How To Be A Mental Health Ally
When things get rough we need someone who can support us in all senses of the world. We want someone who’ll help us fight our corner; someone who’ll represent us and support us and who’ll be there to give that something extra that’ll get us through the day. In short, we all need allies, at least once in a lifetime.
A mental health ally is someone who takes action to raise awareness of mental health and challenge stigma. Stigma occurs when people make negative assumptions. They are in place as a resource for everyone to access.
Allies are prepared to act if someone is presenting as unwell or in an emergency situation, but are much more focused on our everyday movements away from mental health.
Because of this, the allies become a well-used resource with frequent uptake and highly valued by individuals and organisations.
Below you will find 5 things you can start doing today to be a mental health ally!
1. It is no secret that mental health issues are prevalent- as high as. A little while back, we have made great strides in decreasing the stigma around mental health and seeking out help. However, we are nowhere close to where we need or should be. Unfortunately, it’s more than likely you know someone who is struggling with their mental health lonely in silent. Don’t be afraid to point out that someone has seemed “off” and ask “How are you?” and actively listen to their answer.
2. When anyone is struggling with their mental health, the last thing they want to do is feeling as though they have to educate you on the basics of their mental illness. While you don’t want too overgeneralise or make predictions, making the effort to educate yourself shows that you care and creates a safe environment for the other person to share and seek support.
3. You may have seen some social media post which talked about how mental illness creeps into language, regardless of whether we intent to or not. For instance, saying this like “crazy”, “nuts”, or “basket case” can be very rude and may make people feel less comfortable and safe. However, it doesn’t even have to be that overt. You may hear people make remarks such as “I’m totally obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and can’t cook in a dirty kitchen.”. Using these terms arbitrarily may suggest that those issues are so common that they are not serious, which can create and reinforce a barrier to seeking help.
4. One of the best ways to support an individual, who is having mental health issues is to offer a listening ear. If you can think back to a time you had a rough phase and wanted to vent, you may recall that there are times when the other person does not do a great job of listening and tries to problem solve or says things like “Oh, don’t worry about it. You’ll be fine. Cheer up.” Although, these statements are well intended, most often, we just need someone to listen. Instead of using the above lines, you can try paraphrasing, reflecting emotions, and asking clarifying questions. As an Ally, don’t feel the need to “fix” the other person.
5. Understand that no matter how much you master about mental health, there is no step by step process to be the “perfect” ally. Every individual's mental illness is unique which means the care and support they need changes as per the person and situation. Instead of assuming, telling someone to just get over it, and trying to problem solve, ask them how you can help them.
Always remember, good health can only be achieved when there's a perfect balance between the mental health and the physical health. When any of these conditions get compromised, then overall health starts to deteriorate. Therefore, stay physically and mentally healthy to ensure over-all well-being.
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