Check In: Mental Health
Mental health related issues in Malaysia are on the rise. Especially during this pandemic.
Since our inception we are major advocates for mental health awareness through our programs and an active supporter for people to reach out to love ones or helplines to get their emotional and mental health checked up. As it a responsibility of all to check up on their fellow human beings.
You may ask. How do you help someone with a mental health problem?
Here are some suggestions from the National Alliance on Mental Health from the United States on how you may approach someone living with a mental health condition:
Talk to them in a space that is comfortable, where you won’t likely be interrupted and where there are likely minimal distractions.
Ease into the conversation, gradually. It may be that the person is not in a place to talk, and that is OK. Greeting them and extending a gentle kindness can go a long way. Sometimes less is more.
Be sure to speak in a relaxed and calm manner.
Communicate in a straightforward manner and stick to one topic at a time.
Be respectful, compassionate and empathetic to their feelings by engaging in reflective listening, such as “I hear that you are having a bad day today. Yes, some days are certainly more challenging than others. I understand.”
Instead of directing the conversation at them with ‘you’ statements, use ‘I’ statements instead.
Be a good listener, be responsive and make eye contact with a caring approach.
Ask them appropriate questions and avoid prying.
Give them the opportunity to talk and open up but don’t press.
Share some easy insights as a way of encouraging easy conversation, such as comments about the weather, the community or other.
Reduce any defensiveness by sharing your feelings and looking for common ground.
Speak at a level appropriate to their age and development level. Keep in mind that mental illness has nothing to do with a person’s intelligence.
Be aware of a person becoming upset or confused by your conversation with them.
Show respect and understanding for how they describe and interpret their symptoms.
Genuinely express your concern.
Offer your support and connect them to help if you feel that they need it. Ask, “How can I help?”
Give the person hope for recovery, offer encouragement and prayers.
Things to Avoid Saying:
“Just pray about it.”
“You just need to change you’re attitude.”
“Stop harping on the negative, you should just start living.”
“Everyone feels that way sometimes.”
“You have the same illness as my (whoever).”
“Yes, we all feel a little crazy now and then.”
Things to Avoid Doing:
Criticizing blaming or raising your voice at them.
Talking too much, too rapidly, too loudly. Silence and pauses are ok.
Showing any form of hostility towards them.
Assuming things about them or their situation.
Being sarcastic or making jokes about their condition.
Patronizing them or saying anything condescending.
How do I know if someone has a mental health problem? (mentalhealth)
Sometimes it will seem obvious when someone is going through a hard time, but there is no simple way of knowing if they have a mental health problem. Sometimes you don’t need to know. It’s more important to respond sensitively to someone who seems troubled than to find out whether or not they have a diagnosis.
Although certain symptoms are common with specific mental health problems, no two people behave in exactly the same way when they are unwell. If you know the person well, you may notice changes in their behaviour or mood.
As always, when you are feeling anxious or depress please do reach out to love ones or helplines. You on the other side, please be available for your love ones.
In that, there must be a full acknowledgment from the authorities that there is a complete legitimate problem. There must be immediate & continuous responses to flatten the suicide curve. And other mental health issues that are on the rise.
