Helping someone else

How to support friends with their mental health.

1 in 10 young people will go through periods of feeling emotionally unwell during any given year, but what do you do when this is your friend or relative?

We understand it can be hard to know what to do when someone you care about is going through a rough patch, so we have put together some tips and advice, with the help of Common Room and young people from mental health support group Hearts & Minds.

Below is some information on how to talk to someone you're worried about, how to look after yourself during this time and how to seek help from an adult if you become seriously worried. In each section, you can read quotations that come directly from young people who have experience coping with similar situations. You can view the tips on the images or by using the drop-down below each image if you're low on data. You can also download a free pdf version of the tips below.

You can download a PDF of this information (recommended for screen readers or to print).

This section was developed by Common Room and young people from mental health support group Hearts & Minds.

More info:

A Young Champion, Rachel, provides some advice on how to support a friend struggling with their mental health.

The Lingo booklet was co-produced by a Young Champion, Amy, and staff at Anna Freud and provides insights in to the experiences of young people when talking to adults and professionals about their mental health. You can find out more about Lingo here.

1. If you can, let them know you are worried and would like to tell an adult. Perhaps you could discuss with them who they'd prefer you to speak to, so they don't feel as though they've lost control. 'If I have to tell someone, who do you want me to tell? So it feels like you're doing it together'
2. If they agree to speak to an adult, offer to go with them. Talking to an adult can feel intimidating and make things feel more serious, so they may appreciate the support. 'You don't need to patronise someone, just be normal and honest with them'
3. If they refuse and ask you to keep it a secret, trust your instincts. If it feels too risky or overwhelming, it's important you let someone else know. 'You can tell when something's not right with someone, especially if you've known them for a long time'

Helping someone else

1 in 10 young people will go through periods of feeling emotionally unwell during any given year, but what do you do when this is your friend or relative?

More info:

Click to read the tips and access other resources