The health of the population in Switzerland has deteriorated noticeably since the outbreak of the corona pandemic. And that applies not only to physical health, but also to mental health. This is evident from the CSS health survey. 29 percent of the respondents indicated that they often do not do so well or even badly emotionally.
In this blog, we’ve taken a closer look at various results of the survey over the past few weeks – all posts can be found here. To conclude this series, we now want to focus entirely on the question: How can I support a friend or loved one when I feel something is wrong? Because there is a good chance that sooner or later each of us will have a close relative who is not doing well mentally.
What are you doing then? How do you help in such a situation? And which comments should be omitted? While many of us know the basics of first aid in a medical emergency, we often feel a little helpless when it comes to mental health issues. Do you want me to say something? But how? And what if I say something wrong?
We have collected tips from specialized agencies on what to do in such situations and how to help your friends or relatives.
It’s perfectly normal to feel bad on certain days. You have to react when you realize that fear, anger or sadness take over and even determine their daily lives. When you notice that a friend becomes more and more withdrawn over the course of several weeks or months.
That a friend stops contacting you. Or when a person is often unfocused and irritable. Sleep is also an indication that someone is not feeling well – in both directions: if someone stays in bed during the day or cannot sleep at night. All these signs can be an indication that the person in question is suffering from psychological problems. Confront her with your perceptions.
Talking to someone not only makes the problems go away, but it can also make your girlfriend or boyfriend feel better afterwards. It feels good to have someone who listens to you, cares about you and thinks along with you.
Important for you: you do not have to solve the problems, this is often not immediately possible. But your sympathy and your interest in yourself can make all the difference. It is important that you have enough time to look up the conversation and that you choose a quiet place where privacy is guaranteed.
Sure, talking helps, but how do you even start a conversation like this? Specialist agencies recommend starting with your own observation: “I noticed that you hardly make contact anymore. Are you not feeling well?” or “I’m worried about you, you seemed sad a lot lately.” Very important: if your girlfriend accepts the offer to talk, the most important thing is to listen. Try to empathize in what she feels Good questions help.
Don’t condone the situation: “It’ll be okay” or “It’ll be okay” are phrases that don’t help in a crisis. It is in fact true that many mental crises are overcome, but for those affected it often seems as if they are not taken seriously. And as tempting as advice and offering supposedly faster solutions are: Let it be better. That may be well-intentioned, but many patients feel pressured by such tips.
Better: just listen and get professional help. Dr Dalit Jäckel is Head of Prevention and First Aid for Mental Health (ensa) at Pro Mente Sana. She compares the situation with emergency assistance in the event of an accident: “You are not going to take medical measures or make diagnoses there. They support the injured until professional help arrives. That’s how it works with mental illness: we support until professional help takes over.”
Another does not: relate what you hear to your own experiences to show that you understand the other. In a situation like this, that’s not a good idea. Chances are, your boyfriend doesn’t feel like he’s being taken seriously. And finally, don’t push. Respect if the friend doesn’t want to say more or ends the conversation. You can resume it at a later time.
The answer is no. Dalit Jäckel explains: “Especially when it comes to suicidal thoughts, there is still the misconception that only by talking directly to those affected will they come up with the right ideas. However, this is not the case: If someone is actually suicidal, asking directly does not increase the risk. »
It is therefore never advisable to break off a conversation for fear of making the situation worse. “As a rule, those affected feel taken seriously by an open conversation, and it usually does them good to know that someone recognizes their problem.”
Of course there are more unfavorable phrases such as “Get yourself together”, “Don’t always be so depressed” or “Don’t be afraid of that”. Preaching, criticism, blame and sarcasm do not help.
There are times when more is needed: If someone is suicidal or has severe self-harm, you should seek professional help. Maybe even against your friend’s wishes. In such a situation, Dalit Jäckel recommends that you openly communicate why you are doing this.
We have now talked a lot about how to support a person in mental crisis. But you should not forget yourself in a situation like this. You too have limits and can say if it is too much for you. You can offer to interrupt the conversation and continue it at another time. It is important that you only make offers that you can actually afford. And if you support a friend in a crisis for a longer period of time, you should always consciously allow yourself some free time.
source: watson
I’m Maxine Reitz, a journalist and news writer at 24 Instant News. I specialize in health-related topics and have written hundreds of articles on the subject. My work has been featured in leading publications such as The New York Times, The Guardian, and Healthline. As an experienced professional in the industry, I have consistently demonstrated an ability to develop compelling stories that engage readers.
