguistic differences.

“Some people don’t think therapy can be effective because they would not know what to talk about to the therapist. Then there is the fear and shame of being branded 'crazy' or being stigmatised by employers, co-workers, peers or family.”

The most important thing is that we respond to people’s mental health problems with empathy. Not judge them, but help them feel valued

Dr Annette Schonder

The first step to solving this multilayered problem — the proverbial half-won battle — is to make people comfortable with the idea of reaching out for help.

“I believe asking for help begins with self-compassion. We tend to have a lot of compassion for loved ones, but we also need to direct some of it to our own selves,” says Schonder.

“Simply acknowledging and identifying an issue can make it less overwhelming,” says Celebi. “Talking to a few trusted people, opening up about your struggle, seeking online support groups, reading self-help books or practising small acts of self-care such as meditation, breathwork, yoga and exercise can help a person regain some feeling of control.”

Respond with empathy

While being able to ask for and receive it is the most important part of the mental health equation, offering care and support in the right way is just as crucial. However, as established, this is where things become murky, because what are the rules when there is no single right approach?

“The most important thing is that we respond to people’s mental health problems with empathy. Not judge them, but help them feel valued,” says Schonder.

Empathy, she stresses, is the only constant. Yet this does not mean a complete erasure of boundaries. For example, it does not mean taking on the responsibility of fulfilling every need and being everything to the loved one in question.

What it does mean is this: holding the space for the person to feel what they’re feeling without making it about yourself or its effect on you. It means allowing them their expression without fear of being judged or labelled.

Leading with empathy means opening, sometimes repeatedly, the door to uncomfortable conversations, but then letting them decide if and how much they want to disclose. It means asking questions without invalidating responses or emotions. And acknowledging that there might be times when you will be inconvenienced or let down, but allowing them to focus on themselves instead of your disappointment.

Issues to be aware of

A lot of empathy boils down to simple patience during mental health situations. Here are some issues the experts we've spoken to advise being aware of.

• Disruption in functioning and daily activities for an unusual length of time.
• Irritability or low tolerance for daily hassles and difficulties.
• Withdrawal from loved ones for a prolonged period.
• Sudden traumatic experiences such as accidents, death, unemployment, etc can make old traumas resurface or lead to post traumatic stress disorder.
• Dramatic mood swings.
• Sudden relationship problems such as conflicts, arguments and prolonged fights.
• Suicidal thoughts or acts of self-harm.
• Indulgence in impulsive, risky behaviour such as excessive alcohol consumption, driving rashly and spending recklessly.

In turn, it’s also important to recognise that some people may find it hard to ask for help. People who are going through addiction, for example, might be unaware or in denial about it, while those who have had negative experiences when they sought help in the past might avoid asking for it again.

Phrases to avoid

Finally, the experts say there are some phrases you should refrain from when talking to someone who's struggling or seeking your help.

• Cheer up
• It could’ve been worse
• There are people in worse situations
• Pray more, it will make you feel better
• You’re being selfish
• You’re burdening the people who love you
• You’ll feel better if you try harder
• There’s nothing wrong with you
• You have so much to be grateful for
• Let’s get a drink, it will make you feel better
• You just have to snap out of it
• Don’t think about it so much
• Here we go again (or the non-verbal rolling of eyes)